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eassuring smile.
But something about her smile was different.
Something.
But what?
I pulled the string. Zack vanished in the flash of bright light.
“Return of the Invisible Man!” he cried in a deep voice.
“Not so loud,” I warned him. “My mom’ll hear you downstairs.”
Erin had lowered herself to the floor beside April. I walked over and stood over her. “You sure
you’re okay?” I asked. “You don’t feel dizzy or weird or anything?”
She shook her head. “No. Really. Why don’t you believe me, Max?”
As I stared down at her, I tried to figure out what was different about her appearance. What a
mystery! I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Well, how come you didn’t answer when I called you?” I demanded.
“Huh?” Her face filled with surprise. “When?”
“At about twelve minutes,” I told her. “I called you and Zack called you. But you didn’t answer
us.”
Erin’s expression turned thoughtful. “I guess I didn’t hear you,” she replied finally. “But I’m fine,
Max. Really. I feel great. It was really awesome.”
I joined them on the floor and leaned back against the wall to wait for Zack’s turn to be over. “I
really mean it. Don’t turn off the light till fifteen minutes,” he reminded me.
Then he messed up my hair, making it stand straight up in the air.
Both girls laughed.
I had to get up, walk over to the mirror, and comb it back down. I don’t know why people think
messed-up hair is such a riot. I really don’t get it.
“Hey, follow me. I’ve got an idea,” Zack said. His voice was coming from the doorway.
“Whoa—hold on!” I called. But I could hear his sneakers clomping across the attic.
“Follow me outside,” he called to us. We heard his footsteps on the attic stairs.
“Zack—don’t do it,” I pleaded. “Whatever it is, don’t do it!”
But there was no way he was going to listen to me.
A few seconds later, we were out the back door, following our invisible friend toward our
neighbor Mr. Evander’s back yard.
This is going to be trouble, I thought unhappily. Big trouble.
Erin, April, and I hid behind the hedge that separated our two yards. As usual, Mr. Evander was
out in his tomato garden, stooped over, pulling up weeds, his big belly hanging out under his T-shirt,
his red bald head shiny under the sun.
What is Zack going to do? I wondered, holding my breath, my whole body heavy with dread.
And then I saw three tomatoes float up from the ground. They hovered in the air, then floated
closer to Mr. Evander.
Oh, no, I thought, groaning silently to myself.
Please, Zack. Please don’t do it.
Erin, April, and I were huddled together behind the hedge, staring in disbelief as the three