Rebecca's Rashness Read Online Free

Zinnia said, "but don't be surprised if we come back with all fish. I'm thinking we should become pescatarians, people who eat fish but no meat. It's the cats' suggestion. They say they're uncomfortable with us eating animals that can walk on four legs."
    "Can we get a birdcage?" Petal asked.
    "No," Annie said.
    "But this splitting-up system doesn't make sense," Georgia objected. "If Zinnia's the one with the cart, what are the rest of us supposed to do?"
    "When your arms are full," Annie said, "you go find Zinnia and dump your items in the cart, then you go back for more."
    "You didn't assign anyone the task of getting pink frosting," Rebecca pointed out.
    "By all means," Annie said, "add it to your and Georgia's list. I'm sure we'd all hate for you to starve. Okay, gang." Annie clapped her hands. "Let's go divide and conquer."
    It felt odd splitting up, since we were almost always all eight together everywhere, unless one of us got temporarily taken by an evil person or some such. Still, who knew what great things we might accomplish if we did this divide-and-conquer thing Annie was suggesting?
    ***
    "Do you think Annie will notice if we slip a birdcage into the cart?" Petal asked as Zinnia struggled with a twenty-five-pound bag of kibble, finally stowing it in the bottom of the cart.
    "Yes," Zinnia said, a little out of breath from her efforts. "What do you want a birdcage for anyway? The only birds we ever have around the place are the carrier pigeons that come bearing notes, and I doubt any of them would enjoy living in a cage."
    "I don't know," Petal said. "Haven't you ever wanted anything just for the sake of wanting it?"
    Now this was something Zinnia could understand.
    "All the time," Zinnia confessed freely. "Okay, what's next?"
    "Meats," Petal said, "or I suppose fish since you said we shouldn't eat meat anymore."
    "Do you think the cats would also object to us eating fish?" Zinnia wondered aloud. "After all, fish are animals too."
    "I don't see why," Petal said. "Cats would eat fish all the time if they could get it, so I don't see why they would object to us doing it. Of course, cats will eat spiders too if they can get them but I don't think I want to try spider pizza anytime soon."
    "Good point," Zinnia said.
    ***
    "There are so many different kinds of orange juice," Marcia observed. "Calcium-enriched, pulp, some pulp, no p ulp—how is a person to decide?"
    "You're right," Annie said. "It is a bit much. Georgia and Rebecca are getting the fresh produce. I'm sure they'll get oranges because Georgia always likes to practice juggling with them. She says it's good practice for the day we're all forced to join the circus. Perhaps Durinda can just squeeze fresh for us this week? How much extra work can that be?"
    ***
    "Georgia," Rebecca said, "would you stop juggling those oranges and get a move on? We need to get home so I can continue with preparing for my—"
    "Yes, yes." Georgia cut her off. "What's next on the list?"
    "Bread and baked goods," Rebecca replied.
    A few minutes later, as Rebecca and Georgia debated the merits of plain bagels versus flavored ones, a smell drifted by that was very familiar and much hated:
    Fruitcake.
    Rebecca's and Georgia's heads snapped up in time to see our evil toadstool of a neighbor, the Wicket, placing a fruitcake in a cart that was already filled to over-brimming with fruitcakes.
    The Wicket's head snapped up in time to catch them looking.
    "Petal, Zinnia," she said in greeting.
    What a double mistake to make! The Wicket never could get us straight.
    Naturally, Rebecca and Georgia glared at her over this.
    "Stop looking at me like that!" the Wicket said, wheel-

    ing her cart around and hurrying away. "Your whole family freaks me out!"
    ***
    Durinda's arms were filled with boxes of Razzle Crunchies and Jackie's were filled with cans of tuna and crushed pineapple as they rounded a corner and ran smack into the McG and the Mr. McG.
    "Hello, Eights," the McG said. "Or should I