Did Conan know the whole time that Murphy was standing there? Probably.
“Go take care of Cuddles,” Mr. Murphy told Evan, frowning. “And try to shape up, Evan. I’m going to be watching you.”
Evan muttered a reply and trudged back into the classroom. Sunlight streamed in through the wall of windows. A strong breeze made the window shade flap over the open window near the teacher’s desk.
Feeling angry and upset, his stomach churning, Evan made his way through the empty room to the hamster cage. Cuddles wrinkled his nose in greeting. The hamster knew the routine by now.
Evan gazed into the metal cage at the brown-and-white creature. Why do people think hamsters are cute? he wondered.
Because they wrinkle their noses? Because they run around and around on wheels like total jerks? Because of their cute little buck teeth?
Cuddles stared up at him with his little black eyes.
He has Mr. Murphy’s eyes, Evan thought, chuckling to himself. Maybe that’s why Murphy likes him so much.
“Okay, okay. So you’re kind of cute,” Evan told the hamster. “But I know your secret. You’re just a big fat rat in disguise!”
Cuddles wrinkled his nose again in reply.
With a loud sigh, Evan went to work. Holding his breath because he hated the smell, he pulled out the bottom tray.
“You’re a messy little guy,” he told the hamster. “When are you going to learn to clean up your own room?”
Still holding his breath, he dumped out the old newspaper shavings and replaced them with fresh shavings from the box in the supply closet.
He returned the bottom tray to its place as Cuddles watched with great interest. Then he poured fresh water into the water bottle.
“How about some sunflower seeds?” Evan asked. He began to feel a little more cheerful, knowing his job was almost finished.
He removed the seed cup from the cage and made his way across the room to the supply closet to get fresh sunflower seeds.
“Okay, Cuddles,” he called, “these look yummy!”
He started to carry the seeds back to the cage. Halfway across the room, Evan stopped and uttered a startled gasp.
The cage door hung wide open.
The hamster was gone.
5
A choking sound escaped Evan’s lips as he stared at the empty cage.
His eyes darted frantically around the room. “Cuddles? Cuddles?” he called in a frightened voice.
Why am I yelling? he asked himself, spinning around in a total panic. The dumb hamster doesn’t know its name!
He heard footsteps out in the hall.
Mr. Murphy?
No, please—no! Evan pleaded silently.
Don’t let it be Mr. Murphy. Don’t let him return until I have Cuddles safely back in his cage.
Cuddles was Mr. Murphy’s most precious possession. He had told this to the class time and again.
Evan knew that if anything happened to Cuddles, Mr. Murphy would be on Evan’s case for the rest of the year. No—for the rest of his life!
Evan froze in the center of the room, listening hard.
The footsteps passed by the room.
Evan started breathing again.
“Cuddles? Where are you, Cuddles?” he called in a trembling voice. “I have some delicious sunflower seeds for you.”
He spotted the furry, brown-and-white creature on the chalk tray under the front chalkboard.
“There you are! I see you!” Evan whispered, tiptoeing toward it.
Cuddles was busily chewing on something. A small piece of white chalk.
Evan tiptoed closer. “I have seeds for you, Cuddles,” he whispered. “Much tastier than chalk.”
Cuddles held the stick of chalk in his front paws, turning it as he chewed.
Evan crept closer. Closer.
“Look. Seeds.” He held the plastic seed cup toward the hamster.
Cuddles didn’t look up.
Evan crept up closer. Closer.
Close enough to dive forward—
—and miss!
The hamster dropped the chalk and scampered down the chalk tray.
Evan made another frantic grab—and came up with nothing but air.
Letting out a frustrated groan, Evan saw the hamster dive to the floor and scamper behind Mr. Murphy’s desk. The hamster’s feet skidded and slid on the linoleum floor, its toenails clicking loudly.
“You can’t get away! You’re too fat!” Evan cried. He dropped to his knees and peered under the desk.
