The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck (7 page)

“Oh, man!” Bud looked at his watch again. “Where are we? Thanks a lot, Laurie. We're gonna get tardies!”

Laurie waved her hand at him dismissively. “It's fine, it's just through … here.” She picked a door at random and darted through. Which was a mistake.

“Can I help you?” There was a teacher at the desk in the front of the empty classroom, maybe in a planning period. She closed her grade book and looked up just as Laurie skittered to a halt and Bud slammed into her.

“No. Uh. Sorry.” Laurie had barely gotten the words out before she'd turned and hurried out, leaving Bud alone in the doorway.

“We … uh. Didn't know anyone would be here.” Bud felt weird about just running out like that. But he didn't know what he was supposed to say either. He wished the teacher would stop staring at him.

“Are you here to sign up for the choral auditions?” The teacher stood up, smoothed her skirt, and pointed to an audition sheet near the door. Bud eyed it nervously. Choral auditions were not his thing.

“No, really, just a mistake.” He gave a half smile. Why wouldn't she just go back to her grade book?

“Because you sound to me like a tenor. Are you a tenor?” The teacher was getting closer. Bud knew he had to get out, and fast. But for some reason, his feet weren't listening to him.

“No, not a tenor.” At least he didn't think so. Bud wasn't entirely sure what he was.

“Because we need tenors. And I believe you're mistaken. I think you're a tenor.”

Bud swallowed noisily. The teacher gave him an encouraging smile. “Don't be shy. The auditions aren't for a while. You have time to prepare.” She held out a pen. It was so close, he could almost touch it. All he had to do was sign his name, and she'd be happy. It was tempting. But then Bud thought about what his dad would say.

“No, I don't want to audition! Sorry!” Bud's feet finally got the message and turned and hurried out. He hated to be rude like that, but he had no choice. He knew one thing, though. He could never come back to the music hall again. Ever.

Laurie was bouncing on the balls of her feet at the end of the hallway. “What happened to you?” she hissed. “Did she bust you? Give you detention? What happened in there?”

Bud rolled his eyes at her. “Forget it, okay? Nothing happened.” He took off running down the hallway, his heavy footsteps echoing through the empty halls. The last thing he needed was a tardy the first week of school. His dad had enough stuff to worry about without Bud screwing up. That teacher was the least of his problems.

TARDY WARNING FOR

Horace Wallace Jr.

MR. WALLACE,

This is to notify you that you have used your ONE (1) tardy warning for this semester. All subsequent tardies will be referred to the office and noted on your permanent record.

You have been warned.

Sincerely,

MR. MARSHALL DEAL

Sixth-grade science

“It was a mistake, okay? I took a wrong turn.” Laurie tried to keep her temper under control as she finished filling Ponch and Jon's food dish. Bud just frowned at her and attached the water bottle in silence.

It's not like Bud had even gotten a tardy; it was just a tardy warning. He was lucky Mr. Deal gave out warnings. Mrs. Humphries had just given her a flat-out tardy. If she didn't watch it, she'd be explaining herself in front of Principal Winkle before long. But that wasn't something she was going to think about now.

“There's got to be stuff about Keats there. Something noticeable. A painting or something.” Laurie scowled at Ponch (or Jon), who was attacking a sunflower seed and looking at her in a threatening way. She wasn't scared of him. Well, not now that she'd figured out she could just pour the new food into the bowl from three inches above the aquarium. So it was a little messy, so what?

But Laurie's hopes died when she and Bud made it to the English hall. Without a million kids rushing to class, it looked like the music hall's stodgy twin brother. No painted cherubs, singing or otherwise, no bulletin boards, no paintings, nothing. It even smelled boring.

“So where's the Keats shrine?” Bud asked, giving Laurie a snarky look. Never mind that the Keats thing was his idea. She needed taking down a peg. Mr. Deal was gunning for him now, and it was all her fault.

“There's got to be something!” Laurie groaned, scanning the walls desperately. “What a lame hallway!”

Bud couldn't help but agree. It was definitely lame.

Suddenly Laurie grabbed Bud by the arm. “Look! By the window!” At the end of the hallway, there was a small nook with a sculpted bust in it.

Bud and Laurie both hurried to be the first one to the nook. Laurie could practically taste the treasure.

“See?” Laurie said, looking at the bust triumphantly. “Right there it says … oh, wait.”

“Homer.” Bud couldn't believe it. “What the heck, Laurie? Why Homer?”

Laurie shook her head. It just didn't make sense. Where was Keats? Shouldn't it be Keats instead?

There had to be a logical explanation, and Laurie wasn't going to wait around for it to fall into her lap. She headed to the nearest classroom and stuck her head in the door. A teacher from the High-Water Pants and Overtucked Shirt School of Fashion was hanging a Globe Theatre poster with a smiley cartoon Shakespeare on his bulletin board.

“Hey!” Laurie barked. “I have an English question.”

The teacher looked up hopefully. “Really? You do?”

Laurie nodded and motioned for Bud to come over, but he didn't move. He wasn't about to get involved in another teacher situation, like with the music hall. Not like there were English auditions, but whatever.

“It's about Keats. You know, Keats? He wrote poems?” Laurie said slowly.

“Yes, of course. Go on.” The teacher nodded. There was no doubt he knew Keats. It was like his salivary glands had kicked in at the sound of his name.

“So, is there anything Keats-related here? Like maybe a painting? Or anything?”

“Or statue!” Bud called from where he was rooted to the floor.

“Or a statue,” Laurie continued. “Maybe something they used to have here? Did it used to be Keats instead of Homer in that nook?” She eyed the teacher warily, like he was a rabid dog.

