Carter Avery's Tricky Fourth-Grade Year, page 15
“Lieutenant Boss, what happened to Ms. Krane’s poster?” I hollered.
“Officer Avery, I thought we were done playing this game. It’s time for dismissal and we have a checklist to follow.”
“But do you know where she is?” I cried. That missing sign had me real scared, so there was no stopping my mouth.
Lieutenant Boss marched across the room to where I was standing. “Officer Avery, I haven’t a clue what you’re yelling about, but it’s obvious you need to take a minute to get yourself under control,” he said real quiet and calm. Then he steered me into the hallway and gently closed the door.
But now wasn’t the time to get myself under control. I didn’t need him or anyone else to give me answers. I already knew the truth. Something was wrong.
54
STRIKING A DEAL
I grabbed my backpack from my locker and took off before anyone else came out. I sprinted onto the bus as soon as Mr. Wilson stopped in the pickup circle. I flung my bag in my seat and told him about Ms. Krane’s poster gone missing.
“Maybe it fell down and no one’s had the chance to put it back up yet,” he suggested. “Stuff like that happens all the time.”
I hadn’t thought of that, but I guessed that was possible.
“You’ll probably see it hanging up again when you get back to school after the weekend.”
“But what if I get there and it’s still missing?”
“Well, then you and me can do some investigating, ’cause I’ll be ready to start worrying right along with you. But we’ll do it together, and not before Monday. Deal?”
“Okay.”
“So no worrying over the weekend. That’s part of the deal,” Mr. Wilson emphasized.
“Okay,” I agreed. “No worrying.”
It was a good deal, but that didn’t stop me from telling Grams about the missing poster and asking her if she’d heard anything when I got home. That wasn’t me worrying. It was me wondering.
“No” was still her answer.
“Do you think Ms. Krane will be back on Monday?” I begged.
“CJ, I don’t have a crystal ball, so I don’t know.”
“You always say everyone around here is in everyone else’s business, but nobody still knows nothing about Ms. Krane,” I griped.
“People around here love to gossip,” Grams said, “but they don’t always know the truth or the whole story. And good for Ms. Krane if she can keep people from spreading her business.”
“I don’t want to spread her business. I just want to know it. That’s different.”
“All’s I can say is you’ll know when she wants you to know. Now get yourself ready, we’re heading to Brynn’s swim scrimmage.”
“Now?” I groaned. “But I’m hungry. I want a snack.”
“We don’t have time. I’ll stop at McDonald’s on the way.”
“Now you’re talking,” I cheered.
A cheeseburger and fries and I forgot all about being upset—at least for a little while.
55
SWIM SCRIMMAGE
I’d forgotten today was the annual Red versus Black Swim Scrimmage for the girls’ and boys’ teams. It wasn’t a boys versus girls thing, though. Each team was a mix of both. The girls’ season had just ended, so this was their final splash, and the boys’ season was getting underway, so it was their big kickoff event. The scrimmage was an important fundraiser for both teams ’cause a lot of people went to watch and it was also a great way to get kids—like me—interested about swimming in school.
The swim meets always got crazy loud ’cause all the shouting and cheering bounced off the walls inside the pool gym, but this one took the prize for loudest. I liked the excitement but Grams thought it was wasted energy ’cause the swimmers never stopped screaming for their teammates.
“Can you even hear anything with all that racket?” she’d asked Brynn once.
“The only voice I ever hear is CJ’s.”
“Guess your brother better become a swim coach, then,” Grams joked.
I laughed. But you know what, ever since Brynn told us that, I made sure to scream my loudest when she raced. That was easy.
It was during the diving portion of the meets that I had a really hard time, ’cause Brynn was the team’s top 1M diver, except you had to be silent during the diving or the referees would throw you out. So just when I wanted to do my wildest and loudest cheering, I had to zip it. I kept both hands clamped over my mouth or else I was sure to break that rule. But as soon as Brynn did her dive and came up to the surface, I let loose and screamed my head off for her.
The thing that was neat about the Red versus Black Scrimmage was I also got to cheer for Torrie and Justin. Torrie was good. She did this medley race where you had to do four different swim strokes down and back. She was usually real fast, but not today. Grams said she seemed off. If “off” meant slow, then I agreed. And she wasn’t the only one. Brynn had an “off” day too.
Justin brought his A game, though. They saved his race for last and he didn’t disappoint. He flew through the water. He almost broke the school record for butterfly, which Grams said was a real hard stroke. I was gonna ask him to teach it to me if I had lessons with him again.
The only part of the swim scrimmage I didn’t like was when we had to wait for Brynn and Torrie after it was all over. They always took forever getting changed. I tried getting Grams to leave but she wanted to find out my sister’s plans before taking off, so we were stuck standing outside the school. Brynn finally came walking out with Justin after most of the team had already left.
“Hi, Mrs. Sims. Hi, Carter,” Justin said.
“Way to kick butt,” I told him. “You’re gonna smash that record soon.”
He laughed. “Thanks.”
“Where’s Torrie?” Grams asked my sister. It’d been the same question all week. And we got the same answer.
