Just Claire Read Online Free

home, hung at eye level. Across the bottom in bold letters was written “California State Flower.” ClaireLee loved to pronounce her own stateflower: mahonia , Oregon grape.
    Now, Teacher’s wavy hair bobbed as she read the note. Thinking she’d been dismissed, ClaireLee stepped toward an empty desk on the left side of the room. But, the teacher touched ClaireLee’s arm and pressed with a firm hand. “Welcome, I’m Mrs. Reed.”
    To ClaireLee’s bewilderment, Mrs. Reed placed a palm on ClaireLee’s shoulders and made her face the class. “Like many of our students,” Mrs. Reed said, “ClaireLee Monteiro is here for the school year while her father helps build the new tunnel.”
    Patting ClaireLee, Mrs. Reed pointed. “See this, Claire? This is a drawing of the finished tunnel and new road.” She walked over to a map next to the blackboard. “Soon, this road through the mountain will bring more traffic to our community. This is progress, and a grand welcome to the new decade of the 1960s.” Reaching out, she shook ClaireLee’s hand. “Welcome to Gallagher Springs Elementary, Miss Monteiro.”
    Weak in her knees from the dozens of eyes coming to their own conclusions about her, she said, “Thank you.”
    Mrs. Reed waggled a finger to the back of the room. “Belinda Cruz will escort you around the school until you’re familiar with our routine.”
    Rising to her feet, Bossy Peacoat crossed her arms. “We met.”
    â€œGood,” Mrs. Reed said. “Claire, take a seat here at the front. Let’s begin with ‘The Pledge of Allegiance’ followed by arithmetic.”
    Rising from their seats, everyone stood and placed a hand over their heart and recited.
    Quivering, ClaireLee remained standing at her empty desk, while voices drone on about the flag, one nation, and justice. She didn’t belong in a new school for she missed her old one and all her friends. Besides, Mama hadn’t been home to give ClaireLee the proper send-off before a long day. No hugs and kisses. No “I’ll sure miss you.”
    With Peacoat as her guide, ClaireLee wondered if the day could get any worse.

3
    UNDER HIS WINGS
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    A fter the pledge , Mrs. Reed handed ClaireLee a sixth-grade arithmetic book. “Page twenty, Claire.”
    One good thing about this school, she liked the way her new teacher said just “Claire.” Yet, her thoughts would not, could not, stay with school. Mama. Baby. Daddy and Mama and the baby. Lolly. The poster of poppy flowers blurred like a rainy day, and she pressed her top teeth to her lower lip. I should be at the cabin waiting for Mama . Should have taken a chance of upsetting Daddy.
    She replayed the scene in her mind—poor Mama in the bed, before Daddy shooed ClaireLee out of the room. The grimace Mama wore as she moaned with birth pains, sweat beaded across her lined forehead. Now, blinking back more tears, ClaireLee decided to imagine the best—her mama resting in the hospital with the baby tucked in her arms. Mama’s guardian angel is with her.
    As the clock’s second hand ticked, Mrs. Reed worked with the fourth-grade side of the class. ClaireLee peeked to her right. One student with a stack of blonde curls wiggled her fingers in a wave, her face intent on ClaireLee’s. ClaireLee’s mouth twitched.
    Stack of Curls walked to the pencil sharpener. Returning, she pressed a folded paper on the page of ClaireLee’s book.
    ClaireLee covered the note with a hand. When Mrs. Reed took no notice, she unfolded it and read: DURING FIRST BREAK, FOLLOW ME TO THE PLAYGROUND AND MEET THE LAVENDER GIRLS. Will I make friends on the first day? But what if I don’t care for them? What if they don’t like me? She shifted her shoulders and made a face.
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    A t the sound of the bell, someone grabbed ClaireLee from behind. “C’mon. I’m in charge of