The Double Dabble Surprise
Read The Double Dabble Surprise Online
Authors: Beverly Lewis
Beverly Lewis Books for Young Readers
P
ICTURE
B
OOKS
Annika's Secret Wish ⢠In Jesse's Shoes
Just Like Mama ⢠What Is God Like?
What Is Heaven Like?
T
HE
C
UL-DE-SAC
K
IDS
The Double Dabble Surprise
The Chicken Pox Panic
The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery
No Grown-ups Allowed
Frog Power
The Mystery of Case D. Luc
The Stinky Sneakers Mystery
Pickle Pizza
Mailbox Mania
The Mudhole Mystery
Fiddlesticks
The Crabby Cat Caper
Tarantula Toes
Green Gravy
Backyard Bandit Mystery
Tree House Trouble
The Creepy Sleep-Over
The Great TV Turn-Off
Piggy Party
The Granny Game
Mystery Mutt
Big Bad Beans
The Upside-Down Day
The Midnight Mystery
Katie and Jake and the Haircut Mistake
The Double Dabble Surprise
Copyright © 1993
Beverly Lewis
Originally published by Star Song Publishing Group under the same title.
Interior illustrations by Barbara Birch
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansâelectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwiseâwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
eISBN 978-1-4412-6064-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
To the memory
of my little friend
S
KIPP
C
HOON
G
EUN
who now lives in a heavenly
cul-de-sac paved with gold.
Contents
ONE
Abby Hunter drew an X with her red marker.
The X looked perfect on her teddy bear calendar.
“Next Saturday is the BIG day;” she said. “In one week we'll meet our new sisters from Korea.”
She made dancing stars around the red X.
“I can't wait,” said Carly, her little sister, looking up from her first grade spelling list.
Abby snapped the cap on her marker. “Just think, there will be four girls in our family.”
“I think Daddy wanted some boys,” Carly said.
“Mommy doesn't know how to raise boys,” Abby said. “There aren't any boys in her family for three generations.”
Carly twisted one of her blonde curls. “What's a generator?”
Abby sighed. “Not generatorâgeneration.”
“Well, what is it?” Carly asked.
“It's all the kids born in a family. When they get oldâabout thirtyâthose kids get married and have kids. Then those kids . . .”
“Okay, I get it,” Carly said.
Abby straightened her calendar.
“That's
why we only have girl cousins.”
Carly wrote a spelling word. “I'm glad generator isn't on this list!”
“Generation,” Abby insisted.
“Whatever,” said Carly. She made a tic-tac-toe on her paper. “Wanta play?”
“Can't,” Abby said. “Dunkum is coming over to shoot baskets.”
Dunkum was the best player in Abby's third grade class. His real name was Edward Mifflin, but no one called him that.
“Dunkum thinks he can't be beat, but I'm trying,” Abby said.
“Is Dunkum your best friend?” Carly asked, looking down at Abby's sneakers. One was red and one was blue.
“Maybe,” Abby whispered.
The doorbell rang, followed by pounding on the front door.
Abby grabbed her jacket. “That's definitely Dunkum.”
Carly sighed. “When our Korean sisters come, maybe they'll play with me.”
After lunch the girls helped their mother put up a pink wall hanging. It read: WELCOME SISTERS.
“Soon, I'll have three sisters,” Abby said.
Carly jumped up and down. “Just in time for Thanksgiving.”
“Before,” corrected Abby. “Thanksgiving's in twelve days.”
“Carly, please hold your end still,” said Mother.
“She's too excited,” said Abby.
They stepped back to admire the wall hanging. It looked perfect in their soon-to-be new sisters' bedroom.
Now the room was ready. Matching pink spreads covered the beds. Fancy curtains and bows covered the windows.
“I like this room better than mine,” Carly said.
Abby swung her sister around. “I'll trade
your
room for mine.”
“Nope,” Carly said.
Abby had Carly's room when she was little. There was a secret place in the closet. A secret, secret place. She missed hiding there with a flashlight and a good book.
Now Carly had the room. And the secret place.
Sometimes Abby and Carly hid there together. Abby would read softly to Carly.
Mother often forgot to look for them, in the secret place behind the closet.
“Meet me in five seconds,” Abby whispered.
“Where?” Carly said.
“In the secret place,” Abby said. “We have secret plans to make.”
Carly's eyes shone. “Okay!” she said, and she dashed out of the room.
Abby hoped things wouldn't change too much when her Korean sisters arrived next Saturday.
But . . . she would wait before sharing the secret place with them. Just a little while.
TWO
Abby pulled a pillow into the secret place.
“Shh! Don't make a sound.” She slid the skinny door shut.
Abby switched on two flashlights. One for Carly. One for herself.
“Call the meeting to order,” Carly whispered.
“Okay. The meeting will come to order. Now, is there any news?”
“Nope,” Carly said. “Get to the important stuff. What's the secret plan?”
“Let's buy welcome-home presents for our new sisters.”
“Like what?” Carly said.
“Let's buy matching bearsâbride bears!” Abby said.
“With lots of white lace.” Carly wiggled all over.
Abby twirled her flashlight. “Mommy and Daddy will be surprised, too.”
Carly grinned. “If we keep it a secret.”
“When Daddy buys gas for the car, we'll ride along,” Abby said. She planned everything. She always did.
Abby had another idea. “Let's make cards for our sisters, too.”
“Out of pink paper,” Carly said.
“And lace from Mommy's sewing box,” Abby said.
Carly clapped her hands. “To match the bears' gowns.”
The girls did their hand-over-hand secret code. Then they prayed.
“Dear Lord,” Abby began. “We're getting new sisters.”
“They might not know about you,” Carly added.
