How could anyone accuse Claudia of cheating?

I stood outside the bathroom door for about thirty seconds, trying to figure out what Nancy Drew would do if she were in my shoes. Then I slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside.

There are four stalls in that bathroom. Three of them were occupied by Shawna and her friends. Quickly, before I could change my mind, I slipped into the fourth.

The toilet next to mine flushed right then, and I heard someone walk over to the sink. The water ran for a minute. Then I heard a girl say, "Shawna, I swear. You are so lucky." She was chewing gum loudly. That must be the one with the red hair, I thought.

"I know," said Shawna, who had just come out of her stall. "I still can't believe I got away with it." She giggled. "I just gave Mr. Zorzi this incredibly sincere, honest look - and he let me go!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Were they actually talking about what it seemed like they were talking about? I was suddenly terrified that they would find out I was eavesdropping on them. I held my breath and tried to get my heart to stop beating so loudly. I kept listening. This was exactly what I wanted to hear.

Claudia and the Middle School Mystery
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590440829