Felix Takes the Stage by Kathryn Lasky Read Free Book Online Page A

music?”
    â€œYes, dear. A wonderful symphony orchestra, and the Museum of Fine Arts and the library. The library has magnificent murals.”
    â€œHmm,” Felix said. He glanced quickly over at the Uxbridges’ web, in all its spiraling glory.

E dith’s fears of being unsettled became real one afternoon when Glory came to visit. It was an odd time of day for Glory to stop in, and as soon as she dropped through the hatch, Edith knew it was bad news.
    â€œDon’t tell me. He’s cleaning again, right?” Edith asked.
    â€œWorse.”
    â€œE-Men!”
    Glory nodded.
    â€œNo!” Edith gasped. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. “Run that by me one more time, Glory. What were the owner’s exact words?”
    â€œThe owner was on the telephone and said, ‘My wife and I are having a baby, a blessed event. We’ve decided to sell the store, but we really have to clean it up.’ Then he paused for almost a minute while I suppose the person on the other end said something. And then he said, ‘Yes, we know about the brown recluses at the philharmonic and we realize they might be throughout the neighborhood.’ Then he said, ‘Yes … yes.’ And then there was a part I didn’t quite understand, something about ‘so you have to tent the store.’”
    â€œTent the store! Oh, mercy! That’s the worst!” Edith exclaimed.
    â€œWhat does it mean, Mom?” Jo Bell asked. Every hair on her eight legs began to tremble.
    â€œIt basically means that they are going to suffocate us. It’s the most complete form of extermination. We have to get out of here fast! We must sound the alarm for every creature in this place. Fatty, get over to that ship bell and start slamming the clapper. An announcement must be made or we’ll all die. Then get ready because we’re going now. This is a real catastrophe!”
    â€œIt is a most un blessed event!” Fatty replied. “Let’s get the show on the road!” He leaped to the ship’s bell and began ringing it.
    â€œThe road to where?” Jo Bell asked.
    Felix and his mom looked at each other, a dozen eyes between them all picturing one place. “Boston!” they both said at once.
    â€œBut how will we get there?” Julep asked. “It’s the other side of the country.”
    â€œBus!” Fat Cat said. “There’s a bus stop at the corner. If we switch at Sunset and Vine, we can catch a number four, ride it to the end of the line, and get to the terminal for buses headed cross-country.”
    â€œFatty, you’re a genius!” Edith exclaimed.
    â€œNot at all. Just a well-traveled old theater cat. I know transportation — from my days with a traveling Shakespeare company.”
    Â 
    Minutes later they were standing on the corner of Yucca and Las Palmas Avenue. Glory Uxbridge was perched on top of a fire hydrant and had begun to pay out the first of several silk threads. These lines were made of balloon silk, a special type of silk that gets caught by the wind. The spider would rise into the sky like a tiny kite.
    â€œBefore I pay out any more silk, I want to thank you all. In this breeze, I’ll be off before you can flick a fang.” She paused and looked up. “Look who’s leaving now.” She waved one leg toward a streetlight, at Oliphant and his new mate.
    There were hundreds of orb weavers, more than Edith had ever imagined lived in the shop. Sunlight caught the spiders’ silken threads, turning them a bright, shimmering gold. For a brief minute, it seemed as if a golden canopy were suspended over them. Edith and her children looked up in awe at the sight.
    â€œRadiant!” Felix whispered. “Absolutely radiant!”

    â€œMom, why don’t we balloon?” Julep whined as she watched Glory rise softly on the billows of wind.
    â€œHush, Julep. Here comes a bus. Okay, I want