The Magician's Bird Read Online Free

shovel out of her hands. “It’s just a floor. See?” He did his own version of thumping, but he managed to make it sound sarcastic, somehow.
    Laurie glanced back at the school. The tour group was gone, sure, but they couldn’t be that far away. “Cut it out, Bud. We’re not supposed to be busting on things. Someone could hear you.”
    â€œHear me what, thump the floor? Or bounce on a springy floor?” Bud thumped again, really hard. It wasn’t a kidding-around thump.
    â€œYou’re going to get us in trouble.” This was just the kind of thing Betty Abernathy would love to catch them doing. She was just itching to bust them for vandalism.
    But Bud was on a roll. “See, Misti? Just a floor. No matter how many times you go thump. See? Thump thump thu—”
    And Bud fell through the floor.

    Misti and Laurie froze, staring at the Bud-shaped hole in horror.
    It was like a cartoon—one minute he was there, the next he was gone.
    â€œHey, Misti? Laurie? Is that you?”
    Laurie’s head whipped around so fast she was surprised she didn’t give herself whiplash. She groaned. This was not what she needed right now. She recognized that voice. It was Calliope Judkin.
    ----
    How to Keep Your Archnemesis from
Noticing That Your Friend Has Just Fallen
Through a Hole in the Floor
by Laurie Madison, rising seventh grader
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  1. Friend? What friend?
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  2. Hole? What hole? I don’t know what you’re talking about.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  3. What do you mean, why am I blocking the door? I’m not blocking anything. I’m just standing here.
----
    Laurie did a quick mental review. Calliope Judkin was pretty much the biggest snoop there was and had spent a good part of the past year spying on them andleaking information to the newspaper and people trying to shut the school down. Not someone you’d turn to in a time of crisis.
    She glanced back over her shoulder at the hole in the floor. Bud hadn’t made a sound since he’d fallen though, which meant pretty much one thing. Bud was dead. Or unconscious with a broken leg. Either way, telling Calliope about it wasn’t going to make him undead or un-unconscious with a broken leg. It would just guarantee that it was plastered all over the six o’clock news.
    Laurie fought down her panic as Calliope bounced over. “Hey, guys, what’s up?”
    Misti and Laurie glanced at each other, eyes wide, and then casually positioned themselves in front of the doorway.
    â€œUp? What are you talking about, nothing’s up.” Misti’s voice was shrill enough that dogs in the next county winced at the sound.
    Laurie tossed her hair in a calm and collected way. “Nothing’s up, we’re just standing here, okay? For no reason. But nothing’s up. What makes you say something’s up?” Laurie cringed inside. That hadn’t sounded nearly as calm and collected as she’d hoped. Of course,it’s hard to sound calm and collected when you’re standing in front of a hole with a dead body at the bottom. Not that she knew Bud was dead. But it was pretty likely, though, right? Way more likely than unconscious with a broken leg.
    Calliope stared at them. “Oookay. Nothing’s up. Good to know.”
    They stared awkwardly at one another for an uncomfortably long amount of time.
    â€œYeah, so what do you want?” Misti squeaked finally. Laurie glared at her. Way to be subtle, Misti.
    Calliope looked disgusted. “Look, I was trying to be a friend, okay? I just thought you’d want to know about this.” She smacked Laurie in the chest with a folded-up newspaper. “Check out the banner over the headline.”
    Laurie took the newspaper and unfolded it. It was a special afternoon edition of the Morning News , and the banner definitely wasn’t good.
    ----
    MARIA TUTWEILER’S CRIMINAL