Free Seven Kisses in a Row by Patricia MacLachlan Page B

about eating: how much and what to. Rules about sleeping: what time and how to. They had rules about cleaning and messing up, playing and resting, how to dress and when to.
    In the morning Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Elliot exercised. Emma and Zach’s parents did not exercise. They ran about a lot, but they did not call it exercising.
    â€œExercising twice a day is one of my rules,” explained Uncle Elliot. “Once in the morning, once at night.” He wore a torn sweat shirt and matching torn pants as he ran in place in front of the television. He made the same kinds of oosh ing sounds that he made when he slept. Aunt Evelyn did not make oosh ing sounds. She made no sounds at all as she bent her legs and arms in odd ways. First Aunt Evelyn twisted herself into the shape of a swan. Then a large U. Then a pretzel.
    â€œDo you like what you’re doing?” asked Emma.
    â€œI love it!” exclaimed Aunt Evelyn. “It makes me feel like a bird. Free. Soaring! You should try it.”
    Emma did try it. But it didn’t make her feel much like a bird. It hurt.
    â€œDoes Uncle Elliot like to exercise, too?” asked Zachary.
    â€œNO!” shouted Uncle Elliot, oosh ing in front of the morning news. “But it’s one of my rules, exercising is.”
    â€œI’ll run with you,” said Zachary. “We could run around the block.”
    â€œThe block! That’s a good idea,” said Uncle Elliot. “We’ll take the dog, too. Dogs love to run.”
    â€œNot Wayne,” said Emma. “Wayne only likes to sit. Or lie down.”
    â€œNonsense,” said Uncle Elliot. He snapped the leash on Wayne’s collar. Wayne lay down. “Come, Wayne! Up, Wayne! Run, Wayne!” urged Uncle Elliot. He pulled while Zachary pushed Wayne from behind. When they left, Emma and Aunt Evelyn smiled at each other.
    â€œWhat would you like to do now?” asked Aunt Evelyn. “Maybe you have homework to do.”
    â€œIt’s only Saturday morning,” said Emma. “I always do my homework late Sunday night.”
    Aunt Evelyn frowned. “Late Sunday night? When I was your age we had a rule to get our homework done early.”
    â€œYou have lots of rules,” said Emma. “We only have three rules. That’s enough.”
    â€œOnly three?” asked Aunt Evelyn. “What are they?”
    Emma leaned her chin in her hand. “Number one: Be kind. Number two: No kicking or biting. Number three: Any rule can be changed.”
    Aunt Evelyn smiled. “You’re right. Maybe that is just about enough rules.”
    Aunt Evelyn took some knitting out of a large bag. The knitting was bright purple with shiny silver spangles on it. Emma thought it was very jazzy.
    â€œWhat are you knitting?” she asked.
    â€œBaby booties,” said Aunt Evelyn. “For the baby.”
    â€œWhat baby?”
    â€œOur baby, your Uncle Elliot’s and mine,” said Aunt Evelyn. “It’s kind of a secret.”
    â€œDoes Uncle Elliot know?” asked Emma.
    â€œYes,” said Aunt Evelyn. “Uncle Elliot knows. And you, and your mother and father. That’s about all.”
    Emma thought about the new baby. She pictured it looking like Aunt Evelyn, short curly black hair, three earrings, purple spangled booties. It would be, Emma knew, a very jazzy baby. And it would have lots and lots of rules. Emma watched as Aunt Evelyn took one finished spangled bootie out of her knitting bag. The bootie was extremely large, almost large enough for Emma. Emma looked at the silver spangles. She thought a moment.
    â€œAunt Evelyn, I’m very glad about your baby.”
    â€œDitto,” said Aunt Evelyn.
    â€œWhat does ditto mean?” asked Emma.
    â€œIt means ‘me too,’” said Aunt Evelyn.
    â€œAunt Evelyn,” said Emma, “I have something bad to tell you.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked Aunt