Read The Hidden Boy for Free Online Page B

found,” she said when she had recovered her tongue. “I don’t know much about it, but he must be on the chart, mustn’t he, Captain? Have a little bite to eat; it will keep your strength up. Some potatoes, dear? Who’d like a slice of pie?”
    â€œHow about you, Gabby?” said Pa with a wink. Gabby said nothing.
    Mrs. Miller served everyone around the table at a spectacular pace, and though she had only two hands and a couple of large serving spoons, Bea was sure that most of the food distributed itself under Mrs. Miller’s instruction. “More soup?” she said, and the soup level in Pa’s bowl rose while the level in the tureen fell a little. Dollops of steaming cabbage leaped onto the plates as soon as they were offered, and when Phoebe wrinkled up her nose at the sight of it, her dollop jumped back hastily into the dish. Bea lifted the cloth and looked under the table to see if there were magnets or pulleys or something. She saw only knees. She looked at the empty chair across the table from her, and suddenly she was too tired to wonder about it anymore.
    â€œHad enough?” said Mrs. Miller, who missed nothing. “I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping. The bedshave just been made up fresh. Up the stairs with you, this way, watch your head.”
    Bea was almost too tired to undress. She expected to fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, but sleep didn’t come so easily. The bed was softer than she was accustomed to, and the mattress sagged under her in an alarming way. Strange squeaks and hoots came from the forest outside her window, punctuated by the slow, rhythmic creeeak…squik…creeeak…squik of the house as it swayed gently in the treetop. She held Theo’s backpack close to her under the blanket. She had opened the zipper slightly to give the meerkat air, but she was afraid to let him out.
    The events of the night swirled around and around in her head. The busmarine, the car wash, the awful sucking pop of her little brother’s disappearance, the unwelcoming welcome committee in the office above the library, Mrs. Miller and her obedient supper. She almost felt angry at Theo for spoiling what should have been an extraordinary start to a holiday, but as soon as the thought entered her head a lump appeared in her throat and she had to squeeze her eyes shut. She hugged the backpack closer, and drifted into a restless sleep.
    She found herself at home in her familiar bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed. The room was smallersomehow. The floor felt soft and spongy beneath her feet.
    â€œWhat am I going to do now?” said Theo’s voice. It sounded just as she had heard it from the Squeak Jar, but without all the background noise.
    â€œTheo?” she said. “Where are you?”
    â€œHere.”
    â€œAre you hiding under the bed?” said Bea. She was afraid to look between her ankles. “It’s not funny. Everyone’s looking for you.”
    â€œWhat would I be doing under the bed?” said Theo. She could tell he wasn’t lying, and she got the uncomfortable feeling that he might be somewhere outside the window, even though they lived on the third floor. Or was it the thirtieth? She couldn’t quite remember.
    â€œAre we going back to the busmarine soon?” said Theo’s voice. “I left Nails there.”
    â€œNails is with me,” said Bea. She had a flash of inspiration. “If you can tell me where you are I’ll bring him to you.”
    There was a pause. “Is this a game? Do you have him hidden?”
    â€œYes,” said Bea. “Nobody else knows. Can you tell me where you are?”
    â€œUmmmm,” said Theo, “on holiday?”
    Bea felt frustration rising in her. She didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. “What does the place look like? It’s not like a…like a big glass jar or anything?”
    There was a splutter of