“Thank you, Mrs. Craig,” Bert said. “My winning that scholarship will mean a lot to us all out there.”
“Just as Doris’s winning means a lot to us,” Mrs. Craig answered.
Tommy stared at his mother. “Aw, you’re kidding!” he said. “They told Bert they hardly ever tell before they get back to Timothy.”
Mrs. Craig said, “I know. They made an exception in Bert’s case. And in Doris’s case, too!”
Tommy turned a handspring in the hall. “Dopey old Doris!” he cried.
“Why, Tommy!” his mother said.
“Isn’t she wonderful, Mom?” he cried. “Isn’t she just about the most wonderful girl ever?”
“Take Bert upstairs to see Jack,” Mrs. Craig told her son. “I think Doris is up with him, now. We have a son in bed with rheumatic fever,” she explained to Bert.
“Yes, ma’am, I know,” Bert said. “I’m very sorry.”
“Come on, Bert,” Tommy cried. “You’ll like Jack.”