The Upside-Down Day (4 page)

“Or a neighbor,” said Shawn.

“Could Leslie be Miss Hershey's relative?” Jason asked.

“I saw Miss Hershey wink at Leslie. Abby saw it, too,” Stacy said.

Abby nodded. “There's something really weird going on.”

“Leslie doesn't look like Miss Hershey at all,” said Dunkum.

“Yeah, and Miss Hershey isn't a queen,” said Jason. “And her husband can't be a king—”

“Because Miss Hershey isn't married!” Abby broke in.

“Hey . . . . Maybe the king rules on a secret island somewhere,” said Eric.

“Yeah,
right
,” Abby replied. “This is getting us nowhere. We need solid clues.”

Ellen had an idea. “Maybe there isn't any secret. Maybe
that's
the secret.”

Jason sputtered between apple bites. “Leslie better not set us up for nothing.”

“Jason's right,” Abby said. “That would be a mean trick.”

Just then, Leslie approached their table. She was licking a pink lollipop. “What's Jason right about?” She glared at him.

The Cul-de-sac Kids were silent.

SIX

Leslie repeated her question. “Are you going to tell me or not? What's Jason right about?”

Jason ignored her. He slurped on his apple and spit out the seeds. Then he stuffed them into his shirt pocket.

Abby giggled about the seeds.

Without blinking, he said, “You never know when I might get hungry.”

The kids roared with laughter.

Leslie's face turned red. “You're a big show-off!”

“
You
can't call him that,” Dunkum scolded.

“And why not?” Leslie demanded, her hands on her hips.

Dunkum scowled at Leslie.

She began to squirm and opened her mouth to say something. But the lunchroom teacher marched over to their table. All of them were sent out for recess.

But Leslie didn't head for the playground. She walked back toward the classroom.

Where's she going?
Abby wondered. She wanted to follow Leslie, but her friends called to her from the doorway.

“OK, I'm coming!” Abby said.

Outside, Abby and Stacy hung upside down from the monkey bars. Ellen's guide dog, Honey, rested in the sand nearby.

Abby kept her eyes on Ellen, who swung straight across the bars. “You're good at that,” she said.

“Thanks,” Ellen replied.

“I've never known a blind person before,”
Stacy said. “I wondered what you were like.”

Ellen swung on the bars. “I'm no different than anybody else.”

Abby thought about that. “Your riddle was terrific,” she said. “Did you make it up?”

Ellen dropped down from the bars. “I listen to the radio and TV a lot. If I hear something once, I never forget it.”

“That's so cool,” Stacy whispered.

“Can you keep a secret?” Abby asked.

“Sure,” both girls answered.

“I'm going to play a joke on Miss Hershey.”

“You are?” Stacy whispered. She moved closer to Abby. “Tell us more.”

“I'm going to make the whole class disappear.”

Ellen coughed. “How?”

“During library, when Miss Hershey has a break, I'll ask the librarian to tell the class about it. Then, during social studies, I'll see if the principal will page Miss Hershey. When she gets back from
the office—
poof!
The whole class just disappeared to the library!”

“Will the principal and librarian help you?” asked Ellen.

“I think so,” Abby said. “Mr. Romerez, the librarian, is a friend of my dad. And Mrs. Millar teaches Sunday school at our church. She likes a good practical joke. I'm sure she'll help me play a trick on Miss Hershey.”

“Your plan sounds great,” said Ellen. “I hope it works.”

“Too bad we won't get to see Miss Hershey's face!” Stacy said.

When the kids filed in from recess, Leslie Groff was sliding her desk close to the teacher's.

Now what's she doing?
Abby wondered. She picked up her pencil and headed for the pencil sharpener.

When she walked past Ellen's desk, Ellen touched her arm. “Abby, please bring Leslie here to me,” she said.

Abby looked startled. “How did you know it was me?”

“Oh, by the way you smell,” Ellen said, a big smile on her face. “And . . . that's a
good
thing.”

Amazing!
thought Abby. She hurried to get Leslie before the bell rang. And before time for library.

