THE double life of zoe flynn by JANET LEE CAREY

Author:JANET LEE CAREY
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 2004-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

21

It was torture to be hungry and be stuck in Mrs. Garmo’s pantry with all that food. The box lid was half open, and Zoe could smell cheese crackers in the air the way you could smell buttered popcorn at the movies. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but when she heard the sound of Jinx and Tiddlywink’s toenails clacking against the kitchen floor, she felt her insides flip like a pancake.

She really could have used Harry Potte’rs cloak of invisibility right now. If she and Juke slipped it on, they could walk right past Mrs. Garmo and out the back door. The dogs would bark, of course, but Mrs. Garmo would shush them and send them to their doggie pillows. But magic cloaks like that were hard to come by.

One of the poodles sniffed under the door and started barking. “Yes, you’ve been a very good girl, Tiddly,” said Mrs. Garmo. “But quiet down or you won’t get your treat!”

Zoe climbed on the little stepping stool in the corner and unscrewed the lightbulb partway. Outside Tiddlywink switched from barking to whining. “She can smell us,” whispered Juke.

“Shh.”

Tiddlywink scratched on the pantry door. “My goodness, you shouldn’t get so worked up over a Milk-Bone, Miss Tiddly! Now go to your pillow and lie down next to Jinx or there’ll be no treat today!” She snapped her fingers. “Go on.”

Zoe stepped down, grabbed Juke, and shoved him in the corner just before the door swung open. They hid in the corner behind the door as Mrs. Garmo stepped in and pulled on the string. “Darn!” she whispered, peering up at the bulb. “Did I get any bulbs when I went to the store?” she asked herself as she took two Milk-Bones from the box. “I don’t think I did,” she said before shoving the box back onto the shelf and shutting the door. “Here, girls. Eat up. Now you stay here on your pillows. I’ll be right back.”

As Mrs. Garmo left the kitchen to look for a new bulb, Zoe grabbed another couple of Milk-Bones and opened the door. Tiddlywink stood up and barked. “Hi, Tiddly,” whispered Zoe. “Want another treat?” She tossed Tiddlywink another bone, tossed a second to Jinx, and beat it out the back door with Juke close behind.

Grabbing their bikes, they snuck around to the front porch, where they threw on their backpacks and loaded the sleeping bags onto the handlebars. In their haste to get away, Zoe kicked the jack-o’-lantern over and the candle spilled out.

“Smooth move,” said Juke.

“Shut up.”

“What’s going on out here?” said Mrs. Garmo stepping onto the porch.

“Uh … ,” said Zoe.

Mrs . Garmo eyed Zoe’s sleeping bag. “Just got back from a sleepover,” spouted Zoe. “And—”

“And I asked her about your poodles,” added Juke.

“Well, come in young man. What’s your name?”

“Juke.”

“Well, come on in, children.” They put their stuff down in the front hall and followed Mrs. Garmo back to the kitchen. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you anyway, Zoe,” said Mrs.

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