The Jewel and the Key

The Jewel and the Key Read Free Page B

Book: The Jewel and the Key Read Free
Author: Louise Spiegler
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wanted.”
    â€œYou wanted a mushroom? Why—”
    â€œSpeaking of mushrooms,” Dad interrupted, “go throw the pasta in, Addie. The sauce is already made.”
    â€œI wanted a troll,” Addie told Zack. “Same palette.”
    Whaley scrunched up his nose at his reflection and burst out laughing. “You’re right, Zack. I
am
a mushroom.” Abruptly, he crossed the room to pick up his acoustic guitar he’d left in the corner. He threw the strap across his shoulder and began banging out blues chords, singing in a scratchy tenor:
    Â 
Well, I’m a mushroom, babeee,

From Planet Zay-am!

Not no shiitake mushroom, babeee,

Like they got in Japan!

Don’t you know I’m a mushroom, baby?
    Â 
    â€œYou’re a
troll
,” Addie said.
    Whaley dropped down into the rocking chair, picked up the tempo, and shook his head wildly.
    Â 
Some girls love a fungus

Some girls love a spud

But I’m here to tell you

That I ain’t no dud
—
    Â 
    A blues troll,” Mrs. T. observed. “I wish I’d brought my camera.”
    â€œ
Wait
a second.” Almaz turned to Addie, narrowing her eyes. “What are you messing around with makeup for? I thought you were going to act.” She was tall and beautiful, and really strong, and when Almaz asked questions in this way, Addie had no trouble imagining her in her position as the intimidating left forward on her soccer team, charging the goal. She often thought goalies must quake when they saw Almaz coming. Addie, however, was going to try to deflect her.
    â€œWell, isn’t it a good makeup job?”
    â€œSure.” Dad looked up from the paper, which he’d started reading again. “But how’d the audition go?”
    â€œI’ll go cook the pasta,” Addie said, heading quickly for the door.
    â€œHey, Ads—” Almaz followed, putting her hand on Addie’s arm.
    But Addie shook it off and hurried out into the hall. In the kitchen she found the Dutch oven full of hot water fizzing on the stove, about to boil over. She turned down the burner and dumped in two packages of spaghetti. The steam made her face hot. She didn’t want to talk about the audition.
    But really, there was no way to avoid it. She sighed and grabbed a stack of plates out of the cupboard, shoved the kitchen door open with her foot, and went back to the living room. Might as well get this over with.
    â€œI’m probably doing makeup again,” she announced as she plunked the plates onto the table.
    Whaley put his guitar down. Zack looked up from his drawing.
    â€œOh, honey.” Dad put an arm around her, but she wriggled away.
    â€œGet the forks and knives,” she ordered Zack. When he got up and did this without arguing, she knew she must really be pitiful.
    Almaz put her hands on her hips. “That’s ridiculous. I read through that part with you. It isn’t like you weren’t good. And don’t tell me any of those drama queens were any better!”
    Addie shook her head, but couldn’t bring out any words in response. Instead she went to fetch the brass candlesticks off the mantel.
    Whaley followed her, awkwardly patting her back. “They’re morons, those theater people. Don’t know a good thing when it smacks them on the head.”
    Addie glanced up at him and managed a smile. “I
wasn’t
bad. But no matter what I do, they just never pick me.” For some reason, she could take sympathy from Whaley when she couldn’t from anyone else.
    â€œWho’s the student director?”
    â€œTom Stark.”
    â€œCase closed. Everyone knows he can’t tell his butt from a hole in the wall.”
    â€œThanks, Whaley—that’s disgusting.” Addie started pulling mismatched glasses from the cabinet behind the table.
    â€œDidn’t Mr. Crowley say anything?” Dad asked.
    â€œHe wasn’t there most of the time. His wife

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