Ch1-Old Friends

Monday with a Mad Genius

CHAPTER ONE Old Friends Jack poured milk over his cereal. His stomach felt fluttery. It was Monday—the first day of a new school year. Jack always felt nervous on the first day. What would his new teacher be like? Would his desk be

close to a window? Would friends from last year be in his class again this year? "Annie, hurry!" Jack's mom called upstairs. "It's fifteen minutes till eight. School starts in half an hour." Jack's dad walked into the kitchen. "Are you sure you and Annie don't want me to drive you?" he asked. "No thanks, we don't mind walking," said Jack. Their school was only three blocks away. "Annie, hurry!" their mom called again. "You're going to be late!" The back door banged open. Annie rushed into the kitchen. She was out of breath.

"Oh, I thought you were upstairs," their mom said with surprise. "You were outside?" "Yes!" said Annie, panting. "Just taking a quick walk." She looked at Jack. Her eyes sparkled. "Hurry, Jack. We really should go now!" "Okay, I'm coming!" said Jack. He leapt up from the table. He could tell Annie wasn't talking about school. The tree house must be back! Finally! Jack grabbed his backpack. Annie held the door open for him. "No breakfast?" their mom asked. "Too nervous to eat now, Mom," said Jack. "Have fun," their mom said.

"Learn a lot," said their dad. "Don't worry, we will!" said Annie. Jack and Annie slipped out the door and walked quickly across their yard. "It's back!" said Annie. "I figured it was!" said Jack. "Morgan must want us to look for another secret of happiness to help Merlin," said Annie. "Yep!" said Jack. "Let's run!" Jack and Annie dashed up the sidewalk. They crossed the street and headed into the Frog Creek woods. They ran between the trees, through shadows and light, until they came to the tallest oak.

High in the tree was the magic tree house. The rope ladder was swaying in the chilly morning wind. "How did you know it was here?" asked Jack, catching his breath. "I woke up thinking about Teddy and Kathleen," said Annie, "and I had this strange feeling." "Really?" said Jack. "Teddy! Kathleen!" he shouted up at the tree house. Two young teenagers looked out the tree house window: a curly-haired boy with freckles and a big grin and a smiling girl with sea-blue eyes and dark wavy hair. "Jack! Annie!" the girl said.