8 The Gingerbread Boy

CHAPTER 8 The Gingerbread Boy Thursday came and went, but Jasper didn't arrive. The little Peppers were very disappointed. They had been looking forward with all their hearts to seeing Jasper and Prince again. "It was probably his mean, old father," Polly said, wiping away a tear. "I know he would have come if he could have."

"Well, he promised to come, and he didn't," Joel said angrily. "I don't care if ever comes back." "Joel, you should be ashamed of yourself. Jasper will come again. He will have a very good reason for why he didn't come today, too," Mrs. Pepper said. The next day, when Ben was at the general store to buy more flour, Mr. Atkins called out to him. He held up an envelope. "There is a letter here for your sister Polly," Mr. Atkins said. "It can't be for Polly," Ben said. "She's never gotten any letters before. None of us have." "Well, it says her name right here—Polly Pepper," Mr. Atkins said, pointing to the envelope. Ben could hardly believe it. A letter for Polly! Ben raced home as fast as he could. He ran through the house calling for Polly, until he could place the envelope into her hands.

Everyone gathered around to see whom it could be from. Polly opened the letter and read it aloud, Dear Polly, I was so sorry I couldn't come on Thursday, but my father was sick and I couldn't leave him. I had a cold, too. If you're willing to have me, though, I'd like to come again. Your friend, Jasper King "I want to make some lovely little cakes for Jasper," Polly said. "Can we, Mamsie? Please?" "We don't have any white flour, Polly,"

Mamsie said, looking up from her sewing. "I can make them with brown flour, and raisins. I know we have some," Polly said, heading for the cupboard. "I was saving those for plum pudding," Mrs. Pepper said. "No, don't give Jasper our raisins!" Joel yelled. "I want plum pudding. I do, I do. And Jasper doesn't deserve them," he added. "Joel Pepper! You should never have plum pudding again for saying something like that about Jasper. He rescued Phronsie, and we owe him all our thanks. Don't you forget it," Mrs. Pepper scolded. "Nevermind, Joel," Polly said, comforting him. "If you don't want me to use the raisins, I won't. It's just that Jasper's sick. Remember how you felt when you had the measles? You liked it when people sent you lovely things to eat, didn't you?" Joel hung his head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Polly. I didn't mean it. Let's give Jasper all the raisins. Every last one of them!" Joel offered. Joel and the others got busy helping Polly prepare the little cakes. Mrs. Pepper smiled to herself to see her little brood so happy and busy. "Now," said Phronsie, "I will bake a gingerbread boy for my poor, sick friend." "You don't have to, Phronsie," Polly said. "One of the little cakes can be from you to Jasper." Phronsie shook her yellow head. "Not Jasper." "Do you mean Prince?" Polly asked, whipping up the batter for the cakes. "No!" Phronsie said. "My poor, sick friend," she repeated. "What do you mean?" Polly asked, dropping a lump of dough on the table. "I want to make a gingerbread boy. That's what he'd like best!"

"Who?" Joel asked, pouncing on the lump of raisin-filled dough. "Jasper's daddy!" Phronsie said. "But, Phronsie," Polly started to say. "A gingerbread boy!" Phronsie insisted, and she would not have it any other way. After several hours, the cakes were done. "They're beautiful little cakes, Polly," Joel said. "My gingerbread boy is the most beautiful of all," Phronsie said, holding up a lumpy gingerbread figure with one raisin eye, two crooked legs, and stubby arms. "Oh, what will Mr. King think of us," Polly whispered to Ben. "We can't let her send that." "Better let me and Davie have him," Joel said,