Letters from the Heart (3 page)

“I think this assignment could be really interesting,” Isabel said, her dark eyes shining. “I would really like to learn more about my grandparents' life in Mexico. I mean, I love to visit them and eat my abuelita's cooking, but I never really
asked them a lot of questions about their past. My grandfather loves to tell stories, so I know he'll really like this assignment. I might even draw some cartoons or something,” Isabel enthused.

Katani nodded. “I bet you could do a really great project, Isabel. You are such a good artist, your display will be fantastic. There's a lot of stuff I've wanted to know about my family background too, but you know how it is…you just never get around to asking. I think I'll interview my grandmother.”

Katani's grandmother, Mrs. Fields, was the principal of Abigail Adams Junior High. Everybody in Brookline thought she was the greatest. All the kids liked her because she was so calm, nice, and fair. There were so many things that weren't fair, Maeve mused, like having to go to school on sunny days, having to go to bed before nine thirty during the week even if there was a great movie on, and having to put up with an annoying little brother. It was very reassuring to know that the principal of your school was fair.

Katani said her grandmother had lived in Brookline all of her life. Katani knew a few things about her grandmother's life in the 1950s and 1960s, but she was eager to learn more. Mrs. Fields had lived through the civil rights movement and often talked about the time she saw Martin Luther King, Jr. come to preach at her family's church. She also thought that her grandmother had been part of some bus ride or protest march. Katani said she was going to interview her grand -mother like they were on NBC News or something. Maeve could just see Katani preparing for the interview. “Katani, I bet you'll even dress up in a suit like a newscaster.”

Katani gave Maeve a huge grin. “You know I will, girl. Looking professional goes hand in hand with being professional.” Maeve, Avery, Charlotte, and Isabel all laughed in
unison. Katani was so going to have her own business some day.

As Maeve slid her laptop into her book bag, she started thinking about her mom and dad and what different worlds they came from. Her father's family, like Ms. O'Reilly's, had come from Ireland. His parents had come to America after World War II when they were only sixteen years old. They met on the boat coming over. Nana Mary and Grandpa Tom still had their Irish accents. Maeve loved to listen to them talk.

Her mother's family had come from Eastern Europe—Maeve wasn't exactly sure which country. She knew her parents used to tease each other about how different their backgrounds were. It went along with the differences in their temperaments. Maeve's father was a cheerful, relaxed man who loved taking life easy. He always joked that he was well suited for running the Movie House, because he loved nothing better than enjoying himself and watching other people have a good time. He had a favorite motto: “Art is the key to understanding life.” Maeve's mother was more the driven type. She'd gone to New York University and majored in English. She'd taught high school for a few years before she got married. Once she had kids, she stayed home and never had a job, outside of helping in the cinema. She was an organizer fiend. Maeve's mom could be really fun, but she was much stricter than her dad. Maybe some of this had to do with her background, Maeve thought. Well, she was going to have a lot of learning to do for this project.

“Hey! What if I discover a famous actress in my family's past?” she said, grabbing her things as she followed her friends to the cafeteria. “Wouldn't that be cool? Maybe I'm actually related to some awesome old celebrity. Like Audrey Hepburn or Greta Garbo!”

All the Beacon Street Girls laughed. It was clear that Maeve had Hollywood in her veins. She knew the words to every song in every movie ever made. And whenever they were in a jam, Maeve could recite the perfect movie line to fit the occasion. Her personal favorite was “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get,” from
Forrest Gump
. When she wasn't watching movies, Maeve loved reading about them. Every time she passed a magazine stand she had to grab the latest celebrity magazine. This meant that she knew every bit of Hollywood gossip…much to Avery's amazement and occasional disgust. “How can you read that stuff, Maeve? It's so ridiculous. I mean who cares about who's marrying who for twelve minutes?” ranted Avery.

Katani came to Maeve's defense. “It's research, Avery. Maeve has to learn about the field she wants to succeed in. I read fashion and business magazines. It would be kind of silly if Maeve read all about fruit flies and how they multiply.” Katani was the only one who could get Avery to calm down sometimes.

If it were up to her, Maeve would gladly spend every afternoon taking voice lessons or working on dance moves. But her mom had different ideas. Her mom's plan for Maeve was Hebrew class two days a week and tutoring with Matt Kierney. And to Maeve's disappointment, hip-hop dance class had been dropped until she brought her grades back up. But Maeve was an optimist. She was sure she'd be back to dance in a matter of weeks.

