Rodenberger

Amy Rodenberger Period 1 November 19, 2008

The phone rang once, “Brrring,” then twice as I slowly opened my eyes and turned on to my side. The pink Hello Kitty alarm clock on the bed next to me read 6:00 am. It was way too early for any normal 8 year old to be waking up, but then again, I was not just any normal 8 year old. Good Beginning

“Hello?” I asked sleepily into the phone I kept on my bedside table. It was also pink.

“Hello Lexi. You are being called on for a mission.” The voice on the end was smooth and feminine, obviously a woman.

“Let me put The Boss on with you.” There was a low click on the other line as I waited to be connected. After a few minutes a deeper voice rang out through the receiver. Good description.

“Ah, Lexi. I have been waiting for you…”

It was early October, a slow month for me, Lexi Scott, a third grader at P.S 117 elementary school. People had always said I have an overactive imagination, but that’s just because most people do not know the truth. As a young worker in the National Youth Spy Association, I was always up for new challenges and excitement. So, when The Boss called me early that Tuesday morning, I was ready for some action.

“Your new assignment will be at P.S 115, a nearby elementary school.” The Boss told me over the phone.

“Your woman is the orchestra teacher, Mrs. Bow,(haha, i love her name! very clever) but be careful, she’s dangerous.” His threat did not scare me, just excited me more. “This case should be very interesting.”

By 8 o’clock that morning I was ready to work. A black violin case had been mysteriously dropped by my door sometime between my phone call with The Boss and when the bus came to pick me up. Dressed in normal clothing, a peach sweater with large buttons and khaki pants, I blended in well with all the other students, but walking on the bus I swore I saw the bus driver wink at me.

“He must know.” I thought. “The Boss must have brought him on.”

My questions were answered as I walked off the bus at P.S 115. The last one still on, the driver motioned for me to hold up. He shut the door to the bus and, without saying a word, grabbed my violin case and flipped it open. Still not speaking he motioned for me to look closer at my “violin”. He took it out in a swift, fluid motion, and pulled back the strings with the violin’s bow. It made a perfect bow and arrow. The tuners on the top of the violin also popped off, spraying pepper spray in the direction away from the player. The chin rest shot into a blade. Finally, the bus driver placed a tiny silver, star sticker on the neck of the violin.

“That’s the camera so we can watch you.” The driver pointed to the star, the only words he had spoken at all. With a nod and a tip of his hat he reopened the door to the bus. I climbed off and turned to face the old brick building. I was ready.

“Oh, hello dear! You must be Lexi, the new girl. I think it’s wonderful how you just started playing the violin. Our orchestra program here is fantastic, and you will be a superb new member.” I had been in Mrs. Bow’s presence less than a minute and already I could tell this teacher was like a whirlwind. She was petite with a brunette bob and sharp features. Obviously, she was the kind who liked to hear her own voice. Mrs. Bow carried on, rambling, for a few minutes while I pretended to take out my violin. I could not figure out why I would have to spy on Mrs. Bow, she seemed harmless, though annoying.

“Excuse me, Mrs, but may I use the bathroom?” I needed a way out of her room. I wanted time to think.

“Why of course, it’s right down the hall to the left near where the nurse’s office is, but don’t take too long, we still have a lot to do…” I nodded quickly as the teacher continued on. As hurriedly as I could I slipped out the door and into the hall. Running down the hallway I turned into the girl’s bathroom, relieved to see only one girl, a kindergartener, just leaving. I pulled out the pink My Little Pony cell phone the NYSA had given me and hit speed dial 1.

“The Boss here.” The voice on the other end was gruff.

“It’s Lexi. I want to know why you need me to spy on Mrs. Bow. She’s annoying, but seems harmless.”

“Oh, but she’s not. Our agency expects her to be behind at least three murders in the past few months, all at different elementary schools. All orchestra students.” I gulped at this. Even though I had only known her for a few minutes, I could not possibly imagine Mrs. Bow being able to hurt a fly, but I knew better than to doubt The Boss. I hung up the phone and left the bathroom, making my way back to the music room.

“Why Lexi did you get lost, that sure took you awhile, but don’t worry I would always got lost when I first came here, I’m only just starting to get a hang of where everything is, did you know I am new here too?” Mrs. Bow still would not shut up, but she had clarified one of my questions- Mrs. Bow was new here. Interesting.

The rest of my lesson with her dragged on as I tried to piece the clues together in my mind. I already sort of knew how to play, it was a part of my spy training, and as the end of the lesson drew near I was really beginning to get the hang of it, but I still could find no leads on Mrs. Bow. It was 10 o’clock when my lesson ended. Still unsuccessful in my mission I packed up my violin, and all it’s gadgets, into my case. I turned to bid the teacher goodbye, not knowing if I would have to come back and see her again, based on my mission fail.

“Good bye, Mrs. Bow.” I said, though she was hunched over in the closet.

“Wait Lexi, before you go I have something for you. Here I give one to all new students.” She shoved a light pink box to my face, the smell of arsenic wafting from it. Panicked I refused, but thoughts churned through my mind; this was my lead.

“No,” she said, “You have to take one.” She reached into the box and pushed something at my face.

“No.” I refused again, but now Mrs. Bow was coming at me, the box under her arm, a dark candy in her hand, moving faster, hand shoving out. She tried pushing it into my face. She was trying to poison me.

“Noooo…” I screamed.

With a jolt I sat up in my bed. The pink Hello Kitty alarm clock next to me read 6 o’clock am, too early for any normal 8 year old to wake up. My back was sweaty and I was still breathing heavily from the nightmare I had just had. My mom came running into my room.

“Honey, are you ok? I thought I heard you scream.” I shook my head and my mom sighed.

“Did you have that nightmare again? The one where you are some child spy or whatever?” My cheeks flushed at my mother’s remark. She knew I always had those dreams, but for some reason this one felt more real. Once my mother left I rolled onto my side again trying to fall back asleep, but I knew it was hopeless trying. Still sleepy I shuffled out of bed and into my closet. I pulled down my new peach sweater with big buttons to wear to school that day. Pulling it on, I noticed a shiny silver star on one of the sleeves. Strange, but not threatening, I just tossed it into my garbage can. Then I went over to my drawers to try to find some khaki pants, but before I got to them I noticed something else. Behind the dresser sat a medium pink box, one I had never seen before. Or at least, I had never seen it in my room. My heart pounded as I pulled the box out from under the dresser and on to my bed. I stared at it for a moment, than cautiously lifted on the lid, peering into the box. I slammed it back down. I remembered where this box had come from, my dream. But how was it here in my room? Good job tying it all together.

“But it was only a dream.” I whispered to myself, the same words my mom always told me. Suddenly, the phone rang once, “Brrring.” Then twice as I turned to look at the phone next to my pink Hello Kitty alarm clock.

“This can’t be happening,” I told myself again as I walked over to my bedside table. I reached for the phone, but pulled back. This really couldn’t be happening.

“H-h-hello?” I choked into the phone.

“Hello Lexi, this is The Boss.” (definitely left me hanging )