A Magic Crystal?

by Louis Sachar

  “Good morning, Casey,” he said as he sat down next to her.

  She smiled at him, but said nothing.

  He watched her during the Pledge of Allegiance. Her mouth formed the words, but she didn’t speak.

  Finally, during math, Mrs. North asked her a question.

  Casey pointed to her mouth. Then she held her hands out, as if to say she was helpless.

  “She can’t talk,” said Judy Jasper.

  “Do you have laryngitis?” asked Mrs. North.

  Casey shrugged.

  Marvin knew Casey didn’t have laryngitis. When you have laryngitis, you can still speak in a sort of raspy whisper. Casey had faker-itis!

  Mrs. North had Casey come to the front of the room and write the problem, and answer, on the board.

  “Very good, Casey,” Mrs. North said when Casey finished. “I hope you feel better soon. Although I must say, I had been wondering why it was so nice and quiet in here this morning.”

  Several kids laughed.

  Casey smiled at Mrs. North. Then she turned and stared angrily at Marvin.

  Marvin stared right back at her. He knew she would have to talk sooner or later. He doubted she could make it to recess.

  Casey made it to recess. Marvin stared at her from the wall-ball line. She was standing on the blacktop with Judy and Melanie. Suddenly, Judy and Melanie laughed.

  Marvin grabbed Stuart’s arm. “She said something,” he announced.

  “Who?” asked Stuart.

  “Why else would they laugh?” asked Marvin. “If she didn’t say anything?”

  “Who?” asked Nick.

  She probably said something about me, Marvin thought. Judy and Melanie are laughing at me. He felt his ears get hot.

  A ball hit Marvin’s shoulder. He quickly spun around.

  “You’re up, Marvin,” said Travis.

  He’d been waiting all recess for his turn. But now he just walked away and said, “I have to talk to Casey.”

  “But she can’t talk,” Stuart called after him.

  Casey had her back to Marvin, but turned around as he approached. She stared at him, hands on hips. Melanie and Judy backed off.

  Marvin marched right up to her. “What did you say about me?” he demanded.

  Casey’s eyes widened.

  Marvin could tell what she was thinking. He could read her face. Her face said, How can I say something about you? I can’t talk. Remember?

  “Don’t give me that,” said Marvin. “I saw Judy and Melanie laugh.”

  Casey’s face said, So? They’re allowed to laugh. It’s a free country.

  “You’re going to get into trouble when Mrs. North finds out you don’t have laryngitis,” said Marvin.

  Casey held out her hands. It’s not my fault I can’t talk.

  “First of all,” said Marvin, “I don’t believe in your stupid magic crystal. It’s not even a crystal. It’s just a rock. How do you know it got struck by lightning? And besides, you’re the one who has it. If it really is magical, all you have to do is wish that you can talk again.”

  Casey raised her eyebrows. Her eyebrows seemed to say, How can I make a wish if I can’t talk?

  “Oh, yeah,” said Marvin. He hadn’t thought of that. “All right. Give me the rock, and I’ll wish that you can talk again.”

  Casey looked at him.

  Marvin wasn’t quite sure what her face said. It either said, You just said you don’t believe in the rock. It won’t work if you don’t believe.

  Or else it said, No way! I can’t trust you, Marvin. Not after your last wish.

  “Well, then, give the rock to Judy and let her wish for you,” said Marvin.

  Casey puffed out her cheek with her tongue. This seemed to say, Judy doesn’t know about the magic crystal. She doesn’t know that’s why I can’t talk. And since I can’t talk, I can’t tell her.

  “Well, write it all down on paper for her,” said Marvin.

  Yeah, right! answered Casey’s angry face. You know I hate to write. It’s bad enough I have to write for school. If I tried to write all that to Judy, it would take ten sheets of paper. And I’d probably sprain my hand.

  “Now you’re exaggerating,” Marvin said.

  Are you insane? asked Casey’s scrunchedup nose.

  “You’re just being stubborn,” Marvin replied.

  Casey’s face turned red. I’m stubborn? You’re the one who’s stubborn! You’re a stupid, stinky booboo-head baboon!

