Free Claudia And The Terrible Truth by Ann M. Martin Page B

that they peeped out at the audience. A "rainbow" made of crepe paper fluttered over the scene.
    "Look at the Polly's Fine Candy Float!" called Nicky. "I wish we were marching behind them." The candy store had sponsored a float with clowns in green costumes. Each clown carried a huge basket of candy, which he or she would toss to the crowd by the handful.
    "That other float is boring," pointed out Charlotte.
    I had to agree. Several beauty shops from Stoneybrook and neighboring towns had grouped together to sponsor a float featuring Miss Teenage Stoneybrook, Little Miss Connecticut, and a bunch of other pageant winners. They weren't doing anything, as Charlotte had noticed. They just sat on their platforms, dressed in their perfect, princess-y dresses, ready to wave at their adoring public. I had a feeling the clowns would be much more popular.
    The siren sounded again, and Abby shooed us into place. It was time to march. The kids stepped out proudly, and we baby-sitters marched alongside, trying to look inconspicuous as we kept an eye on our charges.
    I scanned the crowd as we marched through downtown Stoneybrook, hoping to catch sight of Joey or Nate if they happened to be at the parade. A few of the kids had asked where they were, and I'd explained that they had other plans and couldn't march. Fd been hoping that those "other plans" I'd invented included watching the parade. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case. If they were there, I didn't spot them. And, even though I ended up enjoying the parade, I never did stop wondering how Joey and Nate were doing.
    Chapter 13.
    "Claudia? This is Erica Blumberg. I wanted to ask you something. Didn't you used to baby-sit for the Nicholls boys?" I sat down on my bed, gripping the phone.
    "Claudia?" For just a second, I couldn't speak. Somehow, I knew mat this call meant that something had happened to Joey and Nate. Erica is a level-headed, responsible girl I know from school. She wouldn't be calling unless something was really wrong.
    It was the Tuesday after the parade. I still hadn't had any contact with the Nicholls boys. And Mrs. Nicholls was still avoiding my mother at work. Especially after the caseworker from the Department of Children and Youth Services called her. The only marginally good thing I'd heard was from Stacey, who'd seen Joey and Nate at Stoneybrook Elementary when she picked up Charlotte from school on Monday afternoon. Stacey had said that the boys looked fine.
    But now, Erica was calling me and a tone in her voice made me feel weak in the knees.
    "Sure," I said, finally answering her. "I sat for them several times." "That's what they told me. Anyway, I guess — um — well, I've sat for them three times." Erica's voice was hushed. “And I'm sitting for them today. The boys are up in their room. So I wanted to ask you — did you notice anything weird about this family?" "Weird?" I echoed. My heart was thudding around in my chest. "Erica, has something happened?" "I'm not sure," Erica said carefully. "I mean, the first time I baby-sat here I thought everything was fine. I thought they were just a normal family. But then I heard Mr. Nicholls yelling, and then today —" She broke off.
    "What?" I asked. "What happened?" I knew my voice sounded panicky. I tried to calm down. I didn't want to frighten Erica.
    "It's just that" — Erica lowered her voice so that I could barely hear her — "when I arrived, Mr. Nicholls told me that the boys were being punished, and that they were in their room. I was supposed to just stay downstairs and leave them alone. But after awhile, I heard crying from up there and I had to see what was wrong,” 'And?" I asked.
    "Claudia, when I saw them, I —" "What?" "Joey has a black eye. And Nate has some bruises on his arm." She said it all in one quick rush.
    "Oh, my lord." I closed my eyes tight and drew in a breath.
    "It may not