| OCR Text |
Show Peppermint Monia; and find their own answers for. Jake was just telling you a hill superstition." Pa had a proud look. He was sure he'd handled it appropriately. "So how did science get Jake's grandpa's warts off?" Russ was confused, and it wasn't hard to understand why. Nobody gave straight answers around here. The doorbell rang. Pa got up to answer it. I'm sure he was relieved he didn't have to handle the question. At least not for the moment. Barton had seemed extra interested in the whole issue. I wondered if he had a wart somewhere. "Carly," pa called from the front door. "It's for you." I passed him on his way back to the dining room. He had a questioning look on his face. I didn't know why until I saw Renae. She was standing in the living room as if she belonged there, a smile painted on her pretty face. I could smell her perfume from where I was standing. I imagine it was even drifting to the dining room by new. "Hi, Carly." Renae sang out falsely. I knew it was false because I understood Renae's tactics. She was here for Barton, and I was her ticket to the introduction. "Hi," I said simply. I was not going to make this any easier for her. She didn't seem a bit put out by my lack of enthusiasm. She had probably expected it. After all, we weren't exactly close friends. She hadn't been in my house for almost five years, and then she'd had an invitation. "I came to invite you to my slumber party next weekend. It's at my house, on Friday at eight. All the gang will be there." I noticed a little nervousness when she said gang. Whose gang was she talking about, mine or |