  “Fine, be that way!” said Marvin. “I don’t care if you never talk again!” He turned his back on her and angrily walked away.

  The bell rang before he made it back to the wall-ball area. Now he was really mad. He’d wasted his entire recess, and it was all Casey’s fault!

  He used to kind of like her. Sort of. But not anymore! Not after she called him a stupid, stinky booboo-head baboon!

  8

  Last Chance

  Casey did not say a word all day. At least not when Marvin was near. He didn’t know if she said anything when he wasn’t around, although he suspected that she did.

  After school, he walked with Nick and Stuart to Nick’s house. “She’s lying,” Marvin repeated several times on the way there.

  “How can she lie if she can’t talk?” asked Stuart.

  “That’s how,” said Marvin. “Because she can talk.”

  “Why would she pretend she can’t talk?” asked Nick.

  “Why do you care?” asked Stuart.

  “I don’t care!” Marvin insisted.

  He didn’t tell them about the magic crystal. He had promised Casey to keep it secret. And even though she was pretending she couldn’t talk, and even though she called him a stupid, stinky booboo-head baboon, he still kept his promise.

  “You want to play basketball?” Nick asked when they reached his house.

  “I don’t care,” Marvin repeated, still thinking about Casey.

  “Sure,” said Stuart. “Horse, or knockout?”

  “I don’t care,” said Marvin. “I just know she’s faking.”

  They decided to play horse, because they’d need two basketballs to play knockout. Nick only had one basketball.

  Nick talked and played at the same time. “… Yes, ladies and gentlemen. The amazing Nick Tuffle is now going to try a shot from behind the brown spot in the driveway! Can he do it? He’s taking careful aim. Oh, the pressure! It would be amazing if he can make this shot. He shoots! The ball is up. It bounces off the rim … and GOES THROUGH THE NET! He did it! Nick Tuffle made the shot!”

  Marvin was the first to lose. He was too busy thinking about how much he didn’t care about Casey.

  “Why don’t you go home and get your basketball?” Stuart said. “Then we can play knockout.”

  Marvin liked knockout better than horse. It was faster and had a lot more action.

  He only lived around the block from Nick. He headed home.

  His basketball was kept in the garage, but the garage door was closed, so he had to go through the house.

  Jacob and Nate were eating popcorn in the kitchen. Jacob was Marvin’s older brother. Nate was Jacob’s best friend. They were in middle school.

  They were two-fisted eaters. Sometimes all four fists were in the large popcorn bowl at the same time.

  “Hey, Mar,” said Jacob. “You have a visitor.”

  “I do?” asked Marvin.

  “Is she your girlfriend?” asked Nate.

  “My girlfriend?” asked Marvin.

  “She’s cute,” said Jacob.

  “Who are you talking about?” asked Marvin.

  “You mean there’s more than one?” asked Nate.

  Nate and Jacob laughed.

  “How many girlfriends do you have?” asked Jacob.

  They laughed some more.

  Marvin felt himself blush. “I don’t know who you’re talking about. And she’s not my girlfriend!”

  “She’s upstairs, playing with Linzy,” said Jacob.

  Marv
in rushed up the stairs.

  “He’s sure in a hurry to see her!” said Nate.

  Marvin stopped. The only reason he was hurrying was because Nick and Stuart were waiting for him. He probably shouldn’t even go upstairs at all. He should just get his basketball and leave.

  But maybe he could catch Casey talking.

  Very quietly, he continued up the stairs, then down the hall to Linzy’s room.

  The door was open. He peeked inside.

  Casey and Linzy were sitting on the floor, playing Candy Land. Casey’s back was to Marvin. Marvin put his fingers to his lips so Linzy wouldn’t say anything.

  “Hi, Marvin!” Linzy blurted. “Do you like my new hairstyle?”

  Linzy had a ponytail sticking out of the side of her head.

  Casey turned and stared at Marvin.

  “I’m playing with Casey,” Linzy said. “She can’t talk. And it’s your fault.”

  Marvin spoke to Linzy, but he looked at Casey. “How do you know she can’t talk?” he asked. “Unless she told you.”

