TheSecretWordbyEllenWeertsillustratedbyStaceySchuettbyEllenWeertsillustratedbyStaceySchuettCopyright©byHarcourt,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.RequestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbeaddressedtoSchoolPermissionsandCopyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277SeaHarborDrive,Orlando,Florida32887-6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURTandtheHarcourtLogoaretrademarksofHarcourt,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesofAmericaand/orotherjurisdictions.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaISBN10:0-15-350508-7ISBN13:978-0-15-350508-9OrderingOptionsISBN10:0-15-350334-3(Grade4Below-LevelCollection)ISBN13:978-0-15-350334-4(Grade4Below-LevelCollection)ISBN10:0-15-357497-6(packageof5)ISBN13:978-0-15-357497-9(packageof5)Ifyouhavereceivedthesematerialsasexaminationcopiesfreeofcharge,HarcourtSchoolPublishersretainstitletothematerialsandtheymaynotberesold.Resaleofexaminationcopiesisstrictlyprohibitedandisillegal.Possessionofthispublicationinprintformatdoesnotentitleuserstoconvertthispublication,oranyportionofit,intoelectronicformat.1234567891017912111009080706TheSecretWord“Comeonover,”saidDenise,talkingintothetelephone.“Iwanttoshowyoumynewstickers.”“I’llberightthere,”saidRachel.Lessthanfiveminuteslater,RachelwasknockingonDenise’sdoor.RachellivedtwohousesawayfromDenise.Deniseopenedthefrontdoor.Shewasholdingabrightyellow“happyface”sticker.“Cool!”Rachelsaid.“I’vegotabouttwentyofthem,”saidDenisewithasmile.“Comein,andI’llshowthemtoyou.”3ThegirlswentuptoDenise’sbedroomwheretheyhadhadmanysleepovers.Theyhadknowneachothersincetheywerefouryearsold.Theywerebestfriends.Theywalkedbackandforthtoschooltogethereverydayandplayedtogetherallsummerlong.OncewhenDenisewasfeelingqueasy,Rachelmadehersomehotteaandbroughtitover.WhenRachelbrokeherfoot,Denisecarriedherbackpacktoschooleveryday.Togethertheypla...