The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm Read Online Free Page A

‘ready’?”
    “You’ll see,” said Jessie.
    “You’ll see,” said Henry.
    “What will I do?” asked William.
    “You’ll see!” the children said together, laughing.
    “And who will be a clown?” asked Jake.
    “You’ll see!” they all said, shrieking with happiness.
    Benny fell backward on the bed in an excited heap. Joe licked his face.
    “We’ll invite Rubin and Belle. That’s his wife. And his grandchildren are visiting. And Thomas and Elliot from down the road. Remember? They’re in our class at school. Everyone can come!” said Jessie. “Maybe we could sell tickets.”
    “No tickets,” said Papa, shaking his head. “No one has money for such things.”
    “ We can’t even afford tickets,” said Jake with a smile.
    “Then it will be a free circus!” said Violet. “I can’t wait. The very first free circus in town!”
    Mama laughed.
    “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow for planning. Go to sleep! Hush, everyone.”
    There was quiet in the bedroom after Mama, Papa, Sarah, and Jake left.
    Joe yawned a dog yawn with a squeak at the end. It was still quiet.
    “I like living in this small dot of a town,” said William after a while.
    “So do I,” said Meg.
    “Do you, Henry? Jessie?” asked Meg.
    There was silence.
    Henry and Jessie were asleep.
    More silence.
    And then Benny whispered.
    “I do.”

Chapter 7
Betty Joins the Circus
    It was vacation, but everyone was up. Everyone was busy.
    Jessie unrolled her very long list. It almost touched the floor.
    “My list has grown!”
    “I’ll say,” said Henry, laughing.
    Jessie read the list out loud.
    “Circus List. One: Costumes for clowns? Who will the clowns be? Two: How do we make clown wigs? Yarn? Does Mama have yarn? Three: How do we make an elephant trunk? Paper?”
    “Papa’s big, gray winter socks!” shouted Benny.
    “Benny’s right. We can stuff them,” said Violet. “Then sew up the ends,” said Meg.
    “What if he’s wearing them?” asked William.
    “We’ll tickle him and take them away!” said Benny.
    Everyone laughed.
    “Can I be the animal trainer?” asked Benny.
    Jessie smiled.
    “What do you know about animal training?” she asked.
    Benny stood up.
    “Come, Joe,” he said.
    Joe came and sat in front of Benny.
    Benny held out his arm.
    “Go,” said Benny.
    Joe jumped over Benny’s arm, turned around, and jumped over again.
    Jessie was so surprised she couldn’t speak. So was Meg.
    “I never ever saw Joe do a trick in his whole life,” said Meg.
    “Well, he does tricks now,” said William. “I think we should vote Benny as the animal trainer!”
    “Yay!” said Benny.
    “Yay!” they all said.
    Mama and Sarah baked for the circus party. Papa and Jake worked on the barn roof, and the children worked, too.
    Violet sewed in the bedroom.
    Meg worked with Betty behind the barn where no one could see.
    “What is she doing?” asked Sarah.
    “Don’t know,” said Jake. “It’s a secret.”
    “Even from us?” asked Sarah.
    “Mostly from us,” said Jake.
    Benny and Joe worked in the backyard, Joe happy with bites of leftover dinner.
    Henry juggled with three and four cloth balls sewn and stuffed by Violet.
    Jessie and William sat with their heads close to each other, writing and laughing secret things.

    The list grew longer.
    Two days of this.
    Their neighbor Rubin came by.
    “I hear there is an event,” he called up to Papa and Jake, who were hammering shingles on the barn roof.
    “There is,” called Papa. “How did you know?”
    “There’s a sign on my fence post,” said Rubin.
    Papa and Jake laughed.
    “You coming?” asked Papa.
    “I wouldn’t miss it,” said Rubin. “Belle is coming. The grandchildren, too. We’ll bring cookies and a jug of lemonade.”
    “Bring a chair for Belle, too,” said Papa.
    Rubin laughed.
    “And one for me.”
    Mama and Sarah brought trays of sandwiches out under the red maple tree for lunch. They spread blankets on the ground.
    “Do you have