Read Online Felix Takes the Stage by Kathryn Lasky - Free Book Online

who’s the best!’”
    â€œShe sassed her!” Julep said. “She sassed a goddess!”
    â€œIndeed she did!” Edith nodded.
    â€œSo, what happened next?” Felix asked suspiciously.
    â€œWell, Athena grew furious and threw off her disguise. Standing before Arachne in all her goddess glory, she shouted, ‘Prideful girl, you shall have your wish.’ And so they sat down in front of two looms. Athena’s tapestry was one of shimmering beauty and elegance. But so was Arachne’s. However, what Arachne had chosen to weave was disrespectful to both gods and mortals alike. She had woven a picture that made fun of the gods. It made them look silly, ordinary, and very mortal!”
    â€œAnd then?” Felix asked.
    â€œYou see, Arachne, by being so proud, had insulted all of the gods. Athena rose up in a fury and tore the tapestry from the loom. She struck Arachne on the head with the shuttle she had used for weaving. In that instant, Arachne began to feel her head grow smaller, her fingers and legs shrink until they were spindly. Like this.” Edith raised one of her eight legs and waved it about for effect. “And Athena said to Arachne, ‘Stupid, vain girl, go and spin your thread and weave not tapestries but empty nets, and learn that the gods and goddesses must be worshipped properly by humans.”

    â€œThe End?” Julep asked.
    â€œYes.” Edith nodded and turned to look at Felix, who was very quiet.
    Finally, he spoke. “May I make a comment on this story?”
    â€œCertainly, Felix,” Edith said. There was a slight tremor of anxiety in her voice.
    â€œFirst of all, I am not a human. I am not a girl. And I already am a spider. So, from my point of view —” He paused. “From our point of view, this is not such a bad story. She was turned into one of us, a spider.”
    â€œTrue,” Edith agreed.
    â€œAnd second,” Felix continued, “you have always told us that spiders have been around much longer than humans. We were here first — four hundred million years ago. So it isn’t an accurate story.”
    â€œMyths are never accurate. We don’t read them for accuracy. We read them to learn.”
    â€œI get it, Mom. I’ve learned.” The words seemed to clog deep inside Felix. He could hardly go on, but he did. “And I won’t brag, but please, just let me do my art. And … and … and …”
    â€œAnd what, dear?”
    â€œRemember, Mom, back when we were on our way to the Kontiki Antikies shop, I said I had something I wanted to bring up with you.”
    â€œUh … vaguely, yes.”
    â€œYou said, ‘Later, when we’re settled.’”
    â€œSo I did. Yes.”
    â€œWell, I know we’re not exactly settled, but I would like to bring it up now.”
    â€œCertainly.” Edith nodded.
    The tiny hairs on Felix’s front legs began to quiver.
    â€œIt’s just that I feel I don’t belong.”
    â€œDon’t belong?” The entire web seemed to hum with Edith’s alarm. “Whatever do you mean? We’re a family. You belong right here.”
    â€œThis is so hard to say, Mom. I feel that I belong with my family but not my species.”
    â€œWhat’s he talking about?” Julep said.
    â€œSsshush!” Jo Bell said. At this moment, Jo Bell began to feel deeply sorry for her brother. Felix was different, but she loved him, and right now she felt as if he was about to turn their whole world upside down and inside out.
    â€œJust because we’re called recluses shouldn’t mean we have to hide away!”
    They were interrupted by a meow coming from the cabinet’s back panel.
    â€œFatty?” Edith asked.
    â€œBaggage backs up to the lavatories,” Fatty said from a small air vent at the top of the cabinet. “Your creation is beautiful, Felix. Simply beautiful. And Felix is right. It truly