Read Online Fabulous Five 003 - The Popularity Trap by Betsy Haynes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Betsy Haynes
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friends had not done their little
commercial for Melissa at lunchtime, and except for the appearance of the
posters for the mystery candidate, the day was a total victory for The Fabulous
Five—so far.
Christie was feeling especially optimistic, and she tried to
act as if it were for the same reason as her friends. The truth was, she was so
excited about the mystery candidate and all the attention the posters were
getting that she could barely sit still in the booth.
"I can't wait for Shane to get here," said
Melanie. "I just know he's going to vote for Christie."
"Maybe Igor told him to vote for the mystery candidate,"
suggested Christie.
Melanie looked at her and frowned.
"Everyone I talked to today was asking about the
mystery candidate," said Jana. "Whoever it is has some pretty good
posters, and everyone's dying to figure out who it is."
"I don't think it's fair," said Melanie. "Whoever
it is should come out and say."
"I think it's really smart. I wish we had thought of
it," responded Katie.
"Well, tomorrow when the football players come out in
the second half of the game with Vitamin C stickers on their helmets, Christie
will get some really good publicity," Melanie assured her.
"Has Scott ever asked the coach if it's okay to do
that?" asked Beth.
"No, but he's not worried about it," said Melanie.
She glanced toward the door and her eyes got big. "Oh, LOOK!" she
squealed. "There's Shane. AND HE'S GOT IGOR WITH HIM!"
Like everyone else, Christie turned toward the door to see.
Shane was standing in the entrance holding his iguana stretched along one arm
and was gently stroking Igor's throat with his fingertips. Igor's tongue was darting
out and his eyes blinked as if he were bored with all the attention.
Curtis Trowbridge rushed forward with his notebook as Shane
carried Igor to the center of the room and set him down on the floor. All the
kids gathered around to see as Curtis took notes furiously. Curtis doesn't miss
anything, Christie thought.
Draped across Igor's back was a square of blue cloth with
hand-lettered writing on both sides. Everyone pushed forward to see what it
said. On each side it read:
IGOR FOR CLASS
PRESIDENT
"What can I say?" said Shane. "He just felt
that he was the best candidate. You can't argue with him. He won't listen."
Everyone laughed.
While they were all fussing over Igor, Christie looked at
Mr. Matson, who was behind the counter. She nodded, and he went into the back
room to play the tape that Jon had given him.
When the music on the sound system stopped, everyone turned
expectantly to listen.
"THIS IS YOUR MYSTERY CANDIDATE SPEAKING," came
Jon's muffled voice. Christie put her hand over her mouth to hold in a giggle
as she remembered how she and Jon had laughed when he had tried to disguise his
voice last night. He had not only succeeded in hiding his own identity, but the
voice was so muffled that you couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl.
"WHO KNOWS THE MOST ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT WACKO
JUNIOR HIGH? WHO KNOWS THE MOST KIDS FROM COPPER BEACH, RIVERFIELD, AND MARK
TWAIN? WHO HAS PROVEN HE WILL WORK HARD FOR YOU?" Jon's voice paused to
let the questions sink in. "ME, THAT'S WHO. YOUR MYSTERY CANDIDATE. WRITE
IN MY NAME TUESDAY." Then, for effect, Jon gave what was supposed to be a
mysterious laugh. Christie broke up.
"Who in the world was that?" asked Jana, looking
at Christie.
"How should I know?" she answered quickly. "It
just struck me funny."
"It may be funny," said Katie, "but he sure
has everybody's interest, including mine. He's got to let everyone know who he
is before Tuesday though, if he really wants people to vote for him."
"I think we're in trouble," said Melanie. "Even
our oranges didn't get this much attention."
"And we'll be paying for them all year," moaned
Beth. Then bolting up in her seat, she cried, "What's Laura doing?"
"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" Laura was standing and she
had raised her hands for quiet. "I want you all to know that anyone
commercial for Melissa at lunchtime, and except for the appearance of the
posters for the mystery candidate, the day was a total victory for The Fabulous
Five—so far.
Christie was feeling especially optimistic, and she tried to
act as if it were for the same reason as her friends. The truth was, she was so
excited about the mystery candidate and all the attention the posters were
getting that she could barely sit still in the booth.
"I can't wait for Shane to get here," said
Melanie. "I just know he's going to vote for Christie."
"Maybe Igor told him to vote for the mystery candidate,"
suggested Christie.
Melanie looked at her and frowned.
"Everyone I talked to today was asking about the
mystery candidate," said Jana. "Whoever it is has some pretty good
posters, and everyone's dying to figure out who it is."
"I don't think it's fair," said Melanie. "Whoever
it is should come out and say."
"I think it's really smart. I wish we had thought of
it," responded Katie.
"Well, tomorrow when the football players come out in
the second half of the game with Vitamin C stickers on their helmets, Christie
will get some really good publicity," Melanie assured her.
"Has Scott ever asked the coach if it's okay to do
that?" asked Beth.
"No, but he's not worried about it," said Melanie.
She glanced toward the door and her eyes got big. "Oh, LOOK!" she
squealed. "There's Shane. AND HE'S GOT IGOR WITH HIM!"
Like everyone else, Christie turned toward the door to see.
Shane was standing in the entrance holding his iguana stretched along one arm
and was gently stroking Igor's throat with his fingertips. Igor's tongue was darting
out and his eyes blinked as if he were bored with all the attention.
Curtis Trowbridge rushed forward with his notebook as Shane
carried Igor to the center of the room and set him down on the floor. All the
kids gathered around to see as Curtis took notes furiously. Curtis doesn't miss
anything, Christie thought.
Draped across Igor's back was a square of blue cloth with
hand-lettered writing on both sides. Everyone pushed forward to see what it
said. On each side it read:
IGOR FOR CLASS
PRESIDENT
"What can I say?" said Shane. "He just felt
that he was the best candidate. You can't argue with him. He won't listen."
Everyone laughed.
While they were all fussing over Igor, Christie looked at
Mr. Matson, who was behind the counter. She nodded, and he went into the back
room to play the tape that Jon had given him.
When the music on the sound system stopped, everyone turned
expectantly to listen.
"THIS IS YOUR MYSTERY CANDIDATE SPEAKING," came
Jon's muffled voice. Christie put her hand over her mouth to hold in a giggle
as she remembered how she and Jon had laughed when he had tried to disguise his
voice last night. He had not only succeeded in hiding his own identity, but the
voice was so muffled that you couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl.
"WHO KNOWS THE MOST ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT WACKO
JUNIOR HIGH? WHO KNOWS THE MOST KIDS FROM COPPER BEACH, RIVERFIELD, AND MARK
TWAIN? WHO HAS PROVEN HE WILL WORK HARD FOR YOU?" Jon's voice paused to
let the questions sink in. "ME, THAT'S WHO. YOUR MYSTERY CANDIDATE. WRITE
IN MY NAME TUESDAY." Then, for effect, Jon gave what was supposed to be a
mysterious laugh. Christie broke up.
"Who in the world was that?" asked Jana, looking
at Christie.
"How should I know?" she answered quickly. "It
just struck me funny."
"It may be funny," said Katie, "but he sure
has everybody's interest, including mine. He's got to let everyone know who he
is before Tuesday though, if he really wants people to vote for him."
"I think we're in trouble," said Melanie. "Even
our oranges didn't get this much attention."
"And we'll be paying for them all year," moaned
Beth. Then bolting up in her seat, she cried, "What's Laura doing?"
"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" Laura was standing and she
had raised her hands for quiet. "I want you all to know that anyone
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