Someday Angeline (Someday Angeline 1)

She shrieked with delight. “Ooh, it tingles.”

He put on a clean shirt, and tie too, for Mr. Bone.

“You look so handsome,” said Angeline.

They were both beginning to feel very excited. Abel took a couple of deep breaths to try to calm himself. “Okay, one last time,” he said. “Who is Mr. Bone?”

“She’s a teacher,” Angeline replied. “She teaches Gary’s class.”

“Okay, fine.”

Angeline didn’t know why she was so excited that Mr. Bone was coming over, except that she hadn’t seen her for a long time. It only meant that she would get into trouble and would have to go back to Mrs. Hardlick’s class. Still, the thought of Mr. Bone coming here, to her apartment, thrilled her.

Abel didn’t know why he was so excited either. Maybe it was because Angeline was so excited, or maybe it was because he’d find out who this mysterious person really was. “Or maybe,” he thought, “maybe it’s because I’m just plain loony.”

They both forgot all about eating dinner.

When the bell rang, Angeline hit the button to let Mr. Bone into the apartment building. Then she waited by the door for Mr. Bone to come out of the elevator. “Over here, Mr. Bone!” she called.

“Come on in,” she invited. Even though she knew it meant she’d get into trouble, she remained absolutely delighted to see her, just the same.

“This is my father.”

Abel and Miss Turbone shook hands.

“Mr. Persopolis,” said Miss Turbone.

“Mr. Bone,” said Abel.

There are some people who are so cold and unfeeling, like reflections in a mirror, that they might as well be imaginary. But as Abel shook Miss Turbone’s hand, he could feel her warmth. And he could see it in her face. And as they talked, he could hear it in her voice.

“Call me Melissa,” she said.

Abel was glad her name wasn’t Howard or Robert or Frank. He thought Melissa Bone was a nice name. He told her to call him Abel.

“Call me Angeline,” laughed Angeline.

Melissa sat on the sofa.

“That’s my bed,” said Angeline. “It folds out.”

Melissa smiled. “It’s very comfortable.”

“So now, what can we do for you Mr.—Melissa?” Abel asked. His tie was strangling him. He didn’t know why he had put it on in the first place.

“Maybe it would be better if we could talk alone,” she suggested.

Angeline was sent to her father’s bedroom. She took her book with her although she had no intention of reading it. She sat with her ear next to the door and listened.

“I don’t know where to begin,” said Melissa. “Has Angeline told you where she’s been for the past week?”

“Where she’s been?” Abel repeated.

“She hasn’t been in school.”

“No,” said Abel as he turned and looked toward his bedroom door. “No, I didn’t know that.”

“She’s been going to the aquarium,” Melissa informed him.