A Place to Belong Read Online Free

kitchen. Then we’ll have to do our cooking out-of-doors.”
    “Oh, Alfrid,” Olga said with a giggle. “Enough of your teasing. Who’s going to dish up the bread pudding?”
    By the time the meal was over, the kitchen cleaned, and they’d said their good-byes to Mrs. Pratka, Danny was so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open; but Olga gave Danny and Peg a tour of the house, and Alfrid showed them around the farm.
    That evening the fireplace in the dining room was comforting, the flames casting shadows that jumped in and out of the dark corners of the room. Danny spooned in the hot beef soup Olga had served them, hoping he wouldn’t fall sound asleep at the table. Even Peg’s chatter had come to a halt.
    Peg dropped her spoon with a clatter. “I’m so tired,” she murmured.
    “Of course you are, dear,” Olga said, and immediately got up to help Peg from her chair. “I’ll take you upstairs right now and tuck you into bed.”
    “Better take Danny, too,” Alfrid said. “He’s about ready to turn his soup plate into a pillow.”
    Danny pulled himself up in his chair. “I’ll help with the dishes,” he said.
    “Not tonight,” Alfrid said firmly. “It’s up to bed with you. Your room is next to Peg’s.”
    “Can’t Danny sleep with me?” Peg asked. At home all the children had shared the same bed.
    “From now on you and Danny will have your own rooms,” Alfrid told her.
    Peg’s lower lip quivered. Alfrid picked her up and swung her to his shoulder. “She’s overtired,” he said to Olga. “She’ll be asleep by the time her head touches the pillow.”
    Olga picked up a lamp and went ahead of them up the stairs. She lit the lamp in Danny’s room, then kissed him softly on his forehead. “Good night, Danny. Sleep well,” she said. “There’s water in the basin so you can wash, and I’ve put your clothes into the chest. Your nightshirt is on top. If there’s anything you need, please call us.”
    Danny nodded, glad when the door closed behind her. As quickly as he could manage, he pulled off his clothes, tugged on his nightshirt, and dove under the quilt on his bed. He’d save the washing up for some other time.
    He heard footsteps going down the stairs and Alfrid’s and Olga’s voices murmuring together. Then in the silence, through the wall of his room, he heard Peg crying.
    “Peg,” he said. “Peg, can you hear me?”
    There was a snuffling whimper and a creak of her bed before she answered, “Yes.”
    “Stop crying. It won’t help. And you’ve got to go to sleep.”
    “But I’m lonely.”
    “You won’t be if you’re asleep.” Danny’s eyelids were so heavy they ached.
    “Come and sleep with me, Danny,” Peg begged.
    “I can’t. We’re supposed to sleep in our own rooms.”
    Peg began to cry softly again. “I miss Ma,” she moaned. “I miss Frances and Megan.”
    Danny struggled to sit up. “Be quiet,” he said. “They’ll hear you downstairs.” He waited a minute, but Peg’s sobs didn’t stop.
    “All right. I’m coming,” he groaned and slid from the bed, wincing as his feet hit the cold plank floor.
    Danny stealthily opened his door. There was enough light coming from the hall downstairs so that he could find his way to Peg’s room. He opened the door and shut it just as quietly, stifling a cry as he stubbed his toe against the end of her bed.
    Peg scrambled up to cling to him. “Get back in bed,” he ordered. Danny squirmed from one position to another, trying to get comfortable on her bed. “I can’t sleep here,” he complained. “This bed’s too narrow.”
    “Don’t leave me,” Peg insisted. “We can pull the quilt off the bed and sleep on the floor.”
    “Don’t be silly,” Danny said. “Here. I’ll curl up next to your feet. Just don’t kick.” He tugged the bottom end of the quilt over him.
    “I won’t. I promise,” Peg whispered.
    “You always do,” Danny mumbled.
    “I do not,” he heard Peg say. If she said anything