Ramona took her time. Somehow she

had expected Uncle Hobart to arrive in a

long black limousine, not a muddy van. She followed Howie into the house, where the

famous uncle turned out to be a medium-

young man who had not shaved for several

days and who was wearing old jeans and a

faded T-shirt. He was holding Willa Jean on his lap. The warm, sweet smell of apple pie filled the air.

“Down you go, Doll,” said Uncle Hobart,

lifting Willa Jean to the floor and grabbing 8

Howie in a bear hug. “How’s my favorite nephew?” he asked, and held Howie off to

look at him while Mrs. Kemp hovered and

Willa Jean embraced her Uncle Hobart’s

knee.

Ramona was embarrassed. She felt she

was in the way because she was not related.

She sat down on a chair, opened a book, but did not read. She studied Uncle Hobart,

who didn’t look rich to her. He looked like a plain man—a big disappointment.

Willa Jean let go of her uncle’s knee.“See what Uncle Hobart brought us,” she said,

and pointed to a pair of objects that looked like two small sawhorses, each holding a red leather cushion. Willa Jean sat astride one.

“Giddyup, you old camel,” she said and

informed Ramona,“This is my camel saddle.”

“Hey, a camel saddle!” said Howie when

he saw his present. He imitated Willa Jean.

After a few more giddyups, there was nothing 9

more to do with a camel saddle except sit on it.

Pooh, who wants a boring old camel

saddle, Ramona wanted to say, at the same

time wishing she had a saddle to sit on these winter days when she liked to read by the

furnace outlet.

Finally Uncle Hobart noticed Ramona.

“Well, who’s this young lady?” he asked.

“Howie, you didn’t tell me you had a girl-

friend.”

Both Ramona and Howie turned red and

somehow felt ashamed.

“Aw, that’s just old Ramona,” Howie

muttered.

To Ramona’s horror, Uncle Hobart began

to strum an imaginary guitar and sing:

“Ramona, I hear the mission bells above.

Ramona, they’re ringing out our song of love.

I press you, caress you,

And bless the day you taught me to care.”

10

Ramona knew right then that she did not like Uncle Hobart and never would. She had heard that song before. When Grandpa

Day lived in Portland, he used to sing it to tease her, too. “I’m not Howie’s girlfriend,”

she said in her most grown-up manner. “I

have to stay here until my mother is through work. It is”—could she get the words out

right?—“strictly a business arrangement.”

Uncle Hobart found this very funny,

which made Ramona dislike him even more.

“Cut it out, Uncle Hobart,” said Howie, a

remark much appreciated by Ramona, who