Really Truly Ruthie

Really Truly Ruthie is the companion book for Ruthie Smithens; it is considered an extension of the Kit series. It is included with Ruthie when she is purchased and can be purchased separately.

Facts

 * Author: Valerie Tripp, Susan McAliley
 * Illustrators: Walter Rane
 * First Published: 2008
 * Setting: Late Winter 1932

Previous

 * Ruthie Smithens
 * Kit Kittredge
 * Margaret Kittredge
 * Jack Kittredge
 * Charles Kittredge
 * Aunt Millie

Chapter One: Apples and Kindness
As Ruthie walks to the Kittredge's house with a crate of apples, she thinks how the phrase 'once upon a time' beings all wonderful adventures. Ruthie is happy that it's December 26th, the special day where Ruthie, Kit, and their mothers go on an outing in downtown Cincinnati. Ruthie reaches Kit's house and knocks on the door. Kit opens the door and announces Ruthie's presence to the rest of the boarders. Kit tells Ruthie she's just in time to say goodbye to her father. Kit's father was hired to drive Mr. and Mrs. Bell to Florida since the couple couldn't drive themselves. As Kit drags Ruthie along, Ruthie ponders how her house can bee too tidy, calm, and quiet sometimes. That's why Ruthie loves Kit's house so much; something was always happening. There is chaos and commotion in the house as Mr. Kittredge, Charlie, and Mr. Peck study a road map, Ms. Hart and Ms. Finney help Mrs. Kittredge with the dishes, Mrs. Howard tries unsuccessfully to give Mrs. Bell Stirling's hot water bottle, and Mr. Bell shakes everyone's hand goodbye. Mr. Kittredge and the Bells soon drive off, and Ruthie asks Kit how long her dad will be gone. Kit explains her dad will take four days to drive to Florida, and another four days to drive back home. Ruthie calculates that Kit's dad would be back on January 2nd and Kit confirms. The two share a quick, uneasy glance at each other. They both knew Mr. Kittredge had to be back with his payment on the 2nd, or else the Kittredges would lose their home to the bank. Ruthie's father, Mr. Smithens, told the Kittredges that he held off the bank as long as possible, but they had to pay some of their money after the holidays. Ruthie changes to a nicer subject and asks Kit if she remembers what day it is. Kit happily says she could never forget their special day, and the two go to ask Kit's mother when she'll be ready. In the kitchen, Stirling and Charlie lift up the crate of apples. Stirling bets that Ruthie brought the apples over and Charlie teases Ruthie that she waved a magic wand to bring them over. Ruthie explains her family got a lot of apples this Christmas and her mother was hoping Kit's family would use some of them so they wouldn't go to waste. Charlie says that nothing is wasted around here as he grabs an apple for himself and Stirling, and Mrs. Kittredge thanks Ruthie. Secretly relieved the Kittredges accepted the apples without a fuss, Ruthie recalls the conspiracy of kindness she and her mother were in. The two would try to find ways to help the Kittredges whenever they could. Ruthie recently learnt the hard way that generosity was tricky, and she had to be careful and respectful when giving things to Kit and her family. Kit reminds her mother about their special day and Mrs. Kittredge grows worried. She tells Kit she's unsure if she can go as she goes through a list of chores she has to do. Just as Ruthie and Kit's hoe fades, Mrs. Howard tells Kit's mother she mustn't think of missing her special day and explains she, Stirling, and Charlie would do the chores. The boys happily agree to help and Mrs. Howard tells the girls to run off now, shaking her soapy spoon while doing so. The trio head off to Ruthie's house to pick up Mrs. Smithens and they all go to downtown Cincinnati. The two families had an agreement to do only free activities today, so the girls begin with window shopping. Kit points out a snowy mountain in one of the windows and Ruthie takes a look at it. On the mountain, Ruthie also sees a snowman being pulled in a sled. Ruthie comments that the display reminds her of the silver forest the twelve dancing princesses snuck through on their way to the ball. While Kit was sometimes impatient with Ruthie's interest in fairly tales, today Kit just smiled and asked Ruthie "Don't you wish you could be in that sleigh, flying down the mountain?" Ruthie shares her personal wish to ride a sleigh like the one in the display. The girls and their mothers spend the rest of their day walking around downtown and Ruthie feels completely happy. She thinks that if she were in a fairy tale and had three wishes, she'd use them all to wish that they could all be as relaxed and carefree as they were now. The Smithens drop Kit and her mother off at Uncle Fedrick's house and as they say goodbye, Mrs. Smithens manages to sneak their picnic leftovers into the Kittredge's basket. As the Smithens drive off, Ruthie wishes there was more they could do to help and she asks her mother if they could give them money. Mrs. Smithens says they offered multiple times, but Kit's parents refused each time. She explains all they can give them is apples and kindness The two agree to pick up Mr. Smithens from the bank. When they arrive, Mr. Smithens is reading some papers and frowning. His face brightens up when he sees his family coming to greet him and after Ruthie hugs her father, she runs over to his chair and beings to spin. her father tells her mother he still has a few more hours of work as Ruthie continues to spin. When she tries to stop by grabbing onto the desk, she accidentally knocks over some folders. When Ruthie gathers them up, she notices the word KITTREDGE on a note attached to the folder. Ruthie couldn't help but read the note and grows dizzy with dismay when she realizes the note reads the Kittredge's would be evicted on December 28th. Ruthie begins to painic, wondering what she could do to help them. Kit's father wouldn't be back on time, they wouldn't accept her family's money, and her father couldn't delay the bank any longer. Ruthie knew that apples and kindness weren't going to help. The Kittredges needed money and fast.

Items associated with Really Truly Ruthie

 * Ruthie Smithens (doll)
 * Ruthie's Accessories
 * Kit Kittredge (doll)
 * Kit's Cookstove

Trivia

 * The book includes a "sneak peek" at Meet Kit, which is part of Chapter Three.