Free Kid Power by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page A

do something?” I asked.
    â€œNot particularly,” she said. “I’ve been doing stuff all week. I’d rather read.”
    I didn’t know what to say. Part of me was screaming that Harriet was invading my bedroom without even asking my permission, but another part of me thought it was a lot better than having to keep her company for two hours with nothing to say to her and not liking her one bit. This way everybody would be happy, me, Harriet, and especially Mrs. Marks. There were worse arrangements.
    I guess Harriet could see I was hesitating. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I won’t look at any of your precious stuff.”
    â€œI didn’t think you would,” I said coldly. “Okay, I’ll knock on the door at four.”
    â€œFine,” Harriet said, and opened the book up. I left my room and closed my door behind me. I went downstairs and found a book to read. I wanted to sit on the back porch, but I was afraid somebody would see me alone and somehow Mrs. Marks would hear about it, so I stayed in the living room and started to read.
    Mom came in a half an hour later. “Hi honey,” she said. “Help me with these groceries, would you?”
    â€œSure,” I said, and took the bags from her. We walked into the kitchen together, each carrying a bag.
    â€œI thought you were going to be spending the afternoon with Harriet,” Mom said as we put the bags down on the counter.
    â€œI am,” I said. “She’s up in my room reading.”
    â€œShe is?” Mom said. “Did you two have a fight?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” I said. “She just wanted to be alone and read.”
    â€œOh, all right,” Mom said, and started putting stuff in the refrigerator. “Would she like to stay and have supper with us?”
    â€œNo, she wants to go back to her grandmother’s at four,” I said. “Mom, she never wears the clothes Mrs. Marks makes for her.”
    â€œShe doesn’t?” Mom said. I had a strong feeling she wasn’t listening to me.
    â€œNone of them,” I said. “With all the work Mrs. Marks does, she doesn’t even wear them. Her mother doesn’t like her to.”
    â€œGrandmothers and mothers don’t always get along,” Mom said. “I thought I’d make tuna noodle casserole for supper tonight. What do you think?”
    â€œTuna noodle casserole sounds fine,” I said with a sigh. Mom hadn’t listened well when she was studying for final exams or writing papers for college either. She was always too “distracted.” Now she was distracted because there was nothing distracting her except tuna noodle casserole.
    â€œI’m going into the living room,” I said.
    â€œWhy not sit on the back porch?” she asked. “I’m going to just as soon as I put all the groceries away.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” I said. “I’ll see you later.”
    â€œSure, hon,” she said.
    I read until ten of four, then spent five minutes working my nerve up to go to my own room and knock on my own door. I finally got indignant enough not to be scared and went upstairs.
    â€œCome in,” Harriet said after I knocked, so I did.
    â€œIt’s time,” I said.
    â€œOkay,” she said, getting up. “I didn’t have a chance to finish the book,” she said. “I’ll take it with me and give it to Gran to give back to you when I’ve finished.”
    â€œOkay,” I said. I guessed it was okay, too. What harm would it do to loan her a book? “We’d better get going.”
    â€œAll right,” she said.
    â€œMy mom wanted to know if you’d like to have supper here,” I said.
    â€œIt would break Gran’s heart if I did,” she said, and started downstairs. “Thank your mother for the invitation though.”
    â€œI will,” I said, following her down. We