“It's funny. Dad and I have traveled so much, but I don't think I know that much about where his family comes from,” Charlotte wondered out loud. “I mean, I know they were from England a long time ago. But I don't even know exactly where.”

“I hope it wasn't Oxford,” Avery said with a grin. Everyone giggled. The memory of the girls' last adventure was still fresh in their minds. Charlotte's father had been offered a teaching position in Oxford, England, and it had taken all five of the Beacon Street Girls to convince him to stay put and to give Charlotte a chance at her dream—to spend her junior high and high school years in the U.S.

Charlotte was really looking forward to the Heritage Museum project. She loved research and writing, and she was curious about her family and its past. Her mother had died when she was young, leaving Charlotte with lots of unanswered questions about her background. Maybe, like Maeve, she would learn more about herself in the process. “Who knows?” she mused. “There might even have been an astronomer in our family.” Charlotte loved science almost as much as writing.
Stars and books
, she liked to say…those were her two best friends.

“I've got a triple-header research project,” Avery added thoughtfully. “I've got my mom's history and my dad's. But I've also got my own.” She grinned. “It's going to be cool, finding out more about where I really came from.” Avery loved challenges, and with her usual blunt, go-for-it manner, she was looking forward to this one.

It was clear this assignment was going to give all of the Beacon Street Girls a lot to think about in the coming weeks. There was a great deal they were all going to learn about themselves and about each other.

T
he menu for school lunch was posted on a small board at the beginning of the lunch line. Today's special was something called “mystery subs.”

“Lunch,” Avery announced, peering at the sandwiches wrapped in plastic on top of the cafeteria counter, “is NOT a place where anyone wants mystery.” She took a sandwich, but she didn't look happy about it. “My mom usually makes me a super protein wrap, but she had a meeting this morning and left Scott and me to fend for ourselves. And you should have seen Scott. He was acting like he was the president, ordering me around. I bolted out of there fast.” Avery and her brother Scott, who was sixteen, lived with their mom about a mile away from school. Her older brother Tim was off at college in Vermont. Avery's parents were divorced, and her dad lived in Colorado. Avery got to see a lot of her father over vacations, but during the school year they had to rely on e-mail and the telephone to keep in touch.

Charlotte grinned. Avery was definitely not the cooking maestro. “Fending for herself” clearly meant scooping some
money out of an emergency stash and standing in the cafeteria lunch line. Charlotte, on the other hand, had made lunch for herself today. She was just in line to keep her friends company and to buy a drink. “Avery, have you ever thought about actually making your own lunch?” she asked, helping herself to a bottle of juice. “Or thought about learning to
cook
? It's kind of fun!”

Avery shuddered. “No thank you. Lunch is something to pick up from the kitchen counter and put in my backpack,” she said cheerfully. “My mom knows exactly what I like. A turkey wrap sandwich, popcorn, granola bars…She's got it down to a science. Why mess with perfection?” She looked uneasily at the “mystery sub” on her tray. “I need power food at lunch, remember?”

Of the five Beacon Street Girls, Avery was by far the most athletic. There wasn't a ball Avery didn't like. And, although soccer was her current obsession, she was good in pretty much every sport she tried, even basketball. Though Avery was one of the shortest girls in the seventh grade, she was consistently the high scorer on the basketball team. It just proved that being tall wasn't the only advantage on the court—Avery was super-speedy and could dribble past anybody. Given all the energy she put into her games, Avery needed a lot of fuel. And, she loved eating—but cooking was another story. “Cook away, Charlotte,” she said now, helping herself to a granola bar. “I'm always happy to sample whatever you make!”

Charlotte grinned. “I just signed up for some cooking classes with my dad,” she told her friends. “The Community Center is running a six-week class on Saturday mornings, and it looks really fun. I want to expand my repertoire beyond Croque-Monsieurs, brownies, and eggs à la Charlotte.”

“I don't know,” Maeve said. “I'm kind of with you, Avery,
on this one. Doesn't cooking take tons of time?” Maeve's idea of the perfect snack was picking up a cupcake from Party Favors on her way home from school. Or a bagful of Swedish Fish from Irving's Toy and Card Shop. Of course, best of all was getting a frozen hot chocolate at Montoya's, the bakery on Harvard Street that was the seventh-grade hangout after school.

Charlotte shook her head. “The class looks great,” she told them. “Guess what our first recipe is going to be?” When no one answered, she told them.
Chocolate fondue
. “It looks unbelievable,” Charlotte said. “And it's totally delicious. You just chop up all your favorites—bananas, strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels—and dip them in hot fudge.”

