The Upside-Down Day (3 page)

“Yep.”

“How would you like one clue?” Leslie asked.

“Double dabble good!” said Abby. She was ready.

Leslie's smile was sneaky. “OK, here goes.” She leaned closer.

Abby closed her book. She sat up straight.

“Remember, things aren't always as they seem,” Leslie whispered.

That's not a clue
, Abby thought. “Give me a better one,” she said.

“My father is a king.” Leslie's voice was sly. “How's that for a clue?”

“But is it true?” asked Abby.

“Maybe, maybe not,” said Leslie.

Abby knew about presidents. But kings and queens? Who was this girl trying to fool?

After art, Miss Hershey announced a special reading assignment. “I am handing out a test. You must complete it before math class.”

Tests were icksville for Abby. She waved her pencil at Leslie Groff. Leslie smiled back. But it was another sneaky smile.
What could Leslie's secret be?
Abby wondered.

Miss Hershey gave directions. “Remember, read all the questions first.”

Abby glanced back at Ellen. Honey was taking a nap at Ellen's feet. Abby got up to sharpen her pencil. She passed Ellen's desk on the way. She peeked at Ellen's test.
So this is Braille
, she thought.

The classroom was suddenly very quiet. Everyone was working hard on the tests.

Soon, Honey was guiding Ellen to Miss Hershey's desk.

She can't be finished yet
, thought Abby. She looked at her own paper. She was only on number seven.

A few minutes later, Leslie Groff was finished. Then Dunkum and Stacy.

Abby looked around the room. She was getting worried.
Something's wrong
, she thought.
Very wrong!

FOUR

Abby noticed Jason still writing his test.

Good
, she thought,
I'm not the only one
.

Miss Hershey turned away from the chalkboard. “For students who are still working, remember to read
all
questions first,” she reminded them.

Abby put her pencil down and read each question. The last question was: If you have read all the questions, please write only your name, address, and telephone number at the bottom of this page. Then turn in the test.

Very tricky
, Abby thought.
I didn't follow directions
.

Quickly, she wrote her name, address, and telephone number at the bottom of the page. Then she scooted down in her seat.

“What are you doing?” Stacy whispered behind Abby.

“I feel like crawling under my desk,” she whispered back. “I'm so embarrassed.”

Then Abby heard Miss Hershey's voice. “Will you please give Jason a hint about the test, Abby?”

Her mouth was dry as if she'd eaten chalk. Dry and yucky.

She looked at Jason.
Poor Jason. He's still working
.

Abby's voice cracked as she said, “Don't write anything until you read the whole page.”

Jason twirled his pencil. He read to the bottom of the test. Suddenly, his face turned Christmas red. “Oh,
now
I get it,” he said. “Good trick, Miss Hershey.”

The class howled with laughter, including Jason.

What a double dabble good joke!

Miss Hershey glanced around the
room. “Now, listen very carefully. Following directions is a good thing to do every day. Not only School Spirit Day.” With that, the teacher winked at Leslie.

Abby blinked. She turned around. “Did you see that?” she asked Stacy.

Stacy nodded. “Something's up.”

“OK, it's time for some riddle fun,” said Miss Hershey. “Anyone?”

Dunkum raised his hand. “
I've
got a riddle. What do you get when you cross a duck with a cow?”

“Anyone know?” Miss Hershey asked, looking around.

No one answered.

“Quackers and milk!” said Dunkum with glee.

Everyone clapped.

“Yay, Dunkum!” shouted Jason.

“Go, Dunkum!” said Eric more softly.

Ellen raised her hand next.

“Yes?” Miss Hershey said.

Ellen smiled so big, her face seemed to light up. “What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning
of every end, and the end of every race?” she asked.

Stacy whispered, “What a mouthful.”

Miss Hershey nodded. “That's an excellent question, Ellen. Does anyone know the answer?”

The students looked puzzled.

At last, Jason raised his hand.

“Go ahead, Jason,” Miss Hershey said.

He grinned and shook his head. “Sorry,” he said. “I don't know the answer. I can't even figure out the question!”

The kids were laughing again.

Miss Hershey looked at Ellen. “I believe you've stumped us. Please tell us the answer.”

“The answer is the letter E,” Ellen replied.

The kids clapped for Ellen's riddle. Abby clapped extra hard.

Jason raised his hand again. He still looked confused. “I don't get it,” he admitted.

Leslie giggled.

Miss Hershey explained. “E begins the
words
eternity
and
end
. And E ends the words
time, space
, and
race
.”

Jason was jiving at his desk. “Oh, yeah!” he said. “Very cool.”

Leslie raised her hand. “
I
have a riddle, too.”

“Yes, Leslie?” Miss Hershey said.

“If all of you lived to be a trillion and one years old, you could never guess my secret.”

Never?
Abby held her breath.

She thought about Leslie's first clue, earlier today. Many kings and queens lived in England, long ago. Maybe that
was
a good clue after all. Abby waved her hand high. “Are you from England, and did you skip second grade?” she asked.

“Nope to both guesses,” Leslie said. Her grin turned from sneaky to unkind.

Time was ticking away. Abby had less than six hours now. And she didn't like it. Not one bit.

FIVE

Time for lunch.

Abby slipped into line with Stacy. Jason cut in line behind her. Leslie squealed.

In a flash, Miss Hershey pulled Jason out of line. The rest of the class headed off to lunch.

The older Cul-de-sac Kids always ate together at school. Today, Jason came in five minutes late. He plodded across the floor to their table. “I got in trouble,” he explained. “All because Leslie Groff screamed. She got me in trouble!”

Jason scooted into the seat and opened his lunch. He poked his nose inside, then slammed the sack shut. “Anybody want to trade?” he pleaded.

“What's in there?” Dunkum asked.

“Rabbit food,” Jason replied. He pulled a face.

Dunkum held out his hand for Jason's carrot and celery sticks. “I'll trade your veggies for my orange pieces.”

“It's a deal,” Jason said.

Next thing, all the kids started trading food. Eric even gave away his chocolate chip cookie. To Abby.

Abby was double dabble glad about that. “Thanks, Eric.” She wondered if Ellen was right about Eric. Maybe he
did
like her extra-special.

Well, Abby liked him, too. They went to the same church and both liked mystery books. Besides that, Eric's mom made great chocolate chip cookies. “Yum,” she said, enjoying every bite.

The kids chattered off and on about Leslie.

“Any ideas about her secret?” Eric asked Abby.

Abby shook her head. “Not yet.”

“I think Leslie
looks
like a second grader,” Stacy said. “But nothing like a princess.”

“She doesn't act like royalty,” Jason said. He was being more serious now.

Abby scratched her head. “So . . . what could the secret be?”

“Maybe she has a twin sister,” suggested Jason. “And her twin got all the hair.”

The kids laughed. A piece of Dunkum's sandwich flew out of his mouth.

The kids cackled some more.

“Maybe she's a friend of Miss Hershey,” said Stacy.