The teacher smiled at her. “Keats, yes. Yes, of course. What year are you?” It was like he hadn't even heard what she'd asked. Laurie's danger sensors were flashing. She didn't see what that had to do with anything, but she figured it couldn't hurt to answer.

“Sixth.”

“Sixth. Yes. So you have …”

“Mr. Robinson.” Laurie was getting impatient. It didn't seem like a difficult question, but with this guy, who knew? She wished she knew who he was exactly so she could ask Jack about him.

“Robinson, of course. Hmm. Well, we don't usually cover the English Romantic movement in sixth grade, but perhaps we could make an exception. Especially when there's such a strong interest.”

“No, it's fine, I don't need to study him. I just need to know if there's a painting? Or statue …” Laurie trailed off. She was starting to feel panicked. This was not going well.

Bud was glad he'd kept his distance.

“And I'm not in your class, okay?” Laurie threw out again.

The teacher looked thoughtful. “No painting that I'm aware of, and Homer's always been Homer. But maybe … I know! We could have an English Romantics club! Doesn't that sound fun? After school, maybe once a week? We could have snacks!”

He did that stroking-his-beard thing Laurie had always heard about but didn't think people actually did. It looked creepy as all get out, and Laurie figured it wasn't a good sign. She knew when to cut her losses.

“Yeah, whatever. So no painting? Too bad. Thanks, bye!” Laurie turned and ran. Behind her, the teacher smiled to himself and went back into his classroom. Laurie didn't breathe easy until she was back in the main hallway. She'd have to be careful in the English hall from now on, that was certain. She just hoped he'd forget about the whole club thing.

Notice on the English Hall Bulletin Board

EXCITING NEW CLUB!

By Popular Demand, the English Department will start the very first

ENGLISH ROMANTIC POETS' CLUB!

All the Byron, Shelley, and Keats you've asked for.

Meetings, Mondays after school

WITH SNACKS!

Sign up with Mr. Sanchez, room 212.

“Well, that stinks. Total dead end,” Bud grumbled. He checked his watch. If he hurried, he could still make the late bus. At least the day wouldn't be a total loss.

“We'll figure it out,” Laurie said through gritted teeth as Bud hurried toward the bus line. She wasn't entirely sure she meant it, but it's not like they had any choice. They had to figure it out. How lame would it be to be the first people to find the clues and then hit a dead end on the very first one?

“Hey, Laurie!”

Laurie wheeled around just in time to see Misti hurrying after her. Laurie stifled a groan. Now that Kimmy was out of the picture, Misti seemed to have decided that she and Laurie were BFFs. Laurie wasn't entirely sure how she felt about that.

“I lost my sweater. Do you remember if I had it after assembly?” Misti asked breathlessly. “I can't find it anywhere.”

Laurie thought back, but the whole Clucker assembly was something she'd rather not think about. It was all just a blur of feathery hats and chicken dancing anyway.

“Sorry, Misti, I don't remember.”

Misti sighed. “That's okay. I probably left it in Reynolds. Fingers crossed!” she said, starting to skip.

Laurie stopped dead in her tracks. “What did you say?”

Misti skipped more slowly. “That I probably left it in Reynolds? At the assembly?” Misti hesitated as Laurie started bobbing up and down like an apple at Halloween. It was like Laurie had turned into a certified crazy person. “Remember? The assembly in Reynolds Auditorium?”

A huge grin burst across Laurie's face, making Misti's eyes widen even more. Misti took a step back. Laurie's impression of a crazy person was really good.

“Bud!” Laurie shrieked. He jerked his head around in annoyance as he headed down the steps toward the bus. “We're such idiots! Reynolds Auditorium!”

Ten kids in between them caught the crazy vibe Laurie was giving off and made plenty of room as she went racing away. Bud fist punched the air and hurried back inside after her, almost colliding with Calliope Judkin as he ran. They were back in the game.

Plaque outside Reynolds Auditorium

MRS. LUCINDA HAYES REYNOLDS

This auditorium is dedicated to Mrs. Lucinda Hayes Reynolds, in appreciation of her generosity toward Tuckernuck Hall, her selfless dedication to education and the arts, and her friendship and tireless good humor.

“It wasn't Keats, it was Mrs. Reynolds!” Laurie did a miniversion of the Clucker crow.

“Okay, great, she's awesome. Now what? Where is it?” Bud looked around wildly. The students who hadn't caught the crazy vibe from Laurie earlier caught it now and decided the auditorium entryway was not a place to be. Even Laurie thought Bud was looking a wee bit scary. Especially around the eyes.

Laurie leaned against the auditorium doors. “My guess? In there somewhere.”

“So what are we waiting for?”

Laurie tugged at the door. It didn't budge. “Locked up tight.”

“What? No way!” Bud rattled the door and kept rattling like if he did it long enough the door would just fall off.

Laurie smacked him on the hand. “Cut it out! It's locked. As in, with a key? Which we don't have.”

Bud's shoulders slumped. “Shoot. So what, we just wait?”

Laurie shrugged. “I guess, unless you want to break in.”

Bud opened his mouth to answer but shut it abruptly when Misti huffed up to Laurie and stopped, arms folded. “Was it in there?”

Laurie shot Bud a panicky look. “What?” How had Misti found out? Laurie couldn't believe it.

“My sweater. Did you even look?”

“Uh, no. Sorry.” Relief washed over Laurie.

Misti's eyes narrowed skeptically. “You're losing it, Laurie. You really are.”

Laurie just nodded. No arguing with that.

Misti rolled her eyes and huffed over to the auditorium doors and almost dislocated her arm trying to jerk the door open.

“Geez, and you didn't even tell me it was locked? You're really weird, Laurie.”

She turned and huffed away in the direction of the lockers.

Laurie suppressed a snicker. She'd better get it together. She really didn't want a reputation as the school crazy.