Monkey-in-the-Middle

chapter 3 Monkey-in-the- Middle " Are you okay, Clyde?" Claudia asked. I paused. I looked. I was human again! " See, " I said to Claudia. " I didn't change into a monkey forever. "

I quickly dressed. Then I raced out of the museum and down the front steps. Claudia ran after me. “ Next time you change, Clyde, " she said, " you might not be able to change back into a boy. " " So?" I said. " You would be a monkey. Forever! " Claudia said. I grinned. “ That might be fun. " " Not for me, " Claudia said. " I don't want to lose you as my brother. " I looked at my sister's worried face. I didn't know what to say. So I hopped on my bike and pedaled toward home. Claudia followed.

When I got home, I quickly finished my homework. Well, almost. Then I ate supper. YUM! After supper, Mom held up two large paper bags. “ Claudia. Clyde, " Mom said. " These are the costumes I bought you for tomorrow's Halloween party. " Mom handed Claudia a bag. " Yippee! " Claudia yelled when she opened it. " I'm going to be an astronaut! " My sister hopes to one day become a real astronaut and fly in a rocket to the moon.

Mom handed me the other bag. " Well, Clyde, " Claudia asked, " what are you going to be?" I held up my costume. “ I'm going to be . . . a MONKEY! " I shouted. Claudia gasped. Mom smiled. " I bought it for you, Clyde, " she said, " because I know how much you like monkeys. " “ Thanks, Mom! " I ran to my bedroom to try on my costume! Claudia quickly followed. She held on to one arm of my monkey costume.

" Wearing this at the Halloween party will get you too excited, Clyde" Claudia said. “ But it's my costume! " I said. " Not anymore! " Claudia pulled it from me. " Here! " She handed me her astronaut costume. " We're switching. " I looked at my new costume. Okay, being an astronaut was not going to be as much fun as being a monkey. But I was still really excited.