Mr Franks touched the glass at the top of the terrarium I had him for almost ten years before he died he said in a soft voice Ring The bell School was over thank goodness I picked up my science book my notebook and my pencil Good-bye school hello bike ride 10
Chapter 2 Choosing a Trail I ran out the classroom door and down the hallway to the coat hook with my backpack on it I shoved my books notebooks and pencils inside My backpack was full to the top now that everything was in it After I got home I would dump everything out and add a water bottle and a snack for my ride Josh’s coat hook was on the other side of the hallway It was just like our houses His house was on one side of the street and mine was on the other I put on my backpack and walked over Where do you want to ride bikes after school 11
We rode the Dog Walker’s Trail yesterday so let’s go somewhere else said Josh as we walked down the hallway It was jammed with kids making their getaway from school We reached the middle of the hallway and there was Miss Know-It-All Megan talking with her friends Megan smiled at Josh Hey Josh she said Hey said Josh and the girls standing around Megan giggled What’s that about I asked as we walked away Josh shrugged Who knows Girls I said and then changed the subject What about the Ridge Trail It was up on the ridge of the hills so it felt like you were riding at the top of the world We walked out the front door of the school There were kids and parents everywhere No not that one said Josh 12
What about the Hidden Trail I said That trail was hard to see from the road It was the longest one so we usually saved it for the weekends But today was different At the bus stop this morning your mom said she would be home late That would give us time to ride the whole trail Josh turned to dodge a kid riding his bicycle home If Mom is going to be late we can ride over to the rock pit and look for fossils said Josh A trip to the rock pit was too long for a school day but I didn’t say anything We walked down the sidewalk past a long line of yellow school buses Our bus was second to last Our bus driver Henry was standing in front of the bus talking to another driver Josh and I climbed up the steps into the bus I liked to sit by the window so I could look outside And Josh always wanted to be on the aisle to see everyone so it was perfect 13
