Tarantula Toes (3 page)

It sounded very fishy. Foolish too.

Jason almost laughed at his own words. But he pulled himself together. “You heard me,” he said. “Pinktoes is on the prowl. He's coming. You better watch out!”

Eric was still staring at the ground, looking for super-spiders. “Better break your secret and warn the girls, then,” Eric said. “They won't wanna see a scary spider around here.”

“No!” Jason shouted. “Don't tell them. We have to keep it a secret.”

“How come?” Dunkum said. He was still frowning.

He doesn't believe me
, thought Jason.
He knows I'm lying
.

“So . . . what's the expected time of arrival?” asked Dunkum. “For your tarantula, I mean.”

“Oh, I don't know,” Jason spoke up. “It might take him till Monday.”

It was sort of true. But not really.

Eric stared at him. “Can spiders smell their way? Like dogs and cats do?”

Jason swallowed hard.

Rats
.

What could he say? More lies?

“Uh, I don't know for sure,” he mumbled.
“Maybe they can. But I think I hear my mother calling.”

“I don't hear anything,” Eric said. He looked at Dunkum.

“Me neither,” Dunkum said.

Both boys gave Jason a weird look.

“Go ahead and find your mother,” Dunkum said. His face had a big grin. “Eric and I will be on the lookout for your tarantula.”

“Don't step on him,” Jason warned. “He's part of my zoo.”

Dunkum Mitchell, whose real name was Edward, laughed out loud. He laughed all the way down the cul-de-sac.

“Double rats!” Jason said to himself.

Jason could hardly eat lunch.

His hamburger stuck in his throat.

“What's wrong, dear?” his mother asked.

“I'm not hungry,” he replied.

“Are you sick?” she asked.

Sick of lying
, he thought. But he didn't say that.

He didn't know what to do. Dunkum and Eric would never believe him now. Not even if he tried to tell the truth.

The whole truth.

He'd just have to wait. Two more days.

By Monday everyone would know about Pinktoes. Especially Dunkum and Eric. Then they could see for themselves.

But Jason was worried.

What if the spider shipment didn't come? What would he tell his friends? Another made-up story?

He carried his plate to the sink.

“Sorry about your spider,” his mother said.

His father spoke up. “It's supposed to arrive on Monday.”

Jason shrugged.

Supposed to
, he thought.

He felt even worse.

FIVE

On Monday, math class took forever.

Yuck times two
, thought Jason.

Science lasted too long. So did morning and afternoon recess.

Double phooey
.

Jason didn't say much to Dunkum or Eric. And they didn't ask about Pinktoes.

I hope they're keeping my secret
, Jason thought.

But he knew better. They didn't believe him.

Not one bit.

After school, Jason waited for his father.

Time to go to the pet store. Again!

This time, Jason didn't go near the glassed-in tank.

He was a jittery worry-bug. He crossed his fingers behind his back.

The clerk came right over. “Jason Birchall, right? We have a pink-toed tarantula with your name on it.”

Jason couldn't help it. He smiled. “Cool stuff,” he said.

The spider shipment had come!

Now Dunkum and Eric could freak out. They could be 'fraidy cats. But best of all, they'd believe him.

Jason peeked at the glass tank. He whispered, “How's it going, Pinktoes?”

The spider was still as the moon.

Was he breathing?

Nothing moved. Not even his fangs.

“Today you're gonna be a Cul-de-sac Kid's pet.
My
pet,” Jason explained.

The black spider started to move. His long legs crawled toward the glass. He came up to Jason's face, on the other side of the glass.

“Excuse me, young man,” the clerk said.

Jason stepped back.

The man removed the top on the tank.

Jason pointed to the black tarantula. “I want that one.” The spider's long legs had pinkish spots on the tips.

“He's beautiful,” said the clerk. “A very good choice. I hope you've read up on these furry fellows.”

“Oh yes,” Jason replied. “I know all about them.”

