The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor Page A

around. “You want a trophy, Viola?”
    Much to Owen’s surprise, Viola blushed. “What do you mean?” she said.
    “I mean, a trophy for being Genius of the World or something,” Owen snapped.
    Travis and Stumpy slapped their knees, sputtering with laughter.
    “You said you were going to call the railroad company and tell them about that submarine,” Viola said.
    “I
am
,” Owen said, and marched off toward the back porch and sat on the bottom step. Travis and Stumpy did the same.
    Viola stood in the middle of the yard with her hands on her hips while the three boys tried to ignore her.
    “Y’all are clearing trees and stuff so you can get that submarine down to the pond,” she called over to them.
    Owen jumped up and hissed, “Shhhhh!”
    He shot a quick look up at the back door, hoping like anything that Earlene wasn’t standing there.
    She wasn’t.
    Owen moved closer to Viola and whispered, “Look, Viola, somebody’s gonna have to come get that submarine, right?” He glanced up at the back door again. “I mean, after I call the railroad company and tell them about it,” he added.
    Viola shot a look at Travis, then Stumpy, then back at Owen. “So, why are you clearing stuff out of the woods?”
    “We’re just trying to help.”
    “I’m not stupid, Owen,” she said.
    “No, you’re just dumb,” Stumpy called from the back steps. He and Travis pushed each other and roared with laughter.
    “Don’t worry,” Owen said. “Me and Travis and Stumpy are taking care of everything, okay?”
    Viola narrowed her eyes and cocked her head. “Justadmit it, Owen,” she said. “Y’all are going to put that submarine in the pond, aren’t you?”
    Silence.
    Viola whirled around and stomped off toward the hedge, calling over her shoulder, “I’m telling on y’all!”
    “Wait!” Owen hollered.
    Viola stopped.
    Owen ran over to her, his mind racing. He had to think of some way to keep Viola from ruining everything with the submarine.
    “Look, Viola,” Owen said. “We
are
going to call the railroad company. I swear.” He held his hand up and looked solemnly at Viola.
    “But you’re going to put it in the pond first, aren’t you?” she said.
    Owen glanced over at Travis and Stumpy, then he said, “Yes.”
    Travis stamped his foot. “Dang, Owen!” he said.
    “I knew it!” Viola gave Owen one of her smug faces.
    “Trust me, Viola,” Owen said. “We’re going to take care of everything.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Okay?”
    The silence hung thick and heavy in the summer air. Owen studied Viola’s freckled face, her glassesperched down on the end of her nose. He had an uneasy feeling about her. She was liable to tell somebody about the submarine before he had a chance to get it in the pond.
    Owen made an instant decision to take a gamble. “You can help us if you want to,” he said. “Get some tools and meet us down there tomorrow.”
    Travis and Stumpy stopped laughing and stared at Owen, wide-eyed and openmouthed. Owen shot them a look that said,
Trust me, I know what I’m doing.
    Viola flapped her hand at Owen. “Yeah, right,” she said. “Like I want to spend my day cutting down trees. Besides,” she added, “you don’t even know if that submarine works. Y’all are stupid to do all that work cutting down trees and stuff before you even
test
it.”
    “Aw, heck,” Owen said. “That’s a piece of cake. We got all that stuff figured out.”
    “Well, good luck,” Viola said, turning to leave.
    Owen tried not to look too relieved.
    “If you change your mind, just come on down,” he called after her.
    As soon as Viola disappeared through the opening into her yard, Travis and Stumpy hurried over to Owen.
    “What the heck did you do
that
for?” Travis said.
    “Do what?” Owen said.
    “Tell her she could help us.”
    “Because . . .” Owen beamed at Travis and Stumpy. “If she thinks she’s in on our plan, she’ll keep her yap shut and won’t tell on us.”