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

doesn’t turn us into humans,” Felix muttered as they skibbled through the front entrance and entered a huge vaulted space. A grand marble twin staircase faced them, with carved lions on pedestals at the first landing.
    â€œThere are forty-two steps to the first landing. I would suggest we float some lines to ascend.”
    Fat Cat slid between the cool shadows and crouched beneath another statue. The rich beige marble of the floor and walls offered a perfect camouflage for Fatty, whose fur was almost the same color.
    The children could feel that the library was not simply a building but a world. Although Edith and her mother had lived in it for a long time, there were vast territories still unexplored. It had always been Edith’s intention to visit the rare books room with her mother, Violet. But they never did. Violet was ill and grew weaker and weaker. With her strength ebbing, she simply could not make enough silk to scale the lofty peaks to the treasure trove that contained some of the oldest and most valuable books on earth. After Violet died, Edith had no stomach for going to the rare books room alone. But now, with three youngsters, it was the perfect expedition.
    And so they began their ascent through the marble corridors, floating lines where they could to bronze statues or fixtures. They went up a final set of stairs and scuttled and skibbled down dimmer and dustier hallways until they stood in front of a set of double doors. In black letters were the words DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS .
    â€œI’m afraid this is where we part ways,” Fatty said.
    â€œNot for good,” Edith replied. “I’ll explore the ventilation system for you. There must be a way in.”
    â€œI’ll roam around a bit. But you know, Edith —” There was something in Fatty’s voice that made chills run through every one of the family’s thirty-two legs.
    Don’t say it, Fatty. Please don’t, Edith thought.
    â€œYou know,” Fatty continued, “I’m more of a theater creature than a library one.”
    â€œNo, Fatty! No!” the children cried.
    â€œYou’ve been with us forever,” Felix said.
    â€œYou’re like a dad,” Julep whispered.
    â€œYou’re family!” cried Jo Bell.
    â€œShe’s right, Fatty,” Edith said. “It makes no difference that you’re a cat and we’re spiders. You are family. In time of our trials, true, in the face of fear, faithful.” They were all weeping now.
    â€œAnd I shall always be.” Fatty purred softly. “But the theater scene in Boston is good, and not far from here. I had a cousin who once played the Colonial Theatre — The Lion King , or it might have been Wicked . Not sure. I’ll come visit. This isn’t good-bye.”
    â€œYou must let us know as soon as you have sett —” Edith caught herself before she said the word. “You must let us know which theater.” She tipped her head toward the double doors of the rare books room. “But you know where you can find us.”
    â€œYes, dear Edith.”
    â€œI understand from my late mother that they have some very early Shakespeare texts.
    Most likely I’ll be there — sixteenth century.”
    â€œAnd you said that there are the letters and books of that magician fellow Who — whateee?”
    Felix asked. “Houdini, Felix.
    Harry Houdini.”

    â€œThat’s where you’ll find me, Fatty. The magic shelves.”
    â€œThey have miniature books. Mom told me. Books no more than three inches high. A nice spider-size book, that’s where I plan to be,” Jo Bell said.
    â€œWhere will I go?” Julep asked. “Do they have a dollhouse like the one you told us about in the kindergarten room at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School?”
    Edith turned to her youngest. Her eyes gleamed. “They have something much better than a