Staying Together Read Free

smile.
    â€œAll right,” said Flora briskly, clapping her hands. “Let’s get down to business.” She plopped onto one of the couches.
    â€œDown to what business?” asked Ruby.
    â€œDecorating the window. That’s why we’re here.”
    â€œWell, excuse me if I don’t understand every little thing you talk about,” Ruby replied grouchily, and returned to her iPod.
    â€œHow are you going to help us if you’re listening to music?” asked Flora.
    Olivia stood up suddenly. “Oh, look! Nikki’s here.” She sounded relieved.
    The Fongs left and Nikki entered the store, removing her hat, which caused her fine hair to dance around her face.
    â€œStatic electricity,” said Nikki. “It’s driving me crazy. I can’t wait until the weather is warm again.”
    â€œTechnically, spring is already here,” Olivia pointed out.
    â€œWhich is why
we’re
here,” said Flora. “The spring window. Now, what I thought we could do is make a garden of gigantic fabric flowers, stick them to the window —”
    â€œHow?” interrupted Ruby, who was still listening to her music.
    â€œWhy does everyone keep asking that?” said Flora.
    â€œIt’s a good question,” said Nikki. “How are we going to stick something to the window? Anything we use — tape or whatever — is going to show through the glass.”
    â€œHuh,” said Flora. “You’re right. Well, we’ll think of something.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t want to make a garden,” said Ruby.
    Flora glared at her. “Maybe the rest of us do.”
    Ruby shrugged again. “Okay. You guys go ahead.”
    â€œNo, Ruby. You
have
to help us,” said Olivia pleadingly. “Making flowers will be fun. Come on, let’s go find the boxes of supplies in the storeroom.”
    Ruby got to her feet.
    â€œMin?” called Flora. “Can we have —”
    But she was interrupted by the jangling of the bell and turned to see Mr. Pennington.
    â€œGood morning, girls,” he said, removing his hat.
    â€œHi,” replied Flora and Nikki in unison. Nikki added, “Nothing at Sheltering Arms yet.”
    â€œWell, I appreciate your looking — for an older dog,” Mr. Pennington reminded her. “Since I’m older.”
    â€œI know,” said Nikki. “No problem.”
    â€œAnd on the smaller side,” added Mr. Pennington.
    â€œI promise we’ll find just the right one.”
    Mr. Pennington was still standing by the door when the bell jangled yet again and in walked Mrs. Grindle, who owned Stuff ’n’ Nonsense across the street.
    From behind her, Flora heard Ruby hiss, “Hide!” She turned to see her sister, who was struggling along an aisle of fabric with a carton labeled DECORATIONS , come to an abrupt halt at the sight of Mrs. Grindle. But there was nowhere to hide. Worse, Flora thought Mrs. Grindle had heard Ruby. Mrs. Grindle said nothing, though, just trained her beady eyes on Min and marched across the store.
    â€œI have had it up to here!” she announced.
    â€œGood morning, Gina” was Min’s reply. (Flora stared hard at the floor. If she had looked at Nikki she would have started laughing.) “What’s the matter?”
    â€œWell, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another. People littering —
in the store
,” said Mrs. Grindle. “People talking on their cell phones all day long, people looking forever and not buying a thing. What has happened to manners?”
    â€œYup. People are pigs,” whispered Nikki, and Flora had to run to the storeroom so she could laugh without being heard by Mrs. Grindle.
    The morning passed pleasantly. Mrs. Grindle finished complaining and left the store. Old Mary Woolsey stopped by to pick up a pile of clothing that customers had dropped off for mending and altering. Flora, Olivia, Nikki, and Ruby