September 16, 2021

The Albatross

“Outside the moist air had become moister. A fine mist was driving down. Mrs. Oliphant disentangled an umbrella from her handbag and the tail of one of her furs. When it was opened the umbrella proved to be extremely large and deep. They walked under it close together, as under a small pavilion. “I’ve had it for twenty-five years,” Mrs. Oliphant told Randy. “It’s been lost once on a bus, twice on railway trains, and once at the London Zoo. But I always get it back. I call it the albatross.” —Elizabeth Enright, The Saturdays

(Literary Lost Umbrellas is one of my favourite Pickle Me This features, but it’s been awhile. So I was so excited to find this literary lost umbrella in our family read aloud tonight—and even better that this particular lost literary umbrella so resolutely refuses to stay lost. I love it. PS this book is great. I found it after googling “Books that are like The Penderwicks.)