Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street & When Mules Flew on Magnolia Street Read Online Free Page B

Pinkton, “So you'll have more time with your fish.”
    When we got to Billy's yard, I smiled at him.
    I dreamed of Tracy and David again that night, and when I woke up the next morning, I knew who we could give the yo-yo to.
    The sun was shining real bright out back when Sid sprayed me with the hose. He laughed for a long time.
    Mom called from the window, “Sid!”
    Sid said, “I didn't do it,” like he always does when he's been caught.
    I made my mind up then. I went to the pumpkin box and handed the yo-yo to Sid. And the look on his face made me so happy. He was real surprised and said, “Why?”
    I said, “'Cause I like you sometimes, and you're a yo-yo, too.”
    I skipped away to Billy's.
    The pumpkin box was great.
    When I got to Billy's house, his mom was on the phone.
    Billy said, “Mom's calling the library. She says the book in the box is real old and the library may want it.”
    We smiled at each other.
    The next night, Billy said he dreamed of Tracy and David, too.
    While Billy skated behind me, I rode my bike to Mo's. I walked up to the counter and handed Mo the nickels. The whole store smelled like cookies and French fries.
    Mo looked confused when I said, “For you.”
    Mo said, “I used to collect these when I was your age.”
    He wiped his eyes, smiled, and said, “Thanks, kid.”
    Being a digger must be the best thing you could ever be in this world. You can find things that nobody ever thought could be found again.
    Being a digger helps people remember gone things.
    Me and Billy have decided to keep the picture of Tracy and David. He will keep it for a week, then I will have it for a week. We will always think about them running and playing on Magnolia Street like us.
    We were swinging from the tree in my front yard, wondering what to put back into the pumpkin box.
    Billy said, “Why do you think they put what they put in the pumpkin box, Charlie?”
    “I don't know. Maybe it was stuff that they found. But it was probably stuff that made them happy.”
    Billy said, “I figure we can take a little time and think about the stuff that makes us happy before we put it in the pumpkin box.”
    And because a serious digger understands these things, I thought Billy was right.

The Water Lilies
    I could almost smell fall coming as I sat beside Billy on the bus. I think I maybe saw a litde gold and red in the trees this morning. That means IVe spent almost one whole summer on Magnolia Street. Monroe Street seemed far away.
    I know Billy likes to look out the window, so I let him sit on that side. I like sitting in the aisle seat because then you can watch everybody who gets on and off the bus.
    Me and Billy decided to sing the duck song.
    It's real easy to learn, and for some reason it sounds best when you're on a bus or in a small room with a lot of people around.
    I started the song just about the time the bus driver drove over the Magnolia Street Bridge.
    It goes…
    Duck, duck, duck, duck,
Quack a lot of ducks.
Duck, duck, duck, duck,
Drive a yellow truck.
    Billy says that the more you sing it, the funnier it gets.
    He says it really gets funny in the car when your parents start covering their ears and finally say that they will pull the car over if you don't stop that racket.
    So we sang till we almost lost our voices.
    I think that me and Billy have nice voices. When we hit high notes, our voices crack and we really sound like ducks. We should think about starting a band or something.
    Duck, duck, duck, duck,
Quack a lot of ducks.
Duck, duck, duck, duck,
Drive a yellow truck.
    We sang about ten choruses.
    Billy said, “That was pretty good.”
    “Yeah. I think everybody enjoyed it. Especially those people who keep looking at us.”
    A woman with a shopping bag, a man with a tennis racket, and this couple carrying a big picture frame stared at us the whole time.
    Billy pressed his lips against the window.
    He said, “We should have asked them to join in.”
    I swung my legs out in front of me and