Free The Secret of Ferrell Savage by J. Duddy Gill & Sonia Chaghatzbanian Page A

you forget to finish your homework, it is hard to find. But before I had a chance to explain, she smiled and winked at me. “You’re fine, Ferrell,” she whispered, and indicated a seat toward the back.
    There were some parts to this whole hero business I was going to miss.
    Then, when I click-clacked to my seat, Jack Coolahan stood up, so he could see my feet better.
    â€œHey! Are those Big Bertha Spikes?” he asked. The whole class tilted in their seats to get a better look.
    â€œYeah,” I said.
    â€œI didn’t realize you were a golfer as well as a sled racer,” Mrs. Beaker said.
    â€œI’m not either one, actually,” I answered.
    Several kids nodded their approval of my shoes. I even heard Jack saying he was going to wear his golf shoes the next day.
    I took the empty seat across from Littledood. “Hey,” I whispered when I sat down.
    He kept his gaze straight ahead, as if he hadn’t heard me, so I tapped my foot toward him. I dropped my pencil in the aisle. I even went, “Psst, Littledood.” Nothing. So I tore off a tiny piece of paper, wrote “Race is on” on it, and tossed it toward him. The little ball of paper hit him in the hand and bounced smack-dab in the middle of his desk. But he didn’t budge.
    As I watched, his eyes turned slowly down toward the top of his desk. He carefully opened the paper wad with the same hand that had been hit. Barely moving at all, he flattened the paper with two fingers, appeared to read it, and in one quick swoop, he tossed the paper into his mouth and proceeded to chew it up and swallow it.
    He sure was dedicated to drama and secrecy.
    After class, when everyone was shuffling around and getting their assignments together, I said to Littledood, “Hey, what did you do all that for?”
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. And then he pulled me by my sleeve to a quiet spot and whispered, “It is in your and Mary’s best interests not to tell anyone of our arrangement.”
    â€œLeave Mary out of this,” I said. “You can’t prove she’s related to Bell.”
    â€œOh, indeed I can. Marital documents and birth announcements are easily available at the courthouse. I can produce all kinds of proof on who Mary is.” Littledood sneered. “Now, listen, I have agreed to honor your and Mary’s secrets; I expect you to honor mine and not tell anyone I’ve given you an ultimatum. My win will be more magnificent to the crowd if they believe you feel the pain of your defeat.”
    â€œWhat if I win? You’ll tell everyone?”
    He laughed. “You won’t win. But, to answer your question, no, I wouldn’t tell.”
    â€œLet me make sure I have this clear: If I lose, the secret is safe, and if I win, the secret is safe,” I said.
    â€œSimple as that. All you have to do is come down from the top of the mountain with your Pollypry andshow everyone you’ve made a gallant effort. I will then bask in the glory of my win. I couldn’t have offered you a better deal. Well, a better deal as far as blackmail goes.” He chuckled.
    â€œWho’s going to be there to see us come down?”
    â€œEvery kid in town will be there. Don’t you worry. Just leave that up to me.”
    â€œBut Specter Slope isn’t even a sledding hill. Why can’t we race down Lakeside Ski Hill? It’s right next to Specter and just as long. Plus, they have special days just for sledders, no skiers.”
    â€œThat’s too easy,” Littledood said.
    â€œI don’t understand. You won the trophy. The trophy! What else is there?” I asked.
    â€œI’m braver than you, I’m smarter than you, and I built a better sled. I want all of Golden Hill to recognize me for the awesome that I am—so, we’ve got to do this big.”
    I opened my mouth to tell him that glory and recognition