Shoeshine Girl Chapter 2-3
Reading
The shoeshine girl chapters two and three. Chapter two, Rossi. In the morning, Sarah Ida put on an old shirt and her oldest blue jeans. She went down to the kitchen and Claudia was there frying bacon and eggs. Good morning, she said, did you sleep well? Yes, says Sarah Ida. Well, there's apple jelly and plum jam, which would you like on your toast? Neither one. They sat down for a breakfast and aunt Claudius said, you're going to have some company. Who asked Sarah Ida? Rossi Wigan horn. Sarah Ida frowned. I don't know any Rossi Wigan horn. She's the neighbor study I'm Claudia and she's been wanting to meet you. Why? I told her you were coming. I thought it'd be nice if you had a friend of your own age. Did you ever think said Sarah Ida that I might like to choose my Friends? I like to choose my Friends too sitting at Claudia, but when you're in a new place and haven't had a chance to meet anybody, it doesn't matter, said zero either Ida, whether I meet anybody or not. They finish breakfast. Aunt Claudia asked, can you cook? No. Said Sarah Ida. What would you like to learn? No. At least you better learn how to make your own breakfast study of Claudia. It's something you may need to know, and there are things that you can do to help me. I'll teach you to take care of your room and you can help me with cleaning and dusting. Well, how much do you pay? Ask Sarah Ida and Claudius stared at her. Hey, like mummy, said Sarah Ida, how much money? And Claudia took the dishes to the sink. She came back to the table and sat down. I don't like to bring this up. She said, but I suppose I must. I'm not supposed to pay you anything. And why not? Ask Sarah Ida. Because your mother asked me not to. She told me you had borrowed your allowance for the next two months. She said you had spent it all and had nothing to show for it. She asked me not to give you any money while you're here. But I've got to have money, said Sarah Ida, I'm going to need it. What for I asked Dan Claudia, lots of things candy and gum. Movies and popcorn when I go to the movies. I need it for magazines. Oh yeah, and some clothes. Well, if you need clothes, I'll buy them setting Claudia. We can talk about it later later about the movies, but if I buy you, I can buy you a ticket once a week. I want money in my pocket. Aunt Claudia's side. That seems to be what your mother doesn't want. I think she's trying to teach you the value of money. I know the value of money. And if you think you can, all right, Sarah Ida, that's enough. Sarah Ida ran up to her room. She could feel herself shaking. They didn't know how she felt about money. They didn't understand. And she didn't know how to tell them. She needed money in her pocket. It didn't have to be much, but she just had, she didn't feel right with none at all. Aunt Claudia was calling her, Sarah Ida didn't answer. Sarah Ida and Claudia called again. Rossi is here. Sarah Ida lay on the bed and looked out the window. Rossi has something for you, said aunt Claudia, is it all right if she brings it up? No, said Sarah Ida. She went downstairs, cheap. She had pink cheeks and pale yellow hair. She wore a yellow dress without a spot or a wrinkle. I brought you some cupcakes. She said, I made it myself. Well, that was sweet as you, Rossi, sitting in Claudia. Yes, that was sweet of you Rossi, said Sarah Ida. And Claudia gave her a shark look and then she left her let alone. The girl sat on the porch and they ate a cupcake. I think you're awfully brave coming here all by yourself, said Rossi. There's no big things that Sarah Ida, my father put me on the train and my aunt was there to meet me. Well, it's a long trip. I've been scared. Are you having a good time in palm, though? Well, I just got here, said Sarah Ida. I think you'll like it. There's a lot more to see. Come on down the street. I'll show you where I live. They walk down to Rossi's house, it was old, like ant Claudius, and it was half covered with creepy looking vines. Sarah item at Rossi's mother, miss wiggle horn, and was pretty in the same way that Rossi was. She had pale hair and a sweet smile. She said, I hope you enjoy your visit here. Rossi showed Sarah Ida her room. My daddy made this shelf for my library. These are all my books. Anytime you want to borrow some. I don't read much said Sarah Ida. She was looking at something else. She was looking at the blue and white pig on the dresser. What's that she