Tarantula Toes by Beverly Lewis

ONE
    Jason Birchall zipped through his homework.
    I have to tell someone my secret! he thought.
    He didn’t bother to check his spelling. He didn’t even read over his work.
    Jason was in such a big hurry. He slapped his name on the paper and pushed his homework into a folder.
    Then he dashed outside.
    It was still light, so he jumped on his bike.
    His friends, Dunkum and Eric, werealready out riding. They zoomed up Blossom Hill Lane when they saw him. “Hey, Jason!” they called. “Wanna ride?”
    â€œYou bet!” Jason said.
    â€œDid you finish your homework already?” Dunkum asked. He was always talking school stuff.
    â€œYa-hoo! It’s done,” Jason hollered. “But let’s not talk about that.”
    He glanced around.
    Was it safe?
    He made his voice sound mysterious. “Listen up, guys.”
    Eric stared at Jason. “Why are you talking like that?” Eric said.
    â€œBecause,” said Jason.
    â€œBecause why?” Dunkum asked.
    â€œBecause I’ve got a secret,” Jason said.
    â€œSo tell us,” Eric said. “I’m sure you’re dying to.”
    Jason smiled. His friends knew him well. “OK, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise not to say one word to the girls.”

    Dunkum’s face lit up. “You can trust us. You know that.”
    Eric agreed. “We promise.”
    Jason looked over his shoulder. “Are we really alone?”
    Dunkum nodded. “It’s just us guys.”
    â€œLet’s not take any chances,” Jason said. He motioned to Eric and Dunkum. And the three of them headed up the driveway. When they reached the garage door, Jason whispered, “I’m starting up a zoo.”
    â€œ That’s your secret?” Dunkum said.
    â€œShh!” Jason peered around, checking for other Cul-de-sac Kids. “It’s top secret.”
    â€œAre we talking a real zoo?” Eric asked.
    Jason leaned a little closer. “You heard right. June is Zoo Month, so I’m starting a REAL zoo in my room.”
    Eric scratched his head. “Does your mom know about this?”
    â€œMy parents think it’ll be an adventure.”
    â€œYou mean like a learning experience?” Dunkum said with a frown.
    â€œThat’s exactly right.” Jason reached into his pocket. He unfolded a page out of the newspaper.
    Eric leaned on his bike for a closer look. “Whatcha got?”
    â€œCheck out my super-secret,” Jason said. He pointed to a picture of a big, hairy spider. “I’m gonna buy this tomorrow.”
    Eric did a gulp. “Is . . . is that what I think it is?”
    â€œIt’s a tarantula, all right,” Jason said proudly.
    â€œHey, let me see.” Dunkum grabbed the paper. “Whoa, Willie Millie! I can almost see Abby Hunter’s hair sticking straight up!”
    Abby was the president of the Cul-de-sac Kids. Nine kids on one block. A really cool club.
    Jason started jumping around. “Stacy Henry will freak out, too. So will Dee Dee and Carly!” he chanted.
    â€œWow, what a scary spider!” Eric said. “Are you buying him just to scare the girls?”
    â€œShh! How can you say that?” Jason said. But he didn’t stop grinning or hopping. He felt good all over. “It’s a pink-toed tarantula. And tomorrow he’s all mine!”
    â€œI don’t know about this,” Dunkum said. He studied the picture a little longer. “A tarantula might not be such a good idea.”
    Jason pushed up his glasses. “What do you mean?”
    â€œThey eat frogs, right?” asked Dunkum.
    Jason started to laugh. “Oh, I get it! You’re thinking about Croaker. But you shouldn’t be. My new pet will NOT be eating frogs.”
    Jason knew exactly what to feed Pinktoes. His spider book told all about tarantulas. Everything he needed to know. There was even a chapter on how to handle