Read Online The BEDMAS Conspiracy by Deborah Sherman - Free Book Online

how they feel about school.”
    â€œHe didn’t even write the song!” I said.
    But it didn’t matter. I looked around and took in the whole scene. Joe and Anil were drawing up basketball plays for Olaf. Janine cornered Meena and demanded to be told Olaf’s whereabouts. A bunch of grade sevens walked by wearing the same type of oversized sunglasses Olaf wore onstage. Eldrick was right. Olaf was the most popular guy in school!
    â€œYour band is good,” said Eldrick. “But your Swedish singer makes it great. We voted for you because of Olaf. All the girls love him and the guys think he’s super cool. Who will support you at the District Donnybrook if there’s no Olaf ? No one from Wilcott will show up and cheer for you and you know it. In fact, everyone will be really mad if they find out you duped them. You’ll have no chance of winning the District Donnybrook if you don’t have the school behind you.”
    Eldrick had me trapped.
    I tried a new tactic. “You would blow Daniela’s cover? You would really do that to her?”
    â€œI really want to be in this band,” he answered simply.
    I still wasn’t positive if he would rat us out, but I had no way of knowing for sure. I played my last card. “We’ve already written all of our material and there are no triangle solos.”
    â€œDon’t care,” said Eldrick, smiling. “I’m an auxiliary percussionist . I can play a bunch of instruments.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I could see something yellow and blue flying from the school flagpole—the Swedish national flag.
    I sighed. Eldrick was in.

A s I headed to band practice, I debated what to tell Daniela, Sludge, and the Z’s. I didn’t want to admit I had been blackmailed.
    Triangles—they’re the new electric guitars. Too much!
    Triangles—I wanted to funk up the band for the Donnybrook. Not believable enough.
    An auxiliary percussionist will add layers to our sound. Maybe. It was just technical enough to sound believable.
    As it turned out, I didn’t need any excuses. Eldrick was already there, holding court with the rest of Sick on a Snow Day. They must have assumed that the two of us had solved our differences.
    â€œGreat idea—” started Beena.
    â€œâ€”to add an auxiliary percussionist,” finished Meena.
    Eldrick smiled shyly.
    â€œThe more instruments, the merrier,” agreed Sludge.
    They were still riding high from our victory.
    â€œNice,” whispered Daniela in my ear. “I’m glad you two have made up. I knew he wouldn’t have turned you in on purpose.”
    I gritted my teeth and nodded.
    â€œI’ve been thinking about our name,” said Eldrick, gaining confidence. “It kind of lacks pizzazz , doesn’t it?”
    Sludge and the Z’s nodded vigorously. Daniela shot Eldrick a look. For once, he was smart enough to shut up.
    â€œListen,” I told the band. “I only have an hour, so we’d better make it count.”
    â€œHot date?” grinned Sludge.
    â€œWith a dictionary. I need to ace the next spelling test, but I just can’t get my head around these stupid I’s and E’s. Who really cares? Ugh . And I’ll be eighty by the time I figure out the way to spell because .”
    The Z’s nodded in sympathy.
    â€œIf only I could remember the word list as easily as I remember our lyrics!” I joked.
    Eldrick reached into his pocket and retrieved this week’s word list. “ Neighbour, weigh, friend, receive, dessert, because… ”
    â€œWhy am I not surprised?” I mumbled to no one in particular.
    â€œMeena, Beena, when I got in here you guys were messing around with a few chords on your guitars. Can you play them again?”
    The Z’s grabbed their instruments and began to play. It sounded pretty good. Eldrick glanced down at his word list and cleared his throat. Daniela