Mind If I Read Your Mind? by Henry Winkler

Author:Henry Winkler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2012-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

Billy pushed open the door of his room. Ricardo and Ruby were restlessly waiting for him.

“Dude, that was the longest drink of water in the history of drinks of water,” Ricardo said. “I thought you were out there digging a well.”

“I was preparing to tell you something really … well … let’s just say … surprising,” Billy answered, choosing his words very carefully.

“Do tell,” boomed a ghostly voice. “Surprises water my melon.”

Billy looked across the room and there, draped around the ceiling light fixture like a snake, was Hoover.

“Glad you could show up,” Billy said to him.

“We’ve been here all along,” Ricardo answered. “You’re the one who went missing on us.”

“I have to set the table in half an hour, so we don’t have much time,” Ruby added. “I think we should get started.”

She took out her purple glitter pen and spiral notebook.

“I’m going to take notes while Billy does his demonstration,” she said. “I’ll write down anything that needs improvement. Like if you say um. Mr. Wallwetter says that we have to eliminate all ums.”

“Um … good idea,” Ricardo said. They all cracked up. Even the Hoove let out a ghostly howl.

“Hey, Billy Boy,” he cackled. “Your baseball friend is funny. The Hoove’s Rule Number Three. Funny is good, which is also Rule Number Six Thirty-Three, Forty-Seven, and Fifty-Eight.”

“Okay, Billy,” Ruby said. “Start anytime.”

It suddenly occurred to Billy that he wasn’t sure what to get started on. He and the Hoove hadn’t had time to discuss whose mind they were going to read and exactly what the trick was.

That’s the trouble with a lie, he thought to himself. It’s just so easy for things to fall apart.

“There are many ways to read a mind,” he stalled. “It’s hard to pick the best one.”

Ruby and Ricardo were looking at him with great anticipation, but he had no idea how to do what he was supposed to do. He stood there frozen.

“Remain calm, Billy Boy,” the Hoove said. “I am here to take charge in my usual take charge fashion. Now, send Ricardo into the closet.”

“Ricardo,” Billy said, pretending like he had just come up with a thought. “Can I ask you to step into my closet, please? Turn on the light and close the door behind you.”

Ricardo was enjoying being part of the demonstration, so he gladly did as Billy said. Once inside the closet, he hollered out, “Okay, what’s next?”

“Tell him to pick out three shirts and arrange them in any order he wants,” the Hoove commanded.

Billy repeated the Hoove’s instructions. He could hear the shuffling of hangers along the wooden bar in the closet.

“Got it,” Ricardo shouted. “Can I come out now?”

“Remember the order, from right to left, that you put them in,” Billy said. By then, he had figured out the Hoove’s plan and he was able to take over the instructions.

“Done and done,” Ricardo said, opening the closet door. Billy walked to the other side of the room and turned to face the wall, making it clear that he couldn’t see into the closet.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.