Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR Thunder rolled down the stairs and the sitting room door flew open. 'CARLOTTA, YOU SNEAK!' shouted Edith, marching in furiously. 'You've been in my bedroom!' 'I haven't!' Carlotta squeaked. 'You HAVE!' screamed Edith. 'I can tell by the look on your face!'

'I haven't,' insisted Carlotta, but her cheeks had gone very red. 'You HAVE!' yelled Edith. 'You're a lying little WORM! I know you've been touching my stuff because my crystal ball is broken!'

She brought it out from behind her back and triumphantly held it in front of Carlotta's face. I felt my heart begin to race. It was me who broke the crystal ball! I should own up right that very second! But Edith looked so furious that I was too scared to open my mouth.

'OK!' said Carlotta. 'We did go in your room while you were out, but... But it was only so that we could clean it! I'm sorry the crystal ball broke. It fell off the shelf while I was dusting!' I stared at Carlotta in shock. As if Edith was going to believe that! Edith narrowed her eyes. 'YOU'RE A HORRIBLE MEDDLING SNEAKY SLIMY WORM, CARLOTTA!' she shrieked and stormed out of the room. 'Oh, Carlotta!' I said. 'Edith was never going to believe we went into her room to clean it!' 'I know,' said Carlotta, putting her

head in her hands. 'It was just the first thing that popped into my head... I didn't want to tell her the truth. 'Oh!' I said, feeling a rush of affection for my friend just trying to protect me— but also a sharp stab of guilt. Now I felt even worse about not owning up. 'It's OK.' Carlotta shrugged. 'Edith and I are always arguing anyway, so she may as well think it was me!' She smiled brightly, but it looked a bit forced. 'Let's find a horror film,' she said.

Carlotta and I sat side by side in the dark, our eyes glued to the screen, but I wasn't really watching the film. I couldn't concentrate, and I didn't even jump at the scariest parts! I felt such guilt about the crystal ball. Carlotta had said it was