Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald

Author:Betty MacDonald [MacDonald, Betty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-375-89776-4
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2010-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

8

Uncle John’s Visit

MONDAY MORNING AT RECESS, Nancy and Plum asked Miss Waverly if she would ask Miss Dowd if Nancy could wear the extra tree costume, if she sang her solo.

Miss Waverly said, “What do you mean, if Nancy sings her solo?”

Nancy said, “Well, Mrs. Monday has told Plum and me that we can’t be in the program or go to the picnic but we’re hoping that she will change her mind and if she doesn’t we’re going to try and come anyway.”

Miss Waverly said, “Why won’t Mrs. Monday let you be in the program or come to the picnic?”

Nancy and Plum told her the whole story and when they got through, Miss Waverly’s cheeks were bright red, her eyes were flashing and her lips were set in a thin straight line. She said, “Nancy and Plum, you can just plan on being in the program and you can count on the picnic. I am going in to see the principal.”

Nancy and Plum hugged each other and Nancy said, “And you know what else, Plum, if I wear a tree costume to sing, then you can wear my school dress for the spelling match and it won’t be short on you at all.”

Apparently Miss Waverly was as good as her word. That very afternoon when the children were changing their school clothes, Mrs. Monday sent Marybelle up to tell them that she had reconsidered and if Plum apologized to Marybelle they could be in the program and go to the picnic.

Marybelle said, “Aunty Marybelle said that if you apologize to me, Nancy can sing her ugly old song and you can spell all the words wrong at the program Friday. She said you can go to the picnic, too.”

Plum said, “All right, Marybelle. I’m sorry I put that little goldfish bowl on your head. I wish it had been bigger and with a shark in it.”

Marybelle said, “That isn’t a real apology.”

Plum said, “You didn’t tell us what Mrs. Monday really said, either.”

Marybelle said, “Oh, all right. She said that you and Nancy can be in the program and go to the picnic if you tell me you’re sorry.”

Plum said, “All right, I’m sorry”—adding under her breath, “that you’re such a sneaky little tattletale.”

Marybelle said, “What did you say, Plum?”

Plum said, “I said I’m sorry.”

Marybelle said, “You said something more.”

Plum said, “I was just practicing my spelling words.”

Marybelle said, “I heard you say ‘sneaky little tattletale’!”

Plum said, “Oh, Marybelle, you must have misunderstood me. I was spelling antique—a-n-t-i-q-u-e—and cattail—c-a-t-t-a-i-l. Those were two new words we had yesterday.”

Marybelle said, “You didn’t spell antique right—it’s anteek.”

Plum said, “It is not.”

Marybelle said, “It is so.”

Nancy said, “Come on, Plum, we must get started on our work. We have to wash all the parlor windows before supper.”

Marybelle said, “A-n-t-i-q-u-e! That sounds crazy.”

Plum said, “Just wait and see who wins the spelling match, Woodenhead with shaving curls.”

Marybelle said, “I’m going to tell.”

Plum said, “Oh, I forgot. I’m sorry, Marybelle, and you’re right about antique—it’s a-n-t-e-e-k.”

Marybelle said, “Now who’s a woodenhead?” Then she flounced out of the room.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.