The Magickers Read Online Free

husband.
    â€œDon’t worry.” The Dozer squeezed her hand tighter. “I’ve got it handled.” He nodded at Jason. “You might want to splash some of my aftershave on your mug. It’ll sting, but you’ll heal faster.”
    Â 
    Jason exhaled.
    Sam exhaled, too. “Man, you’re only eleven. And he thinks you were trying to shave? ”
    â€œAt least he didn’t ask me what happened.”
    â€œSo you’re still going to tryouts for soccer camp?”
    â€œYou bet.”
    Sam heaved a sigh of relief. “Partners, right?”
    Jason slapped his hand. “Definitely!”
    The fact he’d been okayed to try out for soccer camp had faintly surprised him. Evidently his stepmother thought that shin guards would protect him, although she had questioned him a few days ago about the difference between rugby and soccer, as if to reassure herself she’d made the right decision. She’d looked at him, her sunglasses tilted back on her forehead like a hair ornament, repeating his words now and then, faintly ending up, “And no tackling?”
    â€œNo, ma’am. No tackling. This is soccer.” He pressed his mouth shut firmly on what was not exactly a lie.
    â€œWell.” She put her reading glasses on as she pulled out her organizer. “Work hard and make the team! You know we approve of summer camps. They build character.”
    Â 
    Early bell sounded through the air as the stucco buildings of the school loomed in view. The flow of students had slowed to nearly a trickle, Jason’s tale delaying them. The bell’s echoes faded as two snickers came from behind.
    â€œPartners, huh? Well . . . partner this!”
    Movement too swift to duck grabbed him up, pulling his sweatshirt jacket over his head, blinding him. As he kicked and fought to get free, his feet and body suddenly left the ground. For a moment he was flying blind, hands on his arms tossing him through the air. He hit with a fragrant thump, Sam letting out a grunt beside him as he landed also, and then a thunderous clang as the dumpster lid slammed shut over them. Darkness fell even as Jason clawed his sweatshirt off his head.
    â€œOh, man,” said Sam. “I’m going to stink all day.”
    They both struggled to stand on the heaps of garbage under them, and push up on the heavy metal lid overhead. It wouldn’t budge. The noise of students moving past had stopped as everyone now was probably inside the classrooms, or at least the school gates.
    Something tapped at the metal lid. Tap, tap.
    Sam tilted his head. “Hello? Get us out!” He knocked and rattled loudly. There was silence. Then something walked across the lid: tick, tick, tick.
    Jason listened. What on Earth . . . ?
    They held their breath, listening. Someone was teasing them, toying with them.
    Tap. Tap. Tap.
    Then, “Kerr-awww.” And a rattling “CAW!”
    A crow! He’d had it with crows!
    Jason made a fist and punched at the dumpster lid. There came an explosion of wings and caws as the crow took startled flight off the top. It came back with a heavy thud, CAW-ing even more loudly.
    Both Jason and Sam put their hands up and rattled the dumpster lid, yelling at the top of their lungs.
    Bright sunlight flooded in as the lid suddenly opened. Mrs. Cowling, Jason’s English teacher, stared in, her big, fluffy brown hair in a sunny halo about her round face. “Goodness,” she said. “What are you two doing in here?”
    She helped Sam out and then Jason. The stench of the dumpster floated about them like a cloud, and then slowly faded. Jason looked back in the trash bin. They were in luck, it seemed, most of the rubbish seemed to be old boxes and dry stuff. The reek must be a permanent odor stuck inside. He shook himself, pulling his backpack and sweatshirt jacket down.
    â€œWe got thrown in,” Sam answered sulkily. His dark hair stood out in wild