بگو سیب و بمیر فصل 21

Say Cheese and Die! - Chapter 21

“Hey, Bird, it’s me.”

Greg held the receiver in one hand and wiped the sweat off his forehead with the other. He’d never worked so hard—or so fast—in all his life.

“Did they find Shari?” Bird asked eagerly.

“I haven’t heard. I don’t think so,” Greg said, his eyes surveying his room. Almost back to normal.

He had put everything back, cleaned and straightened. His parents would never guess.

“Listen, Bird, I’m not calling about that,” Greg said, speaking rapidly into the phone. “Call Michael for me, okay? Meet me at the playground. By the baseball diamond.”

“When? Now?” Bird asked, sounding confused.

“Yeah,” Greg told him. “We have to meet. It’s important.”

“It’s almost dinnertime,” Bird protested. “I don’t know if my parents—”

“It’s important,” Greg repeated impatiently. “I’ve got to see you guys. Okay?”

“Well… maybe I can sneak out for a few minutes,” Bird said, lowering his voice. And then Greg heard him shout to his mother: “It’s no one, Ma! I’m talking to no one!”

Boy, that’s quick thinking! Greg thought sarcastically. He’s a worse liar than I am!

And then he heard Bird call to his mom: “I know I’m on the phone. But I’m not talking to anyone. It’s only Greg.”

Thanks a lot, pal, Greg thought.

“I gotta go,” Bird said.

“Get Michael, okay?” Greg urged.

“Yeah. Okay. See you.” He hung up.

Greg replaced the receiver, then listened for his mother. Silence downstairs. She still wasn’t home. She didn’t know about Shari, Greg realized. He knew she and his dad were going to be very upset.

Very upset.

Almost as upset as he was.

Thinking about his missing friend, he went to his bedroom window and looked down on her yard next door. It was deserted now.

The policemen had all left. Shari’s shaken parents must have gone inside.

A squirrel sat under the wide shade of the big tree, gnawing furiously at an acorn, another acorn at his feet.

In the corner of the window, Greg could see the birthday cake, still sitting forlornly on the deserted table, the places all set, the decorations still standing.

A birthday party for ghosts.

Greg shuddered.

“Shari is alive,” he said aloud. “They’ll find her. She’s alive.”

He knew what he had to do now.

Forcing himself away from the window, he hurried to meet his two friends.