asked? That's my bank. Said Rossi. Is there anything in it? About $5. Sarah Ida picked up the pig. It was heavy. She turned it from side to side. She could feel the coins move. I need $4, she said. Will you lend it to me? I'm saving for a present for my daddy, said Rossi. Well, it's just a loan. I'll pay you back. Rossi looked unhappy. I'm not supposed to lend money. You said I could borrow your books. What's the difference? I just don't think I better all right. Forget it, Sarah, Ida, went to the door. No, wait. You can have it, Ross. You can have it. Rossi was feeling the top drawer of the dresser. She took out a tiny key on a string, but don't tell anyone. Don't you tell either, said Sarah Ida. There was a lock on the underneath of the pig. Rossi unlocked it. The coins fell out of the dresser and they were mostly quarters and dimes. Sarah Ida counted out $4. Are you sure you want to do this? Yes, said Rossi. Well, then goodbye. Said Sarah Ida. Don't you want me to walk back with you as Rossi? You don't need to. Sarah Ida left her. She walked out of the house and up the street. The coins jingled in her pocket. She was whistling when she got back to aunt Claudius. Chapter three, a game. She awoke late the next morning. There was sunlight in the room and she looked at the pictures on the walls. For the first time, she almost liked them. For the first time in weeks, she almost felt happy. The feeling was quickly gone. The door opened an ant Claudia came in, her face was like winter. She said, you took money from Rossi yesterday. Didn't you? Sarah Ida sat up in bed. How? Misses wiggle, wiggin horn called me. She said most of the money from Rossi's bank was gone. She said, you would know about it. I didn't. So Sarah Ida, what happened? I want to know. I borrowed the money. That's what happened. I just borrowed it. You hadn't known poor little Rossi, even a day, and already, you were borrowing her money. Poor little Rossi said I could. She's such a friendly child. She didn't know how to say no. Aunt Claudia asked, is money so important to you? What do you need it for? I told you, I like to have money in my pocket. Do you think that's a good reason? It is to me. It isn't to me. Get your clothes on and take that money right back. Sarah Ida had a note amp known ant Claudia could sound so fierce. She got up and got dressed. The money was in an envelope under the pillow, and she stuffed it into her pocket. She went down the street to the Wigan horn and Rossi opened the door. Her eyes and nose were red. Sarah Ida. Here, Sarah Ida almost threw the envelope at her. I might have known, I couldn't trust you. I couldn't help it, so Rossi, mother saw the key on the dresser. She picked up the bank and found out it was almost empty. She just kept asking questions till I had to tell her. Just forget it, said Sarah I had a coldly. Forget the whole thing. She walked away. But at ant Claudia, she stared up. To her room. Ant Claudia called her. Your breakfast is ready. I don't want any said Sarah Ida. We'll come here anyway. So Claudia. Sarah I just stood in the kitchen doorway. I shouldn't have lost my temper, said in Claudia, but you don't seem to understand what you did was wrong. I don't see why it was wrong, said Sarah Ida. It's wrong to take advantage of someone and you took advantage of Rossi. If you let me have some money, I wouldn't have to borrow. Aunt Claudia's lips closed tightly for a moment. She said, this is the game, isn't it? A game? You're trying me out to see how far I can go. I don't know what you mean. I think you do. Money really isn't that important to you, is it? You're just using this whole thing to get what you want. At the same time, you're trying to strike back at me because money is important. Cried Sarah Ida. And if you won't give me any, I'll go and get them. How? Ask Dan Claudia, I'll get a job. Where? I don't know, but I'll find one. But if I did, you wouldn't let me keep it. And you want me right under your thumb. Sarah itis stopped this at aunt Claudia. If you could find work and earn some money, I wouldn't keep it from you. But ask yourself, what could you do? Who would you give you a job? I don't want you under my thumb. All I'm trying to do is, I know what you're trying to do. And if you think I'm playing a game, I'll show you. She rushed out the house and aunt Claudia's voice followed her. Come back here, stop. Sarah aina didn't stop. She cut across the yard and ran up the street.