“She’s doing her own thing,” Brynn huffed, a bit snippy.
Where’s Torrie? reminded me of Where’s Ms. Krane? “Have you heard anything about Ms. Krane?” I asked next. “She wasn’t in school again and her baby shower poster wasn’t hanging up.”
“CJ, I’m not your personal detective,” Brynn snapped. “I haven’t been trying to track down your teacher. I have no clue where she is.”
That stung. “What’s your problem?!” I yelled.
“Enough,” Grams scolded. “I don’t need you two having one of your spats in public.”
I glared at my sister. I was glad she stunk at diving today.
“Do you need a ride home or not?” Grams asked her.
“No,” Brynn spat, snapping at Grams now.
“Fine. Home by eleven. C’mon, CJ. We’re leaving,” Grams said.
“Bye, Mrs. Sims. Have a good night. Bye, Carter,” Justin said, giving me a thumbs-up.
I waved—but I was still mad at Brynn. Then me and Grams walked across the parking lot and climbed inside Leopold—and just in time, ’cause a rusty brown truck came roaring past, peeling rubber and spitting fumes on its way out of the school.
That just added fuel to the fire, ’cause Grams was already hot over Brynn’s attitude. “Don’t you ever drive like that!” she barked. “You hear me?”
I was too busy craning my neck, staring at the back of the truck to answer. I wanted to ask Grams if she’d spotted the driver or anyone in the passenger’s seat, but I didn’t want to make her more upset.
“You know something, that Justin is a nice boy,” Grams said, breaking the silence after we’d driven a ways and she’d had a chance to cool down. “I hope your sister sees that. He’d make a fine boyfriend.”
“Grams, that’s gross. I don’t want to talk about that.”
She laughed. “ ’Course, maybe that’s why Brynn wasn’t herself on that diving board today. She’s distracted with the boy.”
“That’s enough, Grams,” I scolded, shaking my head.
She laughed more.
Turns out Grams was right about a couple of things. Justin was a good guy, and Brynn was distracted, but not by that boy.
56
KRITZ’S TREE FARM
I rolled out of bed and made my way to the kitchen the next morning. Grams had to be cooking a big breakfast ’cause something smelled real good.
My nose was right. Pancakes and sausage were on the griddle, but Grams was sitting at the table.
“Good morning, CJ,” my sister said. “I’m sorry about the way I treated you yesterday. I was upset about something and took it out on you. I’m sorry.”
I went to bed mad at her, but just like that, I wasn’t angry anymore. I was hungry. “It’s okay.”
“Good.” She gave me a quick hug, then turned back to the griddle.
I sat down across from Grams, and Brynn slid a stack of banana foster pancakes in front of me. My eyes got real big. I leaned forward and took a big whiff, licking my chops.
“Eat up,” Grams said. “We’ve got a big day ahead.”
“Doing what?” I asked, stuffing a forkful in my mouth.
“Going to Kritz’s to get our Christmas tree.”
“Today?!” I exclaimed, spitting pancake bits on the table.
“Chew your food before you try talking!” Grams scolded.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
“Yes, today,” Grams answered. “We’re leaving after breakfast so we can get there before it’s a madhouse. Now, eat up.”
I ate a lot ’cause it was good and I ate fast ’cause I was excited. Then I let Shelby lick my plate clean ’cause she’d been waiting patiently, and after that I thanked my sister for the special breakfast and told her to hurry and get ready. I shoved my plate in the dishwasher and rushed off to get my outside clothes on.
Kritz’s Tree Farm was the best. The workers dressed like people from the movie A Christmas Carol, with top hats and scarves and all that stuff, so it felt like you were walking through an old village. They even had a group that sang Christmas carols. It was real festive. (That’s what Brynn said.) But getting our tree was still my favorite part.
First thing you did when you got to the farm was pick any saw off the barn wall where they had them hanging and then you walked out into the field and hunted high and low until you found the perfect tree. After you found it, you had to lie on the ground on your side and saw it down. Last year was the first time Grams let me use the saw. I got halfway through the trunk, but Torrie had to finish the job for me ’cause my arms got tired. This year I was gonna do it all by myself !
It was always a great day. There was a lot to it—and I was ready to go! I had my old pants on so Grams wouldn’t care when I got them dirty, and my play-outside hoodie over the top of a long-sleeve shirt and a pair of gloves and a winter hat. And my boots. I was dressed and waiting for my sister—like always. It was another round of Hurry Up and Wait. I hated that game.
“C’mon, Brynn, you don’t have to get all fancy. Let’s go!” I hollered.
“Give her a second,” Grams whispered. “She’s on the phone.”
“Who with? I don’t hear her talking.”
“With Torrie. They’re doing that texting thing. None of you kids know how to call anymore.”
“I’m gonna call when I get a phone,” I promised. “I can’t stand typing, unless the Dragon does it for me.”
Grams smirked, then quick pulled my hat down over my eyes. “You’re one of a kind, Carter Avery,” she said.
I fixed my hat and then Brynn finally came walking out of her room.
“Well?” Grams asked.
“Torrie isn’t coming.”
