How I Got My Shrunken Head Read Free Page A

insisted, covering her mouth as she yawned. “Put the head down, and let’s all get some sleep.”
    “Okay, okay,” I muttered. I flashed Jessica another angry look. Then I set the shrunken head down on the dresser.
    Mom and Jessica walked out of my room. “Mark is such a jerk,” I heard Jessica say, just loud enough for me to hear. “I asked him to share the shrunken head, and he said he wouldn’t.”
    “We’ll talk about it in the morning,” Mom replied, yawning again.
    I started to turn off the light. But I stopped when I saw Carolyn, still standing in the hall. Still staring hard at me, a really intense expression on her face.
    She narrowed her silvery eyes at me. “Did you really see it glow, Mark?” she asked softly.
    I glanced at the head. Dark and still. “Yeah. I did,” I replied.
    Carolyn nodded. She seemed to be thinking hard about something. “Good night,” she murmured. Then she turned and padded silently back to the guest room.
    The next morning, Mom and Carolyn greeted me with the biggest surprise of my life.

7
    “Your aunt Benna wants you to come visit her in the jungle,” Mom announced at breakfast.
    I dropped the spoon into my Froot Loops. My mouth fell open to my knees. “Excuse me?”
    Mom and Carolyn grinned at me. I guess they enjoyed shocking me. “That’s why Carolyn came,” Mom explained. “To take you back with her to Baladora.”
    “Wh-why didn’t you
tell
me?” I shrieked.
    “We didn’t want to tell you until we worked out all the details,” Mom replied. “Are you excited? You get to visit a real jungle!”
    “Excited isn’t the word!” I exclaimed. “I’m … I’m … I’m …
I don’t know what I am!”
    They both laughed.
    “I get to go, too!” Jessica declared, bouncing into the kitchen.
    I let out a groan.
    “No, Jessica. You can’t go this time,” Mom said,putting a hand on my sister’s shoulder. “This is Mark’s turn.”
    “That isn’t fair!” Jessica wailed, shoving Mom’s hand away.
    “Yes, it is,” I replied happily. “Kah-lee-ah!” I cheered. Then I leaped to my feet and did a celebration dance around the kitchen table.
    “Not fair! Not fair!” Jessica chanted.
    “Jessica, remember: you don’t
like
jungles,” I said.
    “Yes, I do!” she insisted.
    “Next time will be your turn,” Carolyn said, taking a long sip of coffee. “I’m sure your aunt would love to show you the jungle, Jessica.”
    “Yeah. When you’re older,” I sneered. “You know, the jungle is too dangerous for a kid.”
    Of course, when I said that to my sister, I had no idea of just how dangerous the jungle could be. No idea that I was heading toward dangers I couldn’t even imagine.
    After breakfast, Mom helped me pack my suitcase. I wanted to bring shorts and T-shirts. I knew it was hot in the jungle.
    But Carolyn insisted that I pack long-sleeved shirts and jeans, because of the scratchy weeds and vines we’d be walking through. And because of all the jungle insects.
    “You have to protect yourself from the sun,” Carolyn instructed. “Baladora is close to the equator. The sun is very strong. And the temperature stays in the nineties all day.”
    Of course I carefully packed the shrunken head. I didn’t want Jessica to get her paws on it while I was away.
    I know, I know. Sometimes I’m pretty mean to my sister.
    As we drove to the airport, I thought about poor Jessica, staying home while I went off to exciting adventures with Aunt Benna.
    I decided to bring her back a really cool souvenir from the jungle. Some poison ivy, maybe. Or some kind of poisonous snake. Ha-ha!
    At the airport, Mom kept hugging me and telling me to be careful. Then she hugged me some more. It was really pretty embarrassing.
    Finally, it came time for Carolyn and me to board the plane. I felt scared and excited and glad and worried — all at once!
    “Be sure to send postcards!” Mom called as I followed Carolyn to the gate.
    “If I can find a mailbox!” I called