Lucy’s Wish Read Online Free Page B

They waited to hear what Miss Kelly would tell them.
    Daisy clutched Lucy’s arm and whispered, “Virginia got chosen. Why didn’t we?”
    Lucy didn’t answer, but she thought she knew. She had watched Virginia. Virginia had smiled and talked to the people who stopped in front of her.
    Miss Kelly had told them that there would be two more stops. Lucy took a deep breath to steady herself. She wouldn’t let herself become so scaredat the next stop. She’d look at the people who paused to talk to her. She’d do her best to smile.
    This time she’d
make
her wish come true.
    â€œWe’ll catch the midmorning train tomorrow,” Miss Kelly said. Then she matched the children with adults who had offered to put them up for the night.
    Lucy and Daisy walked with Mrs. Judson, who lived just down the street from the Methodist church. Mrs. Judson didn’t say much to them. However, she led Lucy and Daisy into her kitchen and fed them big bowls of tasty mutton stew. When they had eaten all they wanted, Mrs. Judson showed them her guest bedroom, where they’d spend the night.
    â€œThere are clean towels by the washbasin and pitcher,” she said. “If you need anything else, just call me.”
    She left the room, closing the door behind her.
    Daisy stared openmouthed at the matching pitcher and basin. “Hand-painted china!” she exclaimed. “Look at all those pink rosebuds!” Shebacked away. “I can’t wash my face in that basin. I’d get the rosebuds dirty.”
    â€œThat’s what you’re supposed to do,” Lucy said. She turned slowly so she could look at everything in the room. There were lace curtains at the window and bright quilts on the beds. In one corner was a small writing desk and chair.
    â€œOh, how beautiful!” Lucy whispered.
    Daisy’s eyes brightened. “Do you think Mrs. Judson might want to adopt a girl?” She glanced at Lucy. “Maybe two girls?”
    â€œMrs. Judson could have chosen a child if she wanted to,” Lucy said.
    Daisy looked around the room again and sighed with delight. “Wouldn’t this be a grand house to live in, Lucy?” she asked.
    Lucy thought for just a moment. Then she said, “It is a grand house, but it doesn’t have what I want in it. I want a mother and father and a little sister.”
    Daisy smiled. “There
is
a Mr. Judson,” she said. “I heard somebody say he’s a banker. Sothere’s your mother and father. And I could be your little sister.”
    Lucy shook her head again, but she smiled. Mrs. Judson wasn’t exactly what Lucy had hoped for in a mother, and Mr. Judson she hadn’t seen at all. But Daisy would make a good little sister.
    â€œTomorrow morning I’m going to tell Mrs. Judson how happy her house would be with two daughters in it,” Daisy said. “You’ll have to smile, too. And be helpful.”
    â€œAll right,” Lucy said.
    Daisy pulled off her shoes and dress and tossed them on the floor. Then she dove into bed. “Good night, Lucy,” she said, and giggled. “Tomorrow we may have a new mother.”
    Even though the early-evening sky was still light, Lucy was exhausted. She undressed. Then, sinking into the soft, beautiful bed, she pulled the quilt up to her chin.
    Lucy wondered if Mrs. Judson would like children in her house. She and Daisy would be good,helpful daughters and do their best to make Mr. and Mrs. Judson happy parents. With a smile on her face, Lucy fell sound asleep.
    The morning light awakened her. She jumped from bed, surprised to find that Daisy was already up and dressed.
    Lucy washed her face and hands in the basin and put on her clothing.
    â€œShould we fold the bed linens?” Daisy asked. “We want Mrs. Judson to think we’re very helpful.”
    â€œWe want her to think we’re clean, too,” Lucy said. “Wash your hands and