The Birthday Party of No Return! Read Online Free PDF Page A

it to her.
    â€œOh, thank goodness!” she cried. “I’ve been searching for hours. Thank you, Lee. Thank you!”
    â€œIt … was under the locker,” I said. I pointed. “A lucky find.”
    â€œIt sure was!” she exclaimed. She reached into the wallet and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. “A little reward for you,” she said. She stuffed the money into my hand.
    â€œNo. I can’t —” I started to give it back to her.
    But she closed my fist around it. “Keep it,” she said. “You deserve a reward. You saved my life.”
    She turned and hurried back toward her office. I gazed at the ten-dollar bill in my hand. How lucky was that?
    I tucked it into my jeans and stepped into the crowded, noisy lunchroom. I wasn’t interested in lunch. I was too excited to be hungry.
    I knew what I had to do. I marched up to Cory. He was sitting at the front table with a bunch of kids from our class.
    â€œYo, Lee. What’s up?” he said. He had a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly. That’s what he eats for lunch every day. He says it’s his lucky sandwich.
    But I knew who had the luck today. He could eat ten jars of peanut butter and jelly. Things had changed.
    â€œI want a rematch,” I said. “I want to have a do-over of our tennis match.”
    He grinned at me. He was so sure of himself, he didn’t hesitate for a second.
    â€œNo problem,” he said. “A rematch. Let’s do it.”
    I rubbed the claw under my shirt. No way I could lose this time.
    No way.

Cory and I insisted on a new match. Ms. Andersen didn’t really understand. But she said if we wanted it so badly, we could do it.
    Word got around school, and a lot of kids showed up to watch.
    Some kids called it a “grudge match.” I think that’s why a lot of them came.
    Also, word had gone around school that I’d tossed my racket and knocked Ms. Andersen to the ground. I think some kids were waiting for me to lose it again.
    But I didn’t lose it. This time, I won.
    This time, the sun hid behind clouds when I was facing it. And when we switched court sides, it shone brightly again and blinded Cory.
    So I won two sets to none.
    Good luck. Either you have it or you don’t.
    I was so happy, I let out a shout of victory and leaped over the net. Cory just stood there shaking his head. I could tell by the upset look on his face that I had him worried.
    I knew I could win the Sports Camp scholarship easily. With the help of the vulture claw, of course.
    I laughed and tried to joke with Cory. But he didn’t want to talk. He turned and stomped away, angrily slapping his fancy new tennis racket against his hand.
    I saw Laura flash me a warm smile from the side of the court. She gave me a double thumbs-up.
    Too bad, Laura , I thought. You and Cory don’t stand a chance now.
    I pulled out the ugly black claw and kissed it. Then I tucked it back under my shirt.
    I hummed to myself all the way home. I felt like dancing. Or skipping.
    I let myself in and tossed my tennis racket case and backpack to the floor. I heard heavy footsteps in the hall. Arfy barked and came running to greet me.
    â€œHey — down boy. Down!”
    Why did I say that? He never listens to me. Arfy’s so big that he doesn’t obey a single command. He knows he can do whatever he feels like.
    â€œArfy — please!”
    He leaped on me, pressing his big paws on my shoulders. I stumbled back against the wall.
    â€œStop!” I cried. He was frantically licking my face. My cheeks dripped with thick slobber. “Stop it!”
    I tried to push him off. He pawed at my T-shirt collar.
    â€œHey!” I let out a cry as he grabbed the vulture claw in his teeth. With a hard tug, he snatched it off the rope.
    â€œNO!” I screamed.
    Arfy clamped the claw in his teeth. Then he pushed off from my chest with both paws. He spun around and galloped out of the