Alone in His Teacher's House (Marvin Redpost 4)

The worst part was waiting. Just waiting.

“Will you take me to see Waldo?” Linzy asked during dinner.

He hadn’t told his family yet.

“I wuv Waldo,” said Linzy.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said Marvin.

“Why not?” Linzy demanded.

“It just isn’t,” said Marvin.

“Can I go with Marvin to see Waldo?” Linzy asked her mother.

“It’s not up to me,” said Mrs. Redpost. “It’s up to Marvin.” She looked at Marvin. “And I know you always consider your sister’s feelings, don’t you, Marvin?”

“Please, Marvin!” said Linzy. “I’ll let you come to my birthday party.”

Marvin sighed. “Sorry,” he said. He tried to think of a nice way to put it. “Waldo’s not there anymore.”

“Where’d he go?” asked Linzy.

“He’s in heaven, with the angels.”

“Oh no!” said Mrs. Redpost, dropping her fork.

“Oh, you mean he’s dead,” said Linzy. She crunched into her pickle.

She didn’t cry until an hour and a half later. When she went to bed. Right after she said a prayer “for Waldo in heaven.”

Marvin’s parents tried to make him feel better.

“It wasn’t your fault,” said his mother. “You know that.”

“Do you want me to talk to Mrs. North for you?” asked his father.

“No,” said Marvin.

When he got to school Wednesday morning, he was mobbed by the kids in his class.

“Did you kill Mrs. North’s dog?” asked Justin.

“He forgot to feed him,” said Melanie. “The poor dog starved to death.”

“I heard he choked to death,” said Kenny. “On a piece of liver.”

Marvin looked around. He knew Stuart and Patsy could keep a secret. It must have been Nick.

“What do you think Mrs. North is going to do?” asked Casey.

“She’ll flunk you for sure,” said Justin.

“If you’re lucky,” said Warren.

“I’d move to another state if I were you,” said Gina.

“I’d move to another country,” said Heather.