Double Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Look! The door is flooded. We won't be able to get out!”
    But Genie had a plan. Clutching Ali in her hand, she sprinted to the other end of the room just ahead of the rolling wave. Genie grabbed Air's backpack off the floor; then jumped onto the piano stool and climbed right up on top of the piano. The wave smashed against the wall, sending a spray of water over themvAli gulped as she pushed her wet hair out of her eyes and gazed down at the choppy water swirling on the floor below.
    “You saved my life!” Ali gasped. “Thanks, Genie.”
    “It was lucky I spotted you,” Genie said. A drop of water slid down her cheek. She helped Ali into the backpack pocket and zipped it half shut. “I didn't know the storm was going to be this big!” she confessed. “That wave was gnarly!” Then she winked at Ali, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “It's been fun, though, hasn't it?”
    The wind was still thundering around the room, and the waves were still sweeping up and down. Suddenly a loud siren could be heard above the howling wind.
    “Listen,” Ali said through chattering teeth. “It's the fire departmenti'The rest of her class, who were standing just outside the door started to cheer.
    A few moments later a group of firefighters in yellow helmets and big boots appeared in the doorway. One of them waded over to Genie and Ali. “Gome on,” he said. “Let's get you out of here.”
    Genie clutched the backpack tightly as the firefighter picked her up and waded back across the hall. Ali couldn't resist peeking out to see what was going on. The water had flooded down the corridor and into some classrooms. The whole school had been sent outside to line up in the playground, just like a fire drill. Everyone from Mrs. Harvey's class was wet and shivering, and Ali could hear Tiffahy Andrews being a drama queen as usual, moaning and complaining at the top of her voice.
    “I bet my bag's ruined!” she was protesting. “I had to leave it behind. And it cost a lot!”
    Meanwhile, Mrs. Harvey was talking to one of the firefighters. She looked very pale.
    “We think a water main must have burst,” the firefighter said. “I've never seen so much water”
    Mrs. Harvey nodded. “Yes, that must be what happened.” She turned to her class. “Mrs. Jasmine and I will be phoning your parents to come for an early dismissal so that you can go home and dry off. If we can't reach your parents, we'll call your emergency pickup number”
    Ali shivered. That meant Gran would be coming to get her.
    Mary squelched over to Genie. “Hey, Ali, wasn't that
cool?
” She was soaking wet, but she was grinning like crazy. “Scary, but fun! It was just like being in a real storm!”
    “I know!” Genie agreed, squeezing some water from her hair. “I can't believe a water main burst just as we were acting out that storm scene!” She glanced down at Ali and winked.
    Inside the backpack pocket Ali was freezing. She tried wrapping; one of the empty gum wrappers around her to warm up, but it didn't help. All she wanted to do was go home, climb into a steaming bath, and have a hot drink.
    “There's your grandma, Ali,” Mary said.
    “Oh.” Genie sounded puzzled. Aliwatched as Genie looked at the cars pulling up outside the school gate. “Um, where, exactly?”
    Ali groaned. Of course Genie didn't know who Gran was! Even though Gran had bought the Lava lamp for Ali, Genie hadn't appeared until Ali had started polishing the lamp at home.
    “There,”
said Mary, pointing. “Have you still got water in your eyes or something?” Ali saw Mary giving Genie a strange look. “That's her car; isn't it?”
    “Oh,
that
Gran,” Genie said breezily. “I didn't know who you meant at first.”
    Ali could see from the look on Mary's face that she definitely thought there was something seriously wrong with her friend! “I'm going to have a lot ofexplaining to do,” Ali mumbled, shaking her head.
    “Are you two all right?” Gran was hurrying across