Mr. Chen said I could use his mirror for a while longer.
So I carried the magic box upstairs to my apartment.
Molly came with me.
I knew what I wanted to do next with it.
I wanted to try to read my mother's thoughts.
All I had to do was persuade Mom to put her head inside the box.
Tate was in the living room.
"What's that?" he asked, looking at my box.
"A magic thinking box," I said.
"I'm bringing it to the Invention Convention."
"It looks weird," said Tate.
"What's it supposed to do?"
"When you put it over your head, Iggy can tell what you're thinking!" said Molly.
"Want to try it?" I asked.
"Okay," said Tate.
"But you'll never be able to tell what I'm thinking."
Tate put the box over his head, and I gave him the flashlight.
"Now turn on the flashlight," I said.
Tate turned the flashlight on inside the magic thinking box.
I turned off the light in the room.
"I can see you," I said.
"But you can't see me."
"Big deal," said Tate.
"You still can't tell what I'm thinking."
"Yes, I can," I said.
"You're thinking this is a dumb invention."
Tate took the box off his head with a big grin.
"Well, you got that right!" he said.
"See, Iggy's invention works!" said Molly.
"Let's try it on my mom now," I whispered to Molly.
Molly and I went into the kitchen.
For once Mom wasn't on the phone.
She was baking cookies, just like a normal mother.
"Will you try my new invention, Mom?" I asked.
I showed her the box.
"It really works, Mrs. Erickson!" added Molly.
My mom slid a tray of cookies into the oven and then looked at me.
"What do I have to do?"
"Just put the box over your head," I said.
"You want me to put my head in that box?" said Mom.
"Just for a minute, Mom," I said. "Please?"
"Well, okay." Mom sat down, and I put the box over her head.
Molly laughed. "You look funny, Mrs. Erickson!"
"I feel funny," said Mom.
"It's very dark in here."
"Here's the flashlight," I said.
"Molly, can you please turn off the kitchen light?"
Pretty soon Molly and I were looking through the one-way mirror.
"All I can see is myself," said Mom.
"We can see you," I told her.
I stared at Mom's face.
She was frowning as she stared at herself in the glass.
"And I can tell what you're thinking!"
"Really?" said Mom. "What?"
"You're thinking about money!" I said.
"About how you're going to get some!"
Mom took off the box.
"Your invention works, Iggy.
I was thinking about money—about how I need a whole bank!"
Molly and I looked at each other.
I didn't need a magic box to read her mind this time.
I already knew what Molly was thinking because it was exactly what I was thinking.
What if I hadn't invented the story about Mom planning to rob a bank?
What if it was true?
Soon the cookies were done, and the kitchen was full of delicious smells.
Josh and Jenny came up to my apartment, and we all ate the chewy chocolate cookies.
I decided to enjoy the cookies and stop worrying about Mom for a little while.
"Robbing a bank takes lots of planning," I told myself.
If Mom was going to rob her bank, she couldn't do it right away.
Plus, I needed my brain for something else besides worrying:
getting ready for the Invention Convention.