Free The Secret School by Avi Page B

me to go to anymore, 'cause, see, no one who likes schooling would be able to show up at that meeting because they wouldn't know about it?"
    Ida's heart started hammering. "Herbert, when's a body to suppose that meeting would take place?"
    "I guess he'd suppose it'd be tomorrow evening, seven sharp. At the schoolhouse. That's what."
    "Herbert Bixler, is that what
you
suppose?"
    "I do, Miss Bidson," Herbert returned with a grin. "I surely do."
    "And what would you do about it?"
    "I don't exactly know, but if I was you, I'd do
something.
Make sure the right people show up."
    "Herbert Bixler," said Ida, smiling, "I do like you. I truly do."
    Not looking at her, Herbert poked at his feet. "Better than Tom?"
    Ida blushed, scooped up some water, and flung it at him. "Shooo!" she cried.
    Herbert laughed, jumped up, and ran away.
    Momentarily Ida looked after him, then grabbed Shelby's hand. "Come on. "We got a whole lot of work to do."

Fifteen
    "M A , P A !" I DA CRIED , as she rushed into the barn, Shelby in her arms. "Mr. Jordan's called a school board meeting for tomorrow evening without telling people. It's to make sure the school stays shut down."
    "Now hold on," her father said, "if he didn't tell, how'd you know?" He and Mrs. Bidson were shearing sheep. Mrs. Bidson was holding them steady while Mr. Bidson did the clipping.
    Breathless, Ida explained about Herbert's visit and what he had said.
    "That doesn't seem very fair," Mrs. Bidson said when Ida had finished.
    "I have to tell everyone that it's happening," Ida said. "Get people to come to the meeting. And it's tomorrow night. Oh, why can't we have a telephone like they do in town?"
    "Honey, there's not one soul in the valley that has a telephone."
    Mr. and Mrs. Bidson released the sheep they had been shearing. For a moment he just stood there as if not sure what had happened to him. Then, with a shake of his head and a bleat, he bolted off.
    "Can I take the car and go now? With Felix?"
    "Ida, there's so much going on right—"
    "Please," Ida cried, her eyes filling with tears. "This is the most important thing in my whole life! This summer, after school, all day, all the time, I'll work double hard. Triple hard. I'll take care of—"
    "Ida," her mother interrupted sharply, "your pa's not trying to drive a bargain. You can see what's going on. You're needed here."
    "I'm sorry," Ida managed, gazing at her parents, her tears streaming. "Please,
please,
" she implored, "I have to tell people about the meeting. I have to. Can I go,
please?
"
    Mr. and Mrs. Bidson exchanged looks. Finally Mrs. Bidson said, "Course you can."
    "And don't you worry," Mr. Bidson added. "We'll get to the meeting, too. When did you say it was?"
    "Tomorrow night," Ida said, thrusting the baby into her mother's arms, then flying out of the barn. "Felix! I need you! Felix!"
    Felix was behind the house, stacking small logs for the kitchen stove. She grabbed his hand and raced for the car.
    "What's the matter?" Felix asked as they drove down the long driveway.
    Ida explained as best she could. "And we have to tell everyone in the valley," she concluded.
    "Maybe Tom could put it on his radio," Felix suggested.
    "I don't think it works that way," she said. Then, in a burst of inspiration, she cried, "But he could print us up a circular. Come on! Clutch and gas!"
    Â 
    "Ah, ja, it's Ida and Felix Bidson," Tom's mother said, greeting the two of them at the porch door, apron around her waist, hands white with flour. She was a short, heavyset woman, with plump red cheeks. "Not seen you for the age of the dog. Though, you know, I hear all about you,
Ida, from our own Tom. You two come right on in. My pleasure. And your mother, she is good?"
    "They're fine. Mrs. Kohl, I'm looking for Tom. I have to speak to him right away."
    "Sure you do. Miss Ida, Tom says you are always doing fine things at the school. Being the good teacher, he says."
    "Mrs. Kohl," Ida said, unable to contain her excitement, "something