She crossed her legs under her long wool skirt and placed her hands on the workbench, leaning back casually. Unfortunately, the workbench was covered with tools and screws and the like, and her teacher jumped up after almost impaling herself on a board with nails sticking out of it. “Eep! I’m good, no blood, I’m fine. Anyway, I was just saying that I think it’s good that you have this space to yourself. Finding a way to focus has always helped me sort myself out. You’re a clever girl, Ridley. You like to think things through. You’ll find a way to solve these puzzles.”
“Thanks, Ms. Parkly,” Ridley whispered. She didn’t want to enjoy the note of confidence, but she had to admit that after everything that had happened that day, it felt nice.
It made her think about how Carter’s uncle had spoken to him that afternoon. How he had made apologies and promises. And still, he had chased them through the village. Ridley remembered the lies that Sandra Santos had told the Magic Misfits. How Mick and Emily Meridian had tried to manipulate Theo. How even Dante Vernon seemed to have trouble telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Ms. Parkly’s eyes roved toward the papers on the bench that contained the plans for Ridley’s secret project.
The connection Ridley had allowed herself to feel with her teacher instantly snapped. How could she have been so stupid? She snatched her papers away and held them to her chest. She felt like there was a red poker in the middle of her brain. What came out of her mouth next came so hot and fast she couldn’t contain it. “Are you working for Kalagan?”
Ms. Parkly flinched. “Kalagan?” A nervous giggle escaped.
Ridley knew this wasn’t part of her plan, but she couldn’t help herself. “Kalagan,” she repeated. “Are you working for him?”
Ms. Parkly shook her head slightly. Strands of her strawberry-blond hair began to rise with static. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Get out,” said Ridley.
“But I—”
“Get out, I said!”
Her teacher pressed her lips into a line and gave a curt nod. “Sorry to bother you. I’ll be back in the morning.”
When the teacher was gone, Ridley returned to her project, horrified at herself for letting her guard down—but also for snapping at Ms. Parkly. She picked up her screwdriver and slowly began attaching the contraption’s door to the lid as she’d planned. And when she finished, almost all the anger that had been coursing through her had evaporated.
HOW TO…
Turn a Rubber Band into an Eraser
If you happen to have your own laboratory underneath the stairs in your home, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding an abundance of rubber bands and erasers to use for this next lesson. No? No laboratory? Well, then I’ll wait a moment longer for you to ask an adult where they keep these things. Hurry back! We’re about to transform a rubber band into an eraser, though it will take a good amount of practice.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
A rubber band
A small rubber pencil eraser
A long-sleeved shirt or jacket
TO PREPARE:
Place the rubber band around your right wrist, hidden just underneath the cuff of your sleeve.
Stretch the rubber up across your palm and pinch it between your thumb and index finger.
Hide the eraser by palming it underneath your ring finger on your right hand.
HELPFUL HINT:
Keep the top of your right hand facing the audience so they can’t see what’s behind it.
STEPS:
1. Use your left hand to stretch out the rubber band, showing it to your audience.
2. Let go of the band with your left hand, but keep enough pressure on it with your thumb and index finger so that it looks like you are holding the rubber band in your right hand.
3. Move your right hand in small circles while releasing the pressure on the band. The band will look like it’s getting smaller and smaller. Point this out to your audience!
4. Once the band has “shrunk down” almost all the way, let go so the band snaps down to your wrist, hidden inside your cuff.
5. At the same time, slowly turn your right hand over, revealing the eraser. Hold up both the eraser and your open right hand, so that your audience thinks you’ve turned the rubber band into the eraser!
6. Take a bow!
TEN
That night, Ridley had trouble sleeping. Something inside her was changing, shifting, transforming, and she kept waking with worry, checking that she was still in her own bed, in her own skin.
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