The Mandie Collection Read Online Free Page A

Mandie told the boys about April’s escapades and the mouse in their room.
    Tommy looked around under the tree again. “Do you think the mouse Snowball had came from your room?” he asked.
    â€œWe hope so,” Mandie said, exchanging glances with Celia. “Then we won’t have to worry about finding it in our room.”
    â€œWell, evidently he got away,” Tommy said, rising to sit back down on the settee.
    â€œThat’s a smart cat, Mandie,” Robert said. “He knew right where you were.”
    â€œWell, he didn’t have to bring that mouse with him,” Mandie protested. She shivered at the thought of it.
    â€œYoung ladies,” Miss Hope called over the confusion in the hallway. “Please return to the parlor. The mouse is gone.”
    â€œYou young men, too,” Mr. Chadwick ordered.
    Things finally settled down, but everyone kept looking around the floor for the mouse.
    Miss Hope walked over to Mandie on the settee. “My sister has gone upstairs to check on April,” she said. “We think she must have let your kitten out of your room. The door was open.”
    Mandie and Celia looked at each other.
    â€œWe definitely shut the door, Miss Hope,” Mandie told her. “Snowball is a smart cat, and he knows a lot of other things, but he hasn’t learned to open doors yet.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it, Amanda. It wasn’t your fault,” Miss Hope replied as she left the room.
    Mandie sighed. “Let’s talk about something else,” she said. “My mother says she has a big surprise waiting for me when I get home for Christmas, but I can’t figure out what it is.” She gave them all the details about Uncle Ned’s visit and his message.
    â€œI hope it’s something wonderful,” Tommy told her. “Are y’all having visitors for Christmas this year?”
    â€œWell, yes,” Mandie replied. “Dr. Woodard and his family will be there for Christmas, and then Celia and her mother are coming for New Year’s. I wish you and your family could come.”
    â€œI do, too,” Tommy said. “But maybe we can make it the next time your mother invites us. My parents did give me permission to visit with your family at your home some holiday weekend after Christmas.”
    â€œOh, that’s great!” Mandie exclaimed. “Miss Prudence never lets us know very far ahead when we’re going to have a holiday, but I suppose you will have the same holidays at Mr. Chadwick’s.”
    â€œI’ll let you know,” Tommy promised. He paused for a minute, looking straight into her blue eyes. “Mandie,” he said, “will you be my partner for dinner at our school tomorrow night?”
    â€œOf course,” Mandie replied, smiling. “I’d love to.”
    Following Tommy’s lead, Robert asked Celia to be his partner, and she agreed also.
    After the boys left and the girls were free to go to their rooms until time for supper, Mandie and Celia hurried up the steps.
    â€œMandie, are you going to give Tommy a Christmas present tomorrow night?” Celia asked anxiously as they entered their room.
    â€œI suppose it’s expected,” Mandie replied. She looked around. “Snowball is not here,” she said with concern.
    â€œWhat are you going to give him?” Celia wanted to know. “I don’t have a thing to give Robert.”
    Mandie stopped to think. “I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe we’d better ask Miss Hope about presents.”
    â€œYes, I think we’d better,” Celia agreed.
    The girls went back downstairs and found Miss Hope in her office.
    â€œYou girls don’t have to give the young men gifts,” Miss Hope explained, “but it’s the normal practice. We must have neglected to mention that to you, I’m sorry. One thing I should tell you, however,” Miss Hope emphasized,