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Show Peppermint Monde in Akron. I wish Barton was too, and everyone would return to normal. Mrs. Richards had never talked to me much before, unless to get after me for forgetting gym regulations, but never to mention her childhood„ I imagine Renae had told her about Uncle William's political aims too. I was suddenly becoming more popular with a lot of people. I wonder if any of them knew I didn't get along with Barton. I wonder if they knew he was boring and afraid of Cheddar. I doubt it would matter to any of them. "I'm kind of tired of Renae blabbing to everyone about Barton." I talked quietly, just to Andrea. I didn't want the boys at the back of the bus to hear. "Me too," Andrea said. "But he did get us invited to a slumber party." "Wow," I said without enthusiasm. "How fun could one of Renae's parties be?" "That's the point. We don't know because she's never asked us before. Aren't you just a little curious?" Andrea chewed on an already stubby fingernail. It would have to do. There wasn't any cookies around. I was curious. I tried not to be, but I couldn't help it. Renae had her little friends over all of the time for parties of one kind or another. I used to go when I was a kid. Even then her parties were more elaborate than anyone else's. One year she had a magician come and do a lot of tricks for everyone. He'd found a quarter in everyone's ear and let us take them home. Another time her pa had found a carnival pony somewhere, and we all got a ride. Lots of kids had ridden on ponies before. Some of them even had a horse, but this pony was a carnival pony. His tail was braided with red ribbons and his saddle had bells on it. I hadn't been to her parties for years, and I couldn't help but be curious. We were too old for ponies |