The Upside-Down Day

The Upside-Down Day
Copyright © 2001
Beverly Lewis

Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh
Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.
Text illustrations by Janet Huntington

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

eISBN 978-1-4412-6084-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.

To Amy, my niece,
who played a trick
on Barbara Birch's fourth-grade class
at Pikes Peak Elementary School.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

About the Author

Other Books by Author

Back Cover

ONE

School Spirit Day was coming to Blossom Hill School.

“We're going to have so much fun,” said Abby Hunter. She and her friend Stacy Henry hurried down the cul-de-sac together.

Stacy grinned. “I've got
lots
of school spirit,” she said.

“Remember the fun we had last year?” said Abby.

“Sure do,” Stacy said, skipping along.

“The teachers did real silly things,” Abby said.

“I wonder what Miss Hershey will do,” Stacy said.

Abby was sure Miss Hershey would make things interesting. “I can't wait to find out,” she replied.

The Cul-de-sac Kids walked to school together every day. Rain or shine.

But today, something was different.

Abby noticed a girl sitting on Dunkum Mifflin's porch swing. She had long, brown hair. Her eyes were closed, and a golden Labrador dog sat nearby. “Who's that?” Abby whispered to Stacy.

Stacy shook her head. “I've never seen her before.”

Abby wondered. “Is she asleep on Dunkum's porch?” she asked more softly.

“I can't tell if she's asleep or not,” Stacy replied.

Abby inched closer. “Hello?” she called to the girl.

“Hello, yourself,” the girl said. But her eyes were still closed. “You're Abby Hunter, right?”

How does she know?
Abby wondered.

“Wow! How did you DO that?” Stacy blurted out.

The girl's eyes opened, but they stared straight ahead. “Dunkum said you'd show up soon. That's how.”

Abby looked at the girl. She looked at the dog. She looked back at the girl.
She's blind
, Abby decided.
And whoever she is, she knows Dunkum. But . . . she can't see
.

“What's
your
name?” asked Abby.

“Ellen Mifflin. I'm Dunkum's cousin. This is my guide dog, Honey.”

“So . . . are you visiting Dunkum?” Abby asked.

“I'm staying for a couple of months. My dad is overseas with his job.”

“Hey, that's great,” Abby said. “We need more girls in the Cul-de-sac Kids club.”

“Sure do!” agreed Stacy.

“What's a Cul-de-sac Kids club?” asked Ellen.

“Well, we live on a cul-de-sac. So we have a Cul-de-sac Kids club,” Abby explained.

“Sounds like fun,” said Ellen. “How many girls?”

“Counting you, there are five. You, me, my sister, Carly, Dee Dee Winters, and Stacy Henry.” Abby pulled her friend closer. “Stacy's right here beside me.”

“Hi, Stacy,” said Ellen with a smile.

“Welcome to Blossom Hill Lane,” Stacy said.

Just then, Dunkum leaped out the door. He aimed his basketball at the hoop. He shot.
Swish
. Right through!

“Hi, Abby and Stacy. Did you meet my cousin?” He dribbled the ball behind his back. He loved to show off.

“Sure did,” Abby said. “Why didn't you tell us she was coming?”

“You needed another mystery to solve,” Dunkum said.

Abby grinned. Dunkum knew she liked a good mystery.

“Speaking of mysteries, are you finished reading
Mystery History
yet?” Abby asked Dunkum.

“Is that all you care about—reading
and writing?” Dunkum teased.

“That, and solving mysteries—don't forget!” Abby added. “So did you finish my book or not?”

“Yep, I'll go get it for you.” Dunkum disappeared into the house.

Ellen giggled. “Dunkum forgets stuff. I bet he even forgot to tell you I was coming.”

The girls laughed. Ellen was right.

In a flash, Dunkum was back with Abby's book.

Just then, down the street someone hollered, “Wait for us!”

Abby turned to look. The rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids were on their way.

“Here come the rest of the kids,” said Abby.

Abby's little sister, Carly, and little brother Jimmy ran down the sidewalk. “Nice doggie!” Carly cried when she spied Honey.

“Ellen, meet my sister and brother, Carly and Jimmy,” said Abby.

“Hi, Ellen, what's your doggie's name?” Carly asked.

“Hi, Carly.” Ellen laughed. “I call my dog Honey.”

“I like puppy dogs,” said Jimmy, petting Honey.

Eric Hagel came running, too. “Better hurry, or we'll be late for school,” he said.

“Relax, Eric,” said Dunkum. “Give Jason a chance to catch up.”

Jason Birchall ran along behind Eric.

Soon, Abby's Korean brother Shawn came down Blossom Hill Lane. “I am very sorry to be late.” It sounded like
velly
sorry.

“Nobody's late,” Dunkum said, shooting one more basket.

But Dunkum's mom dashed across the lawn. “
I'm
late! I must enroll Ellen before she can attend school.”

“Oops, I almost forgot,” Dunkum said.

The girls covered their mouths, giggling.

“What's so funny?” Dunkum asked.

Abby swallowed another giggle. “Oh, nothing,” she said.

Eric tossed the basketball to Jason.

Jason bounced the ball slowly. He stared at Ellen and Honey. “Who's the new girl?” he asked.

Dunkum sounded like he was making a speech. “Everybody, meet my cousin Ellen. Ellen, meet Eric Hagel, Shawn Hunter, and Jason Birchall.”

“Now we
are
gonna be late!” Eric complained.

The kids turned and hurried down the walk.