“Oh, Sister,” said Baby.
“See?” said Stella. “See? You are two sisters who love each other. But we have to go now because Mr. Watson and Mercy are in the car and Mercy is hungry and the engine is running and it is a long drive. We have to go home. Let’s go home.”
“Let’s,” said Baby.
“Let’s,” said Eugenia. She picked up Baby’s suitcase.
“Oh, Sister,” said Baby. “I have so much to tell you.”
Eugenia took hold of Baby’s right hand. She said, “Well, if you insist on telling a story, I suppose I will have to listen.”
Stella took hold of Baby’s left hand. “We can talk and talk and talk,” said Stella. “And when we get home, it will be almost morning and maybe Mrs. Watson will make us some toast with a great deal of butter on it.”
An envelope arrived at 52 Deckawoo Drive.
The envelope was addressed to Lucille Lincoln, and there were two letters inside.
The first letter said:
The second letter said:
Every morning began the same way: Baby sat at the kitchen table and read the comics, all of them. She laughed. She blew her nose.
When she was done with the comics, Baby got out a notebook and a pencil and worked at writing down the story of the good king named George and the great wizard called Calaband Darsh. She told a story of wolves and pear trees and singing stars, a story of good and evil and hope.
Eugenia sat across the table from Baby and wrote her list of goals.
The morning light came streaming into the kitchen.
Baby wrote her story.
She ate jelly beans as she worked.
Kate DiCamillo is the renowned author of numerous books for young readers, including two Newbery Medal winners, Flora & Ulysses and The Tale of Despereaux, as well as the Mercy Watson and Tales from Deckawoo Drive series. She says, “When I set out on this journey with Baby, I had no idea what was going to happen. I only knew that the journey was necessary. And now that the journey is over, I have to say that I miss everyone I met along the way. I will miss George most of all. Maybe he will show up in another story? I will have to ask Baby about that.”
Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of The Circus Ship, King Hugo’s Huge Ego, and Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit, and the illustrator of all six books about Mercy Watson. He says, “Poor Baby Lincoln, always cowering in her big sister’s shadow. It’s refreshing to see her step out and have her own adventure for a change. But I have to admit, I can’t get through this story without tearing up. Kate’s words get me every time.” Chris Van Dusen lives in Maine.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2016 by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Chris Van Dusen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
First electronic edition 2016
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number pending
The illustrations in this book were done in gouache.
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Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? Page 3