Thea at Sixteen Read Online Free

Aunt Grace’s for one,” Evvie said. “I was just like you, Thea. Better to agree than to upset poor Nicky.”
    â€œThat summer turned out really badly for you, too,” Nick said. “A summer at Eastgate where you fell in love. You must regret every minute you spent there.”
    â€œThere were a few that weren’t so great,” Evvie said. “But the point is you never really gave me the chance to say no. Just the way you’re refusing to listen to Thea now.”
    â€œThere’s a tone in your voice I haven’t liked for a while now,” Nick said. “You came back with it after that summer, Evvie. I’ve always assumed it has something to do with Sam, some attitude of his you’ve picked up.”
    â€œIt has nothing to do with Sam,” Evvie said. “I went away from home—you sent me away—and while I was gone, I had a chance to see your empire from a different perspective. That’s all.”
    â€œThere’s more to it than that,” Nick said. “There’s a hostility, a lack of respect.”
    â€œIf you mean that I won’t be bulldozed anymore, you’re right,” Evvie declared. “No matter how charming you can be.”
    â€œWill the two of you stop it!” Thea said. “Evvie, thank you for defending me, but it isn’t necessary. He’s right. I told him I’d do the volunteer work and I will. Nicky, Evvie’s going to college in three days. You don’t want to be angry at her, and Evvie, you don’t want to be angry at him, either. There’s no reason for anybody to be angry at anybody else. I said I was going to call and I’ll do it right now. I hate it when people are mad at each other in this family. I don’t even like it when I’m mad at Claire, and she drives me crazy. Please. We’re different from other families because we do love each other, and it’s stupid when we fight, and I won’t have you fighting because of me. So just stop it.”
    â€œFine,” Evvie said. “I never meant to upset you, Thea.”
    â€œYou’re right, Thea,” Nick said. “I must have sounded petty to you, and to Evvie. Will you just make that call?”
    â€œRight now,” Thea said, and she ran to the kitchen phone, and dialed the number. She asked for Mrs. Chambers and was put right through. It was hard to remember what she had to say, when she was still shaky from the scene in the living room, but she managed to introduce herself and apologize for having taken so long to call.
    â€œNonsense,” Mrs. Chambers said. “I’ve been impatient only because I was so excited that you plan to volunteer. Your father speaks of you so glowingly, I know you must be a remarkable young girl, dedicated to helping others less fortunate than yourself.”
    â€œI don’t know how remarkable I am,” Thea said. “Or dedicated. But I would like to try.”
    â€œDo you have any preferences as to where you’d like to work?” Mrs. Chambers asked. “We can use a good volunteer anywhere, so if there’s one place in particular, I’m sure we can place you there.”
    Thea tried to think what place in a hospital she’d dislike least. The gift shop occurred to her, but she wasn’t sure the hospital had one, and besides, it sounded like a cowardly and materialistic refuge. “I don’t know,” she said. “I like children. And I do have a couple of younger sisters.”
    â€œThen we’ll put you in pediatrics,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Oh, I have a wonderful idea, if you think you’re up to it.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Thea asked. Pediatrics sounded okay to her. Bunches of basically healthy kids getting over asthma attacks and broken legs. She could play with them, read out loud to them. Megs had mentioned teaching as a possible career for her. Volunteer work in a pediatrics ward might