I and Sproggy Read Online Free

I and Sproggy
Book: I and Sproggy Read Online Free
Author: Constance C. Greene
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She’s your age. A nice kid, really, You’ll like her. I think. In any event, I’d like you to more or less take her under your wing. Show her the ropes, be kind to her. Can you do that for me? I’m very fond of Sproggy.”
    Do you love her more than me? Adam wanted to ask. And didn’t. Instead he said, “I don’t know. That’s a lot of things. Why does she have that dopey name?”
    â€œOh, it’s one of those things that begins in childhood and then sticks, I guess.”
    The waiter brought their dinner. “Everything all right, sir?” he asked.
    â€œEverything’s fine, thank you.”
    The waiter went away.
    â€œYou might think, when you meet her, that Sproggy’s not in need of any looking after. She seems very grown-up, very much in charge.” His father began to eat. Adam did the same. The pot au feu was pretty good. He was glad he hadn’t had hamburger. You had to be adventurous once in a while if you wanted to get anywhere in life, he decided.
    â€œBut she’s really not so grown-up, and I think she could use a friend. I told Arabella I was going to ask this favor of you, Adam.” His father extracted a snail from its shell and said, “Would you like to try one?”
    Adam shook his head. He wasn’t that adventurous.
    â€œWe’d both feel much better about Sproggy if we knew you’d look out for her at first,” his father said. “I’ve told Arabella so much about you. We’d be grateful if you’d keep an eye on her for a couple of weeks.”
    â€œI’ll try, Dad,” Adam said. I don’t want to, he thought. I wish Dad hadn’t asked me. “I don’t think I can do much, though,” he said.
    â€œWell, thanks. That’s a relief.”
    They finished their dinner. “How about some dessert?” his father asked.
    â€œI’m full,” Adam said. It was all that bread.
    â€œYou can’t manage a confection of whipped cream and chocolate?”
    The waiter presented Adam with just such a confection, and he demolished it.
    â€œThat’s a little soldier. I knew you could do it.” The check arrived, and Adam watched as his father piled bills in a heap on the tray. All that for one meal.
    â€œAre you up to a movie?”
    â€œMom said you couldn’t take any blood and violence,” Adam said. “That sort of limits us.”
    â€œHave you ever seen Charlie Chaplin?”
    â€œNo,” Adam said.
    â€œThat’s good. This will be your first exposure.” They walked a few blocks and saw The Gold Rush .
    â€œIt was the best movie I ever saw,” Adam said as they walked home. “Wait’ll I tell Kenny and Steve what they’re missing.”
    He thanked his father for a great time. “See you tomorrow,” he said. “It was the best.” That night Adam dreamed he was walking up the steps of Gracie Mansion. The windows were lit and music was playing. When he got inside, the Mayor, a little man with a mustache, dressed in a black suit and a derby, and carrying a cane, greeted him.

CHAPTER 4
    â€œHow come we’re using napkins that have to be ironed?” Adam asked next morning. “Instead of paper ones?”
    â€œUse your head,” his mother said. “One doesn’t use paper napkins at a time like this.”
    He thought of asking, “Why?” and decided against it.
    â€œI might have to leave after lunch,” he said. “I and Kenny have a date.”
    She grasped him by the shoulder. For a small woman she was pretty strong.
    â€œNow you listen to me,” she said from between tight lips. “There’ll be no skinning out of this one.”
    She surveyed the table critically. “It’ll have to do,” she said. The doorbell rang. She jumped. Adam froze.
    â€œThat’s them,” he whispered.
    His mother arranged a smile on her face.
    â€œLook pleasant,” she
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