Katerina's Wish Read Online Free Page A

head down and ran! I was panting by the time I burst into the kitchen. Momma looked up in alarm, but her expression shifted quickly to annoyance when she saw me cradling the cans of plums.
    â€œTrina! We don’t have money for such things!” she scolded. As soon as I could catch my breath, the whole story tumbled out of me.
    â€œHe said he’d be selling them for a penny a can, if Mr. Johnson hasn’t run him off yet.”
    â€œA penny a can!” Momma exclaimed. “That’s cheaper than anything else we can eat. Do you have any change left?”
    â€œI left a little in the money can,” I said. Momma reached for the can and got out the dime still there.
    â€œGo back and get as many cans as you can carry. Aneshka, you can start mixing the dough. We’ll have plum dumplings tonight after all.”
    Aneshka gave a little hop of delight and giggled. “Trina must have seen a magic carp in the washwater while she was daydreaming yesterday, Momma.”
    That’s when I remembered my dream. It flooded back into my mind with brilliant clarity: Aneshka wishing for plum dumplings at the pool by the tree. And here they were, exactly as she had said, all the plum dumplings she could eat. The first wish. But it had only been a dream, I was sure of that. This was only a coincidence.
    â€œCome on, Trina, don’t just stand there,” Momma prodded. “Go back and get more before they are all sold. Take Holena with you; she can help you carry.”
    I set out for the store again, Holena’s hand in mine and the money in my pocket, and I pushed the dream out of my mind. As I passed neighbors and houses with their doors open, I called out Mr. Torentino’s offer. Soon word was spreading and other women were hurrying down the hill with us. I was glad for their company, in case Mr. Johnson was still there, still shouting.
    At my side, Holena trotted to keep up. “Did you really see a magic carp in the washwater, Trina?” she asked. “Really?”
    â€œOf course not,” I said. I was annoyed that Aneshka had made such a joke in front of Holena. And I was annoyed that it felt true, even though I was too old to believe it.
    â€œBut Aneshka got her dumplings,” Holena said. “Do you think I will get my hair ribbons, too?” Her eyes were round and shining with hope. I hated telling her that her hope was fornothing, but how could I tell her otherwise? I turned my eyes back to the dusty road ahead of us.
    â€œWe had better hurry or there won’t be any plums left for us,” I said. I felt her hand slacken in mine and knew she was disappointed, but I didn’t look at her. I just kept walking.
    Mr. Torentino had moved his wagon across the street from Mr. Johnson’s store. Though the storekeeper was standing on his porch, glaring at the growing crowd of women around the wagon, there seemed to be nothing he could do about it. Mr. Torentino was in the back of the wagon, prying open crates and handing the cans to the women who were holding money up to him. I tried to blend into the crowd, but Mr. Torentino noticed me.
    â€œWell done, girl!” he called out over the heads of the gathering women. “Well done! And will you have more?”
    â€œYes, sir,” I said and held up my dime. He took it and handed down ten cans of plums, which I cradled in my apron as I worked my way out of the crowd. I could not help noticing Mr. Johnson watching with narrowed eyes. He hadn’t missed Mr. Torentino’s words, I was sure of it.
    â€œPapa will be surprised, won’t he?” Holena said.
    â€œHe will,” I agreed. Despite Mr. Johnson, I couldn’t help smiling to myself. Plum dumplings! We hadn’t had such a treat since arriving in America.
    â€œYou know what, Holena?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWe should make it a special night for Momma, too.”
    Holena’s eyes glowed at the thought. “How?”
    I