Ann Martin - Claudia And The Terrible Truth

By then, the field was full of paraders. There were three marching bands, two groups of bagpipers, and a drum corps, all of whom were warming up by playing at top volume. Police officers on horses roamed the field.

Several businesses had sponsored floats. Bloomer's nursery had covered theirs with green plants and had put little leprechaun statues behind them, so that they peeped out at the audience. A "rainbow" made of crepe paper fluttered over the scene.

"Look at the Polly's Fine Candy Float!" called Nicky. "I wish we were marching behind them." The candy store had sponsored a float with clowns in green costumes. Each clown carried a huge basket of candy, which he or she would toss to the crowd by the handful.

"That other float is boring," pointed out Charlotte.

I had to agree. Several beauty shops from Stoneybrook and neighboring towns had grouped together to sponsor a float featuring Miss Teenage Stoneybrook, Little Miss Connecticut, and a bunch of other pageant winners. They weren't doing anything, as Charlotte had noticed. They just sat on their platforms, dressed in their perfect, princess-y dresses, ready to wave at their adoring public. I had a feeling the clowns would be much more popular.

The siren sounded again, and Abby shooed us into place. It was time to march. The kids stepped out proudly, and we baby-sitters marched alongside, trying to look inconspicuous as we kept an eye on our charges.

I scanned the crowd as we marched through downtown Stoneybrook, hoping to catch sight of Joey or Nate if they happened to be at the parade. A few of the kids had asked where they were, and I'd explained that they had other plans and couldn't march. Fd been hoping that those "other plans" I'd invented included watching the parade. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case. If they were there, I didn't spot them. And, even though I ended up enjoying the parade, I never did stop wondering how Joey and Nate were doing.

Chapter 13.

"Claudia? This is Erica Blumberg. I wanted to ask you something. Didn't you used to baby-sit for the Nicholls boys?" I sat down on my bed, gripping the phone.

"Claudia?" For just a second, I couldn't speak. Somehow, I knew mat this call meant that something had happened to Joey and Nate. Erica is a level-headed, responsible girl I know from school. She wouldn't be calling unless something was really wrong.

It was the Tuesday after the parade. I still hadn't had any contact with the Nicholls boys. And Mrs. Nicholls was still avoiding my mother at work. Especially after the caseworker from the Department of Children and Youth Services called her. The only marginally good thing I'd heard was from Stacey, who'd seen Joey and Nate at Stoneybrook Elementary when she picked up Charlotte from school on Monday afternoon. Stacey had said that the boys looked fine.

But now, Erica was calling me and a tone in her voice made me feel weak in the knees.

"Sure," I said, finally answering her. "I sat for them several times." "That's what they told me. Anyway, I guess — um — well, I've sat for them three times." Erica's voice was hushed. “And I'm sitting for them today. The boys are up in their room. So I wanted to ask you — did you notice anything weird about this family?" "Weird?" I echoed. My heart was thudding around in my chest. "Erica, has something happened?" "I'm not sure," Erica said carefully. "I mean, the first time I baby-sat here I thought everything was fine. I thought they were just a normal family. But then I heard Mr. Nicholls yelling, and then today —" She broke off.

"What?" I asked. "What happened?" I knew my voice sounded panicky. I tried to calm down. I didn't want to frighten Erica.

"It's just that" — Erica lowered her voice so that I could barely hear her — "when I arrived, Mr. Nicholls told me that the boys were being punished, and that they were in their room. I was supposed to just stay downstairs and leave them alone. But after awhile, I heard crying from up there and I had to see what was wrong,” 'And?" I asked.

"Claudia, when I saw them, I —" "What?" "Joey has a black eye. And Nate has some bruises on his arm." She said it all in one quick rush.

"Oh, my lord." I closed my eyes tight and drew in a breath.

"It may not be what we think," said Erica hurriedly. "When I asked the boys about it, Joey had a story about slipping on a skateboard and hitting has eye on the doorknob, and Nate told me he was hit in the arm by a softball at school yesterday. But Claudia, I don't believe them," she added quietly.

"I don't either," I said. My brain felt numb. Erica was calling me for help, but I had no idea what to tell her. Then I thought of my mom. "Erica, when is Mr. Nicholls due back?" "I don't know." She sounded scared. "I think he's out on a job interview. He said he'd be back in a couple of hours." "Okay, stay there with the boys. I'm going to call my mom. She'll know what to do." "But—" "Just do it, Erica," I said. "Try to stay calm around Joey and Nate." I hung up and punched in the number for the library. It seemed to take forever for someone to answer. Finally, a woman — not Mrs. Nicholls, fortunately — picked up the phone.

"Stoneybrook Public Library," she said.

"Mrs. Kishi, please," I said.

"I'm sorry, she's in a meeting. Can I have her call you back?" "This is her daughter," I said. "It's an emergency. Could you please ask her to comeio the phone?" The woman said she'd try, and put me on hold. I sat waiting for what seemed like hours but was probably only seconds.

"Claudia?" My mother's voice was full of concern.

"Mom, you have to help. I think Joey and Nate are in trouble. Erica Blumberg is sitting for them, and she just called to say that Joey has a black eye and Nate has —" My mom interrupted me. "I'll take care of it," she said. "I'm glad you called." She was all business now.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"I'm going to go get those boys out of that house," she said firmly. "I'll call you back as soon as I know anything." "Can I — ?" I began, but my mom had already hung up.

I hung up too, and sat there for a few seconds, staring at the phone. Then I jumped up and started to pace around the room. I thought of Joey and Nate, trying too hard to hide the truth of what had happened. I thought of Erica, waiting with the boys. And I thought of my mom, racing toward them, determined to move them out of harm's way. And what about Mrs. Nicholls? Where was she? And — Mr. Nicholls? He could show up any minute. What would Erica do if he came home before my mom arrived?

I wondered if I should call Kristy, or any of my other BSC friends. But why? What could they possibly do to help?

I looked at the phone. How long would it be before I heard from my mom? How could I possibly stand to wait?

Finally, I realized I couldn't just wait. I ran down the stairs, grabbed my jacket, and flew out the door. My bike was leaning against the garage. I jumped onto it and started pedaling hard. At least, I thought, I can be there to help Erica.

It's not far to the Nichollses' house. I was there within ten minutes. And as I rode into sight of it, I saw my mom's car pull into the driveway. Then I saw her and Mrs. Nicholls climb out and rush into the house without a second glance at me. I realized that my mom must have told Mrs. Nicholls what had hap- pened and brought her along. They must have left Mrs. Nicholls's car at the library.

Then I realized something else.

My mom's car was not the only one in the driveway.

Mr. Nicholls's car was there too, pulled up close to the garage. He'd come home!

Suddenly, I heard yelling inside, and then a horrible, crashing sound — the sound of something breaking. I was still holding my bike, but now I laid it on its side. I wasn't sure what to do. Should I run away? Maybe I should call the police. What was happening inside?