“Now
that
sounds like something worth learning,” Avery admitted.

Everyone looked impressed, and Maeve had to concede that melting chocolate might be a worthy cooking exercise in its own right. By the time the girls had claimed their favorite table near the lunchroom window, the conversation had turned back to the social studies project.

“I bet someone in my past was an animal lover. Maybe they ran a zoo or something,” Avery said, finishing off her granola bar. “If I find out that's true, can I bring Marty in for part of my Heritage Museum?”

The girls groaned. Avery was so crazy about animals. She was the one who had first discovered Marty, the adorable dog that the girls collectively adopted. Half-hidden in the bushes in the park across from Charlotte's house, Marty had managed to capture all the girls' hearts. And while Avery had begged and begged her mother to let her keep him, Avery's mom refused. Dogs made her eyes run and her skin break out in hives. So, Marty lived with Charlotte.

“Poor Avery,” chimed in Katani. “Settling for reptiles as pets…Have some of my animal crackers—they'll make you'll feel better.”

Never one to turn down food, Avery snatched the animal crackers out of Katani's hand and popped them in her mouth. “Thanks, Katani. Someday I hope you will grow to love Walter and Frogster as much as I do. Think of it this way. Walter eats rodents and Frogster eats bugs, both of which you detest!”

“Avery,” piped in Maeve. “I don't think Katani is ever going to change her mind about snakes and frogs. And I kind of agree with her. Furry pets are so much cuter and cuddlier.”

Charlotte gave Maeve a look from across the table. Suddenly, Maeve realized what she had said. “Avery, I am
so
sorry. I know you want a furry pet really badly. I just forget sometimes and things pop out of my mouth.”

“That's all right, Maeve. It's just so unfair,” Avery complained. “You know, they've done RESEARCH on this kind of thing. Furry pets are really good for your blood pressure and stuff like that. Maybe if I told my mother I would be better adjusted if I had a REAL pet to take care of, that would change things…”

D
ON'T
F
ORGET THE
D
OG!

Suddenly, Charlotte clapped her hand to her forehead. “I almost forgot, you guys. My dad wants to take me to New York this weekend. He's got a writing conference to go to at NYU, and he said I can come with him. We might even get to see a play together.”

“Broadway!” Maeve swooned. “Char, you are SO lucky.” She started ticking off the plays she wanted to see—and it was a long list. “And you've GOT to go to the Radio and TV Museum. I love that place. Nana Mary and Grandpa Tom
took Sam and me there once. It was awesome. You get to be on TV and everything.”

“No—go to Wall Street! You can get a tour of the stock exchange, then hop over to Soho and check out all the street vendors. My cousin says you can find the best designer bags for really cheap!” Katani exclaimed. Fashion queen that she was, Katani had just become interested in the stock market. It had started as a game with her mother. The two of them had been scouring the stock pages for the past few months to see if they could find some winners.

“I've never been to New York,” Isabel said wistfully. “I hear that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is to die for.” Isabel, who loved everything having to do with art—from painting to collage to cartooning—had already fallen in love with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. She had seen a Gauguin and Monet exhibit, and couldn't wait to see the new photography exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art. Her eyes lit up at the very thought of two days of museum hopping in New York. “I want to live in the city someday,” she said. “Maybe I'll be a famous artist and you all can come to my opening at some amazing gallery.”

“We'll be there,” enthused Maeve. “And, we'll be your most loyal fans. Right, girls?” Katani, Charlotte, and Avery nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Just stay away from Yankee Stadium,” Avery advised, referring to her beloved Red Sox's archrivals.

Charlotte laughed. It was so funny to hear her friends' reactions—clearly each having very different ideas about how she should spend her weekend! “There's only one problem,” she told them. “What am I going to do with Marty while we're away? It's only for two days and one night, but he can't possibly stay by himself.”

There was silence as everyone thought about this. Marty was adored by all the girls, even Katani, who was an admitted “kitty-kat girl.”

“I guess he can't really go with you,” Katani said.

“The hotel doesn't take dogs,” Charlotte told her. “Besides, how am I supposed to go to all the places you're recommending with Marty in tow?”

“Marty, the traveling dog,” Isabel giggled. “Just picture him hopping up the steps of the Met.”

“Marty does Wall Street,” Katani added with a grin. “He'd need a tie, of course. And a briefcase.”

“No, better yet,” Avery blurted. “Keep him in a doggie sport tote, with his head popping out every once in a while!”

“Very Elle Woods,” mused Maeve.

