Free Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman

her,” Robert said. “We need to get back in that attic.”
    “I thought you already tried,” Glenn said. “You told me you couldn’t find it.”
    “That’s true,” Robert told him. “But I think I know someone who can.” He glanced at the clock. There were just fifteen minutes until lunch ended, and then there was a mandatory school assembly to discuss the disappearance of the Price twins. Apparently a police officer was coming to give a lecture on stranger danger. “We better go now if we’re going to make it.”
    The boys grabbed their backpacks and left the computer lab. Out in the hallway, two teachers were speaking in low whispers. They stopped talking as the boys approached. Their eyes seemed full of mistrust. One of the teachers brought out his cell phone and punched in a number.
    “Don’t panic,” Glenn whispered, clapping Robert on the shoulder, like they were two old pals taking a friendly stroll. “Just keep moving.”
    From out of nowhere, Mr. Loomis shoved his way between them. “Glenn Torkells!” he exclaimed. “What did I tell you about hitting Robert?”
    “Me?” Glenn asked. “What?”
    “Last time, you got a warning. This time, it’s a suspension. Come on, I’m taking you straight to the principal’s office.”
    “Mr. Loomis, it’s okay,” Robert said. “Glenn and I are friends now.”
    Mr. Loomis looked exasperated. “Stop protecting him, Robert. If he doesn’t get punished, he’s never going to leave you alone.”
    “I’m not lying this time, I promise.”
    Mr. Loomis crossed his arms over his chest. “All right, fine. You’re friends? Prove it.”
    Prove it? Robert didn’t know how to prove it. What did Loomis want them to do? Shake hands? Hug?
    Glenn cleared his throat. “Uh, I had dinner atRobert’s house last night? And his mother still cuts his spaghetti into little pieces. Like he’s four years old. But I didn’t make fun of him, because we’re friends.”
    Robert thought this was a weird thing to say. Didn’t everyone serve spaghetti cut into little pieces? Because it was easier to eat that way?
    “Well, here’s something you don’t know about Glenn,” Robert told Mr. Loomis. “On the way to school this morning, he decided to rescue ten thousand worms. He picks them off the sidewalk after rainstorms and moves them to the grass so they don’t bake in the sun. I thought it was a little weird, but since we’re friends now
I
didn’t say anything.”
    Mr. Loomis looked from one boy to the other, astonished. “You really
are
friends, aren’t you? How the heck did that happen?”
    “Can we tell you later?” Robert asked. “We need to get to the library before the assembly starts.”
    “Fine,” Mr. Loomis said, stepping aside. “I hope you find some good books. Have fun.”
    The boys hurried on their way.
    When they arrived at the library, Ms. Lavinia was in her usual perch at the circulation desk. She saw the boys enter, picked up her telephone, and whispered a few words before hanging up.
    Robert and Glenn had to walk past her to reach the fiction section.
    “Can I help you find something?” she asked.
    “Just looking,” Robert said.
    He turned down the nearest aisle, following it until they were out of Ms. Lavinia’s line of sight.
    “What now?” Glenn asked.
    Robert knelt down and unzipped his backpack. Pip and Squeak scrambled out onto the floor. “Guys, we need your help. You have to take us to the attic. Can you do that?”
    Pip and Squeak cringed. After escaping the attic via Robert’s backpack, it was clear they didn’t want to return.
    “Please, guys,” Robert said. “I know it’s not safe there, but we’re not safe here, either. We need to go back.”
    Pip and Squeak chattered at each other for a few moments, as if they were actually debating the decision. It seemed like Pip was willing to go, but Squeak needed some persuading. Finally they turned and set off down the aisle.
    “Come on,” Robert told Glenn. “They’re