Lucky Charm Read Online Free PDF Page B

flailed at odd angles as she took off after the great squirrel hunter. Despite her lack of style, Kelley was incredibly fast. Katani could hardly keep up with her.
    Suddenly, the squirrel bounced off the trunk of a tree and changed directions. Marty paused, wondering which wasthe best route for his wild pursuit. His hesitation gave Kelley, who had managed to catch up with the little dude, just enough time to stamp her foot on the end of the leash. “HA!” she yelled in triumph.
    She did it ! Katani thought as she panted. Kelley actually caught up with Marty and nabbed him!
    However, as Kelley bent down to pick up the leash, the squirrel ran down the tree and took off in a tear toward the far end of the park.
    Marty reared back. In an instant, his collar slipped off. Kelley watched helplessly as Marty snatched up Happy Lucky, ran down the hill, and disappeared into a strand of trees.
    By this time, Katani had caught up with her sister and was standing by her side.
    Kelley hiccupped.
    “It’s okay, Kelley,” Katani said, not feeling at all okay herself. “You caught him. You were the first one…”
    “MARTY!” Kelley wailed. Distraught, she threw herself on the wet grass.
    Kelley’s sobs grew louder. Katani was super aware that people were staring. However, at this point she didn’t care. Marty had run away, but it was Kelley who had almost rescued him. Katani was proud of her sister, even though her behavior looked strange to the onlookers.
    Charlotte was the first of the BSG to catch up with them. “Where’s Marty?” Charlotte asked.
    Hearing the name made Kelley wail louder.
    Maeve and Isabel rushed over to them.
    “What’s the matter? Is she hurt?”
    “No, no…it’s okay, Kelley,” Katani said, trying to soothe her sister.
    “Where’s Marty?” Charlotte asked again.
    Maeve tried to soothe Kelley by patting her back, but Kelley shook her head back and forth, twisted away, and sobbed into the grass. Maeve pulled her hand back. “Sorry,” she whispered to Katani.
    “What can we do to help?” Isabel asked.
    “Nothing. Go look for Marty. I need to—to take Kelley home,” Katani told her friends.
    “Where is Marty?” Charlotte asked for the third time. Why wasn’t anyone answering her?
    Katani pulled the leash from beneath her sister, who was beginning to calm down. She held it up so that the empty collar swung in the breeze.
    Katani glanced up at Charlotte’s shocked face.
    “Which way?” was all she asked.
    Katani pointed to the stand of trees down the hill and near the creek, and Charlotte disappeared.
    Maeve and Isabel stayed behind to help Katani calm Kelley down.
    Maeve started singing Kelley’s favorite song. “Happy Birthday to you…”
    Kelley shook her head, but that didn’t stop Maeve. She kept right on singing. Eventually, Kelley quieted and began to sing with Maeve. They sang “Happy Birthday” for each one of the Beacon Street Girls.
    “Hey, where’d you guys go?” Avery asked as she arrived at the scene. “I got another line drive. You missed it.” She took a big slurp of a Sno-Cone.
    Isabel put her finger to her lips and nodded toward Kelley.
    “What’s going on?” Avery whispered.
    “Later,” Isabel mouthed to Avery.
    Avery shifted her weight from foot to foot. Katani just knew what Avery was going to say next. Katani waved her hand in the air and shook her head, but she couldn’t stop Avery from speaking.
    “Hey, does Charlotte have Marty?” Avery asked.
    Instantly, Katani, Isabel, and Maeve all said, “SHHHHH!” at the same time.
    Kelley shook her head at Avery. “Avery, Marty’s lost. He ran after a squirrel right before our eyes.” She snapped her fingers and said, “You better find him or it will just be horrible.”
    Katani sighed. Kelley could switch on and off so fast.
    Avery’s eyes popped wide open. “What do you mean?”
    Katani took the leash, wadded it up behind her back in a small little ball so that Kelley wouldn’t see it, and handed