Free Tarantula Toes by Beverly Lewis Page B

hope not.” She wiped her forehead. “I really do.”
    At breakfast, Jason and his parents talked even more. All about the spider.
    â€œHe needs cork bark to climb on,” Jason said.
    â€œWe’ll buy some today,” Dad said. “Crickets too.”
    â€œI’ll dig for earthworms after lunch,”Jason suggested. “A tasty treat for a tarantula.”
    â€œGood thinking,” Mother said. She wrinkled up her nose. The subject of worms was a no-no at the table.
    â€œUh . . . sorry, Mom,” Jason said.
    â€œIt would be much better if we talk after we eat,” she said.
    A wink came from Jason’s father.
    And Jason understood.
    But gross stuff didn’t bother him. Not one bit. Worms or crickets, spiders and frogs were just fine.
    Any old time!

THREE
    The ride downtown took forever.
    Rush. Faster. Hurry . . . hurry , thought Jason.
    Even the light stayed red too long.
    Jitter, jitter. Jump, jerk . Jason couldn’t sit still.
    â€œExcited?” asked his dad.
    â€œPinktoes comes home today!” Jason said.
    Then he spied the pet shop sign.
    His father parked the car. “Have you told your friends yet?” he asked.
    â€œI told only two.”
    â€œBoys?” His father was grinning.
    â€œI told Dunkum and Eric. They promised not to tell it around,” Jason explained.
    â€œSo it’s a secret?”
    â€œA super-spider super-secret!” Jason said. He leaped out of the car and raced to the pet store.
    Inside, a large glass tank was waiting. A tiny tan spider was perched in the corner.
    Pinktoes was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œWhere’s my spider?” Jason wailed.
    The clerk hurried over. “May I help you?”
    â€œWhere’s Pinktoes?”
    â€œWait one moment,” said the clerk.
    Jason took off his glasses and twirled them on his finger. He jittered and jived.
    â€œSomeone bought my spider,” he fussed. “Bought him out from under my nose!”
    His father shook his head. “Don’t worry, son. Here comes the store owner.”

    A tall man smiled at them. “We’re getting more pink-toed tarantulas in on Monday.”
    â€œ Two more days? That’s way too long,” Jason said.
    â€œSorry about the wait,” the man said. “I’ll be happy to put your name on one.”
    â€œ My name?” Jason looked at his dad.
    â€œHe means he’ll save one for you,” his father explained.
    â€œOh . . . sure, that would be great!” Jason burst out.
    But he didn’t feel great inside.
    Nope.
    Dunkum and Eric would never believe this. They’d think he was fooling about getting a super-spider. They’d say he was making it all up.
    â€œWe’ll be back on Monday,” Jason’s father said.
    â€œRight after school,” added Jason. “And not a minute later!”
    His father nodded.
    The pet store owner waved.
    And Jason scuffed his feet to the car.

    The ride home went too fast.
    All green lights.
    Phooey .
    Jason scooted down in the front seat. He didn’t want Dunkum and Eric to see him. Not without Pinktoes.
    How will I tell them? he thought.
    Then he had an idea. He’d say that Pinktoes was crawling home. He’d say that the tarantula was last seen headed this way. A big, black tarantula was on the loose. Headed for Blossom Hill Lane!
    That’s what Jason decided.
    It was a whoppin’ big lie.
    But Dunkum and Eric would be scared silly.

FOUR
    The car was hardly in the driveway.
    Here came Dunkum and Eric, running.
    Rats! thought Jason.
    Dunkum called to him from behind a tree. “Where’s your big, mean spider?” he said.
    Jason glanced over at his dad. He didn’t want him to hear what he was going to say.
    â€œHello, boys,” his dad said, waving at Dunkum and Eric. Then he went inside the house.
    Jason got out of the car. He stood tall.Now he could tell his made-up story.
    â€œI thought you were buying a hairy