Green Fever Read Free Page B

“You’re right about that. I believe it’s as nice as the one I have on my bike.”
    “We didn’t have enough money to get the light and a bell,” Mattie said, “so we’ll have to wait on a bell till we earn more money.”
    “I’m sure Grandma and Grandpa Miller will have some chores you can do, especially now that spring is here,” Mom said. “But right now we need to get our shopping done.”
    “What about our ice cream cones?” Mark asked. “Mattie and I are anxious for that.”
    “That’s right,” Mattie eagerly agreed. “I’m hoping for a vanilla cone.”
    “Sorry, but they stopped giving out free ice cream right after Ada and Perry got their cones,” Dad said.
    “Oh no!” Mattie moaned. She couldn’t have been more disappointed. No bell for the bike, and no free ice cream.
    “Guess maybe we should have waited to look in the bicycle department till we got our free cones,” Mark said with a frown. “I really wanted some chocolate ice cream.”
    “Sorry about that.” Mom patted the twins’ shoulders. “When we get home, you can have a few of those chocolate-chip
kichlin
I made yesterday morning. Right now, though, we need to head to the shoe department so that everyone can try on new shoes.”

    Mark wasn’t happy about not getting any ice cream. In fact, he was jealous of his brothers and little sister because they’d gotten a cone and he and Mattie hadn’t. He figured Mattie was probably upset about it, too, because she walked through the store behind Mom with her head down and shoulders slumped. Some things weren’t fair! The only thing that made Mark feel a little better was knowing that he’d be going home with a new pair of sneakers.He had told Mom that his old shoes were getting too tight, and even the little bit of walking they’d done so far today had made his feet hurt. Some new shoes that fit well should solve that problem, though.
    When they reached the shoe department, Mom helped Mattie and Ada find new shoes while Dad helped Mark, Calvin, Russell, and Perry choose. It didn’t take long for everyone to find a pair of shoes they liked—everyone but Mark, that is. All of the shoes he’d tried on had either been too big or too small. There wasn’t a single pair in his size!
    “It’s not fair,” Mark complained as Dad paid for their purchases. “I’m the one who needed new shoes the most, and I’m the only one in our family who didn’t get any shoes today.” He felt more envious now than ever. No ice cream and no shoes. What a big disappointment!
    “It’s all right,” Mom said. “We’ll look at the Shoe and Boot Store in Charm after you get home from school on Monday. Hopefully, they’ll have a pair of shoes there that will fit you.”
    “But I need them now,” Mark complained, tears welling in his eyes. It was hard to keep from blubbering like a baby. “My zehe hurt somethin’ awful.”
    “I have a temporary solution for your hurting toes,” Mom said. “You can wear Calvin’s old shoes until you get some new ones.”
    “I don’t wanna wear Calvin’s hand-me-down shoes.” Mark wrinkled his nose and made a face. “Calvin’s feet
schtinke.”
    “I’ll wash the shoes so they won’t smell bad,” Mom said, giving Mark a quick pat on the back.
    A lump formed in Mark’s throat. He wanted his own brand-new shoes, and he didn’t want to wait for them, either.
Well
, Mark thought,
at least this morning something went right. Mattie and I got a new light for our bike. If I would have agreed to buy a bell, I’d have nothin’ at all to show for coming here today
.
    On the way home, Mark had a hard time watching Russell, Calvin, and Mattie hold tightly to the box of new shoes on their laps. Mark knew that even Perry and Ada were happy as they sat beside Mom in the front of the buggy, chattering and giggling while they pointed to their new shoes.
    “Hey, would you look at that!” Dad exclaimed, pulling the horse and buggy onto the shoulder of the