Vanishing Acts Read Free Page A

his eyes and half his teeth and scrawled obnoxious messages like
Seth Ryan Super Nerds
and
Dorks R Us!
and
This is Dum
, which is particularlyinsulting, because obviously there is nothing dumber than being called dumb by someone who can’t even spell the word “dumb.”
    The takeaway being, it’s cool to like Seth Ryan—almost everyone at school does—but it’s not cool to be in an official fan club. All admiring must be done in an unofficial capacity. Beatrix and Sonya learned that the hard way.
    â€œI’ll bet they need guys, too,” said Lucy. “Maybe Finn wants to sign up.”
    â€œThey didn’t specify, but I’m sure they do. You should definitely ask him,” said Beatrix.
    I shook my head. “There’s no way. If I even mention the possibility, he’ll laugh in my face. Last month after I rented
Vampire’s Retreat
he made fun of me for a week.”
    â€œMaybe I’ll ask him,” said Lucy. “I don’t think he’d laugh at me.”
    And before I could stop her, she’d jumped up from the table and was gone, her single braid bouncing on her back as she hurried across the cafeteria.
    I turned to my friends. “Have you guys noticed Lucy acting weird lately?”
    â€œYes,” said Sonya. “But no weirder than usual. So are you in?”
    â€œIt sounds fun, but I have to work after school.”
    â€œThis is work,” said Beatrix. “I heard they’re paying eighty bucks a day just to stand around and be on camera. Filming starts tomorrow. The movie is called
Vanished.
Since we’re under eighteen, we’ve got to get our parents’ permission, but I already printed out extra release forms.” She slammed a piece of paper down in front of me. “Here. Have your parents read and sign it. And report to work tomorrow at four p.m. sharp. Don’t be late. Who knows how many people are going to show? Hundreds, I’m sure.”
    I looked down at the form. It had lots of fine print. I looked back up at my friends. “I don’t think I can do it. I’m pretty busy with my dogs, and I didn’t even tell you about my new mystery.”
    Sonya stared at me, her big brown eyes even wider than usual. “That’s really cool, but can’t it wait a few days? How many times do you think an opportunity like this is going to come up?”
    Beatrix nodded. “Please sign up. It’s going to be crazy fun!”
    I told them I’d think about it, figuring Beatrix knew what she was talking about. Being an extra did seem like it would be crazy fun.
    At least that’s what I’d thought at the time.
    Turns out we were only half right.

Chapter 3

    There are many different ways to remove gum from the fur of a dog. Peanut butter or ice, for example, and a purple, stinky solution called “Gum-B-Gone.” Unfortunately none of them worked on Nofarm, the scrappy fifty-pound mutt I was trying to clean after school that day, so I had to resort to scissors.
    Nofarm sat calmly for me as I snipped the strawberry-flavored, bubble-fun-encrusted fur off his back. Then I ran my fingers through his coat, doing my best to cover up the small pink bald spot. By the time I finished, you couldn’t see the skin.
    â€œGood thing you’re so furry,” I said, giving him a quick pat before clipping on his leash. This was the third piece of gum I’d had to cut off him this month. And I don’t even know whom to blame. Beckett, the mischievous toddler he lives with, or Beckett’s moms, who clearly let him get away with too much.
    Luckily, Nofarm doesn’t seem to blame anyone. Or care. Or maybe he doesn’t even notice.
    We took a twenty-minute walk, he did his thing, and I brought him home. Easy-peasy. Or it would’ve been, if I were the type of girl to characterize things as easy-peasy, but I am not.
    â€œOne dog down, three to go. See you tomorrow, Nofarm,”