The BEDMAS Conspiracy Read Online Free PDF Page A

another word. I turned to Daniela. She wasn’t smiling. “You were pretty hard on him, don’t you think?”
    â€œDaniela, I’m going to have to spend weeks in detention because of him! Weeks that could have been spent practicing the piano, you know. You think he can do no wrong because he made you a dumb bottle of coloured liquid paper in grade three. Wake up and see the big picture here.”
    â€œDon’t use that tone with me, cousin,” said Daniela angrily.
    We might not have been brother and sister, but we could fight like we were. We argued back and forth until Sludge finally banged on his drum.
    â€œTime out!” he called, getting our attention. “Remember us? Care to explain what’s going on here? Who was that little guy and what did he do to make you so mad?”
    â€œHe’s the new transfer from Greer Street Middle School,” said Beena to Sludge.
    â€œNo,” corrected Meena, “from Everett Elementary.”
    In all of my anger, I had forgotten about Sludge and the Z’s. They were huddled together, wide-eyed with surprise at the sudden turn of events. Not being in my math class, they were clueless about my eventful day. Reluctantly, I told them the whole sorry story.
    â€œI was throwing away my cheat sheet,” I stressed, “and he just up and waved it around in front of the class. I’ll never forgive him—not that I’ll ever have the chance when my dad finds out. He’ll probably kill me.
    â€œThat’s rough,” sympathized Sludge.
    â€œ Really rough,” agreed Beena and Meena.
    It was hard to concentrate after all of the drama. We agreed to call it a day and have another practice Sunday morning—barring my punishment, of course. We also agreed to start working on some lyrics. The goal was to be practicing an original song by early next week. Daniela and I watched the rest of Sick on a Snow Day hop on their bikes and cycle home. When they were dots in the distance, I turned to Daniela.
    â€œHow could you do that?” I asked accusingly. “Aside from making me look bad in front of the guys, how could you think I’d want that rat in the band?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Adam. I just felt bad for him. He really wants to be part of a group, especially after being dissed by the Subtractions.”
    Suddenly, my mom popped her head in the door. My heart plummetted into my stomach. That earlier feeling of nausea was back. I gripped Daniela’s arm tightly.
    â€œDinner in one hour,” she called cheerfully. It was a strange tone of voice to use with your soon-to-be-in-big-trouble son. I waited for her to continue: no television, no PlayStation. But that was all she said.
    â€œThe calm before the storm?” wondered Daniela.
    Our fight was quickly forgotten. We united as we prepared for the upcoming battle. My parents didn’t say anything about the subject when we sat down to eat. I tried to read between the lines.
    â€œAdam, can you pass the potatoes, please?” asked my dad. Was he trying to catch me off guard before coming down with the hammer?
    â€œDo you want more chicken?” asked my mom. Was she trying to fatten me up before sending me to my bedroom for the next month and a half? Maybe I’d got lucky and Abigail or Josh had accidentally deleted the message. Perhaps I was off the hook? It sure seemed that way.
    I managed to relax a bit and eat dessert.
    But my luck gave out after dinner. My parents waited until I was strategically trapped between them on the couch.
    â€œYour dad and I love you, Adam,” began my mom.
    Uh oh! With an opening like that, I knew I was in for some trouble.
    â€œBut we were shocked when we spoke to Mr. Papernick,” finished my dad sadly. It was never a good sign when they did the old double-teaming tactic.
    I tried to interject, “But I was throwing away the cheat sheet. I wasn’t going to cheat!”
    â€œYes, Mr. Papernick