Excerpt: Alligators Overhead

Pete threw back his covers, dressed quickly and went downstairs to sit at Aunt Lizzie’s desk. He had to intercept Pitt’s call or his spring break was ruined. If the principal talked to his aunt she would make Pete’s life miserable with a capital M all week. He’d—

The desk phone rang and Pete sprang out of the chair, knocking it over. He dived for the receiver and snatched it up before the first chime faded. Expecting to hear Principal Pitt’s wheezy voice, his jaw dropped when a woman on the other end of the line whispered, “Today is the day, Peter Riley.”