“But she always comes with us,” I protested. “She needs to see me cut the tree down all by myself.”
“Maybe next year,” Brynn grumbled. She grabbed her coat from the closet and then her phone rang. More waiting.
“Hello?…Hi…We’re going to Kritz’s Tree Farm. Want to tag along?…We’ll pick you up on the way.”
Brynn slid her phone into her pocket. “That was Justin. He’s coming with us.”
“Oh, okay,” Grams said, smirking.
“I’ll drive,” Brynn said, snatching the car keys and heading outside.
“Justin called,” I whispered to Grams.
“Told you I liked that boy,” she replied, giving me a wink.
57
NEAR COLLISION
It was busy when we got to Kritz’s. Justin helped me pick a saw and then we headed out to the field. Grams didn’t venture far ’cause she didn’t want to wander all over tarnation if there was a good one calling our name near the front. That never happened, so I told her it was a waste of time, but she was gonna make sure.
So me and Brynn and Justin split up and began searching farther out. Those two stayed kinda close together, but I took off. The best trees were the ones in the way back where no one else wanted to walk—not near the front.
I put my head down and marched forward, stride after stride, determined to find the perfect tree—until somebody who wasn’t watching where they were going came huffing and puffing from the next row over and stepped right in front of me. We almost collided—and I was carrying a saw!
“Carter!” a girl shrieked. “Watch where you’re going!”
“Me? You watch it!” I shot back.
We’d both yelled and shouted after scaring the bejeebers out of each other, and then we just stood there, staring at one another. I hadn’t seen Missy Gerber since before Thanksgiving.
“What’re you doing here?” I asked after calming down.
She giggled. “What do you think? I’m getting my tree.”
“Oh.”
“How’s school?” she wanted to know.
I frowned. “Terrible. Ms. Krane was out all week and we got stuck with Lieutenant Boss. He’s as bad as they come.”
“I bet he’s not as bad as my mother.”
My eyes popped. “Really? Why?”
“She expects me to know everything without teaching it and gets mad at me when I don’t.”
“Your mom is your teacher?” That sounded awful—even worse than I thought the Owl was gonna be before I knew the truth about her.
“For now,” Missy said, “but we’re not a very good fit for homeschooling. Most days I have to go into work with her because she can’t stay home. Her business needs her. It never takes me long to get through my assignments, and then I’m left with nothing to do. It’s boring. And my mother gets frustrated about that too.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better, Lieutenant Boss says he’s gonna be running our ship for a while,” I complained.
“Of course he is,” Missy replied. She quick slapped her hand over her mouth.
My forehead scrunched. “What’s wrong?”
“My mother made me promise not to tell.”
“Tell what?”
Missy bit her lip.
“Tell what?” I pressed.
“Carter, Ms. Krane had her baby.”
My scowl deepened. “What?!”
“My mother got a call from Ms. Krane’s mom yesterday. She ordered balloons and a gift basket to be delivered to the hospital.”
“Why did she call your mom for that?”
“My mother’s business is Gerber’s Gourmet Gifts. Ms. Krane had her baby the day after Thanksgiving.”
“But her baby wasn’t supposed to be born yet.”
“True,” Missy said, “but sometimes babies come early. They’re called preemies.”
“Melissa!” the Crow cawed. “Where are you?”
“I better go.”
“Wait. Is Ms. Krane’s baby okay?”
Missy shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Melissa!”
“Carter, I’m sorry. Hope you find a good tree.”
Missy hurried off but I stayed frozen in place. All this time I’d been wondering and worrying about Ms. Krane—but never her baby. Until now!
I dropped my saw and turned and ran, racing back through the trees. I had to find Grams.
58
TIMBER!
“Grams, it’s all my fault!” I cried, running up to her.
“What’re you talking about? What’s wrong?” she asked, sounding frightened.
“I used to think Ms. Krane’s baby would be better off not being born than being stuck with the Owl for a mother, and now her baby is a preemie and might die. It’s all my fault!”
“CJ, what just happened?”
I unloaded everything that Missy Gerber had just told me. I was all snot, blubbering and sniffling when I got done.
“Carter Avery, this isn’t your fault,” Grams said, taking me by the shoulders. “Just because you thought something once doesn’t make it happen. You’d need special powers for that. Besides, you don’t think that anymore, do you?”
I shook my head and dragged my sleeve under my nose. “No. That was before I knew Ms. Krane,” I croaked.
“Okay, then. Stop this nonsense and get ahold of yourself.”
“But what’re we gonna do?” I asked, still worrying.
“We’re gonna get our tree like we planned,” Grams said. “There’s no reason to panic. Lots of babies are born early, and Ms. Krane was close enough to her due date that hers should be in good shape. It’ll need to spend extra time in the hospital, I’m sure, but her baby should be fine in the long run.”
I sniffed and wiped my nose again. “You promise?”
“I promise I’m telling the truth. I don’t think you need to worry.”
I sucked in my breath and nodded. “Okay.”
“CJ, where’ve you been?!” Brynn exclaimed. “We’ve been calling your name. We found our tree.”
