Read Bubble in the Bathtub for Free Online Page B

red-lacquered fingernail across the stamp. Then she stuck the fingernail in her mouth, which was just a narrow crack in her taut face. She smacked her lips. And then both her eyebrows shot up.
    â€œWell, shiver my timbers,” she whispered.
    â€œHuh?” Nilly said.
    â€œI’ll buy it. How much do you want for it?”
    â€œNot much,” Nilly said. “Just enough for the plane tickets to … Ouch!”
    He shot an irritated look at Lisa, who had kicked him in the shin.
    â€œSeven hundred dollars,” Lisa said.
    â€œYou cat-o’-nine-tails!” the woman shouted in outrage. “Seven hundred for a stamp with a picture of a dreary, dead French president?”
    â€œOkay, five hundr—” Nilly started, but yelped as he was kicked in the shin yet again.
    â€œSeven hundred, right now. Otherwise we’re leaving,” Lisa said.
    â€œFive hundred plus a clock for each of you,” the woman said. “For example, this clock that runs slow. Specially made for people who have too much to do. Or this one that runs fast, for people who are bored.”
    â€œYes!” Nilly cried.
    â€œNo!” Lisa said. “Seven hundred. And if you don’t accept in the next five seconds, the price goes up to eight hundred.”
    The woman gave Lisa a look of rage. She openedher mouth, about to say something, but stopped when she saw the look on Lisa’s face. Then she sighed, rolled her eyes and spit out a resigned, “Fine, you keelhauling, barnacle-baiting urchin.”
    The woman disappeared behind the curtain on her roller skate and returned with a wad of cash, which she handed to Nilly. He licked his right thumb and started counting the bills.
    â€œI hope you can add,” the woman mumbled.
    â€œSimple math,” Nilly said. “Twenty-five twenties plus two old hundred dollar bills. That’s seven hundred. Thank you for your business, Miss …?”
    â€œMy name’s Raspa,” the woman said, with a thin, cautious smile, as if she were afraid her face would rip if her smile were any bigger.
    â€œAnd what are your names, my dear children?”
    â€œNilly and Lisa,” Nilly said, and handed the money to Lisa, who stuffed it into a pocket in her school knapsack.
    â€œWell then, Nilly and Lisa, I’ll throw in these gold watches.”
    She dangled two gleaming watches in front of them.
    â€œCool!” Nilly said, grabbing for one of them, but Raspa pulled it back again.
    â€œFirst I have to set the time for the time zone you’re going to,” she said. “So where are you headed?”
    â€œParis!” Nilly gushed. “The capital of France … Ouch!”
    His eyes bulged from the pain.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry. Did I hit your leg?” Lisa asked. “Let me see it. Did I leave a bruise?”
    She leaned over toward Nilly and snarled softly into his ear so that Raspa couldn’t hear, “The postcard warned us not to say anything about where we were going!”
    â€œSo sue me,” Nilly mumbled crossly.
    â€œAh, Paris,” the woman sneered, showing a row of sharp white teeth. “I was there once. A lovely city.”
    â€œNah, it’s not that great,” Nilly grunted, rubbing his leg. “Actually, we changed our minds. We’re not going there after all.”
    â€œReally? Why not?” Raspa laughed hoarsely.
    â€œToo dangerous. I hear the rivers in Paris are full of soggy, wet, venomous platypuses shaking water all over people.”
    Raspa leaned down closer to Nilly and breathed her rotten-meat-and-stinky-sock-breath on him, “Well, then, good thing these gold watches are watertight.”
    â€œW-w-watertight?” said Nilly, who had never ever stuttered before in his whole life.
    â€œYes,” Raspa whispered, so softly that they could hear all the clocks in the shop ticking. “Which means that you can swim underwater with them. And wear them in the