The Doll Shop Downstairs Read Online Free Page B

“It would be fun.”
    â€œBut that fan ...” says Trudie. There’s the familiar whine creeping into her voice again.
    â€œWell if Trudie doesn’t say yes, then we can’t buy it,” Sophie says. She sounds annoyed.
    â€œThat’s true,” Mama says.
    â€œYou’re so stubborn,” says Sophie angrily. I’m surprised. Usually I’m the one to lose my temper with Trudie, not my oh-so-perfect big sister.
    â€œAm not!” Trudie says angrily.
    â€œAre too!” says Sophie. Her voice is loud, and a lady with a little boy turns to look.
    â€œSophie, please lower your voice,” says Mama.
    â€œGirls, you have to stop this right now,” Papa says. He turns to Mama and adds, “Maybe a trip to the toy store wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
    â€œYes, it was. Only Trudie had to go and spoil it.” Sophie lowers her voice, but it is clear that she is still angry. The woman and the boy have wandered away.
    â€œYou’re mean!” says Trudie. Her eyes fill with tears.
    â€œOh, now she’s going to cry,” says Sophie. “Crybaby!”
    â€œI ... am ... not ... a crybaby!” Trudie says. But she starts to cry anyway, big, fat tears that streak her face and drip off her chin.
    I am stunned. I have never seen Sophie so upset with Trudie. It’s a little frightening.
    â€œThat’s enough, Sophie,” says Mama sharply. “I think we have to leave. Now.”
    â€œWhat about our presents?” Sophie asks. “You promised.”
    â€œYes, I did. But not if you girls are going to fight this way.”
    I look at Trudie, who is trying so hard to stop her tears. Suddenly, I am struck by just how young she really is. Why, she was even afraid of the ticket chopper. Trudie doesn’t mean to be so much trouble, I realize with some surprise. She just can’t help it. I feel a strange, new tenderness toward my baby sister.
    â€œMay I say something?” I ask Mama.
    â€œAll right,” Mama agrees.
    â€œSophie, you really want the tea set, don’t you?” I say to my big sister. She nods.
    I get another surprise when I see that there are tears in her eyes, too.
    â€œBut, Trudie, you’re not sure if you want it. And it’s hard for you to figure out if you want it when Sophie is so angry at you.”
    â€œThat’s right,” says Trudie. “It is nice.... But I’m still not sure....”
    â€œDo you remember the tea party we had the day that it rained?”
    â€œWe had fun,” Trudie says. Her voice is still quivery, but her tears have stopped.
    â€œWe did! And if we had this tea set, a real tea set, we could have fun like that again. Maybe even more fun,” I say. She is quiet, so I go on. “Look. Can I just show it to you one more time?” Together we look at the set. “I think Angelica Grace would really like these dishes. And the napkins, too.”
    â€œShe would ...” Trudie wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. Carefully, she lifts up two small spoons. “We can let the dolls stir their tea with these. Or if we make a cake they can cut it with the knives and forks.”
    â€œAre you saying yes, then?” Sophie asks. But she asks in a gentle voice.
    â€œI am,” Trudie says cautiously.

    â€œTrudie, are you very sure this is what you want?” Papa asks.
    â€œVery sure.” This time, she does sound sure.
    Mama looks at the price tag again and shows it to Papa. He looks at us and then at Mama and nods. Then he brings the tea set to the cash register. We all follow along. Mama gives my shoulders a squeeze. Sophie’s mouth is, I notice, slightly open, as if she is still surprised at how things have worked out. Trudie slips her hand into mine as we walk. It feels small and warm.
    â€œThank you,” she whispers.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” I whisper back.

    Our picnic in the park is so much fun. Papa sings