Fabulous Five 018 - Teen Taxi Read Online Free Page A

just have to handle the problem on her own.

CHAPTER 5
    On Sunday night Melanie tossed and turned in bed, imagining
what it would be like to arrive at school the next morning. Would kids laugh
when the van saying EDWARDS'S TEEN TAXI pulled up to the curb and other kids
got out? Would they snicker behind her back when she walked through the halls
and make jokes about her mother's being a taxi driver?
    When she came down to breakfast the next morning Mrs.
Edwards was sitting by the phone, frowning and tapping her fingers on the
kitchen counter.
    "I've just had another cancellation," she said in
an agitated voice. "I don't understand it. I had four students lined up to
ride today, and three of their parents have called and canceled. And when I
asked them why, they hemmed and hawed and wouldn't really give me a reason."
    Melanie's eyes widened. "Really?" she asked, faking
concern. Little tingles raced up her spine. Her campaign to sabotage the taxi
service had worked. Now surely her mother would give up if no one wanted their
children to ride.
    "At least we still have one customer," said Mrs.
Edwards with a sigh. "But I'll need to find more if this taxi business is
going to succeed. We'll never be able to make the van payments with only one
rider."
    Melanie knew she shouldn't feel so jubilant. Her mother
really wanted to make her new business work, not just for herself, but for the
whole family's benefit as well. But why couldn't she start a business selling
her fabulous homemade brownies instead? she wondered. She might get rich. Look
what had happened with Famous Amos's cookies, or Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
    "Hurry with your breakfast, dear," her mother
called, interrupting her thoughts. "We'll need to leave in ten minutes."
    Melanie's optimistic mood vanished, and she scowled after
her mother, who hurried off to get Jeffy ready for the trip. Melanie couldn't
even make something as easy as toast and get it eaten in ten minutes. It was
just one more example of what was wrong with running a taxi service. Her mother
was more interested in her career than in her daughter's nutrition!
    She downed a fast glass of milk and stuffed the last bite of
a banana into her mouth as she climbed into the van ten minutes later.
    Her mother looked up from buckling Jeffy into the front
passenger seat and said, "Now, honey, don't forget that you are in charge
of your little brother beginning the instant the young man steps into our van."
    "Young man?" Melanie echoed, sliding into the seat
directlv behind her mother, her interest suddenly piqued. Perhaps she should
have asked more about her mother's riders after all.
    "Yes," said her mother as she started up the
engine, backed out of the driveway, and headed down the street. "I'll need
your help watching for his street, too. It's Pebblestone Road. His mother said
it is four blocks south of here and six blocks west. Then it's the fifth house
on the left . . . JEFFY!"
    Melanie gasped as her little brother popped the buckle on
his seat belt and rolled out of his seat, heading for the back of the moving
van as fast as he could scramble. Just as Melanie leaned forward to grab him,
her mother pulled to the curb and hit the brakes, sending her lurching onto the
carpeted floor beside Jeffy.
    "Jeffy! You get back in your seat!" shouted Mrs.
Edwards. Then she turned her glare on Melanie. "You were supposed to be
helping me. Now we can't have things like this happening while we have
passengers in the van. Get into the front seat, please, and hold Jeffy on your
lap."
    "Mu -THUR! " cried Melanie as she scrambled
around on her hands and knees gathering books and papers that had tumbled onto
the floor. "You said I was supposed to start watching him as soon as the
passenger got in. Besides, I can't ride up to the school in front of everybody
with Jeffy on my lap. Come on, Mom! I'll watch him. I promise!"
    Her mother shook her head firmly. "I can't take any
chances. This taxi service is a big responsibility, and