The Invisible Harry Read Online Free PDF

playing. Most of the kids went straight to the basketball court. Alyssa was whispering with Megan and Tonya in the corner. Nobody paid attention to us.
    Hubert picked up a tennis ball from the equipment bin and rolled it along the ground. After a second, it skittered off course and then completely disappeared.
    “Good dog!” I whispered. “Now, let’s see if you have any retriever in you. Bring back the ball.” I pointed sternly and waited with my hand out. Harry nudged me, not dropping the ball, but wanting me to wrestle him for it.
    “Oh, Hubert, I wish you could see him. You would fall in love.”
    “With a dog?”
    I rolled the ball again and Harry brought it back. This time he put it down right at my feet. It was getting soggy, like a big, slimy lemon.
    “Throw it,” Hubert suggested. “Make it harder.”
    I threw it up above our heads and as it came down, it vanished in midair. Harry was jumping for it!
    “What a clever boy you are!” I said when he brought the ball back. My voice sounded like a proud nanny.
    “You’re such a smart boy.”
    I tossed the ball long. We could hear his nails clicking faintly on the asphalt as he raced to be in position.
    “I admit, this is kind of cool.” Hubert laughed as we watched Harry fetch, over and over again.
    Until Harry started to bark. He was so excited, he just started to bark and wouldn’t stop, the way a little kid gets the giggles.
    I threw the ball, thinking he’d be quiet with his mouth full, but he kept on barking.
    “Billie, don’t throw the ball again,” Hubert warned. “We’ve got company.”
    David, chasing a stray basketball, was lingering, and his teammates were closing in. Alyssa, noticing a crowd gathering, was, of course, coming over, too.
    Harry kept barking. And then Hubert did the bravest thing he’s ever done. Especially when you consider that for Hubert, “brave” is putting his hand up in class.
    Hubert started to bark. And he barked just like Harry, same pitch, same rhythm. Harry must have been so surprised that he stopped immediately, probably sniffing around for the other dog.
    By this time, Mr. Donaldson was there, too. Everybody in the class was there, and Hubert just kept on barking, glaring at me till he was cross-eyed, his face turning bright pink.

    Finally he stopped for breath. He ducked his head down so he wouldn’t have to look at anyone, but the whole crowd began to applaud.
    “That was pretty impressive, Hubert,” said Mr. Donaldson. “Would you like to explain your little concert?”
    “Oh, I can,” I interrupted, assuming that Hubert would be catatonic for a couple of hours after such a public display. “We’re working on an idea for the medieval pageant.”
    “Well, I can’t wait to hear it,” said Mr. D., with teacherly enthusiasm. I thought Hubert might fall over with the strain of keeping his head lowered out of eye-contact range.
    “But for now, recess is over.”
    Everyone groaned and headed slowly for the door.
    “Group A, you’ve got Spanish. Group B, you’ve got shop. Let’s go, people….” Mr. Donaldson led the way.
    “Shall I kill you now, or later?” Hubert was sweating and still faintly scarlet.
    “Hubert, you were beyond brilliant.” He gave a little bow. “But,” I added urgently, “we don’t have time to dwell on your future career as a canine impressionist. Harry has disappeared!”

11 • Second Thoughts
    M ay I remind you, Billie, that Harry has never been anything
but
disappeared as far as I’m concerned?”
    “No, I mean, really! He’s not here anymore! See, the ball is right over there, against the wall, and Harry is nowhere.”
    “Oh, sh-sh-sugar cube!” Hubert swore. “Sh-sh-shoulder!”
    “Hey, guys!” Sarah called from the doorway. “C’mon!”
    “Go ahead!” I said. “We’ll be right there.”Sarah waved, and the door swung shut behind her.
    “Harry!” I called softly. “Here, boy! Harry!”
    Hubert whistled and bounced the ball as a