  “Well … because she hasn’t said anything!” said Linzy.

  “But how do you know it’s my fault?” Marvin asked, still staring at Casey.

  Everything is your fault, Marvin, said Casey’s face.

  “Well, you two have fun playing Candy Land,” said Marvin. “I just came to get my basketball.”

  “Wait! Don’t go!” said Linzy. “You can fix her so she can talk again.”

  “Oh, really?” asked Marvin. “How can I do that?”

  “All you have to do is say you’re sorry for telling her to shut up,” said Linzy.

  Marvin thought it over. He did feel bad about telling Casey to shut up.

  Casey tapped Linzy’s shoulder.

  “Oh, I forgot,” said Linzy. She giggled. “You also have to say that you ‘miss hearing her sweet voice.’ ” She giggled again.

  Marvin reddened. There was no way he could say that!

  “Well, first of all,” said Marvin, “I know she’s faking. Second of all, what makes you think I want her to talk again? I’m going to play basketball. Nick and Stuart are waiting for me.”

  Casey glared at him. Her face said, If you leave now, you’ll be really, really sorry!

  He turned and went down the stairs. He got his basketball out of the garage and headed back to Nick’s house.

  The whole way there, Marvin thought about Casey. There was no way he would tell her he “missed hearing her sweet voice.” He was willing to say he was sorry. If that wasn’t good enough, well, too bad!

  “What took you so long?” Stuart asked when Marvin finally made it back to Nick’s house.

  “C’mon, let’s play knockout,” said Nick.

  Marvin looked at his basketball. He suddenly realized something. How could Linzy know he had to say he “missed hearing her sweet voice” unless Casey told her?

  Casey couldn’t have written it for her, because Linzy couldn’t read! That proved it. Casey must have talked.

  “I have to go home,” he said.

  “But you just got here,” said Stuart.

  “I got stuff I have to do,” Marvin said.

  “What kind of stuff?” asked Nick.

  “Just stuff,” said Marvin. He couldn’t tell them about Casey being at his house. They wouldn’t understand. They might think he liked her.

  He turned and hurried home.

  He tapped the red post for luck, then went inside.

  Linzy, Jacob, and Nate were playing cards on the floor of the family room. That surprised Marvin almost as much as seeing Casey earlier. Jacob and Nate never played with Linzy.

  “Nate, do you have any sevens?” Linzy asked.

  “Hey, Mar,” said Jacob.

  Linzy laughed as Nate angrily threw a card at her.

  “Where’s Casey?” Marvin asked.

  “Your girlfriend went home,” said Nate.

  “She’s not my girlfriend,” said Marvin.

  “She’s really, really mad at you,” said Linzy.

  Marvin shrugged. “I don’t care.”

  “She hates you,” said Linzy.

  “So?” said Marvin.

  He took his basketball through the laundry room and out to the garage. He tossed it into the ball box, but it bounced out and hit his bicycle, which crashed to the ground.

  Marvin grumbled, then picked up his bike. He looked around for the basketball. It had rolled under the van.

  He got a broom off the wall, then lay down on the floor of the garage. Using the broomstick, he knocked the ball out from under the van.

  “I hate her, too,” he said.

  9

  Her Sweet Voice

  Marvin tried to read his book, A Thousand Cats, but couldn’t concentrate. He kept glancing at Casey.

  It was Friday, two days since he wished she would shut up. She still wasn’t talking. He wondered how long she could go on pretending.

  Casey caught him looking at her. She glared back at him, as if to say, What are you looking at?

  Marvin didn’t look away. You’re going to have to talk sometime, he thought. You can’t keep this up forever.

  That’s what you think! replied Casey’s face.

  You’ll get in trouble, thought Marvin. Mrs. North will find out you don’t have laryngitis!

  I may never talk again, Casey shot back.

  Good! thought Marvin. I’m sick of hearing your ugly voice.

  Well, I’m sick of your stupid, ugly face! Casey silently replied.

  And I’m sick of your stupid, ugly ponytail! thought Marvin.

  Casey angrily turned away.

  Marvin looked down at his desk. Even though he was mad at Casey, he felt bad about what he had just said. He knew she was very proud of her ponytail.

