The Judy Moody Double-Rare Collection - Megan Mcdonald [10]
She held the Magic 8 Ball in the palm of her hand. She could almost feel its magic predicting powers.
“We can each ask one question,” said Judy. “Who dares to ask the All-Knowing Magic 8 Ball first?
“Me, me, me!” said Frank.
“Okay,” said Judy, handing him the ball.
“Will I get a Jawbreaker Maker for my birthday?” asked Frank.
“You forgot to close your eyes tight and concentrate,” said Judy.
Frank closed his eyes tight. Frank concentrated. He asked again. He shook the Magic 8 Ball. They all leaned over and peered into the tiny window.
Outlook not so good.
“I hope this thing lies,” said Frank.
“Me next,” said Rocky, taking the 8 Ball and shaking it. “Does Frank Pearl love Judy Moody?”
Signs point to yes.
“That’s so funny I forgot to laugh,” said Frank.
“Give me that,” said Judy.
“My turn,” said Stink.
“You only get one question, so think hard,” Judy said. “And hurry up.”
“Am I going to be president someday?” asked Stink.
Don’t count on it.
“Will my little brother ever stop driving me crazy?” asked Judy.
Better not tell you now.
Stink grabbed the Magic 8 Ball back. “Does Rocky love Judy?”
“Do not anger the Magic 8 Ball,” said the spooky-voiced Madame M. She peered into the little window. “Air bubble! See? You used up all your questions,” Madame M pronounced. “We have to put it back now.”
“How come?”
“Air bubble! It’s the rules!”
Stink, Rocky, and Frank went to buy gumballs.
“I’ll catch up,” Judy called.
Judy Moody did not put the Magic 8 Ball back on the shelf. She had one final question. The thing that had been bugging her for days. The V.I.Q.
Judy looked around. She concentrated. She shook the Magic 8 Ball. “Is Mr. Todd in love?” Judy whispered.
Reply hazy, try again.
Judy closed her eyes. She held her breath. She said some magic words. “Eeny meany jelly beany,” said Judy. “Is Mr. Todd in love?”
She shook the Magic 8 Ball. She shook it some more. At last, she opened her eyes.
There it was. The answer. In the window. A small triangle floating in blue liquid.
Yes, definitely.
Judy stretched out on her top bunk and stared up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling. It all added up. The red ring. The new glasses, the humming, the heart-shaped cookies. It was right there all the time. Her best-ever prediction. All she had to do was see it. Use her brain. Make the connection. Mr. Todd was in love!
At last, she, Madame M, could predict something really, truly big. Something really, truly true. Something only she, Judy Moody, knew about. Judy had a new plan. A perfect, foolproof, fail-safe, predicts-the-future plan. All she had to do now was trick Mr. Todd into trying on the mood ring. She had to see once and for all if it turned red for Romantic, In Love.
Only one thing stood in the way. She was not allowed to bring the mood ring to school.
On Friday morning, Judy took out her mood ring. She did not wear it on her finger. She did not show it to anyone. She kept it hidden in her baby-tooth box. She kept that hidden in the secret pocket of her backpack. Until after school.
Time for Project Mood Ring. Operation True Love. She, Dr. Judy Moody, was 3/4 sure and 9/10 certain that the Magic 8 Ball did not lie. But she had to be 110% sure-and-absolute positive.
“Mr. Todd,” said Judy, taking her mood ring out of the secret box. “I know I’m not supposed to bring my mood ring to school and everything, but I have a V.I.Q. A Very Important Question.”
“I’m going to be in a bad mood if I see that ring in class again.”
“I kept it put away all day,” said Judy. “I promise. I was just hoping I could ask you how a mood ring works. In the name of science and everything.”
“Mood rings are interesting,” said Mr. Todd. “They used to be popular when I was a kid, you know.”
“No way!” said Judy.
“Way!” said Mr. Todd, laughing. “Here, let me see that ring again.”
Mr. Todd held the ring with his fingers.
Judy tried to ESP Mr. Todd a message. Put the ring on. Put the ring on.
“Mood rings have their own science.”
Put the ring on.
“Did you know our bodies give off heat energy?”