8 The Piano Surprise!

The Piano Surprise!

"Hey, Andy," said Terry, "can you stand under this piano?" "What piano?" I said. "That one up there," he said, pointing to a piano that was hanging from a rope slung over a branch of our tree. He was holding the other end of the rope in his hand. "Why do you want me to stand under it?" I said. "I can't tell you," said Terry. "It's a surprise."

"You're not going to let go of the rope and make the piano fall on me, are you?" "No way," said Terry. "You're my best friend in the whole world. Why would I want to drop a piano on you?" "I don't know why," I said. "But you have done

some pretty strange stuff in the past— like that time you used my head as a bowling ball, remember?" "That was just a joke," said Terry. "Not for me it wasn't," I said. "And what about the time you pushed me into the shark tank?" "That was just a joke, too," said Terry. "Not for me it wasn't!" I said. "And what about the

time you invented an Andy-exploder and you exploded me?" "Another joke," said Terry. "And a pretty good one, too!" "But I got exploded!" I said. "I know," said Terry, "but that's not my fault. I didn't make you go into the Andy-exploder." "No, but you did say that if I went into the Andy- exploder I'd get a big surprise." "And you did," said Terry. "You were surprised that you exploded!" "I sure was," I said. "But it wasn't a nice surprise. How would you like it if I invented a Terry-exploder and exploded you?" "I'd love it!" said Terry. "It would be hilarious. But it will never happen, because you don't know how to

make Terry-exploders." "Yes I do," I said. "In fact, I'm going to go and invent one right now!" "Good luck!" said Terry. "But first, can you please stand under the piano?" "How do I know it's not another one of your little 'jokes'?" I said. "I just don't think it's a good idea." "I think it is a good idea," said Terry. "But don't take my word for it—why don't you ask Jill what she thinks?" "Ask me what I think about what?" said Jill, who'd just climbed up onto our level. "Terry wants me to stand under the piano he's hung from that branch, but I'm worried he might drop it on me. He says he won't, though. Do you think I should trust him?" "No, I don't," said Jill. "He's dropped things on me before." "No I haven't," said Terry. "Yes you have," said Jill. "What about that elephant?!" "What elephant?" "The one you dropped on me!" "Oh, that elephant," said Terry. "That was just a joke!"