Chapter Fourteen

My brother Teddy has a bad cold. He looks terrible. His eyes are all red and runny, just like his nose, and he makes the most disgusting noises.

“Play Monopoly with me?” he sort of whined.

“No,” I said. “I have to do my social-studies project.” I was going to do it with Al, but now I don’t know. My mother had baked gingerbread just before I got home from school. It has a very good smell, better than lots of perfumes. Too bad they can’t bottle the smell of gingerbread cooking. They would make a fortune.

“Boy, that’s a delicious smell,” I said. “Smell that gingerbread?”

The end of Teddy’s nose quivered. “You know I can’t smell it,” he said. “I’m all stuffed up.”

“Too bad,” I said. “It’s the best smell.”

“How come Al hasn’t been around lately?” Teddy whined. “She usually practically sleeps here.”

“She’s my best friend,” I said.

“Last week she wasn’t.”

“Wasn’t what?”

“I saw her at the movies last week with a couple of other girls. She was real palsy-walsy with them, is all I can say. I don’t think you’re her best friend. She may be yours, but you’re not hers.”

I got Teddy’s shoulder in a real hold. I dug my fingers down in that little place that’s just made for pinching. It hurts. I know.

“Shut your mouth,” I whispered, because my mother was in the kitchen. “One more word out of you and I’ll let you have it right between the eyes. Now shut up.”

Two big tears squeezed out of Teddy’s eyes and dribbled down his cheeks. He didn’t even bother to wipe them away. He is a real mess.

I let go of his shoulder. “I will go and get you a piece of gingerbread,” I said, “and I will play Monopoly with you for exactly one half hour. No more, no less. Set it up and I’ll be right back.”

I did not look at him but as I went out I could hear him snuffling.

“Doesn’t that kid know how to blow his nose?” I said.

“People who live in glass houses,” my mother said. “Be my guest.” And she handed me a box of tissues.