He could see Cuddles staring back at him from the darkness. The animal was breathing rapidly, its sides swelling with each breath.
“Don’t be scared,” Evan whispered soothingly. “I’m going to put you back in your nice, safe cage.”
He crawled quickly to the desk.
The hamster stared back at him, breathing hard. It didn’t move—until Evan reached for him. Then Cuddles scampered away, his tiny paws sliding on the floor.
Evan jumped angrily to his feet. “Cuddles—what’s your problem?” he demanded loudly. “This isn’t a stupid game!”
It wasn’t a game at all, Evan knew.
If he didn’t get the hamster back in the cage, Mr. Murphy would flunk him for sure. Or suspend him from school. Or get his family kicked out of Atlanta!
Calm down, Evan urged himself. Don’t panic.
He took a deep breath and held it.
Then he saw the hamster on the window ledge just inside the open window.
Okay, Evan—go ahead and panic! he told himself.
This was definitely panic time.
He tried to call to the hamster. But his voice came out a choked whisper.
Swallowing hard, Evan edged slowly toward the window ledge.
“Come here, Cuddles,” he whispered. “Please, Cuddles—come here.”
Closer, closer.
Almost close enough to reach the hamster.
Almost close enough.
“Don’t move, Cuddles. Don’t move.”
He reached out his hand slowly. Slowly.
Cuddles glanced back at him with his soft black eyes.
Then the hamster jumped out the window.
6
Evan hung back for only a second.
Then he jumped out the window after the hamster.
Luckily, the science classroom was on the ground floor. Evan landed face down in a low evergreen hedge. Struggling and squirming, it took him a while to climb to his feet.
He took several steps over the grass, then turned and stared back along the bottom of the long hedge. “Cuddles—are you under there?”
Evan squatted down to get a better view. The hedge stretched the entire length of the school building. Cuddles could hide under there forever.
And if I don’t find him, Evan told himself bitterly, I’d better hide under there forever, too!
To the right, Evan could hear voices from the playground. Happy, shouting voices. Carefree voices.
Still squatting, he turned toward the happy voices—and saw a fat brown ball wobbling over the grass toward the playground.
No. Not a ball. “Cuddles!”
That fat hamster isn’t getting away this time! Evan decided, jumping up and starting to chase after the creature. I’ll catch him if I have to sit on him!
A picture flashed into Evan’s mind of Cuddles, flat as a pancake after Evan had sat upon him. A little, round, furry hamster rug.
Despite his panic, the thought of Cuddles as a rug brought a smile to Evan’s perspiring face.
As he ran, he kept his eyes on Cuddles. The hamster was wobbling rapidly over the grass toward the playground.
“Oh, no!” Evan cried out in horror as Cuddles darted in front of two girls speeding across the grass on bikes.
Laughing together, they didn’t even see the hamster.
Cuddles is about to be road kill! Evan thought, shrinking back. He shut his eyes and waited for the squish.
But the bikes rolled s
moothly on. And when they had passed, Evan spotted Cuddles continuing his journey to the playground unharmed.
“Cuddles—come back here!” he shouted furiously.
The hamster appeared to speed up. He tumbled onto the baseball diamond, all four paws scurrying over the dirt of the third-base line.
Several kids stopped their game to stare.
“Stop him! Grab the hamster!” Evan shouted desperately.
But the kids only laughed.
“Know how to catch him?” a joker named Robbie Greene called to Evan. “Make a sound like a sunflower seed!”
“That’s an old joke!” a girl called to Robbie.
“Thanks for your help!” Evan shouted sarcastically. He ran over the pitching mound and had crossed second base when he realized he had lost sight of Cuddles.
He stopped and spun around, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. He searched the grass of the infield. “Where—where is he?” he stammered. “Do you see him?”
But the kids had returned to their softball game.
I can’t lose him now! Evan told himself, choked with panic. I can’t!
Sweat poured down Evan’s forehead. He mopped it with one hand, brushing back his curly, red hair. His T-shirt clung wetly to his back. His mouth felt dry as cotton.
