Thea at Sixteen Read Online Free Page A

be a good start.
    â€œThis could be very difficult,” Mrs. Chambers said. “So you don’t have to give me an answer right away. I’m sure your instinctive response will be to say yes, because the kind of girl who volunteers to work in a hospital and who loves children will be thinking of them first and not of herself. So even if you agree right now, I won’t hold you to it. You can think about it over the weekend, and come in on Monday to talk to me and see if you still want to do it.”
    â€œDo what?” Thea asked. Mrs. Chambers could give Nicky a few lessons in bulldozing.
    â€œThe hospital has a special program for its children with cancer,” Mrs. Chambers said. “We’re very fortunate to be one of the best cancer-care facilities in the area, and we have children from a hundred-mile radius who stay in the hospital while undergoing treatment for their illnesses. What we like to have is a one-on-one relationship between a volunteer and one of our childhood cancer patients. Naturally there are never enough volunteers, and the work can be emotionally very draining. Have you had any experience with cancer, Thea?”
    â€œNot personally,” Thea said. “I’ve never been sick with anything much in my life.”
    Mrs. Chambers laughed. She sounded like Glinda the Good. “I meant, have you known anyone with cancer?” she said. “Sometimes I get so excited, the words come out all wrong.”
    â€œOh,” Thea said. “Well, no one in my family.” She thought about it for a moment, and realized one of the true advantages of having attended seven different schools was that she’d run into at least one of everything. There had been Betsy in third grade. She’d worn a stocking cap because her hair had fallen out. And Rob in sixth grade. And last year, what’s-her-name, Michelle, who was still undergoing treatments when the school year had ended. “Yes,” she said. “I have known a few kids with cancer in different schools I’ve gone to.”
    â€œSo you would know what to expect,” Mrs. Chambers said. “It can be very lonely for these children, even those who live right here in Briarton. Oh! We have the sweetest little girl here right now, being treated for leukemia. We all love her. Her mother works, so she can only spend limited amounts of time with her daughter, and it would make all of us feel so much better if this little girl had a volunteer friend. We call them Friendly Visitors. You’d almost be a big sister to her. You’d visit with her a couple of times a week, talk about the sorts of things girls love to talk about, not about illness or family problems, but happier things. Do you think you might be interested in helping us that way, Thea? Would you like to be a Friendly Visitor?”
    Thea knew she didn’t dare say no. Anyone as noble and dedicated as she was, had to say yes, even if she then thought about it over the weekend and changed her mind. Not that she was sure she would change her mind. Being a Friendly Visitor didn’t sound any worse than fluffing up some old person’s pillow or making change for some doctor in a hurry. “It sounds really interesting,” she said. “Can I come in on Monday and learn all the details?”
    â€œOh, Thea, you are as nice as I thought you’d be,” Mrs. Chambers declared. “What time shall I expect you on Monday?”
    â€œI’ll come straight from school,” Thea said. “Three-fifteen, three-thirty? Is that all right?”
    â€œI’m putting you right down in my calendar,” Mrs. Chambers said. “I can’t wait to meet you, Thea. And spend the weekend thinking about being a Friendly Visitor. The pluses are enormous, the gratification is beyond your wildest fantasies. But it can be hard as well, depressing when the treatment isn’t going well. So I won’t hold you to your