“Why can't Miss Pierce take care of him?” Avery asked. The Ramseys lived in a big yellow house on Summit Avenue—a two-family Victorian that they shared with Sapphire Pierce, their landlady. She was retired from her lifelong career as an astronomer. She and Charlotte loved having tea together sometimes in the afternoons. Charlotte was fascinated by her work on the Hubble telescope, and Miss Pierce liked hearing about the same junior high school where she'd been a student years ago. Miss Pierce was fond of Marty, and it seemed like a good suggestion.

But Charlotte was shaking her head. “She can't take care of Marty this weekend. We already checked with her,” she said. “She's got something going on and she said she was going to be too busy to look after him.”

The five girls looked at each other, concerned. Katani frowned. “What's she doing? She is always ready to take care of Marty. Is she sick?”

“No, I don't think so,” answered Charlotte. “She just
couldn't do it. I have to admit I was a little curious myself. I thought maybe she was going on a trip or something, but she's so shy and hasn't been anywhere for so long. The whole thing is a little strange.”

“I'd love to take Marty,” Isabel piped in. “But Aunt Lourdes is NOT a pet person. I think it's hard enough for her, sharing her apartment with Mom and Elena Maria and me.” Isabel's young aunt, a nurse, was helping to take care of Isabel and her ninth-grade sister, and guiding Isabel's mother through treatment for her multiple sclerosis. “You know how strict Aunt Lourdes is, and what a neat freak too,” Isabel added. “Besides, we barely have enough room for the four of us. Marty would have to stay in the closet.” All of them howled at the vision of Marty in a closet. There would be nothing left standing after Marty had his way. Plus, Marty would be too lonely. He loved to be held and cuddled, and he was used to sleeping with Charlotte—sometimes sneaking under the covers on a cold night. Poor Marty!

“Count me out, too,” Katani said with a sigh. “My mom wants us all to head up to visit Candice at college this weekend.” She shook her head. “You know my sister. She's already been voted MVP of her field hockey team and she's barely been there one season. Mom wants to take Patrice, Kelley, and me up there to watch her game.”

The Summers were a very tight family, and they often did things together on the weekends.

Everyone turned to Maeve. “I can't,” Maeve said. “My mom says she has an interview, I'm not sure what for, but she asked me to look after Sam in the afternoon.” Spending time with Sam, her pesky little brother, was not exactly her favorite thing to do. She made a face. “Besides, dogs freak Sam out. Go figure—he'll watch the goriest war movie ever
made, but when he SEES a dog, he acts like a basket case.”

Charlotte was looking worried. “Okay,” she said finally. “Maybe Miss Pierce will have an idea of someone who can dog-sit. Or my dad can ask around in his department at B.U. There must be someone who can watch him.”

Avery couldn't stand the thought of this a minute longer. “We can't let a perfect stranger watch Marty. You know how sensitive he is…
I'll
take care of him!”

“Avery,” Katani said warningly. “Your mom's allergic.”

“And,” Charlotte pointed out, “didn't she say
no
when you asked if you could have Marty at your house before?”

“What if I put him in the carriage house? She never goes in there,” Avery said.

The girls exchanged glances.

“I don't know, Avery. We don't want you to get in trouble with your mom. Right?” asked Charlotte, looking toward Katani.

“I'll keep him hidden. We don't really use our carriage house, so I can make a bed for him in there,” Avery insisted. When everyone looked questioningly at her, she added, “I promise. He won't be in anyone's way. Anyway, my mom isn't even going to be around much this weekend! She's got lots of meetings. She's planning some kind of big fund-raising event for that boarding school she went to when she was in high school.” Avery's voice sounded teary. “Come on, guys. Just this once—let me take him!”

The girls looked uncertainly at each other. Avery was so head over heels in love with Marty that she couldn't always be rational when it came to making plans about him. But they could see that Avery was near tears and that was so unlike her. Avery was tough; she never cried about anything. But Marty was special. After all, she was the one
who insisted that all the girls adopt him.

“Avery,” Charlotte said slowly. “What if your mother finds out and gets really mad at you, or at all of us?”

“First of all, she won't find out. Second of all, even if she does, she can't get mad because I won't keep him in the house, where his hair would bother her. Please, guys. Give me a chance. I'll keep him safe and out of the way in the carriage house. I'll walk him every day and snuggle with him and play Frisbee. It will be so great and Marty will be with someone who loves him.”

Charlotte didn't know what to say. Nobody did. They had never seen Avery so…so desperate for something. “Well, if you really think it'll be okay,” she said at last.