9. Her Sweet Voice

Chapter 9 Her Sweet Voice Marvin tried to read his book, A Thousand Cats, but couldn't concentrate. He kept glancing at Casey. It was Friday, two days since he wished she would shut up. She still wasn't talking. He wondered how long she could go on pretending. Casey caught him looking at her. She glared back at him, as if to say, What are you looking at? Marvin didn't look away. You're going to have to talk sometime, he thought. You can't keep this up forever. That's what you think! replied Casey's face. You'll get in trouble, thought Marvin. Mrs. North will find out you don't have laryngitis! I may never talk again, Casey shot back.

Good! thought Marvin. I'm sick of hearing your ugly voice. Well, I'm sick of your stupid, ugly face! Casey silently replied. And I'm sick of your stupid, ugly ponytail! thought Marvin. Casey angrily turned away. Marvin looked down at his desk. Even though he was mad at Casey, he felt bad about what he had just said. He knew she was very proud of her ponytail. "You are all working so nice and quietly," said Mrs. North. She dropped three marbles into the marble jar, filling it to the top. "Let's go to Lake Park!" Everybody cheered—except Casey, who couldn't, and Marvin, who didn't feel very cheerful. Lake Park was three blocks from Marvin's school. Everyone had to walk with a buddy. Marvin's buddy was Stuart. Nick and Warren walked right behind them. "Look, there's Casey," Marvin said. "Watch. I bet you she'll talk." Casey was buddies with Judy. "I don't care," said Stuart.

"I don't care either," said Marvin. Mrs. North started out at the front, but then she drifted back until she was walking next to Judy and Casey. "Darn!" said Marvin. "Now she won't say anything with Mrs. North right there." "I don't care," said Stuart. "Me neither," said Marvin. "I hope it's all right for you to be outside," he heard Mrs. North say. "I wouldn't want your throat to get worse." Casey shrugged. "The fresh air will be good for her," said Judy. Marvin turned to Stuart. "How does Judy know?" he asked. "Is she a doctor?" "Who cares?" asked Stuart. "Not me," said Marvin. There was a big playscape at Lake Park and a huge spider web made out of rope, which was fun to climb. Mrs. North told the class to have fun. Marvin didn't feel like having fun. He watched Casey and Judy walk down the path to the lake. "C'mon, Marvin!" Stuart called as he ran to the spider

web. Marvin stayed behind. He knew Casey and Judy were going off by themselves so they could talk. This was his chance to catch her. He waited for them to get a head start, then followed them. There were lots of trees on either side of the path. Marvin crept quietly from tree to tree. The two girls stopped near the edge of the lake. Marvin remained behind a tree. It looked as if they were talking, but Casey had her back to him. He was still too far away to hear. He moved closer. He heard a laugh. He didn't know if it came from Judy or Casey, but either way it proved Casey could talk. If Judy was the one who laughed, it meant that Casey must have said something funny. He carefully moved to a closer tree, then quickly darted to a bush, less than ten feet away from the girls. He tried not to breathe. "Sh!" said Judy. "I think I hear someone." Marvin remained very still. "We know you're there, Marvin!" said Judy.

For a moment, Marvin didn't say anything. Then he stepped out from behind the bush. "I heard you!" he declared. "Casey talked." "No she didn't," Judy insisted. Casey pointed to her mouth, which was zipped shut. "What did she say?" demanded Judy. Marvin bit his lip. He wished he had heard just a little bit more. "I heard someone laugh," he said. "That was me," said Judy. "Well, she must have said something funny, to make you laugh," said Marvin. "She made a funny face," said Judy. Casey demonstrated. She pulled her ears, raised her eyebrows, and stuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth. Marvin suddenly realized something. "You said, 'Sh!' to her." "Huh?" asked Judy. "When you heard me behind the bush. You said, 'Sh! I think I hear someone.' You wouldn't have said, 'Sh!' unless Casey could talk." He smiled triumphantly at Casey.

"I was talking about shoes," Judy explained. "I was just about to say, 'Shoes are nice,' when I heard you sneaking around like a skunk." Casey smiled triumphantly at Marvin. "Marvin!" shouted Mrs. North from the top of the path. "Judy! Casey! Come back to the playscape. You're not allowed near the water." Judy hurried away before Marvin could ask her why she was talking about shoes. Casey looked at Marvin. Her face wasn't angry. He wasn't sure what her face was saying. Marvin sighed. "Okay," he said. "I'm sorry I told you to shut up." Casey waited for more. Marvin shook his head. "Okay. Okay," he said. He looked around to make sure nobody could hear him. He stared down at his feet and muttered, "I miss hearing your sweet voice." He glanced up at her.