Wart Read Online Free

waiting.
    "We could come back later," Stewart said, and he hoped he had kept his voice light. His father was forgetful. If they got away this time, he might not think of coming back.
    "We're in no hurry." Dad stepped toward the door.
    Stewart turned to Georgia. "Now," he mouthed.
    "I want to go home," she whined, and she pulled at her father's jacket. "I'm tired and my tummy hurts."
    Mr. Wright put his finger up to his lips to shush her. "In a few minutes."
    "Now!" She was louder this time, and some people turned to look at the family.
    "Be quiet," their father said with a determined tone.
    Stewart stepped behind his father and gave his little sister a big smile and a thumbs-up sign. She threw herself on the floor and started to kick and scream. "Take me home to my little bed. I'm tired and so sick. Take me home, oh please, Daddy! Take me home." Everyone in the hall was staring now, and some people stepped out from rooms to see what was going on.
    "Stop it!" Dad leaned down and jerked on Georgia's arm. Stewart was afraid she would straighten up like she usually did when their father really showed she had gone too far.
    "Let me talk to her." He leaned down. "Stop acting like a little brat," he said, but all the while he smiled.
    She let out an even louder wail. "I think she might be really sick," said Stewart, who was beginning to feel a little guilty for getting his little sister in trouble.
    That's when it happened. That's the moment Stewart's life began to change. Suddenly there was a woman in front of them. Stewart had just time enough to notice her unusual looks. Her hair was black as the darkest night, and it hung in a big long braid down her back. The really different thing, though, were her eyes. They were the brightest green eyes he'd ever seen. Without a word to anyone else, she bent over and looked into Georgia's face. "What's the matter, sweetheart?" She put one hand under Georgia's chin. The other hand was touching a big green piece of jewelry hanging from a gold chain around her neck.
    "Nothing," said Georgia in a sweet, little voice. Stewart wanted to pass out.
    "I'm Wanda Gibbs," the woman said, turning to their father. "I'm the art teacher." Substitute, Stewart wanted to yell. After all, poor Mr. Harrison was just crazy, not dead. He might come back.
    "How nice to meet you," Mr. Wright said, and Stewart wanted to throw up. Here was this nosy woman butting in where she wasn't wanted, and Dad was practically kissing her feet. What was even worse, Georgia was holding her hand and smiling at the woman like a perfect angel.
    "Come on down to my room, darling. I'm not getting many parents." She was patting Georgia's cheek now, but her other hand was still on that green necklace. "You can color some pictures while your daddy visits with Mr. Payne." She gave Stewart's father another big smile, and Stewart thought Dad nodded in a sort of dopey way.
    Then they were gone, the woman leading Georgia by the hand. His little sister didn't even look back. "How nice of Wanda," Mr. Wright said, like they were old friends. Then he turned and went into the math room.
    Just as Stewart expected, his father got pretty worked up over the algebra grade. "No more TV," he said when they were in the hall again. "No more computer, no more iPod." By the time they had gone through the other classes, he had calmed down. "Okay, Stewart," he said. "I do want you to spend less time watching TV and playing games, but I'm also going to help you. We're going to work on algebra together regularly. You're too smart to make low grades."
    Stewart felt better that he didn't have to lie to his dad about his algebra trouble anymore, but they had saved the art room for last, and on the way, he started to worry about what his dad was going to do if he found out Georgia's fit had been his idea. "I need to go to the restroom," he said when they were just outside the door. "You can go on in and get Georgia if you want."
    He did go down the hall to the restroom