Cold as Ice by Sarah Mlynowski

Author:Sarah Mlynowski [Mlynowski, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2014-11-25T00:00:00+00:00

As I crawl through the window, I enjoy the rush of icy air against my cheeks. “We did it!” I whisper, climbing to my feet.

With the full moon and the stars, it’s lighter out here than it was in the basement. The snow of the front yard glows. My hair feels cold, and I realize I forgot my polar bear headpiece down in the basement. It’s fine. I’ll get it when I go back for Ralph.

“Now, how do I get back in?” I ask Gerda.

“Are you really going back in?” Jonah asks.

“Of course I am,” I say. “I promised Ralph!”

Gerda eyes the house nervously. “Maybe we should all go in together.”

“We’ll be too noisy,” I say. “Better for me to do it alone. I’ll go and you guys hide out here. I’ll be right back.”

“Let me go,” Gerda says.

“Or me,” Jonah says.

“No,” I say. “I’m the one who promised him. And I’m very good at sneaking into basements. I have a lot of experience.”

“So do I,” Jonah says.

“You make a lot more noise than I do,” I tell him. He’s always crashing into things, and he’s not so good at using his indoor voice. “I’ll go and you hide out here.” I take a deep breath and add, “If I don’t come back in twenty minutes, go ahead to the igloo castle, rescue Kai and Prince, and then come back for me.”

Jonah crosses his arms. “No way. I’m not leaving you!”

“We’re staying,” Gerda says firmly. “JARG!”

I shake my head. “It can’t just be about JARG. We have to be strategic.” I try to sound brave, even though I don’t want to be separated from Jonah. I need to protect him, after all. Even though I trust Gerda, the idea of leaving my little brother makes me feel queasy.

Gerda and Jonah shake their heads. I sigh, but I’m secretly glad. “Okay. Then wait for me. If I’m not back in twenty minutes, one of you can come in after me. Then we’ll all go together. Okay?”

Gerda nods. Jonah checks his Spider-Man watch to see the time.

I give Jonah a quick, tight hug just in case. It takes him a few extra seconds to let go.

“Be back in a sec!” I say, sounding extra chirpy.

Gerda and Jonah wave. “Go, JARG, go!” Gerda whisper-yells.

I make my way back to the house. Now what? I can’t go back through the window, obviously, because then I’ll be stuck inside.

Do I just go through the front door?

I might as well try, right?

I run very quietly to the front door. I turn the knob.

It doesn’t open.

Who knew? Robbers lock their front door.

I don’t know how to break a lock. I am just a ten-year-old girl. Not a robber or an escape artist.

I guess I have two options. I can find another window to climb through or look for another door.

A back door? Yes, a back door! We have a back door at our house, and we always forget to lock it.

I sneak around the side of the house.

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