Free Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry by Lynne Jonell Page A

visit my aunts. They were spry old girls, and strict, too. They would not let me get away with leaving things in a mess, no sir!”
    Emmy scrubbed a little harder. She didn’t think it was fair of her father to talk like that, when she was cleaning up at this very minute. She glanced upward and suddenly blinked.
    Emmy rubbed at her eye. Ana squatted down. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œGot some glitter in it,” whispered Emmy. “I wish she’d stop waving that dumb card around!”
    â€œAnd those relatives of hers!” Squippy cried over their heads. “It’s so wonderful that they’re taking her in and giving her a home!”
    Ana winced, and Emmy suddenly decided she’d had enough. She stood with her bucket. “Ana wants to say good-bye to her friends,” she said, and just that easily she and Ana were walking through the crowded room.
    They found Joe and Thomas at the lab counter, sitting on stools with a plate of biscotti between them. A steady sound of munching came from the inside of the open pet carrier.
    Raston poked his head out. “Where’s the professor?” he asked, crumbs spraying from the side of his mouth.
    â€œWe’ve got to show him the letter,” said Cecilia from behind him. “And find a way to Schenectady!”
    Ana turned her head. “Did I miss something? What letter?”
    Emmy and Joe explained, at length.
    Ana looked at them thoughtfully. “ I’m going through Schenectady. I leave on the train in about an hour.”
    â€œBut what if the letter isn’t really from their mother?” Joe rubbed his forehead. “I have my doubts, actually—”
    â€œLook! It’s Mr. B!” Thomas pointed to the window.
    The children were suddenly alert. Crossing the green and heading straight for the Antique Rat was a harmless-looking man in a shoemaker’s apron.
    Joe’s eyes narrowed. “What’s he doing, coming here?”
    Ana huddled on her stool, her face pale.
    Emmy threw an arm over the girl’s shoulders. Mr. B seemed gentle and kind, but he was Miss Barmy’s father, and he had helped her keep Ana and four other little girls prisoners for years. Ana probably still had nightmares about him.
    The bell tinkled as the street door opened. Joe got off his stool and stood in front of Ana. Near the door, the professor’s jovial face turned grave.
    The crowd quieted in a wave of silence that began at the door and spread out to fill the whole room. Mr. B smiled hesitantly, then shuffled over to Emmy’s parents, pulled an envelope from his pocket, and handed it to Jim Addison. The hum of conversation started up again.
    â€œThomas!” Emmy hissed. “Go over there and get some punch! They’ll talk in front of you if you pretend you’re not listening!”
    â€œUse your innocent look,” Joe added.
    Thomas opened his blue eyes wide.
    â€œYeah, that one!”
    The small, slightly round, blond-haired boy marched away, looking somehow even younger than his six years.
    Ana’s mouth turned up a little. “Wow, he’s good.”
    Joe nodded. “I know. It’s almost scary.”
    Emmy, watching intently from her high stool, saw her father open the envelope. As he read, his smile faded. He handed the letter to his wife. There was an animated discussion. Thomas drifted back after a while, holding a punch cup with both hands.
    â€œWhat? What?” Emmy was too impatient to be polite. “Listen, drink that later, will you?”
    Thomas licked the punch-colored stain on his upper lip. “Mr. B said a letter for your parents was sent to his house by mistake.”
    â€œAnd?” demanded Joe.
    â€œIt was from Emmy’s great-aunts, or something, and they want her to come and visit.” Thomas turned to Emmy. “And your mom said they couldn’t just send you off without calling first to make sure, but the letter said not to call, the