You're the sub?

Chapter 11 You're the Sub? Nobody was in our classroom. Claudia and I had missed lunch and most of recess. I grabbed and quickly ate half a sandwich from my lunch bag. I tried to think of what I should tell Miss Plum. I knew she wouldn't be happy I had run out of the classroom earlier.

The bell rang. Recess was over. My classmates ran into the room. They sat at their desks. I watched the doorway. But instead of Miss Plum, a big man with a mustache walked into the room. “ Miss Plum will not be back today, " the man said. “ So I will be your substitute teacher. " Several of my classmates grinned. I usually get excited, too, when we have a sub. I like to play jokes on them. But when the sub looked at me, my stomach felt sick.

" What's wrong, Clyde?" Claudia asked. " I don't know, " I said. I thought I had seen the sub's face before. But not his dark curly hair. Or his thin curly mustache. The sub picked up the class seating chart. " I need someone to help me carry boxes from the storage room to our classroom, " he said. Lots of hands shot up. “ How about Clyde?" He pointed at me. My heart pounded. “ But I didn't raise my hand, " I said. He pointed to the door. “ Let's go! " I slowly stood.

" Are you okay, Clyde?" Claudia asked. I looked at my sister, but said nothing. I didn't have to. Her eyes told me she knew what I was thinking. Something was wrong. The sub looked at the seating chart again. “ Claudia will be in charge while I am gone. " Then he gave me a little shove. " Let's get moving, Clyde! "

We walked out of the classroom. At the other end of the hall, he told me to stop. " In here! " The sub opened a door. He pushed me into a room filled with boxes. “ Where is it, Clyde?" the sub asked. “ Where's what?" I asked. “ The Golden Monkey! " he said. He pulled off his wig and mustache. " You're the guard . . . I mean, the thief! " I said. He growled. " You mixed up our Golden Monkeys after crashing into me at the museum yesterday! You gave me your toy! " " So I have the real one?" I asked. " Yes, " he said. " And I want it! NOW! "

The thief was big, looked mean, and was blocking the doorway. I had no other choice. I pulled the real Golden Monkey from my pocket. He grabbed it from my hand. He stared at it and smiled. " I'll be far away before you can get out of here and tell someone what happened, " the thief told me. Then he laughed. He stuck the real Golden Monkey in his pocket. He left the storage room and locked the door.