A Perfect Gentle Knight Read Free Page A

normal. We all envy Harry—he got the most ordinary name.”
    As if on cue, Harry wandered in.
    â€œThis is Meredith,” Corrie told him, wishing he didn’t look so solemn.
    Harry nodded at Meredith, squatted on the rug, and started wolfing down crackers as fast as he could spread them with peanut butter.
    â€œAre you feeling better?” Corrie asked him.
    Harry wiped his nose on a sleeve that was already encrusted with mucus. “A bit. I’ll go back to school tomorrow. The Elephant yells too much. My sea monkeys have hatched, Corrie. Want to see them?”
    They went into Harry’s room and stared at dozens of tiny white dots swimming around in a jar. “They don’t look at all like monkeys,” said Corrie.
    â€œMaybe they will when they get bigger,” said Harry.
    â€œ I sent away for some of those,” said Meredith. “My dad says they’re just bugs.”
    They stared at the jar sadly. “What a gyp!” said Harry. “I spent all my allowance on them!”
    â€œNever mind,” said Meredith. “Maybe they’ll grow into some weird kind of beetle or spider.”
    Harry gave her one of his rare smiles. He pulled out a large paper bag from under the bed. “Want to see my bottle-cap collection? I have two hundred and twenty-seven!” He started spreading them on the floor. “They’re all numbered inside, see? I have a list.”
    â€œDo you want to tour the house?” Corrie asked quickly, before Harry could begin his endless bottle-cap litany.
    First she showed Meredith the long narrow storage closet under the eaves that was packed with old suitcases and boxes. Meredith rummaged her way to the far end. Corrie nipped out and closed the door of Sebastian’s room before she followed.
    â€œThis would be perfect for hide-and-seek!” said Meredith, pushing spiderwebs from her hair. “What’s in all these boxes?”
    â€œFa’s papers and stuff,” said Corrie. She started to lead Meredith down the front stairs, but Meredith pointed to a door at the far end of the hall. “What’s in there ?”
    Corrie swallowed. “Oh, just a spare room. We aren’t allowed to go into it.”
    â€œWhy not ?” But Corrie was already halfway down to the second floor. She opened the door to Roz’s room, first checking that Hamlet wasn’t near. Meredith ran up to a cage by the window. “A budgie ! What’s his name?”
    â€œJingle.” Corrie closed the door and opened Jingle’s cage. She put in her hand and the green bird hopped onto her finger. Carefully she passed him to Meredith.
    â€œHe tickles ! And he’s so tame !” cried Meredith as Jingle hopped onto her shoulder and nuzzled her neck. “What a funny name you have,” she told him.
    â€œIt’s because of our last name—and because Roz got him for Christmas.”
    â€œJingle Bell !” Meredith giggled as Jingle flew onto her head. “I wonder if Daddy’s allergic to birds . I’m going to ask for one for Christmas! Does he talk ?”
    â€œPretty boy!” said Jingle, as if he were waiting for her to ask. “Pretty Jingle! Merry Christmas! Merry Jingle Bell!”
    Meredith was enthralled. Finally they returned Jingle to his cage and inspected Juliet and Orly’s chaotic, smelly cave.
    â€œWhose room is that one?” asked Meredith, pointing to a closed door across from the twins’ room. “Your dad’s?”
    Corrie gulped. “It was, when my mother was alive. Now Fa sleeps in his study. Then he can get up and work in the middle of the night if he wants to.”
    Meredith kept staring at the closed door. “Can’t we see in there?”
    â€œNo!” said Corrie. Then she added, “Sorry,” but Meredith didn’t seem to mind.
    She took Meredith into Aunt Madge’s old room. They stood a moment at the window. Below them, the