Read Online Laugh Till You Cry by Joan Lowery Nixon - Free Book Online

prove to you that Hamlet was not in his right mind. In
fact, we might say that he was one Danish short of a complete breakfast. He had the chance to keep on being Prince of Denmark, but he really blew it. Because of a murderous uncle, a dishonest mother, and a ghostly father, he—
    “Here’s a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for you,” Alma said, so close to Cody’s ear that he jumped.
    It wasn’t until after dinner that Cody had a chance to visit with his grandmother.
    “I told you I’d help you with the paper you need to write about
Hamlet
,” she reminded him.
    He helped fluff up her pillows and asked, “Do you feel like it, Grandma? Are you sure you aren’t too tired?”
    “As a matter of fact, I feel much better,” she said. “I think this new medication is just what I needed. I helped Hayden with his theme, and now it’s your turn.”
    Cody looked at her in surprise. “When was Hayden here?”
    “We did our work over the telephone,” she answered. “Hayden called while you were helping clean the kitchen. Now, what’s your topic?”
    “How Hamlet avenges his father’s murder in the last scene of the play.”
    “Oh, dear,” Mrs. Norton said. “I think you’d better pick another topic. That’s the one Hayden chose. I can’t give you both the same advice.”
    Cody swallowed what he wanted to say. Hayden had asked what his idea was and then had used it. He should have expected Hayden to do something mean like that. Cody thought fast.
    “Grandma,” Cody said, “I’d like to write about Hamlet’s state of mind—whether he was just pretending to becrazy or really was. But everybody has a different opinion. Nobody is sure.”
    “Then write about the various possibilities,” she said. “It’s an interesting idea.”
    Cody sighed. “Okay, if you help me, Grandma,” he said.
    “Of course I will,” she answered. “Get your notebook and pen, and we’ll get busy.”
    The next morning, when Cody’s alarm clock sounded, he woke up feeling pretty good. Maybe, he thought, it was because his
Hamlet
project had been written and was no longer on his mind. With his grandmother’s help, his report was okay. Well, maybe more than okay. In fact, it was good. He was counting on getting a good grade.
    Before leaving for school, he put the report inside the top drawer of his dresser for safekeeping. He arrived at school with just enough time to dump some books in his locker and get to his first class before the bell rang. Down the hall he noticed Bobby ambling into one of the science rooms. He wondered again if Bobby had made the threatening phone call.
    Jake had said that most calls like that were simply pranks by people who were bored, or were carrying a grudge, or just didn’t think about right and wrong. Did that fit Bobby? It wasn’t any secret that Bobby barely made it from one grade to the next. Would that make him bored or angry enough to threaten the school? And was it just a threat? Or would he do something about it?
    Cody shook himself and settled down at his desk. The whole thing was over, there hadn’t been a second phone call, and he wasn’t going to waste any more timethinking about it. He wasn’t thinking about anything that had happened the day before, either. That Hayden—wouldn’t it be great if he could really tell his mother and grandmother the truth?
    At lunch period, as Cody stopped off at his locker, Hayden shoved him so hard he slammed against the wall, dropping his books.
    “Cut it out!” Cody yelled.
    He bent to pick up his books, but Brad kicked one of them out of his reach. Eddie scooped up Cody’s notebook. “Got your
Hamlet
paper in here?” he asked.
    “No, I haven’t!” Cody tried to reach for his notebook, but Hayden got in the way.
    “Betcha haven’t even written it yet,” Brad taunted.
    “None of your business.”
    Hayden grinned at Cody and said, “Nobody cares, cousin. Don’t sweat it.” He took the notebook from Eddie and shoved it hard