Mailbox Mania Read Free Page A

Tressler leaned forward. “Dear me—trouble in the cul-de-sac?”
    Abby shook her head. “This whole mailbox thing is a mistake!” She hurried down the steps and across the street.
    Stacy sprinted across her lawn and into her house.
    Dunkum didn’t let that stop him. He ran right up Stacy’s steps. He began to pound on the door!
    Dee Dee grabbed Abby’s arm and pulled on her. “Make them give me back my mailbox stuff!”
    â€œIs that Abe Lincoln’s beard and top hat?” Abby asked.
    Dee Dee nodded. “Stacy and Dunkum are fighting. They’re fighting over who’s gonna help me.”
    Abby felt helpless. What could she do?

NINE
    Abby stood there watching.
    She wanted to drag Dunkum down off Stacy’s steps. She wanted to shake him and tell him to stop.
    Poor Dee Dee , she thought. This is all my fault .
    â€œCan’t you do something?” Dee Dee pleaded.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Abby said. “Not now. I have to go in for lunch.” She headed across the yard.
    â€œAbby!” yelled Dee Dee.
    â€œGo ring Stacy’s doorbell,” Abby called. “Maybe she’ll talk to you .” Sadly, she headed home.

    Abby could hardly eat.
    Shawn and Jimmy sat across from each other at the table. They scowled.
    Carly whined and refused to look at Abby. All through lunch.
    Mother looked first at Abby, then the others. “What’s going on with the four of you?”
    Abby spoke up. “Everything’s horrible. We’re having a mailbox decorating contest. But nothing’s working out.”
    Carly smirked. “ My mailbox is ready.”
    Shawn shook his head. “We must make mailbox together. Four Hunter kids . . . together.”
    â€œRemember our meeting?” Abby said. “Remember what Eric said about workingtogether? We’re a family.”
    Carly poked out her bottom lip. “I wish we weren’t!”
    Mother’s eyebrows bounced up. “Carly Anne Hunter!”
    â€œWell, it’s true!” Carly wailed. And she got up and stomped off.
    Mrs. Hunter excused herself and left the table.
    Shawn’s eyes got big. Jimmy’s too.
    Abby felt like a jitterbox.

TEN
    It was the day before the Fourth.
    And the day before Mailbox Mania.
    Abby sat under a tree in the front yard. She stared at their mailbox. It was all red and white now. Like a flag.
    All the Hunter kids had decorated the mailbox. Mother’s talk with Carly had changed things. Everything!
    Abby was glad.
    Next door, Stacy’s mailbox was on display, too. It was blue with perfect white and red stars. And an American flag for the mailbox flag!
    Abby tried not to look at Stacy’s beautiful mailbox. But her eyes weren’t helping.
    Then Shawn and Jimmy brought the dog over. Snow White was panting. “She is very hot,” Shawn said.
    Jimmy just stood there. His eyes were blank.
    Abby nodded. “I’m hot, too. But not from the heat.” She shot a mean look at Jimmy.
    â€œYou are mad, yes?” Shawn said.
    â€œJimmy doesn’t like our mailbox,” Abby said. “I thought the fighting was over!”
    When Jimmy heard that, he ran across the street. He sat on Eric’s lawn and stared at them.
    Abby wished she were an only child. Like Stacy and Eric. And all the other Cul-de-sac Kids.

    When the mail came, Abby ran to get it. She reached for the letters. But there was something else inside.
    A present. With a bright red bow.
    â€œWhat’s this?” she said.
    Jimmy dashed over for a look. “Let me see.” He peered inside.
    â€œIt’s a present.” Abby took it out.
    Jimmy stood on tiptoes. “Is present for me?”
    Abby looked at the card. “It’s for you . . . and Carly, Shawn, and me.”
    Jimmy jumped up and down. “Yippee!”
    â€œQuick, let’s find the others,” Abby said.
    â€œOpen it!” Jimmy shouted.
    Abby dashed into the house.