Call Me Amy Read Online Free Page A

sniffed loudly. “I glued it.”
    I peeked up through my hair. “I wanted to sneak it back.” I dragged my sleeve across my face and tried to pull myself together. Miss Cogshell stood silent. My temples began to throb. I counted the cuckoos coming from a clock in another room.
    Then, before I could grasp what was happening, Miss Cogshell’s enormous arms surrounded me in a hug. They even smelled like bread dough, I thought, just before I wondered if I’d be smothered. Not having been hugged since I was a little kid, my emotions must have got all messed up. Next thing I knew, I had pulled away and nearly burst into tears.
    â€œYou are an honest young lady,” said Miss Cogshell, as she picked up the moose. I could feel her watching me. “I want you to have this moose to remind you of that honesty.” Miss Cogshell put the moose into my hand. I held it, and wondered what had just taken place. It wasn’t like me to cry or to talk so much.
    â€œSometime, Amy, maybe—that is, if you visit again—I’ll tell you all the stories of these little chinaanimals.” She pushed back a wisp of white hair that had escaped her bun as she bent to gaze at the animals with fondness. “They come from all over the world. Some children would not appreciate that sort of thing, but I can tell, you and I are two of a kind.” I watched her face with its strong features as she spoke, and realized she wasn’t that ugly after all.
    As I got ready to leave, I wondered about this and then suddenly thought of something else. “Miss Cogshell, you said I had my grandmother’s eyes.”
    â€œYou do.”
    â€œBut . . . ”
    â€œNot the color, the intensity. Whenever something was bothering Rosie, or she was getting ready to ask an important question, her eyes would blaze like the dickens. Then just as quickly, they would settle back down into peaceful pools.”
    I smiled as I left the little house once again. This time I didn’t bother to check whether anyone was watching.
    As I reached the dock, the empty horizon caught my eye. Where were the boats today? Strolling out to the end of the pier, I pulled my parka tight against the strong breeze. I sat down and dangled my feet over the water, startling a seagull that was perched just below. Its cry cut through the silence as it flew out over the rough churning whitecaps and melted into the distance. The crisp salt air refreshed me. I watched a stout manclimb into his moored boat, wind up fish line, stack some lobster traps, and then spit into the water. He undid the ropes and started his engine. My eyes followed the boat putt-putt-putting until it was out of sight. I was still gazing out over the icy water when I heard the creaking of the dock boards behind me.

5
    â€œH EY , S HRIMP, WHATCHA lookin’ for?” I spun around to find Craig Miller coming towards me. I noticed his bike lying in the dirt just before the pier. Why did he always have to catch me moping around by myself? Miss Unpopular.
    â€œJust looking,” I answered, turning back to the ocean. We both remained silent for a minute while I tried to remember how many zits I had counted that morning.
    â€œBet you’d love to spot a harbor seal.” Craig pushed a hand through his wish-I-had-it thick, blond hair. His bangs hung down in his eyes, so he was constantly shoving them out of the way. I suppose it would have been too easy to get a haircut.
    I tilted my head up to see him. “Isn’t it too cold for them?” My teeth began to chatter, one of those stupid things I do when I’m nervous. I was glad he would think it was only the chilly air.
    â€œNah, they’re year round. They just swim around under the water and pop up through a hole once in a while. If it’s frozen solid they swim towards deeper water.” Craig stuffed his hands into the pockets of his army jacket as he scanned the horizon. His big ocean-colored