and started to warm up. “How’s it going?” I asked her. “You nervous about tonight? Are your parents coming?”
My parents were coming to the concert tonight straight from work.
Teri didn’t answer. She moved her music stand so that she could turn her back to me. She started playing scales on her clarinet really loud.
“Okay, okay. I can take a hint,” I said. I grabbed her shoulder and forced her to stop playing.
“The imp isn’t going to hurt you just because youtalk to me,” I said. “I’m the one who challenged the imp—not you. I’m the one who’s in trouble.”
“Sam, you don’t know what you’re saying,” she said. She kept her back to me. “Look at all the trouble you’ve caused. No one feels safe now. Why did you have to stir things up?”
“I … I just want things to be normal,” I said. “I don’t see why everyone in this school—”
“The imp is going to do something horrible at the concert tonight,” Teri said. “I know he is. And it will be all your fault.”
“But if we all join together—” I started to say. “If we find out who it is and stand up to him … ”
She raised her clarinet to her mouth and began playing scales again.
I let out a sigh. Then I started to warm up again.
Usually, playing my saxophone relaxes me. But not today. I had a tight knot in my throat. I could barely blow hard enough to make a sound.
“As you know, the concert begins at eight o’clock,” Mr. Kelly said at the end of practice. “But you should all be here by seven-thirty.”
I glanced at the clock. It was a quarter to five. Not much time.
I had to hurry home, grab some dinner, and change. Mom said she’d leave food for me to warm up in the microwave.
In a way, I was glad Mom and Dad weren’t goingto be home. Things had been a little tense at my house ever since I told them about the imp.
My parents kept watching me all the time, as if trying to decide if I had totally lost it or not.
“Good luck tonight,” Mr. Kelly said. He glanced at me as he said it. “Have a good concert, people.”
Everyone started to pack up. I stayed in my chair, holding on to my sax as if holding on to a life preserver.
I made no attempt to move as Mr. Kelly walked over to me. His eyes locked on mine. “Sam? Are you going to be okay?” he asked softly.
I shrugged. “I guess,” I said.
He cleared his throat. He glanced tensely at the band room door. “If you think you should stay home tonight, I’ll understand,” he said.
I let out an angry cry. “You’re afraid, too?” I screamed. “Well, forget about me staying home. I’ll be here at seven-thirty sharp.”
His mouth dropped open in surprise.
I stomped out of the room without even putting away my horn. My hands were clenched into tight fists. I could feel the anger making my face grow hot.
I made my way down the stairs two at a time.
I hurried down the hall. Turned the corner—and saw the imp standing in front of my locker.
A cold smile spread over his face as he saw me. He uncurled his back until he stood straight up,all three feet of him. He pressed his hands against his fury waist, tapping his long, snakelike fingers against his sides.
He kept his gaze on me and took a step toward me. Then another.
I took a deep breath. And held it.
This is it, I realized.
Showdown time.
22
My legs started to shake.
I struggled to breathe. Raising my fists, I prepared for a fight.
But to my surprise, the imp stopped halfway toward me.
His smile faded. His dark eyes burned into mine. Slowly, he raised his right hand. And pointed a long, bony finger at me.
He just stood there, glaring at me. His finger pointed at my throat.
We stood frozen like that for a long, long time.
And then the ratlike creature opened his mouth and whispered one word: “ Later .”
He spun away—and started to run. His bare feetmade loud slapping noises on the hard floor. His body bounced heavily over his slender, running legs.
“Oh.” A soft
My parents were coming to the concert tonight straight from work.
Teri didn’t answer. She moved her music stand so that she could turn her back to me. She started playing scales on her clarinet really loud.
“Okay, okay. I can take a hint,” I said. I grabbed her shoulder and forced her to stop playing.
“The imp isn’t going to hurt you just because youtalk to me,” I said. “I’m the one who challenged the imp—not you. I’m the one who’s in trouble.”
“Sam, you don’t know what you’re saying,” she said. She kept her back to me. “Look at all the trouble you’ve caused. No one feels safe now. Why did you have to stir things up?”
“I … I just want things to be normal,” I said. “I don’t see why everyone in this school—”
“The imp is going to do something horrible at the concert tonight,” Teri said. “I know he is. And it will be all your fault.”
“But if we all join together—” I started to say. “If we find out who it is and stand up to him … ”
She raised her clarinet to her mouth and began playing scales again.
I let out a sigh. Then I started to warm up again.
Usually, playing my saxophone relaxes me. But not today. I had a tight knot in my throat. I could barely blow hard enough to make a sound.
“As you know, the concert begins at eight o’clock,” Mr. Kelly said at the end of practice. “But you should all be here by seven-thirty.”
I glanced at the clock. It was a quarter to five. Not much time.
I had to hurry home, grab some dinner, and change. Mom said she’d leave food for me to warm up in the microwave.
In a way, I was glad Mom and Dad weren’t goingto be home. Things had been a little tense at my house ever since I told them about the imp.
My parents kept watching me all the time, as if trying to decide if I had totally lost it or not.
“Good luck tonight,” Mr. Kelly said. He glanced at me as he said it. “Have a good concert, people.”
Everyone started to pack up. I stayed in my chair, holding on to my sax as if holding on to a life preserver.
I made no attempt to move as Mr. Kelly walked over to me. His eyes locked on mine. “Sam? Are you going to be okay?” he asked softly.
I shrugged. “I guess,” I said.
He cleared his throat. He glanced tensely at the band room door. “If you think you should stay home tonight, I’ll understand,” he said.
I let out an angry cry. “You’re afraid, too?” I screamed. “Well, forget about me staying home. I’ll be here at seven-thirty sharp.”
His mouth dropped open in surprise.
I stomped out of the room without even putting away my horn. My hands were clenched into tight fists. I could feel the anger making my face grow hot.
I made my way down the stairs two at a time.
I hurried down the hall. Turned the corner—and saw the imp standing in front of my locker.
A cold smile spread over his face as he saw me. He uncurled his back until he stood straight up,all three feet of him. He pressed his hands against his fury waist, tapping his long, snakelike fingers against his sides.
He kept his gaze on me and took a step toward me. Then another.
I took a deep breath. And held it.
This is it, I realized.
Showdown time.
22
My legs started to shake.
I struggled to breathe. Raising my fists, I prepared for a fight.
But to my surprise, the imp stopped halfway toward me.
His smile faded. His dark eyes burned into mine. Slowly, he raised his right hand. And pointed a long, bony finger at me.
He just stood there, glaring at me. His finger pointed at my throat.
We stood frozen like that for a long, long time.
And then the ratlike creature opened his mouth and whispered one word: “ Later .”
He spun away—and started to run. His bare feetmade loud slapping noises on the hard floor. His body bounced heavily over his slender, running legs.
“Oh.” A soft
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