Semiprecious by D. Anne Love

Author:D. Anne Love
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: 2006-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

I knew where to go to catch a bus for Nashville; I’d seen buses coming and going from a redbrick building next to the Rexall, just down the road from the courthouse. All I needed was money for my ticket.

On the day after Thanksgiving I walked up the road to Sunday’s store and went in. Sunday set down the feed sack she was carrying and dusted off her hands. “Don’t you look pretty as a movie star in that new red coat! What can I do for you, Garnet?”

“I need a job.”

“I see.”

“I was hoping I could work for you, sweeping up and dusting shelves. I can help you fill orders, too.”

Sunday reached under the counter for two pieces of bubble gum. She handed me one and opened the other one for herself. She read the comic that came wrapped around the gum, grinned, and passed it to me. “You saving these?”

“Not really.”

“You ought to. Collect enough wrappers and you can send away for free stuff.”

I put the wrappers in my pocket and chewed the gum. It was so sweet it made my teeth hurt.

Sunday blew a fat bubble and let it pop. “Julia told me about your daddy’s money being delayed, and I wish I could help you out, but Polly Barton works for me between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her mama is too sick to hold down a job. Polly’s working for me is the only way they can afford toys for the little ones. They won’t take charity.”

I could see how the Bartons needed money to buy Annalee’s presents. She was still a little kid. And Opal said there was a new baby at home too. I was disappointed that Sunday couldn’t offer me any work, but I couldn’t blame the Bartons for wanting to stand on their own feet. I had nearly stopped eating lunch at school, rather than let Faith and Celestial know I was having potted meat and government cheese every day of the week.

Sunday patted my shoulder. “Julia called that Hancock fellow again the other day. They’ll sort it out eventually. You shouldn’t worry about it. Julia knows I’ll let her have whatever she needs on credit.”

On credit. “Would you lend me some money, then? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

“How?” Sunday poked the tip of her tongue out and blew another bubble.

“I could get Aunt Julia to show me how to carve whirligigs and sell them at the crafts fair next spring. Miss Sparrow says it’s the biggest event of the whole year.”

Sunday scratched her head. “I don’t know that there’s much of a market for whirligigs, but I reckon I could advance you a few bucks. How much do you need?”

“Twenty dollars.” I named the first number that popped into my head, and immediately wished I’d had the gumption to find out ahead of time how much a bus ticket cost.

Sunday’s gray eyebrows went up. “That’s a lot of money for a twelve-year-old. What do you need it for, anyway?”

Before I could make up a reason, Sunday snapped her fingers and grinned.

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