Jogging into the outfield, he searched the grass.
“Cuddles?”
No sign of him.
A round, brownish lump in the grass turned out to be someone’s baseball glove.
“Cuddles?”
A kickball game was underway on the opposite diamond. Kids were shouting and cheering. Evan saw Bree Douglas, a girl from his class, slide hard into second base just before the ball.
“Has—has anyone seen Cuddles?” Evan gasped, trotting onto the diamond.
Kids turned to gawk at him.
“Out here?” Bree called, brushing off the knees of her jeans. “Evan, did you take the hamster out for a walk?”
Everyone laughed. Scornful laughter.
“He—he got away,” Evan replied, panting.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” a familiar voice called.
Evan turned to see Conan Barber, a pleased smile on his handsome face, his blue eyes gleaming.
Gripping it by its furry back, Conan held the hamster up in one hand. Cuddles’ four legs scurried in midair.
“You—you caught him!” Evan cried gratefully. He let out a long sigh of relief. “He jumped out the window.”
Evan reached out both hands for the hamster, but Conan jerked Cuddles out of his reach. “Prove it’s yours,” Conan said, grinning.
“Huh?”
“Can you identify it?” Conan demanded, his eyes burning into Evan’s, challenging Evan. “Prove this hamster is yours.”
Evan swallowed hard and glanced around.
Kids from the kickball game were huddling near. They were all grinning, delighted with Conan’s mean joke.
Evan sighed wearily and reached again for the hamster.
But Conan was at least a foot taller than Evan. He lifted the hamster high above Evan’s head, out of Evan’s reach.
“Prove it’s yours,” he repeated, flashing the others a grin.
“Give me a break, Conan,” Evan pleaded. “I’ve been chasing this stupid hamster for hours. I just want to get him back in his cage before Mr. Murphy—”
“Do you have a license for him?” Conan demanded, still holding the squirming hamster above Evan’s head. “Show me the license.”
Evan jumped and stretched both hands up, trying to grab Cuddles away.
But Conan was too fast for him. He dodged away. Evan grabbed air.
Some kids laughed.
“Give him the hamster, Conan,” Bree called. She hadn’t moved from second base.
Conan’s cold blue eyes sparkled excitedly. “I’ll tell you how you can get the hamster back,” he told Evan.
“Huh?” Evan glared at him. He was getting really tired of Conan’s game.
“Here’s how to get old Cuddles back,” Conan continued, holding the hamster tightly against his chest in one hand and petting its back with the other. “Sing a song for it.”
“Hey—no way!” Evan snapped. “Give it to me, Conan!”
Evan could feel his face growing even hotter. His knees started to tremble. He hoped no one could see it.
“Sing ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’, and I’ll give you Cuddles. Promise,” Conan said, smirking.
Some kids laughed. They moved closer, eager to see what Evan would do.
Evan shook his head. “No way.”
“Come on,” Conan urged softly, stroking the hamster’s brown fur. “‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat.’ Just a few choruses. You know how it goes, don’t you?”
More cruel laughter from the others.
Conan’s grin grew wider. “Come on, Evan. You like to sing, don’t you?”
“No, I hate singing,” Evan muttered, his eyes on Cuddles.
“Hey, don’t be modest,” Conan insisted. “I’ll bet you’re a great singer. Are you a soprano or an alto?”
Loud laughter.
Evan’s hands tightened into hard fists at his sides. He wanted to punch Conan, and punch him and punch him. He wanted to wipe the grin off Conan’s handsome face with his fists.
But he remembered what it had felt like to punch Conan. It had felt like hitting the side of a truck.
He took a deep breath. “If I sing the stupid song, will you really give me back the hamster?”
Conan didn’t reply.
Evan suddenly realized that Conan wasn’t looking at him anymore. No one was. They had all raised their eyes over Evan’s shoulder.
Confused, Evan spun around—to face Mr. Murphy.
