Spiders on the Case Read Online Free

a bit of a self-esteem problem.”
    â€œI would, too,” Felix said. “I mean, they’re orb weavers, but on a scale of zero to ten, their webs are a two, possibly a three, in terms of beauty and elegance.”
    â€œShut up, Felix. He’s very nice. He’s very shy, he’s really smart, and he does not need a critique of his weaving skills from you.”
    â€œNo squabbling, please, children. Now get ready for night patrol.”
    â€œBut, Mom,” Julep whined. “I’m not even hungry.”
    â€œJulep, no whining. I told you not to eat that cockroach at the theater. It spoiled your appetite.”
    â€œBut I was hungry then and I’m not hungry now. Besides, I went down to the children’s room and they were passing out cookies. There were crumbs all over the place.”
    â€œWhat in the name of silk were you doing down there?”
    â€œStory time. They’re reading this great book called Little House on the Prairie — all about the pioneer days and this nice little girl named Laura.”
    â€œYou certainly do flit around,” Felix said. “First pop-up circus books and now pioneer books. What will it be next?”
    â€œI’m thinking about Egypt. There’s this really cool pop-up book of a pyramid,” Julep said.
    â€œI hope it’s not in the children’s room,” Edith said.
    â€œNo, it’s right here in the rare books. No kids ever come up here! It’s one of the antique pop-up books. Actually, they call them movable-parts books. I heard Tom on the phone talking about the pyramid one.”
    â€œWell, it’s a relief that it’s up here. But, Julep, I’ve said this once and I’ll keep saying it until it sinks in.”
    Jo Bell and Felix exchanged quick glances with their dozen eyes. How often had they heard this lecture?
    â€œTom Parker is the only human being we have ever met who has welcomed us,” Edith began. “He requires nothing of us except that we eat the little pests that are destroying some of the world’s greatest treasures. This is our duty not just to Tom but to the reading public. In general I am not fond of humans, but human beings who read improve our planet.” She paused. “Is that understood, children?”
    Edith’s three children bobbed their heads up and down obediently.
    She continued, “I think tonight we’ll penetrate the John Adams collection. I heard Tom on the phone today talking about how he was worried about a silverfish invasion. Particularly in those books in Adams’s personal collection, where he made notes in the margins.”
    â€œCan my friend come, Mom?” Jo Bell asked.
    â€œOh, your friend — the walnut orb weaver?” Edith asked.
    â€œBuster.”
    â€œBuster. Yes, of course, dear. Where is he?”
    â€œRight here,” Jo Bell tipped her head toward a crack in the display case.
    â€œRight where?” Julep asked. “I don’t see a thing.”
    â€œHe’s shy, very shy.” Jo Bell skibbled over to an infinitesimally small crack in the frame of the case. “Buster, come on out and meet the family!” She waited a few seconds. “Come on, Buster.”
    Slowly, the walnut orb weaver crept out. Edith, Felix, and Julep poked their heads forward. Eighteen eyes scanned the tiny crack that Jo Bell seemed to be speaking to. There was a brown blur as Buster dropped to the floor of the case.
    â€œHe’s dead!” Edith gasped.
    â€œDon’t worry. That’s just his way … his way of arriving.”

    â€œLike a corpse!” Felix said.
    â€œHe’s so flat. He doesn’t even look like a spider,” Julep said. “More like a paint chip.”
    â€œWell, I am a spider.” A voice came from the little fleck of brown, amazing the family, except for Jo Bell, even more. Then, one at a time, Buster’s eight legs appeared and he staggered to his feet.