Free Sara Lost and Found by Virginia Castleman Page A

Pablo’s favorites, so I thought you might like it too.”
    I stare at the cover, not making a move to open it.
    She bends down to look at me. “Have you already read it? I can bring you another one, or better yet, why don’t you pick one out that you like?”
    â€œThis one’s fine,” I finally answer. I relax, remembering my trick to keep people from knowing I can’t read.
    â€œWhat was your favorite part?” I ask.
    â€œIf I tell you that, it will spoil it for you!”
    My heart sinks. Most people can’t wait to tell me their favorite part of a story, not caring if I’ve read it or not.
    â€œYou read it, then we can compare notes and see if the part you liked best was the one I liked best too!” She raises her eyebrows and grins, like she’s expecting an answer.
    I don’t say anything. It’s not like she really asked a question. “I think I know what’s troubling you,” Mrs. MacMillan says quietly, stroking my hair.
    My stomach tightens. “You do?”
    She reaches in her pocket and pulls out an envelope. She takes a folded piece of paper out of it. “This fell out of the pocket of your jacket.”
    Mama’s letter! “Did you look at it?” I can barely breathe.
    When she nods, my throat tightens even more.
    â€œYou miss her, don’t you?”
    I nod, not believing that she actually read Mama’s letter.
    She slips the letter back into the envelope and hands it to me. Then she gets up. “Do you want to talk about anything?”
    I shake my head and swallow hard. What if she tells Mrs. Craig about the letter? What if they go after Mama? Scared and unsure of what to do, I just sit. “We can talk more later if you like,” Mrs. MacMillan says, standing up slowly. “For now, though, try to get a good night’s sleep.” She kisses the top of my head.
    When she leaves, I reach to hide the envelope underneath the bedsheet. Mama’s photo falls to the floor. I pick it up, frowning. I stare at the face in the photo. Mama smiles at me like nothing has happened. I wipe hot tears away so I can keep seeing her face.
    â€œWhere are you?” I whisper.
    I stick the envelope with the letter and photo under the bottom sheet. No one will think to look there. I’ll share the picture with Anna later, after everyone has gone to sleep.
    As I turn to leave, I spot Pablo’s rainmaker where Anna has left it on the dresser. I feel it again. The tug. The feeling that makes me steal things. The noise from the rainmaker calms her. She needs it. That’s what I tell myself as I sneak over, carefully pick it up so it won’t make any noise, and stuff it under the bottom sheet with Mama’s picture and letter.
    I grab a blanket from Anna’s bed and cover her so she won’t get cold.

CHAPTER 11
    THE NEXT MORNING, ANNA AND I head downstairs. Pablo and Dr. Dan have already left for somewhere.
    But Mrs. MacMillan is sitting in the kitchen, drinking coffee and thumbing through some ads. “Good morning, good morning!” she greets, jumping to her feet. “There are lots of sales going on today. What do you say we go and get you girls some new clothes?”
    â€œReally? New clothes?” I grin at Anna. Most of the clothes I wear are ones that were once hers, and they don’t always fit so good.
    â€œYou bet! And I know just the store to try first.” She pours us some cereal and milk and lets us look at all the pictures in the ads.
    On the way to the store, Anna stares out the window saying nothing. I wiggle in my seat, anxious to get there and see what they have.
    The saleslady at the store says she knows just what we want, which is lucky, because Anna and I don’t know where to begin. There are so many dresses and pants and shorts and T-shirts and shoes, rows and rows and rows of them all silently shouting, Pick me! Pick me! Just like me and Anna at the Silvermans’,