A Big Year for Lily Read Online Free

Dannie looked at each other, jaws opened wide, then they doubled up with laughter. “Only a girl would think a bunny is a bear!” Joseph said, between fits of laughter.
    â€œOnly a girl!” Dannie echoed, like he always did.
    Even baby Paul started to giggle, which got Papa and Mama grinning.
    Lily’s face grew hot, as if she were standing too close to Mama’s stove. She was humiliated. She didn’t think any of them understood how frightening a bunny could sound in the dark woods.

4 Lily’s Perfect Day Unravels
    T here was a little less evening now in late August, a warning of summer’s end. Joseph took that warning to heart and was determined to live every day twice over before he lost his freedom to the schoolhouse. Lily thought he was being dramatic. She couldn’t understand how anyone couldn’t like school. Joseph kept himself scarce from the house, where Mama was sewing up a storm of new school clothes.
    The first day of school came on a beautiful sunny morning. Lily could hardly wait. She held the silky white curtain back with one hand as she stood by the living room window, waiting for her cousins, Levi and Hannah, to walk down the road. All summer long, Lily had looked forward to having Levi and Hannah join school.
    Bong, bong, bong  . . . She turned and glanced at the clock. Eight bongs. What if Hannah and Levi were late? It would be terrible to be late on the very first day of school. Lily peeredout the window and breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Levi and Hannah round the bend. Lily grabbed her bonnet and lunch pail and darted out the door. She tossed a goodbye over her shoulder to Mama.
    Joseph was outside, swinging on the porch swing. He was trying to squeeze every last drop out of summer, not at all excited about school starting. Lily did not understand that brother of hers. Slowly, he picked up his lunch box and trailed behind Lily to the end of the driveway. They waited for Levi and Hannah to catch up to them.
    The first thing that went through Lily’s mind was that Hannah’s new purple dress was much prettier than her own brown one. But she knew what Mama would have to say about that:
    Lily, can’t you think about how wonderful it is to have your cousin here instead of what you are wearing?
    Yes, Mama .
    But she couldn’t. She wanted Hannah’s purple dress. “Hannah, are you excited for school?” Lily asked.
    â€œNot really,” Hannah said. “I want to help my mother bake pies and cookies today. And I’d rather play outside than have to sit at a desk all day.”
    That was shocking news to Lily. Baking cookies and pies was fine but then came washing dishes. Lots and lots of dishes. Besides, how could anyone not love school? She reminded herself that Hannah hadn’t attended school in two years, and the last teacher she’d had was Teacher Katie . . . who was horrible. “School is lots and lots of fun. We get to learn new things. Teacher Rhoda is a very nice teacher. We play with our friends at recess. We can read library books when we get done with all our lessons. And we get to eat special lunches that Mama packs every day. Best of all, we don’t have to wash dishes.”
    Lily skipped a few steps. “I like helping Mama work, but school is so much more fun.” She didn’t think that now was the time to mention two individuals who made school very stressful: Effie Kauffman and Aaron Yoder. At any given moment, Lily could be minding her own business and one or the other would create some horrible mischief that was often targeted at her. “This year will be even better. You’re here! We’re both in fourth grade so we’ll get to sit together, eat together, have recess together.” In other words, Effie and Aaron wouldn’t bother Lily as much. Naturally, she didn’t say that to Hannah. There would be plenty of time for the terrible truth.
    â€œWhat are you