Boys in Control by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.
    “He'll be along,” Josh echoed.
    The rolls in the oven were just beginning to brown around the edges, and Mrs. Hatford grabbed the pot holders to take them out. For the next few minutes she was busy with that. The boys helped themselves to the food at hand and amiably discussed the rolls and how good they were spread with their mother's cherry jam.
    But right in the middle of supper, Mrs. Hatford said, “Where
is
Peter? Where did he go?”
    “He should have been back by now,” said Wally.
    “Do you or do you not know where he went?” asked Mr. Hatford.
    “He went to the Malloys’ to get some pictures back,” said Josh.
    “Aha! So he's doing the dirty work for you,” said Mrs. Hatford. “How long ago did he leave?”
    “Twenty minutes, maybe,” said Jake.
    “Say thirty,” said Josh.
    “Well, for heaven's sake, he should have been back by now,” said Mrs. Hatford, looking concerned.
    And at that very moment the phone rang.

Eight
The Visitor
    W ho do you suppose will come over to get it?” Beth asked mischievously.
    “I don't know, but I'm going to let you two handle it,” said Eddie. “Jake and I are getting along okay right now, and I don't want any trouble between us before the game on Saturday. He was awfully nice to practice with me last week, so if there's any negotiating to do, you guys will have to do it.”
    “Man oh man, do we ever hold all the cards!” said Beth. “We've never been in such a good bargaining position before, Caroline. What should we ask for in return? All their earthly possessions?”
    “We'd better think about this a long time,” said Caroline. “We don't want to blow it. Maybe we shouldn't decide until the championship game is over. We could tell the guys we'll give it back in June, and we'll make our conditions then.”
    “Good idea,” said Eddie. “We're not saying we won't give it back. We're just saying we won't give it back right now.”
    “Let's take another look at it,” said Beth. “I want to imprint these on my brain forever.” She giggled.
    The girls sat down on the bed again, and this time they savored every picture. They hooted and howled when they came to the photo of Wally Hatford in bunny pajamas two sizes too small, and Caroline even rolled off the bed in laughter.
    There was a knock at the door downstairs, and Caroline continued rolling till she was on her feet again and was the first one to reach the door. There stood Peter, smiling his sweetest smile.
    “Well, hello, Peter.” Caroline grinned at him, then turned around and grinned at her sisters on the stairs. “Want to come in?” she asked him.
    “Okay,” said Peter, and stepped into the hallway.
    “Who is it?” called Coach Malloy from the kitchen, where he was helping cut up vegetables for dinner.
    “Just Peter Hatford, over for a little visit,” Beth called back.
    Peter came in and sat in a chair in a corner of the living room.
    “How are you?” asked Eddie.
    “Fine,” said Peter.
    “How is everybody at your house?” asked Beth.
    “Fine,” said Peter.
    “How are things going at school?” asked Caroline.
    “Fine,” said Peter.
    The girls exchanged knowing looks. “Well, did you come over to see us about something?” asked Beth finally.
    Peter nodded.
    “About what?” asked Caroline.
    “Jake and Josh and Wally really, really, really want those pictures back,” said Peter.
    “What pictures?” asked Caroline innocently.
    “You know. The ones of us acting silly with the Bensons,” said Peter.
    “Oh.
Those
pictures!” said Eddie. “Well, I don't think we've finished looking at them yet, Peter. Some of them are so silly we just want to look at them a long, long time.”
    Peter grinned. “Did you see the one of me in a diaper?”
    “Yeah, that was silly, all right,” said Beth. “But the one of Josh in his Batman underpants was my favorite.”
    “That's the one Josh really, really, really wants back the most,” said Peter.
    “Well,” said Beth.