Free The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson Page A

“The water’s probably hot enough.”
    There was a jar of instant coffee open on the counter, and beside it a stained saucerless cup. Angel got another spoon and carefully put a heaping spoonful into the cup. An old wooden-handled kettle was noisily gurgling on the hot plate. She took it off and carefully poured the water into the cup. She could tell at once that the water hadn’t really boiled; the coffee was a funny cloudy color. Verna would have poured it down the sink. “Do you want milk or sugar?” she asked timidly.
    â€œThree spoons of sugar and a splash of milk, if there’s some in that bag over there.”
    Angel found the sugar pretty quickly. It was near the stove in a big canister with a handmade label that said SUGAR. She looked into the grocery bag, and sure enough, there was a half gallon of 2 percent milk and a box of sugared cereal—not Sugar Pops, but maybe Bernie wouldn’t mind too much. At least it would be a change from beans and canned peaches.
    Angel handed Grandma the cup, trying to figure out how to ask about Verna. She could have asked right out, but anxious as to what the answer might be, she put off asking, busying herself by putting the milk into the fridge.
    â€œThat brother of yours always sleep this late?”
    â€œI guess he was pretty tired.”
    â€œI heard you scurrying around like a little mouse last night. What was you up to?”
    â€œI heard the pickup. It woke me up.”
    â€œSo you went chasing after that woman, eh?”
    How was Angel to answer that? “I guess she left some things behind that she had to go get.”
    Grandma made a funny sound with her lips that sounded like “Pagh!”
    â€œBernie’ll be worried when he wakes up and she’s not here.”
    â€œI know just how Bernie might feel. I was somewhat agitated myself,” she said, rocking so hard Angel feared the coffee would come sloshing out of the cup onto her lap.
    â€œDidn’t she tell you she was leaving?” Angel couldn’t keep the worry out of her voice.
    â€œNot in so many words. I guess I shoulda known, but I ain’t as sharp”—Grandma tapped her temple—“as I once was. That Verna pulled a fast one, all right.”
    â€œI’m sure she’ll be back soon,” Angel said, her stomach plunging.
    â€œYeah?” Grandma leaned forward, bracing her feet on the floor. “Then what was all that about how she had to get on with the rest of her life? I think that worthless girl just deserted her husband in jail
and
dumped her two kids on an old woman hardly got the strength to take care of herself anymore. Oh Lordy, like they say, history repeats itself. Just like that useless daughter-in-law of mine, running off and leaving me with Wayne, and him hardly more than a baby.”
    â€œVerna wouldn’t leave us! I swear she wouldn’t. She loves Bernie and me!”
    â€œNot near as much as she loves Verna Morgan.”
    â€œWhat you yelling about?” Bernie was standing in the doorway, one arm clutching the blue bear, the other fist rubbing his nose.
    â€œYou’re up, Bernie.”
    â€œWhere’s Mama?” He was looking around the kitchen. When his gaze got to Grandma, she humphed and looked down at her cup. He turned back to Angel. “I said, Where’s Mama?”
    â€œShe just had to run back to the apartment and clean it out and stuff,” Angel said, daring Grandma to contradict her. “She’ll be back as soon as she can.” To her relief, he seemed content with her answer, at least for now. “Want some cereal? It’s not Sugar Pops, but it’s just as good.”
    He sat down where she indicated he should and let the bear slide to the floor beside him. Angel picked it up, started to dust it off, and, thinking better of that, arranged the bear in the chair next to Bernie. She opened the box and shook out a bowlful of cereal, poured milk