Read No Small Victory for Free Online Page B

arrived,” said Dad dreamily, gazing at a stand of poplars and tamaracks at the north end of the Johnsons’ farm. “If it weren’t for those hills, we would have been here even sooner. Too bad we couldn’t have come in the car, but we’ve got to save that little bit of gasoline for an emergency.”
    â€œWell, Push-a-Button,” Mum said. “The car certainly is a convenience we all miss—but how about we get these horses moving in the meantime? I must get that fish recipe!”
    â€œOh, yes, the suckers,” said Dad. He loosened the horses’ reins and the wagon started moving again. In minutes, they were in front of the Johnsons’ place.
    A short woman with light brown hair was standing on the big, rambling verandah, wiping her hands on a stiffly starched apron.
    â€œCome right in. Unhitch the horses and stay for dinner!” said Mrs. Johnson with a big, friendly smile. Angela and her mother moved to either side of the front door, motioning the Browns to come in.
    â€œWe really can’t just drop in on you unannounced!” said Mum. “I had no idea it was so near dinnertime.” All farmers ate their big meal of the day at noon.
    â€œI won’t hear of you not staying, Amy. In you come! And Thomas—you and my husband will want to trade fish tales!”
    The Browns walked into a well-scrubbed kitchen with braided rugs. To Bonnie, it looked like heaven with its cosy inside and all the friendly faces.
    Mrs. Johnson tousled Bonnie’s hair. “Don’t you just look like Shirley Temple with those golden curls,” she said.
    â€œThat’s what everyone used to say back home!” Bonnie smiled. “And I’ve seen her, too, at the movies in Poor Little Rich Girl and Heidi !”
    â€œWhen did you see those, Bonnie?” Mum asked. “We never go to movies.”
    Bonnie hesitated. “I went with Aunt Dollie.”
    â€œI thought she took you to the library,” said Dad.
    â€œWe went there, too.”
    Bonnie smiled with relief as all the grownups burst out laughing. Then, as they were ushered to the table, she breathed in the smell of freshly baked bread and luscious apple pie. Beside the big, steaming bowls of potatoes and carrots, there were fresh chicken and dumplings and all kinds of pickles—sliced cucumbers made bread-and-butter style, beet pickles, and tiny whole cucumber pickles. Bonnie knew she shouldn’t stare, but she couldn’t help it.
    Archie and Angela had joined them at the table, and their older sister Lizzie was there too. Lizzie was thirteen, and her blonde hair was drawn back in a grown-up way. At the opposite end of the room, their baby sister Teenie was throwing things on the floor—her spoon, bits of potato, and even some chicken. Bonnie could not imagine what her own mother would say if a baby did that to her spotless kitchen floor! But Mrs. Johnson kept patiently putting the spoon back in the baby’s hand.
    â€œSo, Bonnie, are you coming to our school on Monday?” Archie blurted out, his mouth full of dumplings.
    â€œYes, and I can’t wait! I love school!”
    â€œYou love school?” Archie stopped chewing and looked at Bonnie as if a spruce twig had just grown out of the top of her head.
    â€œClose your mouth, Archie Johnson. No one wants to see your half-chewed dinner!” Lizzie scolded.
    Bonnie swallowed quickly so she could answer Archie. “Yes, I do,” she said. “And my teacher back home said I could do two grades together this year.”
    â€œJeepers! You’ll be stuck doing homework all the time. Too bad! I’m going to be on Tom and Slinky’s baseball team.”
    â€œWho are Tom and Slinky?”
    â€œOh, they’re the best baseball players in the school.”
    Bonnie wasn’t really interested in baseball. Bonnie’s mother had won a trophy for being top athlete in her school on Fair Day, but Bonnie