GGray
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On Saturday morning, the door of the McGillises’ apartment was busted open by a very angry VidKid. It was a good thing Sally had just left to visit Anna Rose.
“This is unfair!!!” he screeched. “You have like no legal right to do this!”
Pete kept his cool. “What are you yelling about?”
“That...that..c’mere, Arch!”
Arch emerged from the hallway, holding our letter with two fingers like it was something disgusting. He was followed by Mohawk. “Yeah, Vid?”
VidKid snatched the letter and stuck it in Pete’s face. “THIS is what I’m yelling about! Like whatta you mean we owe you a thousand bucks?”
“No, you don’t,” said Pete, still calm. “You owe us one thousand, SIX HUNDRED dollars. Let’s just make that little detail clear.”
“This a prank, right?” Arch asked.
Henry spoke up. “Didn’t you read the contract before you signed it?”
“LIVI signed it!” Arch protested.
“I guess you didn’t read the contract, because it stated clearly that the co-signers will pay the fee,” Henry informed the angry Spiker.
“But...but we don’t have that kind of cash!” Arch said nervously. “All we have is one-hundred and two dollars and twenty-three cents! Um, no, wait.” He dug a penny out of his pocket. “Make that twenty-four cents.”
“Discount that quarter we found in the basement. It’s Canadian,” said Mohawk.
“We’re not paying them a plastic dime!” VidKid shouted, waving his fist.
“Correct,” said Henry. “You’re paying us one thousand, six hundred dollars in tens and fives. No twenties, please. And one little detail...you have to pay it by next week. Contract says so.”
Arch and Mohawk were speechless. VidKid was not. “We’ll fight this out in court!”
“Okay, but we’ll win,” Pete said.
“Uh, Vid?” Arch said. “Where are we gonna like get a lawyer?”
“What? You need a lawyer?” Mohawk was shocked. “I thought that was only for big things like computer hacking and iPod stealing!”
VidKid grinned. “Laser’s dad is a lawyer. And it’s also Laser’s birthday tomorrow. His daddy will do whatever he asks—I heard him promise Laser anything he wanted.”
“He’s not gonna like waste his present on legal counseling!” Mohawk protested.
“Shut up, Mo. He will if I tell him to.”
Pete pulled Henry aside. “Um, can they do that?”
Henry looked worried. “If they take us to court, they’ll win, because the document was signed by minors.”
This was bad.
“This is unfair!!!” he screeched. “You have like no legal right to do this!”
Pete kept his cool. “What are you yelling about?”
“That...that..c’mere, Arch!”
Arch emerged from the hallway, holding our letter with two fingers like it was something disgusting. He was followed by Mohawk. “Yeah, Vid?”
VidKid snatched the letter and stuck it in Pete’s face. “THIS is what I’m yelling about! Like whatta you mean we owe you a thousand bucks?”
“No, you don’t,” said Pete, still calm. “You owe us one thousand, SIX HUNDRED dollars. Let’s just make that little detail clear.”
“This a prank, right?” Arch asked.
Henry spoke up. “Didn’t you read the contract before you signed it?”
“LIVI signed it!” Arch protested.
“I guess you didn’t read the contract, because it stated clearly that the co-signers will pay the fee,” Henry informed the angry Spiker.
“But...but we don’t have that kind of cash!” Arch said nervously. “All we have is one-hundred and two dollars and twenty-three cents! Um, no, wait.” He dug a penny out of his pocket. “Make that twenty-four cents.”
“Discount that quarter we found in the basement. It’s Canadian,” said Mohawk.
“We’re not paying them a plastic dime!” VidKid shouted, waving his fist.
“Correct,” said Henry. “You’re paying us one thousand, six hundred dollars in tens and fives. No twenties, please. And one little detail...you have to pay it by next week. Contract says so.”
Arch and Mohawk were speechless. VidKid was not. “We’ll fight this out in court!”
“Okay, but we’ll win,” Pete said.
“Uh, Vid?” Arch said. “Where are we gonna like get a lawyer?”
“What? You need a lawyer?” Mohawk was shocked. “I thought that was only for big things like computer hacking and iPod stealing!”
VidKid grinned. “Laser’s dad is a lawyer. And it’s also Laser’s birthday tomorrow. His daddy will do whatever he asks—I heard him promise Laser anything he wanted.”
“He’s not gonna like waste his present on legal counseling!” Mohawk protested.
“Shut up, Mo. He will if I tell him to.”
Pete pulled Henry aside. “Um, can they do that?”
Henry looked worried. “If they take us to court, they’ll win, because the document was signed by minors.”
This was bad.
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Before Henry or Pete could say anything else, Johnny spoke up. “Okay, seeing as how this is starting to be a very complicated matter, we’ll only take a hundred in cash and let you go on the rest.”
Arch sighed with relief and held out the cash. As Johnny reached out to take it, VidKid knocked Arch’s hand away. “No! Not a penny! I said we’d fight this out in court and I totally meant it. Come on, guys. Let’s go talk to Laser and his dad.” He and the other Spikers stomped off.
For the next couple of hours, we waited nervously for some kind a legal phone call. We were all worried, but Tim most of all.
“Amy said if you guys got me into any more trouble she’d send me to a private boarding school,” he gulped.
“No!” Teddy gasped. “She can’t do that!”
“Technically, she can. She’s your legal guardian, Tim,” Henry pointed out.
“If I hear the word ‘legal’ again in the next twenty-four hours I’m going to go legally insane,” Johnny announced.
“You’re already insane,” said Rory.
