Paris Summer Read Online Free Page A

“American.”
With resignation, Janine ordered a hamburger and
Coke along with the others.
    “How long will you be in Paris, Jenny?” Alan asked
after the food arrived.
    “I’m not sure,” she answered. “The school year
doesn’t start until September, of course, so I could stay
until then. But I don’t know if I will. I think I’ll visit a
few other countries in Europe, but I’m not sure which
or when. I must sound pretty disorganized but I…”
She stopped, abruptly aware that she did not want to
discuss Phil. “I had a lot on my mind until just before I
came.
    It sounded lame even to Janine and Rena, guessing
the problem, jumped in. “How long are you staying in
Paris, Sandy?”
    “I don’t know either. My father said to stay a few
months and gave me plenty to live on. I’m supposed to
visit most of Western Europe but, like Jenny, I don’t
know when I’ll go where. Depends on what I find to
keep me here. To tell you the truth, I don’t see the point
of traipsing all over Europe visiting countries where I
can’t speak the language and don’t know anyone who
does. At least in Paris Alan can always help me out. So
I suppose I’ll spend most of my time in Paris. I can always read about the countries I don’t get to. Dad’ll
ask me lots of questions, of course, but he’s never been
to Europe so I can get away with it.”

    “How is your article coming, Rena?” Alan asked,
changing the subject.
    “Fine,” Rena answered hastily, happy not to have to
respond to Sandy’s surprising declaration.
    “She’s writing about the French educational
system,” Alan explained to Sandy.
    “I finally got the interview I needed yesterday and I
should have the thing polished off in a few more days,”
Rena continued. “Of course, Jenny being here is a good
excuse to goof off.”
    They all laughed, and then Rena delivered a lecture
on the differences between French and American
schools.
    It was with relief that Janine stepped out of the noisy
Drugstore a little later. “Where to next?” Alan
demanded. “Walk to the Tuileries along the ChampsElysees?”
    “No!” Rena protested. “My feet are killing me. I
don’t know about Jenny, but I’m taking the Metro
back to St. Germain des Pres right now.”
    “I am tired,” Janine admitted. “I think I’ll go back
with you, Rena.”
    “Well, then, I guess we’ll have to split up,” Alan said.
“Sandy and I are going to keep going. What are you
planning for tomorrow?”
    “Marche aux Puces,” Rena answered.
    “You’re on your own!” Alan said emphatically. He
turned to Sandy. “If I know Rena, they’ll spend hours
there.”
    “Maybe we can get together in a few days,” Sandy
suggested, looking at Janine. “I’ll call.”

    Janine was relieved to find the Metro cleaner,
quieter, and more efficient than the New York City
subway system.
    “You’ll find,” Rena explained, “that no matter
where you want to go in Paris, you can get there either
by bus, Metro, or walking.”
    “Speaking of walking,” Janine said, “how can Alan
intend to keep going?”
    Rena smiled shrewdly. “I suspect that `sightseeing’
means finding a cafe and sitting and watching the
women go by.”
    “And hoping to pick one up?” Janine hazarded.
    “You’ve figured out Alan, all right,” Rena answered
laughingly. “Yes, that’s his favorite pastime, and his
girl friend just has to get used to it.”
    Tired, they were both quiet until it was time to
change trains at Chatelet. “We’re lucky,” Rena said,
“it’s a `short’ change. Sometimes you have to walk
forever to get from one line to another. By the way, I
hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to get off at Odeon
and stop at the market on our way back to the
apartment. We’ll have to go sometime today and
there’s no point in climbing those stairs more than we
have to.”
    “Fine,” Janine said emphatically, remembering the
stairs.
    “I think