Page 9 of Heaven (Casteel 1)

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grace, she still was waiting for all five of us in the pharmacy while Ma and Pa chatted with their hill friends. Our Jane ran to our teacher with wide-open arms, hurling herself at Miss Deale's pretty blue skirt. "Here I am!" she cried out in delight. "Ready for ice

cream!"

"That's not nice, Our Jane," I immediately corrected. "You should wait and allow Miss Deale to

offer you ice cream."

Our Jane pouted, and so did Fanny, both with

wide, pleading eyes fixed doglike on our teacher. "It's

all right, Heaven, really," Miss Deale said, smiling.

"Why do you think I come here? I like ice-cream

cones, too, and hate to eat one all alone. . . so, come,

tell me which flavors you want this week."

It was easy to see Miss Deale pitied us, and

wanted to give us treats, at least on Sundays. In a way

it wasn't fair, to her or to us, for we were so damned

needing of treats, but we also needed to have pride in

ourselves. Time after time pride went down in defeat

when it came to choosing between chocolate, vanilla,

or strawberry. Lord knows how long it would have

taken us if there had been more flavors.

Easily Tom could say he wanted vanilla; easily

I could say chocolate; but Fanny wanted strawberry,

chocolate, and vanilla, and Keith wanted what Our Jane was having, and Our Jane couldn't make up her mind. She looked at the man behind the soda fountain, stared wistfully at the huge jars of penny candy, eyed a boy and a girl sitting down to enjoy an ice-cream soda, and hesitated. "Look at her," whispered Fanny; "kin't make up her mind cause she wants it all. Miss Deale, don't give it all t'her--unless ya give it all to

us, too."

"Why, of course I'll give Our Jane anything she

wants, all three flavors if she can manage a triple

cone, and a chocolate candy bar for later, and a bag of

candy for all of you to take home. Is there anything

else you'd like?"

Fanny opened her mouth wide, as if to blab out

all we wanted and needed. I quickly intervened. "You

do too much already, Miss Deale. Give Our Jane her


Tags: V.C. Andrews Casteel Horror