The Secret School Read Online Free Page B

driver's seat and looked at Miss Fletcher expectantly.
    Miss Fletcher, reluctant to leave, stood before the children. "Oh, I do wish you all the very, very best," she said again. "Work hard. And—"
    "Miss Fletcher," Mr. Plumstead called, "if you're going to catch the train, we're going to have to get moving."
    "Yes, yes, I'm coming." The teacher opened the car door and settled in. "Good-bye, children!" she called as Mr. Plumstead put the car into gear and started off.
    "Good-bye! Good-bye!" the students shouted.
    They ran out into the road to watch the car go. Within moments it had disappeared from view, leaving behind only the faint smell of exhaust fumes.
    Ida turned. The other seven children were staring at her.
    "Ida," Susie whispered with alarm, "if the door is locked, how we ever going to get inside the school?"
    "I've already thought of that," Ida announced. "Follow me!"
    The children trooped after her until she stopped by a window on the west wall. "Tom, Herbert," she said, "you need to give me a hoist."
    The two boys made a stirrup of their hands, and Ida stepped into it. Rising up, she slid open the window and, headfirst, squirmed inside. Within moments she reappeared at the window. "Meet me at the door," she called.
    The children ran around to the front of the schoolhouse.
    When the door didn't open right away, Herbert banged on it. "Hey, Ida! Come on! Open up!" he called.
    The door swung in. There stood Ida. The children gasped. She had put up her hair with the pins her mother had given her.
    "Children," she said in the most prim teacher-like voice she could manage, "school is closed for the day. It will open regular at eight-thirty sharp tomorrow morning."
    There was a whoop of laughter.
    "I am quite serious," Ida said firmly. "School is dismissed for the day." She closed the door.
    The children looked at one another, surprised.
Gradually they drifted off, leaving only Felix. Not sure what to do, he sat down on the front steps.
    The door opened behind him. Ida peeked out. "They all gone?"
    "I guess you told them to, didn't you?"
    "Tom, too?"
    "Yeah."
    Ida stepped off the porch. "Come on. Guess if we're going to get home we're going to have to crank up the car ourselves."
    As they walked toward the car Felix looked up at his sister. "Ida..."
    "What?"
    "I like your hair better down."
    "Well, you better get used to it," Ida said. "It's going to stay up."

Six
    "H AVE TO GET TO school half an hour earlier tomorrow," Ida announced at the supper table.
    "How's that?" her father asked between mouth-fuls of bean and lamb stew.
    "The new teacher starts," Ida said softly.
    Felix stared at his sister.
    Mrs. Bidson, who had been attending the baby on her lap, looked up at Ida sharply.
    "That school board's sure been quick getting a replacement for Miss Fletcher," said Mr. Bidson.
    "How did you know?" Ida asked faintly.
    "Your ma told me about Miss Fletcher leaving," her father explained.
    For a moment no one spoke. Then Mrs. Bidson reached out and touched Ida's hand. "Honey, don't you want to say more?"
    Mr. Bidson looked up and gazed around at the somber faces. "Am I missing something?" he asked.
    "Pa," Ida whispered, "I'm the new teacher."
    Her father stared at her for a moment as if not understanding. He turned to his wife, then back to Ida. Putting down his fork, he said, "Better say that again."
    Ida gripped the edge of the table with both hands. Then she said, "I'm Miss Fletcher's replacement."
    "Only nobody knows," Felix piped in.
    Mr. Bidson sat back and used his napkin to wipe his lips. "Ida Bidson," he said, "I'd sure be pleased to hear some more about this."
    Ida gave a pleading look at her mother, who responded with a tiny nod of encouragement.
    "Well...," Ida began, and gave a quick summary of what had happened at school, how her being the replacement teacher meant that she and Tom could take their final exams, it being the only way they could move on, and that this arrangement was agreed to by each of the