The Complete 8-Book Ramona Collection: Beezus and Ramona, Ramona the Pest, Ramona the Brave, Ramona and Her Father, Ramona and Her Mother, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Ramona Forever, Ramona's World

by Beverly Cleary

“Don’t you think you should play with Susan once in a while?” Ramona picked at the one callus that had not peeled off since school started before she said, “Do I have to? I see her at Sunday school.” Mrs. Quimby said, “You could ask her to come here or you could go to Susan’s house. Her mother was saying just the other day that you girls should get together more often.” Ramona made a face. She wished grown-ups would stay out of their children’s affairs. Mrs. Quimby was curious. “Don’t you like Susan?” she asked. “Well—not really,” confessed Ramona. “She’s the kind of girl who gets mad, really mad, when boys call her Snoozin’ Susan. When boys call you a name, you are just supposed to get a little bit mad and not go telling the teacher.” Ramona found her reason for disliking Susan difficult to explain. “And I don’t like to go to her house because—well, it is too clean, I guess.” Mrs. Quimby looked surprised. “You can’t say that about our house.” Ramona was loyal to her house. “Our house isn’t dirty,” she said. “There are magazines and stu—things on the coffee table, but everything isn’t all nicey-nice and just so, and you don’t hang around talking when someone comes over. You mind your own business.” “Thank you, dear.” Mrs. Quimby’s mouth was serious, but her eyes were smiling. “I’m glad to know.”