- •I just knew this was going to be an awesome year.
- •It doesn’t make you feel great.
- •I climbed to my feet and went over to the side of the court to watch. I still felt a little shaky, but I knew I was okay.
- •I made my way into the computer lab and waved to Mrs. Coffey. She was hunched over her desk, sorting through a tall stack of disks. “Hey, how’s it going?” she called.
- •I set down my screwdriver and gazed across the room at her. “Maybe you could help me. You know. Show it to people. Get it copyrighted or something.”
- •I stood up. I picked up the block with the four-leaf clover inside and smoothed it between my hands. “That’s okay,” I told Hannah. “I just decided what I really want for my birthday.”
- •I raised the skull in front of me. Stared hard at it.
- •I turned to find Hannah wheeling herself rapidly down the hall, leaning forward in her wheelchair, turning the wheels with both hands.
- •I stared at her in disbelief. “But who is he?” I cried. “How can he do this?”
- •I nodded sadly, feeling my face grow hot.
- •I glanced around, searching for Walter.
- •I suddenly felt a chill at the back of my neck. I knew I shouldn’t be frightened. The woman had to be a fake — right? Otherwise, she wouldn’t be working in a tacky carnival like this one.
- •I held my breath, waiting for the answer. Jilly and I were both trying out for the dance company. And I knew there was only room for one of us.
- •I held my breath. And waited. What would she see?
I held my breath. And waited. What would she see?
She squeezed my hand. Brought it closer to her face.
And then … then … her eyes bulged wide. She let out a loud gasp.
With a violent jerk, she tossed my hand away.
And jumped to her feet. Her chair fell behind her, clattering to the tent floor.
She stared at me—stared in open-mouthed horror.
And then she screamed:
“Get OUT! Get AWAY from here!!”
“Huh? Wait—” I choked out.
“Get OUT! You bring EVIL! You bring EVIL with you! Get OUT of here!”
Credits
Cover illustration by John Jude Palencar
Cover design by John Fontana
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd, 25 Ryde Road (PO Box 321), Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia http://www.harpercollins.com.au
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United Kingdom
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http://www.fireandwater.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers,
Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10019.
www.harperchildrens.com