Vanished by Sheela Chari Page B

that.”
    â€œYou mean thoughtless and dumb?”
    Neela thought for a moment. “I guess Amanda has perfected herself over the years.”
    Lynne grinned. She picked up some more paper from the ground and said, “So were you spying on me?”
    â€œNo,” Neela lied, “I was returning your notebook.” It was strange for Lynne to accuse her of spying—after all, hadn’t Lynne been spying on her at the church?
    â€œI knew I’d left it here. I was coming back for it.”
    Neela decided that there was no other way but to be direct. “How did you know how to fix the teakettle at the church?”
    When Lynne didn’t answer, Neela went on. “I saw an old man use that teakettle, even though it’s an antique and no one is supposed to touch it. I think he’s the same person who stole my veena.”
    â€œGirls, lunch hour is almost over,” Mrs. Averil called. “Maybe less chatting and you’ll finish in time. I need the area near the sinks cleaned, too.”
    Neela sighed. Just as she was getting close to an answer from Lynne, their teacher had to butt in. While she and Lynne were at the sinks, sponging the sides, Neela tried again. “So, have you used that teakettle before? Do you know the old man who was using it?”
    Lynne looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know anything about that teakettle.”
    â€œYou have to. Otherwise you wouldn’t know how to fix the dragon.”
    Lynne stopped sponging. “One day before art class, I was messing around in the kitchen, and the dragon head came off the kettle, just like it did for you. But I figured out it was removable, and I slid it back on. That’s all there is to it.”
    The bell for the end of the period rang. From outside the hall, they could hear the main school door opening and students returning inside from recess. Their voices echoed along the corridor, with the sounds of lockers opening and slamming shut.
    Neela looked at Lynne skeptically. “What about Hal? Do you know him or Mary Goodwin?”
    Lynne narrowed her eyes. “Hal? I don’t know any Hal.”
    â€œWhat about Mary Goodwin?” Neela pressed.
    Lynne hesitated. “She works in the church office.”
    â€œYou’re a chatty little duo, aren’t you?” Mrs. Averil called out. She had finished both her lunch and her newspaper, which she tossed in the wastepaper basket. “The period’s over. You’re free to go. Next time, try not to leave class like that. You’re big girls now and you know better.”
    Big girls! Neela felt Lynne writhe next to her as they left the room.
    Their next class was right across the hall. Neela started to feel desperate. So far, Lynne had answered none of her questions, except the one about Mary, and even then, Neela could tell that Lynne was dodging the truth somehow. Now class was beginning, and it would be too late to bring up the subject again. She had to think of something else, and fast.
    â€œWait,” she said. “Who is Veronica Wy…” She had no idea how to pronounce it.
    Lynne froze. “You were spying on me!”
    â€œI saw you writing at the computer,” Neela said in a rush. “And I wanted to know, because if she’s a veena player, and I lost my veena, then—”
    â€œThen what? That I took your veena? Or I know where it is? Why do you think I have something to do with your missing veena? And I don’t know anything more about that stupid teakettle or Veronica Wyvern!” Lynne stormed off.
    Neela stood frozen in place. Behind her, Penny and Amanda came back in from recess.
    â€œMrs. Averil’s such a pain,” Penny said.
    â€œSorry you got stuck with Lynne,” Amanda said, though she didn’t sound sorry at all.
    â€œShe doesn’t even talk,” Penny added.
    â€œYeah,” Neela said, but she was barely listening. She was thinking how clearly Lynne had