Star of the Show Read Free Page B

not know,” Storm woofed, but he was watching Kelly closely and his midnight-blue eyes were thoughtful.
    â€œThe director’s almost ready for you. Let’s move a bit closer,” Judith told Tessa. “You’ll be on first.”

    Tessa’s heart began to beat fast. It was a good thing she was still sitting down because her legs had turned to water. “Oh, I need the pocket watch!” she remembered.
    She reached under her skirts and felt along the top of the wall, where she’d placed it. But it wasn’t there.
    Tessa looked all around for the watch. She checked on the other side of the wall in case it had fallen over, but there was no sign of it. “It has to be here. I only put it down a minute ago. Oh, this is awful! The director’s going to be furious!” she cried in dismay.
    Storm gazed fixedly at Kelly who was watching Tessa with a smug look on her face. His little muzzle wrinkled in a growl. “I have an idea where it is!”
    Suddenly, Tessa felt a warm tingling sensation flowing down her spine.
    Something very strange was about to happen.

Chapter FOUR
    Tessa watched in utter amazement as huge gold sparks ignited in Storm’s wavy reddish-brown fur and his ears and tail crackled with electricity. Raising a little front paw he sent a burst of glittery light zooming toward Kelly.
    The light divided up into glowing streamers which whizzed up and down and around and around her as if searching for something. Then, just as if someone had given them a signal, all the streamers shot toward Kelly’s dress pocket and disappeared inside. No one else seemed to have noticed anything and Tessa realized that only she could see Storm’s magic at work.
    Tessa saw Kelly’s pocket bulging and churning as if it was filled with Mexican jumping beans.
    Kelly stiffened. Her eyes widened. “Ye-ow!” she yelled. Grabbing handfuls of her skirts, she shook them wildly so that her pocket tipped open and something shiny fell out and plopped onto the grass.

    â€œThe watch!” Tessa said, realizing all at once how Kelly had distracted her before stealing it off the wall.
    Storm gave a triumphant little woof and then sat down, looking pleased with himself as every last gold sparkle faded from his fur.
    â€œThanks, Storm. You’re the best!” Tessa whispered, petting his little head after quickly checking that no one could see her doing it.
    Kelly stood looking down at the watch lying on the floor as if it might jump up and bite her. As Tessa bent down to pick it up, Kelly edged away. “I wouldn’t touch that if I were you. There’s something weird about it!” she warned.
    â€œSeems fine to me,” Tessa said, holding the watch. “How come it was in your pocket anyway?”
    â€œI . . . er . . . saw you drop it. And I was just coming over to give it back to you,” Kelly said.
    â€œYeah, right,” Tessa said, annoyed. “That was a really mean trick to play just so I’d get into trouble. I bet you were hoping the director would ask you to give Donny the watch instead. You’re just a scene-stealer!”
    â€œI’m not . . . I didn’t—” Kelly shouted.
    â€œQuiet on the set!” the director’s annoyed voice interrupted. He glared at Tessa and Kelly. “I don’t need this. Someone figure it out. Now!” he shouted.
    Tessa saw Judith striding toward them with a stern look on her face. “I expected more from you two. What’s going on? Out with it!” she demanded.
    Kelly froze and threw Tessa a scared look. “I . . . um. It w-was . . .” she stammered.
    However angry Tessa was, she wasn’t a tattletale. She thought quickly. “I couldn’t find the pocket watch for our scene. And I got worried that the director would be angry. Luckily Kelly found it and she was just giving it back to me. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make a scene,” she apologized to