Fabulous Five 032 - Class Trip Calamity by Betsy Haynes Read Free Book Online Page B

headed upstairs to get ready for bed. She looked
at herself in the mirror while she brushed her teeth, wondering why she didn't
feel better. Randy had said he wasn't going to drink tomorrow and that Laura was
only asking for friendly advice. That should be good news.
    But instead of feeling better, what she really felt was
angry and confused.

CHAPTER 10
    It was still pitch-black when Jana's stepfather dropped her
off in front of Wakeman Junior High the next morning, but the lights at Wakeman
were blazing. In front of the building kids milled around, waiting to board the
string of buses at the curb.
    "Jana! Jana! Over here!"
    Katie was waving from the front steps, and Jana could see
that she was the last of The Fabulous Five to arrive. Melanie was yawning and
gazing off in the distance as if she were still half asleep. Beth was sitting
on the steps, wearing earphones and rocking back and forth to music coming from
the small tape player attached to her belt. Jana felt a flutter of excitement
as she rushed to join them. This was going to be fun.
    Alexis Duvall reached Katie, Beth, and Melanie at the same
time Jana did. "Bummer," she grumbled. "The bus assignments are
according to homeroom, which means that since we're split into different homerooms,
we won't all be able to sit together."
    "Oh, no," complained Beth. "They can't split
us up! It won't be any fun if we can't sit together."
    "We'll be together on the boat and at Ellis Island and
the Statue of Liberty," said Katie. "That's most of the time."
    "Yeah, but it's on the bus when some of the kids are
going to bring out their thermoses," Alexis reminded them.
    Jana didn't say anything. On one hand, she was glad that
Randy would be on her bus, since none of the other Fab Five members were. But
on the other hand, Laura McCall, Tammy Lucero, and Clarence Marshall were on
her bus, too.
    "The first bus must be yours, Jana," said Beth. "Mr.
Neal's waiting there."
    Jana nodded and glanced toward the line of buses.
    "Wow!" Melanie shouted. "Look who one of your
chaperons is. Mr. Arrington. Shane's dad. Oh, Jana. You're so lucky. I'd give
anything to trade places with you."
    A tall, thin man in jeans and a T-shirt was leaning against
the first bus in line. His blond hair was trimmed into a rattail at the back of
his neck, and he was deep in conversation with Jana's homeroom teacher. Jana
blinked in surprise at the sight of Mr. Neal, who looked more handsome than
ever in an open-necked sport shirt and trim-fitting jeans. It seemed strange to
see a teacher in casual clothes. She remembered with a twinge of nostalgia how
she had had a huge crush on Mr. Neal when he was her teacher in fifth grade.
    "And that must be your other chaperon," commented
Katie. "Can that possibly be Curtis Trowbridge's mother?"
    "No way," said Beth as they all stared at the
attractive dark-haired woman with Curtis who was approaching Mr. Neal and Mr.
Arrington. She was wearing high-heeled sandals, a bright-colored sundress, and
fashionable sunglasses.
    "How can a nerdy kid like Curtis have such a great-looking
mom?" asked Melanie.
    Jana laughed. "Maybe he takes after his dad."
    Just then Mr. Bell went past them and up to the top of the
school steps, calling for everyone's attention.
    When most kids had quieted down, he said in a loud voice, "Good
morning, everybody! Are you ready to start your trip?"
    The applause was so wild that Jana looked around the quiet
residential neighborhood and wondered if anyone in the surrounding houses could
possibly still be asleep.
    The principal shushed the crowd again.
    "Your homeroom teacher will be standing beside the bus
you are assigned to ride. It's time to board now. Have a wonderful day!"
    A few kids applauded, but most made mad dashes toward the
buses.
    "I'll see you guys at the boat dock in Battery Park,"
Jana called out to the rest of The Fabulous Five.
    As she joined the crowd pushing to board her bus, she looked
around, hoping to spot Randy, but she didn't see