Free Hello, Mallory by Ann M. Martin

record!"
    This time I pulled Squirt to his feet. "Okay, let 'er rip," I said, and Squirt headed for Becca. But he only took four steps before he fell. He went down on his hands and knees. We all expected him to cry, but he came up laughing.
    Becca began to giggle. "You are so goofy, Squirt," she said.
    "Becca, maybe Squirt's getting tired of walking," Jessi suggested.
    "Could I push him around in his stroller?" asked Becca. "I'd stay on the sidewalk and the driveway. I wouldn't go on the grass."
    "Sure," replied Jessi. "That's fine. I'll go get the stroller for you."
    Jessi disappeared into the garage and returned a few moments later with Squirf s stroller. "Here you go," she said to Becca.
    "Thanks!" Becca heaved Squirt awkwardly into the stroller and began walking him proudly down the driveway.
    "Becca is awfully good with him," I pointed out, as Jessi and I watched them from the front steps.
    "It's a recent thing," Jessi replied. "Just since we moved here. I think it's because she's at home so much. In Oakley she was always off with Sandy or Kara or Raun or someone. But
    she doesn't have any friends here in Stoney-brook."
    I nodded thoughtfully. "How are things going for you?" I asked. "I mean in ballet class and at school?"
    "It's funny. In my ballet class I'm the only black kid, but almost everyone has been really nice to me. Oh, there are a couple of girls who don't speak to me, but, well, mostly the teachers and students are so wrapped up in dancing that they don't notice what color you are. I mean, this is a serious school."
    I smiled.
    "But at our school?" Jessi went on. "Where there are some other black kids?"
    "Yeah?"
    "Things are better, I guess, but not great."
    "At least they are better, though," I said positively.
    "That's true. It's been days since Benny Ott shot a rubber band at me."
    "Well, that's something. Boy, I'd sure like to shoot him sometime. Don't you wish we were back in second grade so we could just give him cooties and that would be the end of it?"
    "Yeah," said Jessi, laughing. "Hey, Becca! Not too close to the street, okay? Bring Squirt back here, or stick to the sidewalk," she called.
    "Okay," Becca called back.
    "Boy, does she need friends," Jessi said quietly.
    "Yeah. I can't believe no one will play with her."
    "Mama could use some friends, too. It would be nice to meet the neighbors."
    I nodded. And suddenly I remembered another sunny day about a year ago. It was a Saturday and a new baby-sitter was taking care of Claire, Nicky, Byron, and me. Her name was Stacey McGill, and she and her parents had moved to Stoneybrook just a month or two earlier. The five of us were sitting at the kitchen table eating a snack and, because I'd never moved, I'd asked Stacey how moving from New York to Stoneybrook had felt.
    "Well," Stacey had replied, "it wasn't easy. I didn't want to leave New York, but everyone here has been so nice to us."
    I remembered Stacey describing how people had come by with casseroles and cookies, with flowers and homemade fudge, with directions to the train station, beauty parlor, malls, and movie theaters, and even with tips on which was the best grocery store. "A lady from something called the Welcome Wagon came by," she'd added. "She handed us coupons for special deals at restaurants, a listing of the
    doctors and dentists in Stoneybrook, some samples from this gourmet food store, and a lot of other Stoneybrook stuff."
    I looked at the Ramseys' empty yard and empty front porch (except for Jessi and me). I knew no neighbors had come by with gifts or helpful information. How mean.
    "I have a feeling this is a silly question," I said, "but has a lady from the Welcome Wagon dropped by?"
    "Are you kidding?" replied Jessi.
    "I didn't think she had."
    "Why did you want to know?"
    "Oh, I was just remembering something," I told her.
    "What?"
    "It isn't important."
    Becca had gotten tired of pushing Squirt around and had wheeled him back to Jessi and me. "Can I play with my