6. Secret in the Closet

Chapter 6 Secret in the Closet The kids carried the box up to Bradley and Brian's bedroom and closed the door. "Let's put it in the closet so snoopy Josh doesn't see the puppy," Bradley said. They moved some stuff and made room for the box on the closet floor. Brian put one of his old sweatshirts in the box, so the puppy would have

something soft to lie on. Bradley added one of Pal's toys and a bowl of water. They set the puppy in the box and watched him lap up some water. "He needs a name," Nate said. "He's so cute, we should call him Brian," Brian said. He grinned. "Whoever is getting him for Christmas should name him," Bradley said. "Not you, cute brother." "And he might already have a name," Lucy said. Just then, the kids heard a door slam. "It's Mom and Dad!" Brian whispered. "We'd better get out of here before they come upstairs!" "Be a good boy," Bradley whispered to the puppy as he closed the closet door, leaving it open a crack. The four kids walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Hi, gang," Bradley's dad said. "What mischief are you up to?" "We're bored with all this snow," Brian told his father. "So we're going to Hawaii. Can we borrow your car?"

"Sure," his father said. "When you're thirtyfive." "Do you want to stay for popcorn and hot chocolate?" Bradley's mother asked Nate and Lucy. "No thank you, Mrs. Pinto," Lucy said. "I have to go call my parents in Arizona." "And I get to open one of my presents," Nate said. "Probably some new underwear or more socks." Nate and Lucy left through the back door. "Okay, who wants popcorn?" Bradley's mom asked. Just then, they heard a bark from upstairs. Bradley looked at Brian. Brian's eyes grew big. "Maybe Pal got locked in our room," Bradley said. "I'll go up and get him." But Pal walked into the kitchen. "I thought he was upstairs," Bradley's father said. "I guess not," Bradley said. He was thinking, Quiet, puppy! "I could swear I heard a bark from up there," Bradley's mother said.

"Maybe it was Josh," Brian offered. "He makes a lot of funny noises." "Josh is out somewhere with Dink and Ruth Rose," his dad said. "And I've never heard him bark." "I thought we were having popcorn," Brian said. "And hot chocolate!" Bradley said. "Yum, yum!" While their parents were making the popcorn and hot chocolate, Bradley and Brian high-fived. Ten minutes later, Bradley's father carried the tray into the living room. They sat in front of the Christmas tree. "Mom, can we open one present now?" Brian asked. "I don't know, honey," his mother said. "Christmas is tomorrow." "Pretty please?" Brian begged. "Just a tiny present." "I guess it will be all right," their mother said. "Take those two flat ones in the striped paper." "Hey, if the twins get to open something, I do, too!" their father said.

Just then, Josh burst into the room. "Me too!" he said. "I thought you were with Dink and Ruth Rose," his mother said. "They had to do some stuff," Josh said. "Christmas stuff." "You look funny," Josh's father said. "Why is your face red?" "Do you have a temperature?" his mother asked. She put her hand on Josh's forehead. "I'm okay. I ran home," Josh said. Then he reached for a present with his name on it. "Can I open this one?" "Sure," his father said. "But let the twins open theirs first, please." Bradley and Brian tore the striped paper off. They each found a book. Bradley's book was called Swamp Secrets. Brian's was 100 Amazing Magic Tricks. "Cool," Brian said. "Come on, Brad. Let's go up to our room and read. When we finish, we can swap books!" "No!" Josh yelled.

The twins stared at their big brother. "Why not?" Bradley asked. "Because I haven't opened my present yet," Josh said. He held the present on his lap. He read the tag. "To Josh, from Mom and Dad." Josh grinned. "Thanks, parents." He shook the present. "It's heavy," he said. "Are you going to open it or not?" Brian asked. Slowly, Josh removed the paper. Inside he found a toolbox filled with tools. "So you can fix your own bike," his father said. "Awesome!" Josh said. "Thanks so much, you guys." "Can we go up and read now?" Bradley said.