Where I Live (4 page)

10. Rose makes me laugh.

We are fixing up
a care package
for Grandpa Joe.
Even Rose is helping.
Rose and I
make corn muffins.
Dad adds a bottle
of sparkling grape juice.
Twink puts in
three gum balls
and her stuffed rabbit,
George.
She asks me to help her
write a note
to go with George.
“Dear Grandpa Joe,
George is not to keep.
He is just to borrow
until your arm is better.”

Mom is the only one
in the house
who drinks tea.
I miss waking
to the old kettle
whistling
Mom's morning song.

Mom calls to say
that she and Grandpa Joe
are having a great time.
Grandpa is over
his cold.
He can still play chess—
with his right hand.
Mom says
Grandpa's porch
is screened in now.
No bugs.
You could even sleep there
in the summer
if you wanted to.
Mom says
there's a new playground
right down the road
from Grandpa's house.
And lots of kids my age.
I think to myself
it would be better
for Grandpa Joe
if there were
lots of people
his
age
in his neighborhood.
Twink whines.
She wants the phone.
She has to speak
to George.

Finally
Mom is coming home.
It's been two weeks.
Twink and I hang
a WELCOME HOME banner.
(Can't disturb
the front-door Rice Krispies family.)
Rose made the banner
on her computer.

 

When we hear the car
we all run out.
Mom gives Twink
her George back.
Mom gives Dad a kiss.
She gives me a hug.

 

“I have some news,”
she says.

 

Uh-oh ...
more news.

We are
going
to move.

1. Because Dad lost his job.

2. Because we're short on money.

3. Because Grandpa Joe lives alone in a big, empty house.

4. Because Grandpa Joe wants to share his house with us.

5. Because I don't get a vote about moving.

6. Because even if I did, it would be three against one.

Twink is happy.
She thinks moving
is a big adventure.
She twirls George around.
She sings: “We're moving! We're moving!”

 

“What about Snap, Crackle, and Pop?”
I remind her.
“I'll tell Daddy to pack them up,”
she says.
“You can't pack up birds.”
“Mary Jo Dunbar packed up her bird
when she moved.”
“Mary Jo Dunbar's bird
was a canary.
Snap, Crackle, and Pop
are wild birds.
They'll have to stay here.”

 

“Then I'll send them postcards.”
I roll my eyes at Twink.
“You know birds can't read.”
“I know,” she says.
“I'll ask the mailman
to read to them.”

Today
I tried to tell Rose
that we are moving.
But before I could get
the words out,
my eyes filled up
with tears
and I ran home.

Mrs. Clifford asks me
to stay after school.
She asks with a smile,
so I know I'm not in trouble.
When everyone is gone
Mrs. Clifford sits down with me.
“You seem sad, Diana.
Everything okay?”

 

I burst into tears.
Mrs. Clifford takes my hand.
We both just sit there
until I stop crying.
“We have to move,” I tell her.
“And I don't want to.”

 

“Tell me more,” she says softly.

I tell Mrs. Clifford
about Dad's job
and no money
and going to live
at Grandpa Joe's.
She nods.
“It's okay
to be sad, Diana.”

 

“And I'm mad too,”
I say.
“I'm mad at Dad's company
for letting him go.
I'm mad at Twink
because she's so happy
and already packing.
I'm mad because I don't
get a vote about moving.”

 

“It's okay
to be mad, Diana.”

 

“And I'm mixed up too.
I love my grandpa Joe.
He's fun to spend time with.
And I know he's lonely
in his big house.
And I think: Maybe it won't
be so bad.
And then I think: Oh yes it will.”
Mrs. Clifford squeezes my hand.
“It's okay
to be mixed up, Diana.”

 

When I leave school,
I feel a little better.
I even whistle back at
the Rice Krispies family
in our front door wreath.
I guess Mrs. Clifford would say:
“It's okay
to feel a little better, Diana.”

The bird family
moves
before we do.
When I wasn't looking
Snap,
Crackle,
and Pop
learned to fly
and away they went.
Twink says
they will fly across
the entire state
to visit us
at Grandpa Joe's.

Today is my birthday.
Twink pops into my room.
“I wanted to buy you
a bike.”
“I know.”
“It costed too much.”
“I know.”
“I got you
a different present.”
“Thank you, Twink.”
“I wrapped it
all by myself.”
“I can see that.”
“It's George!”
“You're giving me
George?”
“No, I'm loanding
you George.”
“Wow! When do you
want him back?”
“Tonight.”
“I see.”
“Happy birthday, big sister!