Overtime Read Online Free PDF Page A

have a skate-a-thon. We can get pledges and skate for eight hours, at ten dollars an hour, or whatever.”
    Zachary agreed. “I actually like that too. At least it’s not chocolate.”
    “If you don’t stop insulting chocolate …” Scott began.
    “And both ideas might even be fun,” Rebecca said, ignoring Scott.
    A roll of thunder crashed overhead and the sky darkened.
    “I’m not sure we’re going to get our game in,” Zachary said, looking up.
    “It’ll blow over,” Scott said. “Nick, you get the sticks and nets from the shed and I’ll watch and cheer you on.”
    Another sharp crack sounded and suddenly the rain began to pour down. In seconds they were all soaked.
    “You might want to hold off on that,” Scott said to Nick.
    “Why don’t we watch that movie?” Charlie asked Pudge.
    “Sure. If you want,” he said.
    “Anyone into Pudge’s movie?” Charlie said.
    “Yes!” they all answered emphatically.
    “Let’s move!” Nick yelled.
    The boys took off on their boards, with the girls running alongside. But the rain fell even harder and Charlie decided hurrying was pointless. He was totally drenched already. He got off his board and began to walk.
    “Those were good ideas,” Julia said, coming up beside him. She wiped the rain from her eyes and smiled. “We should present them to the committee. Don’t you think?”
    “Yeah. I guess.”
    “We could do it tomorrow. The committee is meeting before school.”
    She seemed to be suggesting that they go together, but he wasn’t sure. “Do you want me to come along? I can if you want, or not. Whatever. I’m easy.”
    “Movie night was your idea,” she said quietly.
    “I guess,” he said. “What time?”
    “I think it starts at seven-thirty.”
    He gulped. Usually he wasn’t even awake by then. “If my alarm clock cooperates, I’ll be there,” he said.
    They walked along, in the rain, not saying anything for a while.
    “You really are getting wet, Charlie Joyce,” Julia said.
    His conversation with Trisha must have made the gossip rounds. It was amazing how that worked. It was probably on Facebook already. The water was streaming down the street and they hopped up on the sidewalk.
    “I’m thinking this walking thing is a bad idea,” she continued.
    He scrunched his mouth to one side. “I see your point.”
    Together they took off towards Pudge’s house. Charlie was a good long-distance runner, but Julia had no trouble keeping up.
    “There it is,” he said, pointing to the house.
    The others were waiting.
    “Shark!” Scott yelled out to them. “Swim for your lives!”
    Julia pretended to do the front crawl. Scott took off his shirt and threw it at them. “Use this as a raft. It’s your only chance,” he said.
    Julia picked it up, and pretended to smell it. “I think I’d rather drown.”
    Pudge opened the door. He was holding a pile of towels. “Come on in, guys.”
    Charlie followed his friends inside. Pudge handed him a towel.
    “Is this movie really any good?” Charlie asked.
    Pudge pointed to the door. “You want to stay outside?”
    Charlie rubbed his hair with the towel. “Where’s the popcorn?” he asked.

6
WHERE’S THAT?
    Charlie ignored the drizzle as he half ran, half walked his way to school. He did not want to break his promise to Julia and be late to present their ideas to the committee. Unfortunately, when he was leaving, he couldn’t find his left running shoe, and then he somehow misplaced a science assignment. The result, as usual, was a mad rush.
    “Hey, Charlie. What’s the hurry?”
    He stopped short. Julia waved at him and came over. She held a garbage bag in her hand. Peering at him, she added, “Did you just wake up, or something?”
    He looked down and realized his jacket was unzipped and his shirt was half tucked in.
    “I encountered a few setbacks on my way out the door,” he said. “Maybe I should have stuck with the pyjamas.” He hurriedly pulled his shirt out.
    “I’m