Free New Beginnings by Laurie Halse Anderson Page A

sixteen.”
    â€œSixteen?”
    â€œYes,” Leah says. “You have to be sixteen or older to volunteer here.”
    â€œWhat if you have experience,” I say, “but you’re not sixteen yet?”
    â€œThen you have to wait. How old are you?”
    â€œTwelve,” I say, and zip my backpack pocket closed again.
    â€œBummer,” Leah says. “That’s a long time to wait.”
    â€œYeah,” I say.
    Sophie and I thank Leah and let ourselves out of the room because Leah is still inside the enclosure, petting the rabbits. Sophie presses her nose against the window to the small animal room.
    â€œBye, Leah. Bye, Lolli. Bye, Sunshine,” she says.
    Leah waves and smiles.
    â€œAre you sure we can’t take Lolli home?” Sophie asks. “Cuddles would like her.”
    â€œNo, Sophie. One rabbit is expensive enough for now,” I say. Gee, I’m starting to sound like Mom.
    Sophie is disappointed we can’t bring Lolli home, and I’m so disappointed about not being able to volunteer there until I’m sixteen that I almost forget to stop at the pet store.
    â€œHey,” Sophie says. “Don’t forget, we need a new water bottle for Cuddles.”
    â€œRight,” I say.
    The glass water bottles at the pet store cost twice as much as the plastic ones, so I buy just one instead of the two I had planned on. Cuddles better not break this one.
    We look at the rabbit toys and chew sticks, but since I’m spending so much on the water bottle, I decide to try some of Leah’s strategies to entertain Cuddles instead. Maybe Cuddles will like a phone book.
    It’s a long walk back. We stop briefly at the park to rest. Sophie’s so tired that we just sit on a bench, watching other kids play. I don’t know what Sophie is thinking, but I’m thinking I have to get Josh to go with me to make an appointment for Cuddles to get spayed at Dr. Mac’s. I’ll ask him as soon as we get home. With any luck Maggie will still be at basketball practice like she was yesterday afternoon.
    â€œCome on, Sophie,” I say. “Time to go home and set up Cuddles’s new water bottle and get her some new things to play with.”

Chapter Twelve
    W hen we get home, we find Mom painting roses on a WELCOME TO WRENCHES & ROSES sign at the kitchen table. Mom’s brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and she’s got pink and green paint smudged on one cheek.
    â€œCool sign,” I say. I give her a kiss on her clean cheek.
    I’m thinking I’ll have to bribe Josh somehow to convince him to go with me to Dr. Mac’s. Now would be a perfect time, because Mom looks happily busy.
    â€œWhere’s Josh?” I ask.
    â€œDavid called, and Josh went to visit him down the street,” she says. “It’s nice to see him making friends right away.”
    â€œI don’t know how he does it,” I say.
    Mom sets down her brush and gives me a hug.
    I melt in her arms. I want to tell her how tough this has all been, but she’s got enough worries with the store. So I just say, “Thanks, Mom. I needed that hug.”
    â€œMe too, sweetie, me too,” she says. Then she pulls away and dabs at my chin with a napkin. “Oopsie, I didn’t mean to get paint on you.”
    â€œDo you know when Josh will be back?” I ask.
    â€œI told him to be home by six thirty—in time for dinner.”
    Six thirty! Too late. Dr. Mac’s clinic closes at six o’clock. And when we were there yesterday at five forty-five, Dr. Mac said Maggie would be home any minute. I’d love to peek in on the tiny kittens if they’re still there, but if I want to avoid Maggie, maybe I could just call to make the appointment? Then Josh could take Cuddles in to be spayed, and I can avoid Maggie and the clinic altogether.
    Back in my room, I carefully take Cuddles out of her cage and let her hop around with Sophie