Secrets in Somerville

Secrets in Somerville — page 3 — Oh no Miss Coco Rowan replied Heavens no Miss Coco began We were up before dawn feeding the chickens and the pigs Then we nearly broke our backs tending to the garden But if they weren’t done there’d be no food for any of us Rowan and Astrid lowered their heads feeling guilty about their complaining Miss Coco went on Then we walked twelve miles to school each day Uphill both ways With no shoes and in the snow Speaking of snow I remember the year it snowed marshmallows Big fluffy ones not those little puny ones you find in your cocoa We collected them up in baskets to roast over the fire Rowan lifted his head Wait what Let it go sweetie Mrs Vega whispered resting her hand on Rowan’s You’re right Miss Coco Mr Vega said

Secrets in Somerville — page 4 — winking at his children These spoiled kids don’t know the meaning of hard work and helping others If you’re bored come over to the garage said another customer Marcus Sloane Marcus had been running Earl’s Gas Station across the street from the diner ever since the owner Earl Bigby had retired and moved to Florida He may not have been the most qualified for the job but he certainly was enthusiastic about it We’ve got so many cool tools over there Marcus continued I don’t even know what half of them do There’s this one that looks like it could slice a car in two As Rowan and Astrid’s eyes grew wider Mrs Vega interrupted the excited Marcus That’s okay Marcus I think we can find plenty of things for the kids to do here Rowan groaned But that’s just it

Secrets in Somerville — page 5 — There’s nothing to do There is plenty to do in Somerville his mom replied firmly But everything there is to do in Somerville we’ve already done many times Astrid argued She’s right Rowan said a statement he rarely uttered about his younger sister Somerville is too small We know every person who lives here There are never any new people and we know all there is to know about the people who already live here I sincerely doubt that Miss Coco said as she took a sip of her coffee Mr Vega placed his hands on the counter and leaned toward Rowan and Astrid In a hushed voice he asked You kids want excitement and adventure Yes they said Then make it he exclaimed Shake things up every once in a while Adventure is all around you

Secrets in Somerville — page 6 — every single day Astrid and Rowan rolled their eyes and groaned yet again Astrid playfully threw a balled-up napkin at her dad What’s that supposed to mean Rowan asked It doesn’t even make sense Astrid said Who knows Mr Vega said He pointed toward the diner’s front door Maybe excitement and adventure are right on the other side of that door at this very moment Astrid threw another napkin at her dad Then the bell on the diner’s door chimed In walked a very pretty young woman with dark hair and a tall boy about Rowan’s age Both were carrying suitcases and looked startled when everyone in Mick’s Diner stopped what they were doing The clock on the wall ticked three times before anyone spoke Mrs Vega finally broke the silence and said Welcome to Somerville

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