“Then you know how to pick them up?” the man asked.

Jason nodded. “With my fingers away from its fangs.”

“Very good.” Then the man showed how to handle the spider.

“That's how my spider book said to do
it,” said Jason, watching.

“OK,” said the clerk. “You're all set.”

Ya-hoo!

Jason felt like a billion bucks. But he only had twenty-five. Plenty to buy his new pet.

His father spoke up. “Jason knows a lot about
frogs
, too.”

“Oh?” the man said. “Do you own a frog?”

“Yes, but Croaker and Pinktoes won't be tank mates,” Jason was quick to say. “Besides, Pinktoes doesn't eat frogs.”

The clerk's eyelids blinked. “You're one hundred percent correct.”

“I
have
to be,” Jason said. “It's Zoo Month. And I'm starting my very own zoo.”

“A zoo?”

“A zoo in my room.” Jason grinned.

“An excellent place for your Pinktoes,” said the clerk. “Now, that'll be nineteen dollars.”

Flash!
Out came Jason's wallet. He'd saved up for a long time.

“Just one spider today?” asked the man.

“One for now,” Jason said. “Maybe more later.”

“We'll see about that,” his father said. “We'll see what kind of zoo keeper you are.”

Jason smiled a big smile. The best part of the day had finally come.

Pinktoes was going home.

Hoo-ray!

SIX

After supper, Jason went to Dunkum's house.

“There's a super-spider in the cul-de-sac,” he said.

“Yeah, right,” Dunkum's eyes narrowed.

“I'm
not
kidding,” Jason said. “Come over and see for yourself.”

Dunkum rolled his eyes. “He didn't
really
crawl all the way from the pet store. Did he?”

Jason shook his head. “I should've told you the truth before. I'm sorry.”

“Why'd you lie?”

Jason shrugged his shoulders. “I thought you'd laugh at me. I thought—”

“Forget it,” Dunkum said. “Just don't do it again. Deal?”

“Double deal.” Jason started to feel better inside. “When do you wanna see Pinktoes?” he asked.

“Maybe after school,” Dunkum said, but he looked like he didn't believe Jason.

“OK, see you then.” Jason ran next door to Abby Hunter's house.

He invited her and Carly, her little sister, over. And their adopted Korean brothers, Shawn and Jimmy.

“Yikes, I don't know,” Abby said. “Sounds creepy. Do you
really
have a tarantula?”

Jason grinned. “Sure do! And Pinktoes will stay in his tank. Don't worry.”

Carly and Jimmy came to the door.

“Wanna go see Jason's tarantula?”
Abby asked them. “He says it's from South America.”

“Right,” Jimmy said. “Spider no get here from there.” He was still learning to speak English.

Carly took two steps back. “A tarantula? Nobody has pets like
that
!” Her eyes were wide and round.

Jason stood tall. “He looks very scary. I thought I should warn you.”

“Well, Carly and I probably won't come then,” Abby said.

“Jimmy not think there is big spider!” shouted Jimmy. “No way.”

Jason scratched his head. “Well, there is. Better come tomorrow and see for yourself.”

Next, he went to Stacy Henry's house.

“No, thanks,” she said. “I HATE spiders!”

“Too bad for you,” he said.

Jason crossed the street.

Eric Hagel would be dying to see
Pinktoes. Jason was sure of it. Eric would be scared silly, but he'd come anyway.

Jason was right about his friend.

“Promise to leave your spider in the tank?” Eric said. “If you
really
own a Pinktoes.”

“I really do,” Jason said. “And I'll keep him in the tank.”

Next he headed for Dee Dee Winter's house.

She was playing outside with her crabby cat, Mister Whiskers.

“Wanna come see my tarantula?” Jason asked.

“EEEEE-EEW!” Dee Dee screamed. “Get away from me, Jason Birchall! Don't make up lies!”

“Sorry I stopped by,” Jason muttered.

He pulled himself together and marched home.