Trouble Magnet Read Free Page B

centi pede was curled around the bottom.

    Julio stepped back. “Why'd you bring
that
?”
    “I like it.”
    “Holy cow!” Rubin said. “He's big! Where'd you get it?”
    “I caught it in my … my new bedroom.”
    Maya shuddered. “I'd move out. That's too creepy.”
    The bell rang. I stuffed the jar away.
    Maya looked worried. “What if it gets loose in your backpack?”
    “No,” Julio said. “What if it gets loose in
class
?”

M r. Purdy had arms so strong they looked like they could crush rocks. His thick neck grew out of a bright green silk shirt that hung out over khaki pants. His black hair was buzzed, army style.
    Mr. Purdy smiled as we walked up. “Mr. Coconut, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Tomioka, and ourskateboard wizard, Miss Medeiros. You all finally made it to fourth grade.”
    “Hi, Mr. Purdy,” we said.
    Rubin bounced on his toes. He just couldn't stand still.
    “You know my classroom isn't the playground, right?” Mr. Purdy asked.
    “Yes, Mr. Purdy,” we said.
    “Whew!” Mr. Purdy pretended to wipe his brow with relief. “I'm sure glad to hear that, because when I saw your names on my class list, I thought I might have to install a cage in the back of the room, just for you knuckle-heads—but not you, Maya.”
    We grinned. We knew Mr. Purdy from out on the playground. Last year at recess he was always yelling, “Hey! You boys are playing too rough! Cool your jets! You hear me? This isn't a combat zone.”
    But Mr. Purdy never stayed mad. Sometimes he would pull up his sleeve and let us look at the tattoo on his arm. U.S. ARMY was written in a banner under a scowling eagle.
    Julio nudged me.
    “Oh yeah, uh, Mr. Purdy, can me and Julio sit together?” I asked, fingers crossed.
    Mr. Purdy leaned close and whispered, “Not on your life.”
    “Huh?”
    “I've already assigned seats,” Mr. Purdy said, straightening back up. “Your names are on your desks. But if you two can go a week without getting into trouble, maybe I'll reconsider your request.”
    Good enough. We could do that.
    Julio gave me a thumbs-up.
    We went in.
    Hoo, that room was yappy as a mynah bird tree. I covered my ears.
    Fourth grade!
    I saw Doreen, Ace, Kai, Levi, Emmy, and Reba. They were in my room last year. And Shayla, wearing a pink dress.
    I winced and ducked behind Julio. For some reason, Shayla liked me. Last year she wouldn't leave me alone. Julio called herShayla the Snoop because she was so nosy. I crossed my fingers that maybe there was a mile between her desk and mine.
    Julio nudged me. “Look.”
    A new kid was standing off by himself. He looked like he might barf any minute.
    “He just moved in next door to me,” Maya said. “He kinda … stands out.”
    “No kidding.”
    The new kid was blond, a haole, a white boy. Everyone else in Mr. Purdy's class had black or brown hair. In fact, in the whole school there were only about ten kids with blond hair.

    “What's his name?” I asked.
    Maya shrugged. “All I know is he's from California.”
    Cool. California.
    “Hey.” I pulled the jar out of my backpack.

    “Anybody know what these things eat?”
    “Ants,” Maya said.
    Julio shook his head. “No. People. Keep that lid on tight.”
    I loosened the lid.
    “Don't!” Julio jumped back. “You want it to escape?”
    “It needs air. Look, it's dying.”
    “It's faking. Just look at it through the glass.”
    Mr. Purdy clapped his hands. I put the centipede away. “All right,” Mr. Purdy said. “Take your seats.”
    We scrambled to find our desks.
    I got lucky. Mine was up front by the window, and next to Ace, who was a good guy. Shayla was on the other side of Ace. Way too close.
    “Hey,” I said to Ace.

    “Hey.”
    I looked to see where Julio and Rubin were.
    Ho! Mr. Purdy had placed us three in opposite corners of the room, as far away from each other as possible. The fourth corner went to the new kid.
    “Welcome to fourth grade!” Mr. Purdy said. “Or, as I like to say, welcome to boot camp,