Chapter ONE MUSIC HALL MYSTERY Paisley Atoms rolled up her pants to show off the scab on her shin Some girls at school like Whitney Raelynn said scabs were icky-sicky but Paisley saw them as a badge of honor She sort of hoped it would leave a cool scar at least for a little while said Ahem Whitney-Raelynn staring at Paisley She pointed at the scab and pretended to gag dramatically If she wanted a reaction Paisley wasn’t biting She just flashed a friendly smile She also smiled at Mrs Decibel as she waltzed into the music room her long dress swishing and her charm bracelet clanging 7
Mrs Decibel once won an award for Best Dressed at Roarington Elementary Today’s dress was especially award-winning Rosalind swiveled her wheelchair to get a better look at the embroidered musical notes on the puffy dress Paisley noted that while Mrs Decibel dressed elegantly her hair and her facial expression didn’t quite match The music teacher’s hair was up in a bun and it was messy like Paisley’s only unlike Paisley’s it usually didn’t look that way Suki raised her hand and before Mrs Decibel could call on her she blurted out What’s the deal with your outfit Yeah are you about to get married to a conductor or something Arjun asked I’m already married My MaestraSingers group is about to perform with the orchestra but I’m not sure it will be so special Mrs Decibel tugged at her bun and frowned Will you please move that xylophone off of the risers Suki she added I’m Sumi 8
Mrs Decibel glanced at Suki and then at her identical twin sister Sumi They were hard to tell apart Ben could get it right most of the time but Paisley was correct at identifying them a hundred percent of the time Sorry to confuse you two Mrs Decibel said I’m actually Sumi the real Sumi said with a grin I just can’t help myself Suki giggled as she moved the xylophone out of the way She clanged one of the keys loudly by accident Arjun held his hands over his ears Ow My ears are ringing now I think you fractured my stapes he said Paisley and Ben both knew the stapes was the bone in the middle of the ears of humans and mammals that conducts the sound vibrations to the inner ear It paid off that Paisley’s dad was a biologist Normally Mrs Decibel would’ve laughed at the students antics but she just pulled a few more strands of hair out of her bun Okay okay Let’s begin our exercises for today Mrs Decibel said 9
