12 Secrets

CHAPTER 12 Secrets October came with chilly weather and shorter afternoons. Hidden under an old blanket, Jo scribbled away in the attic while Scrabble played at her feet. She dotted her last sentence, signed her name with a flourish, and exclaimed, "There! I've done my best." Then, she tied up the bundle with red ribbon and removed a second manuscript

from its secret hiding place. She put them both in her pocket and crept quietly downstairs. Jo snuck out of the house and took the long way into town. Once at her destination, she tried several times to go inside. There was a dentist's sign on the building's entrance. On her third try, she made it up the dusty stairs. By chance, Laurie was across the street and saw Jo go inside. He crossed the street and waited under the sign. He said to himself, "It's just like Jo to come alone. If she has a bad time, I can walk her home." In ten minutes, Jo appeared with a red face, looking like she'd been through an ordeal. She wasn't happy to see Laurie and tried to walk past him, but he followed her. He asked, "Was it awful?" "Not really." "Quick, though."

"Yes, thankfully." He asked, "Why did you go by yourself?" "I didn't want anyone to know." Laurie chastised her. "You're so silly. How many did you have out?" Jo laughed. She realized that Laurie thought she had been at the dentist's. Her eyes twinkled as she answered, "I have to wait a week for the two I want to come out." Laurie asked, "Why are you laughing? What are you up to?" Jo replied, "What are you up to? What were you doing in that pool hall?" He explained that it wasn't a pool hall, but a gym. He had been taking fencing lessons. "Oh!" Jo said, "that's fun! You can teach me, and we can play Hamlet." It was Laurie's turn to laugh. He agreed to teach her even if they didn't play Hamlet. The walk back home was pleasant, except for

one small disagreement. Jo warned Laurie about becoming a wild boy. She said that her mother wouldn't like it. "Are you going to lecture me all the way home?" Jo replied, "Of course not, why?" "If you are, I'll make my way home. If not, I'd like to tell you a secret." The prospect of an exciting secret was too much for Jo. "No more advice," she said. "Now, out with it!" But Laurie wouldn't tell her until she explained what she had been doing in town. So Jo said that she had been at the newspaper office and left two of her stories with the editor. She had to wait a week to find out if they would be accepted. Laurie yelled, "Hurrah for Miss March, the celebrated author!" He tossed his hat in the air.

She frowned. "Oh stop. He might not accept them, but I couldn't rest until I tried." Laurie said that her stories were so good, they'd surely be published. Now, it was time for his secret. He said that he knew where to find Meg's lost glove, whispering that he saw it in Mr. Brooke's pocket. "Isn't it romantic?" Jo scowled, "No. It's horrid." She hated the idea of someone taking Meg away from the family. "I don't think I like secrets. I'm upset now that you've told me." Laurie wanted to make his friend feel better. "How about a race down the hill?" They ran wildly down the slope. Jo's hat and hairpins dropped out along the way, but the burst of energy did the trick and cheered her right up. By the time she reached Laurie at the bottom of the hill, she was out of breath. "I wish I was a horse, then I could run for

miles and never get tired," she panted. "Will you be a dear and get my things?" Jo tried to fix her hair before she met anyone on the path, but it was too late. Meg came along wearing her best dress. She took one look at her sister and said, "Jo, when will you stop running all about?" Jo replied, "Not until I'm old and gray. Don't make me grow up before my time, Meg." She bit her lip to stop from crying. The secret sat in a dark pit at the bottom of her stomach. The last thing she wanted was for her sister to grow up and get married. Laurie joined the conversation just in time. He asked Meg, "Where were you?" "At the Gardiners'. Sallie was telling me all about Belle Moffat's wedding." "Did it make you jealous?" Laurie asked. Meg admitted, "I'm afraid it did." "I'm happy about it," Jo muttered, jerking