The Puzzle Master Read Free Page B

biscuit. She took a bite and helped herself to some iced tea.
    “I’m not being rude,” he said with disdain. “Why should I mow the lawn when Mason can do it for pay?”
    “That’s enough now Marsh,” said his father, turning his head to look at him.
    “Dad, you’re the one who should’ve mowed the lawn in the first place.”
    “I said that’s enough!”
    “No, I’m supposed to be a boy of my word and be home on time, but you can get out of your word, and then Mason can do your job for money?”
    Marshall could feel a tingle deep in his chest, and his throat began to scratch. His mind pushed away the looming penalty. Marshall was beyond the boundary of talking back. And he wondered now how bad the punishment would be:  Spanking? No free time this weekend?
    But he lost his train of thought when his mother hissed, “Marshall! Don’t talk to your father that way …”
    Marshall didn’t listen. “I’m tired of this,” he said with a hoarse voice, anger burning a hole in his heart. He could hear the blood roaring in his ears.
    “Then you can leave the table!” said his father. “No dinner.”
    His lungs felt like they were collapsing. He had to get out of there.
    “I will then!”
    Marshall stood up, crashing into the front of his plate, and rushed to his room. He didn’t dare slam the door, because that would lead to a worse punishment. The Thompson family wasn’t allowed to slam doors either. What was he doing here? The four of them seemed to get along just fine without him. In fact, they were better off without him.
    He took a puff from his inhaler and breathed deeply then lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling. The air conditioning unit rattled like a pan of hot oil and corn.
    Suddenly, he smiled and sat up. His plan was going full-tilt now. He was going to do it. Yes, he absolutely had to do it. Even if they punished him for a year, he was going to do it.
    Marshall grabbed his hat and scrunched it over his eyes. He got his stack of cash, months of allowance and birthday money, and shoved it into his pocket. He also grabbed his house key.
    Marshall crossed the room and opened the window opposite the air conditioning unit. He slipped out and closed the window. He was right next to the garage. Perfect. Marshall tried to stay clear of any windows. Leila was probably spying on him right now. But he didn’t care. He just had to get to Luke’s—that’s all that mattered. With so much frustration pent up in the house, the heat was almost refreshing. Marshall inhaled, and felt his lungs relax has he exhaled.
    The side gate was already opened . All he had to do was tiptoe in and get his bike. Piece of cake. He just hadn’t expected the neighbor cat to be sitting by the door when he got to it.
    The cat began meowing the way cats do when they want to be fed or pet and Marshall didn’t want to speak to her for fear of it continuing to meow. That would be detrimental to his plan.
    “Missy, go on, get away!” Marshall hissed. He batted at her. She meowed some more. “Missy, get out of here.” Marshall was sure someone would hear him. The kitchen table was just inside the door. He was about ready to pick her up and chuck her over the fence when she stopped and finally waltzed away.
    Marshall eased back into the garage. He kicked up the stand and wheeled it out the side door. It was a tight fit, but he’d done it a hundred times. Just a few seconds more, he thought. One-step more, and then another step—and he’d be a free bird.
    The evening heat slammed him in the face as if he’d run into a row of hanging blankets. And for a brief moment, it suffocated him. But somehow, the warmth only made him feel stronger
    As soon as he was on the driveway, he hopped onto the seat and pedaled hard, as if Benton and Brewster Williams were right behind him. They were twin brothers who lived a few doors down. Even though they were the same age as Marshall, they were the fastest kids he’d ever seen on bikes. They