8 SNEAKY BEAN

SNEAKY BEAN "BEAN!" "She sounds like one of those screaming monkeys," said Ivy, stirring. "She looks like one, too" said Bean. "Do, we need more rosemary?" "Sure," Ivy said. "Put some more in." "BEAN! YOU'VE GOT TO COME HOME NOW! MOM SAYS." "She's too lazy to walk across the street," said Bean. "My mom tells her to go get me, and she just stands on the porch and screams." "She's lazy," Ivy agreed. She looked at the jars on her shelf. She had a little bit of nutmeg, and a lot of seeds she had found in the backyard. She had some dead bugs. She had plenty of baking soda. The

problem with making potions from her magic book was that she never had exactly the right ingredients. Sometimes she didn't even know what they were. The keepingaway- evil-spirits potion had an ingredient called "ponie." Ivy didn't think they meant a real pony. She didn't have a pony, anyway. "I think we should put in some more baking soda," she said. "BEAN! YOU HAD BETTER NOT MAKE ME COME GET YOU!" Bean opened Ivy's window and leaned out. Nancy was standing on the porch, her face red from screaming. "I'll be there in a minute!" Bean said in her regular voice.

"WHAT?" screeched Nancy. "I'll be there in a minute" Bean called a, little louder. "There's one more thing we need," said Ivy, looking at the book again. She giggled. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU, BUT YOU'D BETTER GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW OR YOU'LL BE SORRY."

"I'M ALREADY SORRY ABOUT HOW STUPID YOU LOOK IN THOSE SHORTS!" Bean bellowed. There was a tiny silence, and then Bean's front door banged shut. Nancy was going to tell their mom. "Sheesh," said Bean. "She's so touchy. But I guess I should go home. My mom will be mad if she has to come get me." "Okay," said Ivy. "I can do the rest by myself. But you have to get the last ingredient." She giggled again. "It's the most important one." "What is it?" said Bean, looking around for her shoes. "The hair of an enemy," said Ivy. A big grin spread over Bean's face. "How much?" "Not much." Ivy said. "Just a handful." They looked at each other and began to

laugh. When Bean woke up, it was dark. She sat up and peered out the window. Wow, she thought. I did it. Outside, a streetlight shone down on a car and the empty sidewalk. Everyone was asleep. Even though she hadn't really expected to wake up in the middle of the night, Bean had placed a pair of scissors on the table beside her bed. She took hold of them, pointy end down, and began the tiptoe walk down the hall to Nancy's room. It was funny to be awake when her parents weren't. There were shadows wavering on the walls. Bean began to feel a little scared. It wasn't that she was scared she'd get caught. It was more scary not to be caught. How could her parents not know that she was up? Nancy liked her door closed at night.

Bean had always thought that was weird. But now it was just plain annoying, because Bean had to open the door without making a sound. Very, very slowly, she turned the knob. Quietly, quietly, she pushed the door. It gave one sharp creak and then swung open.