“What is going on here?” the teacher demanded, his tiny black eyes moving from Evan to Conan, then back to Evan.
Before Evan could reply, Conan held up the hamster. “Here’s Cuddles, Mr. Murphy,” Conan said. “Evan let him get away. But I rescued Cuddles just as he was going to get run over.”
Mr. Murphy let out a horrified gasp. “Run over?” he cried. “Cuddles? Run over?”
The teacher reached out his chubby pink hands and took the hamster from Conan. He held the hamster against his bulging shirt and petted it, making soothing sounds to it.
“Thank you, Conan,” Mr. Murphy said after calming Cuddles. He glared at Evan. “I’m very disappointed in you, Evan.”
Evan started to defend himself. But Mr. Murphy raised a hand to silence him. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Right now I must get poor Cuddles back into his cage.”
Evan slumped to the ground. He watched Mr. Murphy carry the hamster back to the school building. Mr. Murphy waddles just like the hamster, Evan realized.
Normally, that thought would have cheered him up.
But Evan was far too unhappy to be cheered up by anything.
Conan had embarrassed him in front of all the others. And the big, grinning hulk had managed to get Evan in trouble with Mr. Murphy twice in one afternoon!
The kickball game had started up again. Evan climbed slowly to his feet and began trudging to the school building to get his backpack.
He couldn’t decide who he hated more—Cuddles or Conan.
He had a sudden picture of Cuddles stuffed inside a muffin tin, being baked in an oven.
Even that lovely thought didn’t cheer Evan up.
He pulled his backpack out of the locker and slung it over his shoulder. Then he slammed the locker shut, the sound clanging down the empty hallway.
He pushed open the front door and headed for home, walking slowly, lost in his unhappy thoughts.
What a horrible day, he told himself. At least nothing worse could happen to me today.
He had just crossed the street and was making his way on the sidewalk in front of a tall hedge—when someone leaped out at him, grabbed his shoulders hard from behind, and pulled him roughly to the ground.
Evan let out a frightened cry and gazed int
o his attacker’s face. “You!” he cried.
7
“Here’s a little advice, Evan,” Andy said, grinning down at him. “Don’t go out for the wrestling team.”
“Andy!” Evan cried, staring up at her in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
She reached out both hands and helped tug him to his feet. Then she tossed back her short, brown hair with a flick of her head. Her brown eyes flashed excitedly.
“Didn’t you read any of my letters?” she demanded.
Evan had met Andy the past summer, when he’d stayed with his great-aunt for a few weeks. He and Andy had become good friends.
She was with him when he bought the container of Monster Blood. She shared the whole frightening Monster Blood adventure with him.
Evan liked Andy because she was funny, and fearless, and kind of crazy. He never could predict what she would do next!
She didn’t even dress like other girls Evan knew. Andy loved bright colors. Right now she was wearing a sleeveless magenta T-shirt over bright yellow shorts, which matched her yellow sneakers.
“I told you in my last letter that my parents were sent overseas for a year,” Andy said, giving Evan a playful shove. “I told you they were sending me to Atlanta to live with my aunt and uncle. I told you I’d be living just three blocks away from you!”
“I know. I know,” Evan replied, rolling his eyes. “I just didn’t expect to see you jump out of the hedge at me.”
“Why not?” Andy demanded, her dark eyes exploring his.
Evan didn’t know how to answer that question.
“Glad to see me?” Andy asked.
“No,” he joked.
She pulled up a thick blade of grass and stuck it in the corner of her mouth. They began walking toward Evan’s house.
“I’m starting at your school on Monday,” she told him, chewing on the blade of grass.
“Thrills and chills,” he replied, snickering.
She shoved him off the sidewalk. “I thought people were supposed to be polite in the South.”
“I’m new here,” Evan replied.
“How’s Trigger?” she asked, kicking a pebble across the sidewalk.
“Good,” Evan told her.
“Like to talk a lot?” she asked sarcastically.