16. Not Over Yet

NOT OVER YET... 16 Sam, Antonio, and Lucy watched the construction crew march across the soccer field. The foreman led the way. Mr. Nekobi and Principal Winik hurried behind him. Lucy gulped. "How do we explain the truck?" she asked. It was a jumble of bent metal. Clouds of smoke poured from the engine.

"We can't explain it," Antonio said. "I vote we run behind the building! Then we'll come walking around. We'll whistle, too. Whistling always makes you look innocent!" But Sam knew it was too late for that. The foreman looked furious. "My truck! My wrecking ball!" he exclaimed. He glared at Sam, Antonio, and Lucy. "I know you had something to do with this! Admit it!" Antonio smiled and said, "Sir, do you really think we could have done this?"

"We don't know how to use a wrecking ball," Lucy said. "Yeah! We're just a bunch of third-grade hall monitors," Sam said. "Maybe it was a malfunction," Mr. Nekobi said. "Perhaps your workers didn't properly shut it down yesterday." The foreman glared at Mr. Nekobie. Principal Winik stepped between them. "Regardless," he said. "We're just lucky no one was hurt." The foreman was so angry he was almost shaking. "I'll have another truck here this afternoon," he said. "The wrecking ball will swing!"

Oh no! Sam thought. We only stopped part of Orson Eerie's plan— we didn't totally defeat him! "And I see the class pet has been found, so there's no reason to delay," Principal Winik said, glancing at Squeakers. "This school will be torn down today." Suddenly, a voice called out, "No, it won't!" Sam spun around.

It was Jasper Eerie. He was standing outside the school gate. Jasper was waving a piece of paper. Lucy sprinted across the lawn and grabbed it. Her eyes skimmed it over. A moment later, she came hurrying back. She waved the document.

"This is from the town hall!" Lucy said, smiling. "It says that Eerie Elementary is a historical landmark. If you demolish it, you'll be breaking the law. This building can never be torn down!" Principal Winik read the paper. He sighed. "It's true. This means the building must be repaired. Brick by brick." Suddenly, the school doors blew open. A great wailing sound— like a scream— came from deep inside Eerie Elementary.