“Hey, Leslie,” said Ellen. She stretched her hand out. “I didn't meet you yesterday. I'm Ellen Mifflin. I guess we should stick together, since we're the new girls, right?”

Leslie was silent at first. Then she said, “But we don't
have
to, do we?”

Abby studied Leslie.
God's Word teaches us to love each other, but some people are harder to love. Leslie Groff is one of them. What
is
her problem? And what is her secret?

Ellen didn't seem to mind Leslie's rudeness. “Maybe we could play together at recess,” she suggested.

“Maybe,” Leslie replied. She tapped Ellen's hand. “There, I gave you five.”

Will Leslie really go outside for the last recess?
Abby wondered.
Why did she stay inside, anyway? Was she allergic to the sun
or something?
Abby had read about kids like that. But, no, that couldn't be Leslie's secret.

What about her crazy story?
Was
her father really a king?
Abby doubted it. Leslie didn't act very much like a princess.

The whole thing must be a lie
, Abby decided. She would watch Leslie even more closely. Every move and every word.

Like a good detective.

SEVEN

In the library, Abby whispered her secret plan. Both the librarian and the principal agreed to help the class disappear. Just as she hoped!

Abby would hide in the closet while the class tiptoed to the library. She couldn't wait to see Miss Hershey's face.

So, the secret was set.

During social studies, Mrs. Millar, the principal, called Miss Hershey over the intercom. “Please come to the office, Miss Hershey,” the principal said.

“I'll be right there,” Miss Hershey replied. She told the class to keep busy. “No visiting with friends,” she said. Then she left for the office. “I'll return in a minute.”

The second she was gone, the entire class tiptoed to the library.

All but Abby. She sneaked to the closet and left the door open just a crack. Perfect!

Soon Miss Hershey returned. “Oh, my!” she gasped. “Where is my class?”

Abby giggled silently in the closet.

The trick worked! The teacher
was
surprised. School Spirit Day was so much fun.

While Abby was still hiding, Miss Hershey did a strange thing. She went to Leslie's desk and opened it. Out came a red coin purse. Miss Hershey slipped her hand into the pocket of her backward suit jacket.

Abby watched closely. She saw Miss Hershey put some money in Leslie's purse!

Abby leaped out of the closet. “Surprise!”

“My goodness—Abby!” Miss Hershey said, startled. “Where
is
everyone?”

“They disappeared,” shouted Abby. She clapped her hands. “It worked. We really fooled you.”

“You certainly did,” Miss Hershey said. “Where are they
really
?”

“In the library,” Abby told her.

“Will you tell them to return to class now?” Miss Hershey asked.

Abby was eager to ask about the money. And the red coin purse. “Do you know Leslie's secret?” she asked.

Miss Hershey nodded. “Yes.”

“Will she tell us today?” Abby asked.

“I think Leslie hopes someone will guess her secret,” said Miss Hershey, smiling.

“This is turning into a real mystery,” Abby said.

But Miss Hershey said no more.

Abby scratched her head. What was going on?

She hurried to the office. The principal let her talk over the intercom. “Operation Disappearing Class is a success. Miss Hershey's
students, please return to your classroom.”

Mrs. Millar patted Abby's shoulder. “School Spirit Day comes just once a year. Back to work now.”

But it was already time for afternoon recess. Miss Hershey's classroom door swung wide. Kids dashed out to the playground.

Leslie ran outside, too.

“Will we find out your secret today?” Abby asked her.

Leslie ran to the swings. She shouted over her shoulder, “Someone has to guess it first! And you don't have much time left.”

Leslie's answer bugged Abby. She wanted to know the secret
now
!

Ellen was playing on the monkey bars. Her guide dog waited in the sand below. While Leslie was swinging, Ellen said, “I think I know Leslie's secret.”

Abby stared at her. “You do?”

“Give us a clue, OK?” Stacy begged.

“Just keep your eyes on Leslie,” Ellen
said. “That's all I'm saying.”