11. Waiting

Chapter 11 Waiting The worst part was waiting. Just waiting. "Will you take me to see Waldo?" Linzy asked during dinner. He hadn't told his family yet. "I wuv Waldo," said Linzy. "I don't think it's a good idea," said Marvin. "Why not?" Linzy demanded. "It just isn't," said Marvin. "Can I go with Marvin to see Waldo?" Linzy asked her mother. "It's not up to me," said Mrs. Redpost. "It's up to Marvin." She looked at Marvin. "And I know you always consider your sister's feelings, don't you, Marvin?" "Please, Marvin!" said Linzy. "I'll let you come to my birthday party."

Marvin sighed. "Sorry," he said. He tried to think of a nice way to put it. "Waldo's not there anymore." "Where'd he go?" asked Linzy. "He's in heaven, with the angels." "Oh no!" said Mrs. Redpost, dropping her fork. "Oh, you mean he's dead," said Linzy. She crunched into her pickle. She didn't cry until an hour and a half later. When she went to bed. Right after she said a prayer "for Waldo in heaven." Marvin's parents tried to make him feel better. "It wasn't your fault," said his mother. "You know that." "Do you want me to talk to Mrs. North for you?" asked his father "No," said Marvin. When he got to school Wednesday morning, he was mobbed by the kids in his class. "Did you kill Mrs. North's dog?" asked Justin. "He forgot to feed him," said Melanie. "The poor dog starved to death."

"I heard he choked to death," said Kenny. "On a piece of liver." Marvin looked around. He knew Stuart and Patsy could keep a secret. It must have been Nick. "What do you think Mrs. North is going to do?" asked Casey. "She'll flunk you for sure," said Justin. "If you're lucky," said Warren. "I'd move to another state if I were you," said Gina.

"I'd move to another country," said Heather. "You can go to jail for murdering someone's dog," said Judy. Clarence and Travis joined the group. "Hey, Marvin?" asked Travis. "Did you shoot Mrs. North's dog?" "Got him right in the liver!" said Clarence. The rest of the day was just a blur to Marvin. He couldn't pay attention. He just kept thinking one thought.

Mrs. North will be home tonight! Miss Hillway said good-bye to the class. "Thank you. It was a most enjoyable week. You've been a wonderful class." She looked at Marvin. "Of course, there are always a few exceptions. Mrs. North will get a full report." "Do you want to come over to my house?" Stuart asked as they walked out of class together. "No," said Marvin. Now that Waldo was dead, Marvin's friends liked him again. "Why not?" asked Nick. "It's not like you have to go to Mrs. North's!" "I just want to be alone," said Marvin. "Did the vet tell you what time Waldo died?" asked Stuart. "No," said Marvin. "You should ask him," said Stuart. "They can figure those things out. Because if Waldo died before midnight, then Mrs. North only has to pay you for five days. Fifteen dollars. But if he died after midnight, then she has to pay you for six days. Eighteen dollars."

Stuart was good at math. "I guess you don't get the four-dollar bonus," said Nick. Marvin walked home. Then he got on his bike and rode to Mrs. North's house for the last time. He still had to bring in her newspaper and mail. Her house felt empty, like a cave. He wrote her a note. Dear Mrs. North, If you are looking around for Waldo, don't. You won't find him. He's not in your house. And he's not outside. Well, he's dead. I hope you had a nice time on your trip. Yours truly, Marvin Redpost He went home and waited for Mrs. North to call. "Do you think I'll be expelled?" he asked Jacob. "I don't think she can do that," said Jacob. "It's not like you did it on purpose." "I just did what the doctor told me," said Marvin.