  “You are all working so nice and quietly,” said Mrs. North. She dropped three marbles into the marble jar, filling it to the top. “Let’s go to Lake Park!”

  Everybody cheered—except Casey, who couldn’t, and Marvin, who didn’t feel very cheerful.

  Lake Park was three blocks from Marvin’s school. Everyone had to walk with a buddy. Marvin’s buddy was Stuart. Nick and Warren walked right behind them.

  “Look, there’s Casey,” Marvin said. “Watch. I bet you she’ll talk.”

  Casey was buddies with Judy.

  “I don’t care,” said Stuart.

  “I don’t care either,” said Marvin.

  Mrs. North started out at the front, but then she drifted back until she was walking next to Judy and Casey.

  “Darn!” said Marvin. “Now she won’t say anything with Mrs. North right there.”

  “I don’t care,” said Stuart.

  “Me neither,” said Marvin.

  “I hope it’s all right for you to be outside,” he heard Mrs. North say. “I wouldn’t want your throat to get worse.”

  Casey shrugged.

  “The fresh air will be good for her,” said Judy.

  Marvin turned to Stuart. “How does Judy know?” he asked. “Is she a doctor?”

  “Who cares?” asked Stuart.

  “Not me,” said Marvin.

  There was a big playscape at Lake Park and a huge spider web made out of rope, which was fun to climb.

  Mrs. North told the class to have fun.

  Marvin didn’t feel like having fun. He watched Casey and Judy walk down the path to the lake.

  “C’mon, Marvin!” Stuart called as he ran to the spider web.

  Marvin stayed behind. He knew Casey and Judy were going off by themselves so they could talk. This was his chance to catch her. He waited for them to get a head start, then followed them.

  There were lots of trees on either side of the path. Marvin crept quietly from tree to tree.

  The two girls stopped near the edge of the lake. Marvin remained behind a tree. It looked as if they were talking, but Casey had her back to him. He was still too far away to hear.

  He moved closer.

  He heard a laugh. He
didn’t know if it came from Judy or Casey, but either way it proved Casey could talk. If Judy was the one who laughed, it meant that Casey must have said something funny.

  He carefully moved to a closer tree, then quickly darted to a bush, less than ten feet away from the girls. He tried not to breathe.

  “Sh!” said Judy. “I think I hear someone.”

  Marvin remained very still.

  “We know you’re there, Marvin!” said Judy.

  For a moment, Marvin didn’t say anything. Then he stepped out from behind the bush.

  “I heard you!” he declared. “Casey talked.”

  “No she didn’t,” Judy insisted.

  Casey pointed to her mouth, which was zipped shut.

  “What did she say?” demanded Judy.

  Marvin bit his lip. He wished he had heard just a little bit more. “I heard someone laugh,” he said.

  “That was me,” said Judy.

  “Well, she must have said something funny, to make you laugh,” said Marvin.

  “She made a funny face,” said Judy.

  Casey demonstrated. She pulled her ears, raised her eyebrows, and stuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth.

  Marvin suddenly realized something. “You said, ‘Sh!’ to her.”

  “Huh?” asked Judy.

  “When you heard me behind the bush. You said, ‘Sh! I think I hear someone.’ You wouldn’t have said, ‘Sh!’ unless Casey could talk.”

  He smiled triumphantly at Casey.

  “I was talking about shoes,” Judy explained. “I was just about to say, ‘Shoes are nice,’ when I heard you sneaking around like a skunk.”

  Casey smiled triumphantly at Marvin.

  “Marvin!” shouted Mrs. North from the top of the path. “Judy! Casey! Come back to the playscape. You’re not allowed near the water.”

  Judy hurried away before Marvin could ask her why she was talking about shoes.

  Casey looked at Marvin. Her face wasn’t angry. He wasn’t sure what her face was saying.

  Marvin sighed. “Okay,” he said. “I’m sorry I told you to shut up.”

  Casey waited for more.

  Marvin shook his head. “Okay. Okay,” he said. He looked around to make sure nobody could hear him. He stared down at his feet and muttered, “I miss hearing your sweet voice.”