Laugh Till You Cry Read Online Free PDF Page B

silent.
    The principal of Farnsworth Middle School, Mr. Carmody, spoke to the students using a portable hand mike. “A few minutes ago,” he announced, “through an anonymous telephone call to our main office, we received a bomb threat.”
    One of the girls gave a little shriek, and everyone started talking. Mr. Carmody had to shout twice for silence so he could continue.
    “The police have arrived, and the school will have to be searched.” He paused, then added, “I am counting on the likelihood that it was not one of our own students.”
    “We were all in the cafeteria,” someone complained.
    Cody saw Coach Anderson slowly turn and search the crowd until she spotted him. She approached Mr. Carmody, who held the microphone down as the coach leaned toward him and spoke quietly in his ear.
    Then he turned and stared at Cody, too.
    Cody gulped as he realized what they must be thinking.
It wasn’t me!
He wanted to shout, but he couldn’t. He hadn’t been accused, so he couldn’t say anything.
    He saw Officer Jake Ramsey and another uniformedofficer step out of the building and walk to the principal’s side. They spoke for a few minutes, and then Jake turned and looked at Cody, too.
    Cody’s legs felt so weak it was hard to keep standing. He tried taking a deep breath to steady himself, but it was difficult to breathe.
    Mr. Carmody picked up the mike. “The police estimate that it will take at least three hours to thoroughly search the school building,” he said. “So we will proceed with early dismissal. Please remain where you are while arrangements are made.”
    Then, once again, he looked directly at Cody. “At this time,” he said, “I would like Cody Carter to report directly to me.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    “I didn’t do it,” Cody said.
    “He wasn’t in the cafeteria, where he was supposed to be,” Coach Anderson stated.
    “Young man—” Mr. Carmody began, but Jake stepped forward. He was big enough to take charge, and his voice was firm. Even Coach Anderson kept quiet and paid attention.
    “Before we jump to any conclusions, let’s get the answers to some questions,” Jake said. He turned to Cody. “Where’d you eat lunch, Cody?”
    “On the steps outside the side door,” Cody said.
    “All students are supposed to eat in the cafeteria,” the coach interrupted, but Jake gave her a hard look, and she stepped back.
    Cody decided he’d better explain himself. “I—I didn’t feel well. I wanted to be by myself, so I picked a quiet place where nobody would be.”
    “Nobody saw you there?” Jake asked.
    Cody gulped. From what he had learned about law, he realized that Jake was asking whether there were anywitnesses, anyone who could prove that Cody was there. Suddenly he remembered. “No, but I left my lunch bag on the steps. I meant to throw it away, but the bell rang and—”
    “I’ll go check,” the other policeman said. He strode toward the corner of the building in the direction Cody pointed out.
    Cody was aware that a lot of the kids were watching him. He heard Brad say loudly, “Nobody saw Cody after we got out of English class.”
    Eddie piped up, “That’s ’cause he was—”
    Hayden gave him a punch on his arm. “Don’t interrupt,” he muttered.
    “Nobody saw you, either,” Jennifer snapped, glaring at Brad.
    “Yeah? Well, I had to see Ms. Jackson after class.”
    “Does your mom know you’ve got a phone with you?” Jake asked Cody.
    “She gave it to me,” Cody said. “The doctor is supposed to call her about a new medicine he might give my grandmother, and if he does, then she wants me to go to the drugstore and pick it up on my way home. I have to call Mom right after school and find out.”
    Jake nodded, as if he had accepted Cody’s answer.
    Jake’s partner came back holding a lunch sack. “You left an apple in your lunch bag,” he said to Cody. As he handed it to him, he reported to Jake, “It was right where he said it was.”
    “That doesn’t