Wanted . . . Mud Blossom Read Online Free PDF Page B

His food was untouched.
    â€œDon’t tell me you’re eager to go to school too. Will wonders never cease,” Vicki Blossom said.
    â€œI’m not so eager to get to school,” Vern admitted slowly. He realized he had to be very, very careful what he said from now on. “I’m eager to see Michael. I have some important things to tell him.”
    Vern and Junior went out of the house together.
    When they were down the steps, and out of hearing,
    Vern snapped, “Thanks a lot.”
    â€œWhat? For what?”
    â€œFor telling Pap that somebody wanted to kill me.”
    â€œWell, if someone wanted to kill me,” Junior said reasonably, “I’d want everybody to know about it.”
    â€œWell, I don’t. And I’ll get even with you. You just wait and see.”

CHAPTER 7
The Cage
    Junior sat on the front seat of the school bus. It was three fifteen in the afternoon, and Junior was on his way home.
    Junior was jiggling his knees. Junior always jiggled like this when he was excited.
    On Junior’s lap, jiggling along with Junior, was a wire cage.
    â€œVern! Vern, look,” Junior had said as soon as Vern got on the bus.
    â€œAt what?” Vern had looked around as if he didn’t know what he was supposed to be looking at.
    He checked the bus driver, the window, the girls across the aisle, everything but the wire cage on Junior’s lap.
    â€œVern!”
    Junior pointed to the cage.
    â€œOh,” Vern said. “Big deal, a mouse.”
    â€œNo! No, it’s a hamster!”
    â€œSame difference.”
    â€œNo, no, it’s—”
    â€œIs that what you’ve been carrying on about all week—a stupid hamster?” Vern asked with scorn.
    Junior nodded. “I get to keep him the whole weekend.”
    â€œWell, keep him out of my room.”
    â€œCome on, Vern,” Michael said. “We got to make plans.”
    Michael had pulled Vern to the back of the bus, and they sat with their heads together in their usual seat.
    To Junior, the cage on his lap was a miracle. He, HE had been selected to take the class hamster home. And he had never been selected for anything in his life. And he was picked first! Before any of the kids in the good reading group. The teacher had picked him first.
    And now he was in charge of Scooty for the whole weekend. For the whole weekend, he would look after Scooty, feed Scooty, make things for Scooty.
    â€œAnd I’ve already made you a tunnel,” Junior said, his lips against the wire of the cage.
    The cage smelled of cedar shavings and seeds, and Junior inhaled with pleasure. He loved the smell of a hamster cage. As far as Junior was concerned, the scent could be bottled like perfume for ladies. When he got big, he would sure go for a lady who smelled like a hamster cage.
    The bus stopped to let off the Rankin girls.
    Junior moved the cage slightly into the aisle in case they wanted to admire Scooty as they passed.
    â€œWatch it!” one said, so Junior drew the cage close again.
    â€œWait till you see the tunnel, Scooty,” Junior continued as the bus started up again. “You will love it. It’s long and there are little secret rooms at each end and in the secret rooms are—”
    The bus stopped again. This time Rebecca from his room got off. “Bye, Junior. Bye, Scooty,” she said.
    Junior said, “Bye.” He wished he could get Scooty out and wave one of his paws at Rebecca, but the bus was already on its way again.
    There was always a special festive, free-at-last air about the school bus on Fridays. Junior loved Fridays. He had been looking forward to this one all week and now it way really here. And, during the morning, Junior had figured out that by now Pap would have gotten to the cave and seen that Mary was all right.
    Therefore, it was all right for Junior to go ahead and be a little happy. Normally he wouldn’t have let himself do this until he heard