The Magician's Bird by Emily Fairlie Read Free Book Online

beg forgiveness.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  4. Make Bud pay.
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    It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out where Laurie had gone. She wasn’t outside and she wasn’t inside, so Bud dodged Candy Winkle’s latest tour group and headed for the shed.
    Bud opened the door to the secret room slowly. Lauriewas slumped in the wing chair with the lion bookend in her lap. She was glaring at him.
    â€œWhat a surprise, Bud Wallace exploring on his own. You’re not supposed to do that, Bud,” Laurie growled without moving.
    â€œYeah, what about you? Looks like you’re in here too,” Bud said.
    Laurie didn’t dignify that with an answer.
    â€œMisti’s mom probably won’t think anything about that email, okay? I mean, she’s Misti’s mom, and Misti’s not exactly the poster child for normal,” Bud said, sitting on the other wing chair. He’d been right yesterday. It was much more comfortable than the stupid couch.
    â€œYou think?” Laurie still didn’t move.
    â€œShe’ll probably delete it by mistake instead of opening it.” Bud gave a half grin.
    Laurie put the lion bookend on the coffee table. “I hope so. I don’t want to get Misti grounded for the next year and a half.”
    â€œHeck, she might even think it was polite. I mean, you did say ‘dear’ and ‘thank you.’ And you called her ‘Mrs.’” Bud avoided Laurie’s eyes. Even he couldn’t make that last one sound plausible. He should’ve quit while he was ahead.
    â€œYeah, well, anyway, I wasn’t exploring. I was just avoiding the tour group. Candy Winkle was on my tail the whole way out,” Laurie grumbled.
    â€œMe too. We might as well use this place while we have it though, right? Not to explore, but we can plan the scavenger hunt here, and then once Misti gets sprung we can do the real exploring.”
    â€œOkay. But hear this—I’m not willing to pin clues to bulletin boards.” Laurie was putting her foot down there. She didn’t care what Miss Abernathy said. She’d drop out before she did her lame clue ideas.
    Bud nodded. “Me either.” He’d been thinking about it, and he thought their only hope was throwing themselves on the mercy of Mrs. Hutchins or Principal Winkle. He was hoping they had a little more of Maria Tutweiler’s ol’ Tuckernuck Clucker spirit. And Mrs. Hutchins was supposed to be co-supervisor, right? So she could make official decisions.
    â€œBelieve me, Laurie, this scavenger hunt is cool and all, but if it starts going bad, I mean really bad, it’s not worth it. I’m not willing to get a reputation as the Lame Clue Kid over it.”
    Laurie’s mouth twitched. “Lame Clue Twins. Because if you go down, I go down too.”
    â€œRight.” Bud snorted. “So no Lame Clue Twins.”
    Laurie gave Bud a half smile. “So that’s what we’ll do. We’ll reject her ideas, but have some alternatives ready. Compromises, so they can’t say we’re being bad sports.”
    â€œAnd if things go south, we’ll cut our losses and head for the hills.” Bud held out his fist for Laurie to bump, and after a second’s hesitation, she did. Nothing seals the deal like a good fist bump.
    EMAIL
    FROM: PRINCIPAL MARTIN WINKLE
    TO: BETTY ABERNATHY AND OLIVIA HUTCHINS
    SUBJECT: EMERGENCY MEETING
    Today’s Morning News is a disaster. Meet immediately in the staff room to talk strategy. We need to head this off ASAP.
    Cancel all other meetings, plans, etc. This is your TOP PRIORITY.
    Yours,
    Martin Winkle
    P.S. Could someone pick up doughnuts on the way?
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    â€œOkay, so we’re agreed. We cross our fingers that Mrs. Hutchinsis in charge today, throw ourselves on her mercy, and ask for an extension.” Bud put down the pencil. He and Laurie had tried to come up with “appropriate” compromise places for