CHAPTER ONE I have to water the plants Max told Gary and Kevin Young And look there are some smudges on the window I have to clean them Max rushed across the lobby of the apartment building to his supply closet Then he stopped And don’t forget he told the boys if someone complains that his front-door key doesn’t work tell him to jiggle it 9
Max is the doorman and fix-it man of the building He was getting ready to leave for a short vacation He was going by train to visit his brother George Max came out of the closet carrying a watering can and a rag Max gave Kevin the watering can and said Please wipe the smudges off the windows With this Kevin asked Oh Max said I must be nervous I’m always nervous before I go on vacation He took the watering can from Kevin and gave him the rag You know Gary said as Max was watering the plants when I’m older I’m going to be an inventor I’ll invent windows that don’t smudge And I’ll grow camel plants You know camels can travel days without needing water Well my camel plants won’t need water for a long time either An inventor Max said Last week you were going to be a bank teller Before 10
that it was a lawyer and a plumber Bank tellers count money all day After a while that gets boring Gary said The smudges are all gone Kevin said as he handed the rag to Max The elevator door opened Donna and Diane Shelton got off the elevator with their younger brother Howie and their mother Howie ran across the lobby Hi Max Howie said We’re taking you to the train station Are you ready Mrs Shelton asked My sister’s train is getting in at three-thirty I don’t want to be late Yes I’m ready I just have to get my coat and suitcase Max walked into the supply closet Then he stopped and looked up This light bulb has burned out I have to change it It can wait until you come back Mrs Shelton said If we get there late my sister will worry 11
