Ch3-Hide! Hide!

CHAPTER THREE Hide! Hide! Willie was waiting at the bottom of the ladder. "Hello," he said. "Willie, this is Jack and Annie," said Tad. "I told them that you and I have a secret." He gave Willie a meaningful look. "I told them we'd take them to meet the president. I gave them my word."

"Oh, you did, did you?" said Willie. "Hello, Jack and Annie." He shook hands with them. "I apologize for Tad," he added. "My brother is very high-spirited." "And Willie's sweet as pie," said Tad, making a face. "Come on, you all! To the White House!" He saluted, then took huge marching steps across the lawn. "So does Tad really know the president?" Annie asked as she and Jack walked with Willie. "He does," said Willie with a smile, "and so do I." "Oh. Cool," said Jack. He liked Willie's kind, mature manner. He wouldn't mind if Willie introduced them to the president. "Do you think you could introduce us?" "If Tad doesn't introduce you first," said Willie, "then I'd be happy to." "That would be great," said Jack. As Tad marched ahead of them, Jack, Annie, and Willie walked through the sun-dappled grove of trees. The air was chilly, but it smelled like spring. It looked like spring, too. Tiny buds sprouted from bare branches. Birds flitted from

tree to tree, and robins hunted for worms in the green grass. "Are your parents visiting the White House today?" Annie asked Willie. "You could say that," said Willie. "Look at me!" Tad called. He was running backward up the carriageway. "Watch out, Tad!" shouted Willie. Tad jumped out of the path of a horse-drawn carriage just in time. The carriage stopped in front of the president's house. The crowd was huge now. As people tried to squeeze through the front doors, some waved pieces of paper at the guard. "Everyone wants to meet the new president!" said Tad. "They all want something from him." "Don't talk that way, Tad," said Willie. He turned to Jack and Annie. "They're mostly looking for jobs in the government. They have to take care of their families." Tad led the way past the carriages and between the columns to the crowd at the door. "Allow us to enter!" he shouted to the guard at the door. "Jack and Annie are here! Important friends of the president!"

To Jack's amazement, the guard did as Tad commanded. The man moved people aside and let Tad, Willie, Annie, and Jack walk right into the White House! Jack trailed behind as they all passed through the entranceway. From there, they went around a bronze screen and into a wide hall filled with grown-ups. "Make way!" shouted Tad as he squeezed through the crowd. A few women squealed. Their hoopskirts rocked and swirled. "Stop, Tad!" said Willie, grabbing his brother. "Calm yourself!" No kidding! thought Jack. He liked Willie a lot, but Tad was too wild and unpredictable. Tad laughed and broke loose from his big brother. He ran into a room off the hallway. Willie and Annie hurried after him. A moment later, Jack heard someone banging on a piano. Jack followed cautiously. He went through a door into a huge parlor filled with women and girls sipping tea from china cups. The room had furniture covered in red satin. There was a large portrait of George Washington

on the wall by the tall windows. No one was paying any attention to Tad as he pounded away on the piano keys. Even Willie was ignoring him. He was busy introducing Annie to a plump, darkhaired woman sitting on a sofa. Why don't the grown-ups stop this bratty kid? Jack wondered. Where are his parents? The White House guards? The Secret Service? Tad turned his head and caught Jack frowning at him. He jumped up from the piano bench, rushed over, and grabbed Jack's hand. "Sorry, mate! I almost forgot! I gave you my word!" he said. "Come along!"

Jack tried to free himself from Tad as the boy pulled him out of the parlor. "Stop! Let me go! I have to wait for my sister," said Jack. He looked back and saw Willie and Annie still talking with the woman on the sofa. "They'll catch up to us," said Tad. "Come along! I have a secret that you won't believe!" "Please! Leave me alone!" said Jack. "No! Come with me, or I'll start screaming," said Tad. "And I can scream very, very loud." He had a wild look in his eye. Oh, no! Jack thought. This kid was totally insane. "Don't scream, don't scream, just hold on a second." He called out, "Annie! Willie!" But neither of them looked up. "C'mon! It's now or never!" said Tad. He pulled Jack down the carpeted hallway, toward a wide staircase. "Let go! Let go of me! I'm serious!" Jack said. Tad let go of him. "Please, please, come up the stairs with me," he begged. "If you don't, I'll…" He opened his mouth wide. "Fine! I'll come!" Jack said through his teeth. He let Tad pull him through a group of grown-ups