Free Fabulous Five 025 - The Fabulous Five Minus One by Betsy Haynes Page A

be more fun than she could have imagined.
    All of the friends she had and the things she liked to do
would be erased from her life when she moved. Why should she keep trying so
hard to make good grades when she'd be gone in less than six weeks? It made
more sense to kick back and enjoy herself, the way Chase did.
    Christie was surprised when Mr. Dracovitch said, "That's
it for today, students. I'll see you on Wednesday." She looked at her
watch. How had the class gone so quickly?
    "Christie," called Mr. Dracovitch as she headed
toward the door. "Can I see you a moment?
    "You didn't seem to be with us today, Christie. Is there
something I can help you with?"
    "No, sir."
    "Is the class interesting to you?"
    "Oh, yes, sir. Very interesting. I really like the way
you teach it. I guess I just had something on my mind today. "
    "Fine. If there's anything you can think of to make it
more interesting, let me know."
    "Thank you. I will."
     
    "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. W," Chase said cheerfully. "I
want to tell you how sorry I am that I got Christie home late again Saturday.
We really meant to be on time."
    "It's nice of you to mention it," said Mrs. Winchell.
    "Things like that happen," said Mr. Winchell
jovially. "It's great to see the two of you studying instead of messing
around the way some kids do."
    "Yeah, they should be more serious about what they do.
After all, we kids are going to have to run this country one of these days."
    Christie looked at Chase in surprise. It didn't sound like
him.
    Christie's mother was impressed. "That's a very mature
attitude, Chase."
    He shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say?"
    "Did you get your history test back?" Christie
asked as they sat down at the kitchen table to study.
    "Yeah. I aced it, like I said I would. Now, if I can
just get my math and English scores up. Hey, do you know what the teacher
spanked the student with?"
    "No."
    "The board of education," he said, deadpan.
    Christie laughed and made a face. "That's really bad,
Chase."
    "I know, but did you hear this one?"
    Chase told jokes until Christie couldn't stand it anymore
and made him settle down to study.

CHAPTER 11
    "Look out. Here come the PUKES," said Beth, her
voice low.
    The Fabulous Five were sitting in the cafeteria, making
plans to meet that night for a movie and pizza with their boyfriends.
    Christie looked up to see Richie, Clarence, Joel, and Matt
carrying their trays to the return.
    "Hey, Christie," called Joel. "Have you guys
in PEAK come up with any great new scientific discoveries yet?"
    "I heard they're studying about water in the PEAK
class," said Clarence. "I knew about water when I was a little kid,
only I called it 'wa wa' then."
    "The PEAKs used to know about water, too,"
chimed in Richie, "but what they knew ran out the other end of their
brains when they learned something else. That's how being smart works."
    Christie tried to ignore the boys.
    "It's better being one of the PEAKs than one of the
PUKES any old day," said Beth angrily. Christie wished Beth hadn't said
it.
    "The what?" asked Richie.
    "PUKES. That's all you guys are, anyway."
    The boys looked at each other. "What are PUKES?"
asked Joel.
    "People U Kant Even Stand," replied Beth
sharply.
    "Hey, that's neat!" said Clarence. "We oughta
get T-shirts that say PUKES on them. What do you think, guys?"
    "How do you spell can't? " asked Matt with a
frown on his face.
    "Who cares?" said Clarence. The boys walked off
talking about the T-shirts they were going to have made.
    "I can't believe this," said Christie, putting her
hand over her eyes.
     
    "How come you missed swim practice again, Chase?"
Tony asked. It was Friday night, and The Fabulous Five were sitting in Mama Mia's
eating pizza with their boyfriends.
    "I had something else I had to do. Did Coach say
anything?"
    "He just asked if anyone knew where you were,"
answered Shane. "I don't think he likes it when someone misses and doesn't
tell him."
    "No sweat," said Chase. "I missed practices
in San Diego,