Francie by Karen English

slowly.
    â€œFirst”—she squinted at me—“how old are you?”
    â€œAlmost thirteen.” I already knew Clarissa was fourteen.
    â€œSkinny little thing like you? Is your growth stunted?”
    â€œMama said I take after her people, small and wiry.”
    Clarissa seemed to consider this. “What grade you in?”
    â€œI just had my eighth-grade commencement.”
    â€œAnd you ain’t even thirteen yet?”
    â€œI’ll be thirteen soon—at the end of summer.”
    â€œI guess you’re old enough to keep a secret.”
    She went to the bed, bent down, and pulled out a notebook from underneath. She patted the bed beside her. I crossed the room and sat down.
    Her eyes were bright as she searched my face. “I’m writing a book.”
    â€œHow you doing that?” I asked. I’d never heard of a person writing a book before, though I guessed someone had to.
    â€œI’m writing a little each day. It’s going to take me a long time, because I want it to be longer than War and Peace. ” She stopped. “You’ve heard of that book?”
    â€œI know it’s real long. I haven’t read it yet, though.”
    â€œSo far, it’s my favorite book. In fact, I’ve decided to name my first girl Natasha because of it.”

    â€œNatasha …” It sounded like a sneeze.
    â€œMy book is going to be better than War and Peace ,” she said, like just uttering the words would make it so.
    â€œMy mama says it’s not nice to brag.”
    â€œI’m not bragging if it’s true.”
    â€œYou can brag about things that are true.”
    Suddenly Mama was calling up the stairs. I looked at Clarissa and hurried out to the landing. She came after me. And before I could look down into Mama’s angry face, Clarissa pushed a big, thick book in my hand. “I finished this a while ago. You can have it.”
    I took it because I didn’t know what else to do. It was heavy in my hand. “Thanks,” I murmured before I rushed down the stairs to Mama’s scolding.
    â€œGirl, if you don’t get your behind down here … You think Mrs. Montgomery is paying for you to visit with her niece?” I set the book on the hall table. Mama didn’t notice.
    As I scooted by Mama to get back to the living room, she popped me on the head with her knuckle.
    Â 
    Just when I thought we were finished, after Clarissa had skipped out the door and down the walk with her friends, Mrs. Montgomery came into the kitchen, where Mama and I were putting away the cleaning supplies, and stood there wringing her hands and smiling.
    â€œI hate to ask this, but can you two stay and polish the silver? I’ve got unexpected company coming tomorrow.”
She smiled and shrugged. I looked at Mama but Mama didn’t meet my eyes.
    â€œCourse, Mrs. Montgomery. I’d be happy to. But I gotta send Francie on home so she can look in on Lydia. She just delivered a short while ago and still needs help.”
    â€œAnd the upstairs linen. I forgot to ask you to change it,” Mrs. Montgomery said, as if her mind had never left her own concern.
    â€œI’ll get right on it.” Mama turned and left the room. I went over and picked up the book Clarissa gave me. It was War and Peace.

Daddy’s Coming
    I went right over to Auntie’s and spent the rest of the day cleaning and washing for her, so she wouldn’t have anything to do but take care of Janie. Mama came by to pick me up and we were walking down Three Notch together when we noticed the flag was up on our mailbox. “Run over to the box and get our mail,” Mama said, climbing the porch steps heavily.
    We hadn’t heard from Daddy in weeks. I pulled the single letter out of the box and immediately checked the postmark. Chicago. I marched the letter to Mama.
    She took it out of my hand and leaned it against the sugar bowl on the table. She still