pretended to read her book while inside she churned with anger. She was glad she didn’t have an Uncle Hobart. She was glad she didn’t have any uncles at all, just Aunt

Beatrice, who never embarrassed children and who always came when the family needed

her.

“Did you bring us any more presents?”

asked Willa Jean.

11

“Willa Jean, that isn’t nice,” said Mrs.

Kemp, smiling because she was so happy to

have her youngest son home at last.

“Willa Jean, how did you guess?” asked

Uncle Hobart. “Come on out to the van,

and I’ll show you.”

“Me, too?” Howie quickly forgot his

annoyance.

“Sure.” As he went out the door, Uncle

Hobart said,“It’s great to be back in a country full of green grass and trees.”

Ramona heard Howie ask, “What do

camels eat if there isn’t any grass?”

When they returned, Ramona lost her

struggle to be interested in her book. Uncle Hobart was carrying a small accordion.

“Grandma, look!” Howie was wheeling

what appeared to be part of a bicycle. “It’s a real unicycle!”

“Is it broken?” asked Willa Jean.“It has only one wheel.”

12

“Hobart, whatever were you thinking of ?”

Mrs. Kemp frowned at the unicycle.

“I was thinking of the unicycle you

wouldn’t let me have when I was Howie’s

age,” said Uncle Hobart. “Now, Mom, don’t

you worry about a thing. I’ll help him. He’s not going to break any bones.” He set the

accordion on the floor by Willa Jean. “And this is for you,” he said.

Willa Jean eyed the accordion.“What does

it do?” she asked.

“You can play music on it,” answered her

uncle.“It’s a Viennese accordion. I bought it from one of the men I worked with and even learned to play it a little.”

“Isn’t that lovely, Willa Jean?” said Mrs.

Kemp. “Your very own musical instrument.

We’ll put it away until you’re old enough to learn to play it.”

“No!” Willa Jean put on her stubborn

look. “I want to play it now!”

13

Uncle Hobart took the accordion and began to play and sing:

“Ramona, I hear the mission bells above, Ramona, they’re ringing out our song of love.”

Ramona stared at her book as she thought

mean, dark thoughts about Uncle Hobart.

He stopped playing and said, “What’s the

matter, Ramona? Don’t you like my music?”

“No.” Ramona looked the uncle in the

eye. “You’re teasing. I don’t like grown-ups who tease.”

“Why, Ramona!” Mrs. Kemp was most

disapproving. “That’s no way to talk to

Howie’s uncle.”

“Now, Mom, don’t get excited,” said Uncle

Hobart. “Ramona has a point. I was teasing, but I’ll reform. Okay, Ramona?”

“Okay,” agreed Ramona, suspecting he

might still be teasing.

14

“Uncle Hobart, Uncle Hobart, let me play it,” begged Willa Jean.

The uncle placed Willa Jean’s hands