"Martin, Ann M - BSC067 - Dawn's Big Move" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin Ann M)

say about the stock market (zzzzzz). But this time it was actually about something interesting.
"I was reading in the Stamford paper about the joint fund-raising event by the Chambers of Commerce of Stoneybrook and Lawrence-ville," he said. (Hang in there, it gets better.) "This, um, 'Run for Your Money/ I believe it's called? It looks interesting. Anyone can form a team — coworkers, families, friends — and there are all kinds of crazy events. You pay a fee to enter and the proceeds go to charities. I think Stoneybrook's donating to an organization for the homeless, and Lawrence-ville chose a literacy program."
"I wonder if Kristy knows about this?" Mary Anne wondered.
"She's probably already assigned us to teams," I said.
"Wouldn't it be fun to get some of the little kids involved?" Mary Anne asked.
"Well, I was thinking that the four of us should enter something," Richard suggested.
Mom raised her eyebrows in surprise. (Richard is not exactly athletic.)
Neither is Mary Anne. "I don't know, Dad," she said.
Richard stood up and pulled the newspaper out of his briefcase, \yhich was lying by the
wall. "Look, most of the events are not true sports competitions. For instance, potato sack races — "
" 'Midway games/ " Mom began reading, " 'tug-of-war, pie-eating contests, underwear
race —' "
"Underwear race?" Mary Anne said, blushing. (Yes, blushing.)
"That's the one we should enter!" I piped up.
Now it was Richard's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Yes, well, I'll take that under advisement."
(That's Richard's idea of humor.)
"I think it would be fun to enter as a family!" Mom said.
"Yeah, it would," Mary Anne replied.
I nodded. I know I should have been more excited, but when Mom said "as a family" I thought of Jeff and Dad. They would love to be in Run for Your Money. They're both athletic, and they have a great sense of humor.
And I realized again I was dying to see them.
"Dawn?" Mary Anne said. "Is something wrong?"
"Uh-uh," I answered. "I was just. . . thinking. You know, about Jeff and Dad." Then I made myself smile and chopsticked some dinner into my mouth.
Mom looked at me sympathetically. "Why don't you call them tonight?"
"Yeah, I guess I will," I said. I chewed on some bok choy for a minute. "Mom? Would it be, like, too expensive for me to go out and visit?"
Mom looked at Richard, who shrugged. "Well, we can book some tickets for Thanksgiving," Mom said.
"Okay," I replied. "That would be great, I guess."
I tried to sound happy, but I know I didn't. Thanksgiving was months away.
"Unfortunately, it's the closest school holiday," Richard added.
"I know ..." I mumbled.
"You really miss them, don't you?" Mary Anne said.
My eyes started to well up. My eyes. The ones belonging to me, Dawn Schafer, who teases Mary Anne about being a water faucet at movies. Boy, was I bummed.
"I know how you feel," Mom said. "Look, Thanksgiving's not that far away. But I guess we could try to arrange a long weekend before then, if you're desperate to see them."
"No," I said, "that's okay. I can hold out."
I dug into my Tofu Garden Delight. I had this great need to stuff my mouth. If I didn't, I might blurt out that I was lying.
I did call home that night. Jeff answered the phone.
"Hi," I said. "It's your sister."
"Duh."
I ignored the snide remark. "How's it going?"
"Fine."
"Is school okay?"
"Yecch."
"Too bad."
"Guess what? In gym I won the home run derby. And guess what else? I came in fifth in the physical fitness contest, but that was out of a hundred and three kids. And I got an O on my book report. That's for Outstanding. It's like an A in the older grades. Or better."
Typical Jeff. He'll tell you everything eventually, but he won't answer a direct question.
"That's fantastic! And how's Dad?"
"Good."
I took a breath. "And Carol?"
"What about her?"
"Well ... is Dad still going out with her?"
"Yeah."