A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary

Author:Beverly Cleary
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780061756726
Publisher: HarperCollins

Uncle Joe

Aunt Dora and Uncle Joe, because of her health, moved from sagebrush country to a farm near Molalla, about thirty miles from Portland. Aunt Dora invited us out to see a rodeo, the annual Molalla Roundup. I found this invitation exciting, something to brag about to Ralph.

When we arrived in Molalla on a hot summer day, Uncle Joe said he had been unable to buy five seats together. He offered to sit with me so my parents and Aunt Dora could sit together and visit. Uncle Joe and I climbed to the top of the bleachers while the others sat down in front.

The heat was unusual for Oregon. Cowboys riding bucking broncos and roping steers churned up clouds of dust. The spectacle was sweaty, dirty, and, at first, fascinating. Gradually it grew monotonous and the heat and dust stifling.

Uncle Joe bought me a bottle of Orange Crush, which I held in one hand as I drank through a straw. Uncle Joe took my other hand in his. Having my hand held did not seem unusual. In Yamhill, I had often walked down the street with an uncle holding me by the hand. However, because of the heat, I wiggled my hand free of his. I could not make conversation with this uncle and was glad when the rodeo ended.

On the ride home, Mother remarked, “It does seem odd that Joe could not get five seats together.”

Dad said, “I thought so, too.”

I did not bother to mention Uncle Joe’s trying to hold my hand. The incident was dropped. It seemed of no importance.

That winter, Aunt Dora invited us to come out to Molalla for Saturday dinner, a midday meal on the farm. We could spend the night and drive home on Sunday. Mother, tired of cooking, accepted with pleasure. Dad looked forward to exploring the farm. I took a book with me.

Saturday night, after I went upstairs to bed in the cold farmhouse and lay shivering, weighed down by heavy woolen quilts while my body warmed the sheets, Uncle Joe burst into the room, thrust a folded sheet of paper into my hand, planted an urgent tobacco-smelling kiss on my cheek, and said, “For God’s sake, don’t show this to anyone!” and left. I was terrified.

Innocent of any knowledge of sex, I knew something very wrong was occurring. I was too frightened to get out of bed, fumble in the dark for the overhead light, and read what was written on the paper. Uncle Joe might burst in again if he saw a light. My stomach churned in fear, and I scrubbed my cheek with the sheet. This was not uncle behavior. All my other uncles were kindly, affectionate men, but they did not sneak into my bedroom to shove notes at me or kiss me in the dark.

When my parents came upstairs, I heard Mother say, “Why don’t we take Dora and Joe back to town with us?”

“No!” I called out in a whisper. “Please, please, don’t!”

Neither parent caught my fear.

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.