Young Scrooge Read Online Free PDF

a hand back over his short hair. Behind his thick glasses, his eyes went dead. He had no expression on his face at all. He suddenly looked to me like a balloon the air had all gone out of.
    He sighed. “Is there anything about Phil that you would change?” he asked. “Think about it before you answer. Please.”
    â€œThat striped shirt he wore was kind of lame,” I said. “I guess I’d change his shirt.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t change anything about Phil’s behavior?” Mr. Martin raised his voice for the first time. His gray cheeks turned rosy pink.
    â€œNot really,” I said.
    â€œYou know the costumes for the Christmas play have to be sent to the cleaners now. They won’t come back in time. You’ve ruined the Christmas play for everyone, Rick. How does that make you feel?”
    â€œNo big thing. It was kind of funny,” I said. “Just a joke, you know?”
    â€œI think … I’m going … to give up on you … Rick,” he said slowly. “I’ll have to speak to your mother.” He made a waving motion toward the office door. “You can go home now.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Martin,” I said. I climbed to my feet. “And thanks for showing me that movie.”
    â€œPlease think about Phil later,” he called after me. “Think about how Phil should change his behavior.”
    â€œNo problem,” I said. I stepped out into the empty hall. I could hear the kids from the play in the auditorium down the hall. They sounded angry and upset.
    I started to the front doors. I pictured them all scratching and squirming with ants crawling up and down their skin. It made me chuckle.
    I didn’t realize it was the last time I’d ever see my friends. The last time I’d see Mr. Martin. The last time I’d ever see my school.
    As I started to walk home that afternoon, I had no way of knowing that my life was about to change, and the terror would soon begin.

 
    8
    â€œRick, can you help me?” Charlie greeted me as I came through the kitchen door.
    I dropped my backpack on the floor. Then I grabbed both of his ears and tugged them as hard as I could. Charlie has huge ears that stick out like side-view mirrors on a car. I just can’t resist them.
    â€œOw. That hurt.” Charlie backed away from me.
    â€œMan up,” I said.
    Mom stood at the sink, peeling carrots. She turned around. “Don’t pull your brother’s ears, Rick. We don’t want to make them any bigger. How many times do I have to tell you?”
    â€œFive hundred,” I said.
    â€œSo? Will you help me?” Charlie waved a big sheet of paper in my face. “I need help with my drawing.”
    â€œGo help Charlie,” Mom said. “Dinner won’t be ready for another hour.” She squinted at me. “How come you’re late? You didn’t get into trouble again, did you?”
    I shook my head. “No. There was a big insect problem at the Christmas play rehearsal,” I said.
    Of course, I didn’t tell her that I caused the problem.
    Charlie grabbed my hand and tugged me to his room. He has an awesome room. Big posters of Thor, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man cover the walls.
    Charlie is into superheroes and he likes to draw them. The kid has talent. Maybe he’ll be a cartoonist someday.
    He pulled me to his table and pushed a black marker into my hand. “I’m having trouble drawing a squirrel,” he said.
    â€œHuh?” I stared hard at him. “You draw superheroes all the time. You can’t draw a simple squirrel?”
    â€œIt’s for art class,” he said. “I’m going to get a grade on it. And I don’t know where to start.”
    â€œStart with a nut,” I said. “Draw a nut. Then draw the squirrel grabbing the nut.”
    He shoved my shoulder. “Don’t be funny, Rick. It has to be good.”