Amos Gets Married Read Online Free PDF Page B

way?”
    Dunc turned the page. “Another bump on the head.”
    “Forget that. Nobody’s hitting Melissa while I’m around.”
    “Then there’s only one thing left to do.”
    “What?”
    “You’ve got to return all the stuff she took and follow her everywhere she goes to make sure she doesn’t take anything else.”
    “What do you mean,
I’ve
got to do it? I thought we were in on this thing together.”
    “I’ll help when I can. But Melissa’s your girlfriend. You can be around her without making her suspicious.”
    Amos grinned. “That has such a nice ring to it.”
    “What?”
    “The part where you said she’s my girlfriend.”
    “Don’t get too used to it. Soon she’s bound to come back to her normal self.”
    “But in the meantime …”
    Dunc put the psychiatric book on his desk. “In the meantime, we have to figure out where Melissa is hiding the rest of the things she took from school and how you’re going to give it all back without getting in trouble yourself.”
    Amos put his hands behind his head and lay back on Dunc’s bed. “I’m not worried. You’ll come up with something.”

“And I said I wasn’t worried.” Amos moved a piece of shrubbery out of his nose. “In case you didn’t know it, they also put you in jail for breaking and entering.”
    The boys were hiding in the flower garden behind Melissa’s house, waiting for her mother to take her to dance class.
    Dunc peeked over the hedge. “I wouldn’t look at it as breaking and entering, exactly. It’s more like we’re a couple of uninvited guests. You know, like when your uncle Alfred comes over.”
    “Except everybody in my family knows when Uncle Alfred is in our house, because he takes his shoes off and picks his toesthrough his moldy socks. In fact I’m pretty sure even the neighbors can tell when Uncle Alfred comes to visit. It’s rank.”
    “We won’t be in there long, Amos. We’ll just do a quick check and then we’re out. She may not have the stuff hidden in there anyway.” Dunc looked at his watch. “I thought you said Melissa was supposed to leave for dance lessons?”
    The front door slammed. Melissa and her mother came rushing out and got into the station wagon.
    Dunc watched from the safety of the hedge until the station wagon was well out of sight. “All clear. Let’s go.”
    Amos tried the back door. It was locked.
    “Over here.” Dunc motioned for him to move to the kitchen window. “They left it open a crack. I think I can boost you up.”
    Amos studied the window. “I don’t know—it looks pretty small.”
    “It’s the only way in. If we go around front, somebody might spot us.”
    “You always have it covered, don’t you? Okay, give me a boost.”
    Dunc pushed while Amos jumped andgrabbed the windowsill. He managed to get his head and shoulders through the tiny window, but the rest of him was stuck.
    “Pull me out. I hear someone coming.”
    Dunc grabbed one leg and pulled. Nothing. He couldn’t budge Amos. “I can’t pull you out. I’m going to try pushing.”
    “Do something quick. Someone’s coming down the stairs.”
    Mr. Hansen, Melissa’s father, had the flu and had stayed home from work to recuperate. He went into the kitchen to get a glass of juice. He was about to open the refrigerator when he noticed Amos’s head sticking through the window.
    Amos tried a halfhearted smile. “Hi, Mr. Hansen. Is Melissa home?”
    “You’re
one of Melissa’s friends?”
    Amos nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m the one she’s married to.”
    Mr. Hansen’s eyebrows came together like a black thundercloud. “What?”
    “It’s only pretend. Our social studies teacher gave us the assignment.”
    “Thank goodness. For a minute there you had me worried, son.” Mr. Hansenmoved closer to Amos. “Is there some reason why you’re hanging through my kitchen window?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Well, what is it?”
    “Your back door was locked.”
    “I see.” Mr. Hansen took the juice out of