The Invisible Enemy by Marthe Jocelyn Page B

her shirt and skipped back to the bedroom. I put out plates and glasses. I flung down the napkins and cutlery. Not my best job ever.
    Back at the doorway of our room, I stopped short. The contents of my backpack were strewn across the floor.
    “Hey!” I said.
    “I know you’re lying.” Alyssa’s voice was coming from near my dresser, in front of the mirror. “You’re just trying to torture me.”
    “What?”
    “She took your makeup bag,” reported Jane. “I saw it disappear.” She was trying on the latex gloves I’d brought home from the library detention. Harry gnawed on the corner of my binder.
    “You probably have some kind of magic medicine right in this bag,” muttered Alyssa. “So I’m just trying everything.”
    “Don’t you think if I had the right stuff I’d bethrowing it at you?” I asked. “And good riddance? I swear, Alyssa, there is no instant cure. It’s a highly scientific procedure.” And let’s just pray it’s strong enough to counteract such a big dose of powder.
    “Look!” said Jane. Her wiggling fingers did not quite fill the gloves. “Monster hands!”
    She was so pleased with herself I had to laugh.
    “Watch this,” I said. “Jean-Pierre did this cool trick today.”
    I inflated a glove for her, making the fingers pop up and wave. Harry leaped for it. A second glove from the pile disappeared as Alyssa took it. We could hear her puffing away and the scratchy sound when she tied the knot and then
poof!
A balloon bounced out of nowhere and boinked Jane on the forehead.
    Jane teased Harry with it, wiggling the fingers in his face and pulling them away quickly before his teeth could get a grip.
    The door buzzer rang.
    “That’s the pizza guy,” called my mother. “Settle the squabble, please, girls!”
    “Jeez, it was your own fault,” muttered Alyssa. She grabbed another glove, but this time we heard the rubbery snap as she pulled it on.
    “Doesn’t this bring back fond memories of detention?” she asked. “The fashionable accessory for all occasions … and strong enough to withstand toxic chemicals!”
    “Kids! Wash your hands! The pizza’s here, ready and waiting.”
    “I’m starving!” complained Alyssa. She now seemed to be sitting on Jane’s bed.
    “Tough,” I said. “You’re having Oreo crumbs and lemonade. Prisoner’s rations.”

15 • UFO (Unseen
Flight Operator)
    I managed to sneak a slice of pizza for Alyssa while my mother poured glasses of cranberry juice. I rolled it up in my napkin, but it was leaking orange oil and was kind of disgusting. I balanced it on my thigh while I ate, until Harrydiscovered it and started to beg. Our table is in the living room, partway between the kitchen area and our bedroom. I was just inventing an excuse to go to my room when the refrigerator door opened.
    It opened with a definite click and stayed open about two feet. Thank goodness I’m the one whose chair faces the kitchen! Mom faces me, so she couldn’t see behind her, and Jane’s view was blocked by the plant on the counter.
    “Molly wiggled her tooth all morning,” Jane was saying. “And then, when she leaned over the turtle tank—”
    I wildly shook my head no, hoping that Alyssa was looking my way.
    “Be still.” Mom tsked, trying to listen to Jane.
    “Maybe she bumped her hp or something on the edge—”
    A container of yogurt floated out of the refrigerator and over to the counter.
    “—and Molly’s tooth popped right out and hit Plunker smack on the head—”
    The cutlery drawer opened and a spoon flew into the air. It looked like we were haunted!Alyssa was completely nuts, and this proved it. How long could my mother not notice a ghost in her kitchen? But it took me another second to realize what was really wrong with this picture.
    “Oh, no!” I gasped.
    Jane and my mother looked at me.
    “Tell what happened next, Jane. I’m just going to get some more juice.” I dropped the greasy pizza napkin on my chair seat and scurried