Murphy & Mousetrap Read Online Free PDF

everything in the apartment by standing in one place.
    On Saturday morning, Mom and Murphy were eating their cereal when there was a loud knock at the door.
    â€œWho would that be?” Mom said.
    When she opened the door, Albert, Danny and Jeff stood in the doorway.
    â€œMurphy here?” Albert said.
    â€œCome in,” Mom said.
    Murphy slouched in his chair. Who asked them here? Why don’t they go away?
    â€œIt’s good to see you, boys,” Mom said. “Murphy hasn’t had anyone to play with.”
    Albert’s eyes scanned the room. “Nice place you’ve set up here.”
    He rested his leg on the arm of the sofa and said, “I didn’t think you’d get all your stuff in here.”
    He peered at the blanket walls. “You guys’ beds in there?”
    â€œYeah,” Mom said.
    â€œCool,” Albert said. “Real cool.” First he pulled the blanket back and looked at Mom’s bed. Then he looked at Murphy’s bed. He motioned with his chin for Danny and Jeff to join him.
    â€œLook at that, eh,” he said. “Wow.”
    Then he turned to Mom. “I’m pretty impressed, Mrs. J. You made this place look like a home.”
    â€œHey, Murphy.” Albert turned his attention to Murphy. “You want to come and play soccer with us?”
    â€œGood idea,” Mom said. “He’s almost finished his breakfast.”
    Murphy didn’t like what he heard. How did Mom know if he wanted to play soccer? He had never played soccer. Whenever his class had played soccer Murphy found some reason why he couldn’t. He ignored Albert and concentrated on his spoon.
    â€œHurry up, Murphy,” Mom said. “Don’t keep the boys waiting. Find a jacket; it’s cold. And don’t get your feet too wet.”
    Murphy finished his cereal slowly, trying to devise a plan to get out of playing with the boys. When he couldn’t think of anything he disappeared behind his blanket wall and rummaged through his shelf for a jacket. When he rejoined Mom, Albert stood by the door, soccer ball under one arm and Mousetrap under the other.
    â€œNice cat,” he said. “What’s his name?”
    â€œMousetrap,” Mom answered. “Although he’s never seen a mouse.”
    â€œYou should call him Rat-trap. We got rats around here as big as him.”
    Murphy didn’t like Albert holding Mousetrap, and he didn’t like what he heard about rats. He had never seen a rat, but from what he had heard and from what he had seen on TV they were scary animals.
    â€œHave fun, honey. Don’t get too cold,” Mom said.
    He followed the boys out of the basement and down the driveway, keeping a few paces back.
    â€œDon’t get too wet, honey,” Albert said with a high squeaky voice, mimicking Mom. “Don’t get too cold, honey.”
    Danny and Jeff laughed, and the three of them walked faster. Why did they even ask him to play?
    Murphy’s question was answered soon enough. “Leave him alone, Albert,” Jeff said. “Grandma said we should be nice to him.”
    â€œEver play soccer?” Albert said half turning around.
    Murphy didn’t want to say no because he knew everyone played soccer on the reserve.He didn’t want to say yes because he knew that as soon as he got on the soccer field they would find out he was lying. So he didn’t answer. He dropped his head and watched his running shoes take step after step along the path toward the park.
    â€œYou deaf?” Albert hollered. “You got trouble hearing plain English, white boy?”
    â€œHey, man,” Jeff said. “Murphy’s my cousin.”
    â€œYou know how to play soccer?” Albert said.
    â€œNot really,” was all Murphy could say.

8
    At the soccer field, two boys sat on old wooden bleachers and two others juggled balls from one foot to the other.
    â€œYou guys ready?” Albert