Before Johnny could make a retort, there was a knock on the door.
“Uh-oh,” said Teddy.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Johnny stated.
“Star Wars!” Rory and Teddy guessed at the same time.
“This is no time to play ‘Guess the Quote’!” Pete snorted. “Answer the door, Teddy.”
To our extreme horror, it was VidKid and Arch.
“Laser’s dad just took him on a surprise birthday visit to Loopy Island, and he won’t be back for a week,” VidKid sneered. “So I guess we can like spare NINETY dollars.”
“One hundred,” Johnny said flatly.
Pete nudged him and said, “Okay, ninety will be fine.”
Arch reluctantly handed it over. Then he and VidKid left.
“Hello, beautiful!” Johnny said, kissing the stack of bills. The rest of us were grossed out.
“Do you realize how many germs are on the surface of the average dollar bill?” Henry said.
“When did you join the board of health?” Johnny asked. “Come on, let’s go spend it.”
“Hey, wait a second! That money is being mailed back right now!” Pete said.
“Can’t we keep one dollar for a souvenir?” Johnny suggested.
“No! It wouldn’t be legal!” Henry objected. He snatched the money and stuffed it in his pocket.
“I said if you said legal again I’d...”
Pete interrupted. “Johnny, you are so random. Henry, stick a note in the envelope with the money. Make it SO clear that we’ve completely tricked them.”
Arch sighed with relief and held out the cash. As Johnny reached out to take it, VidKid knocked Arch’s hand away. “No! Not a penny! I said we’d fight this out in court and I totally meant it. Come on, guys. Let’s go talk to Laser and his dad.” He and the other Spikers stomped off.
For the next couple of hours, we waited nervously for some kind a legal phone call. We were all worried, but Tim most of all.
“Amy said if you guys got me into any more trouble she’d send me to a private boarding school,” he gulped.
“No!” Teddy gasped. “She can’t do that!”
“Technically, she can. She’s your legal guardian, Tim,” Henry pointed out.
“If I hear the word ‘legal’ again in the next twenty-four hours I’m going to go legally insane,” Johnny announced.
“You’re already insane,” said Rory.
Before Johnny could make a retort, there was a knock on the door.
“Uh-oh,” said Teddy.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Johnny stated.
“Star Wars!” Rory and Teddy guessed at the same time.
“This is no time to play ‘Guess the Quote’!” Pete snorted. “Answer the door, Teddy.”
To our extreme horror, it was VidKid and Arch.
“Laser’s dad just took him on a surprise birthday visit to Loopy Island, and he won’t be back for a week,” VidKid sneered. “So I guess we can like spare NINETY dollars.”
“One hundred,” Johnny said flatly.
Pete nudged him and said, “Okay, ninety will be fine.”
Arch reluctantly handed it over. Then he and VidKid left.
“Hello, beautiful!” Johnny said, kissing the stack of bills. The rest of us were grossed out.
“Do you realize how many germs are on the surface of the average dollar bill?” Henry said.
“When did you join the board of health?” Johnny asked. “Come on, let’s go spend it.”
“Hey, wait a second! That money is being mailed back right now!” Pete said.
“Can’t we keep one dollar for a souvenir?” Johnny suggested.
“No! It wouldn’t be legal!” Henry objected. He snatched the money and stuffed it in his pocket.
“I said if you said legal again I’d...”
Pete interrupted. “Johnny, you are so random. Henry, stick a note in the envelope with the money. Make it SO clear that we’ve completely tricked them.”
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Sorry for the short post, but I needed to finish the chapter.
“I wonder what Loopy Island is,” Rory asked as Henry left to write the note in the peace and quiet of the other room.
“An insane asylum,” Teddy sugegsted. “It sure sounds like one.”
“No, if it was one Laser wouldn’t be coming home in a week ‘cause they’d never let him out,” Johnny said.
Tim knew what it was. “It’s an amusement park that just opened up. I really wanted to go to the opening, and I had enough money saved up in the bank to go, but Amy wouldn’t let me. She doesn’t approve of amusement park rides ever since she went under this one website about ride accidents.”
“Does Amy approve of anything?” Johnny asked.
“I don’t think so. Oh, yeah, school.”
“I mean anything FUN.”
“Nope.”
“I wonder what Loopy Island is,” Rory asked as Henry left to write the note in the peace and quiet of the other room.
“An insane asylum,” Teddy sugegsted. “It sure sounds like one.”
“No, if it was one Laser wouldn’t be coming home in a week ‘cause they’d never let him out,” Johnny said.
Tim knew what it was. “It’s an amusement park that just opened up. I really wanted to go to the opening, and I had enough money saved up in the bank to go, but Amy wouldn’t let me. She doesn’t approve of amusement park rides ever since she went under this one website about ride accidents.”
“Does Amy approve of anything?” Johnny asked.
“I don’t think so. Oh, yeah, school.”
“I mean anything FUN.”
“Nope.”
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GGray
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Chapter 4: The Soup Can
For the next few days after Mrs. McGillis and Lauri came home, we didn’t see anything of the Spikers. Finally, our trusty spy Teddy found out why—they were too ashamed to show their faces around us. This suited us fine.
Then, suddenly, we got even luckier.
See, that day we were having lunch at Tim’s apartment. Amy was at work, and Tim’s other sisters were out doing some girl things. Johnny was opening a can of chicken noodle soup, and Pete and Tim were making sandwiches.
Rory gave Tim his order. “I want peanut butter with some fluff.”
“Sorry,” said Tim. “Amy doesn’t buy fluff.”
“We buy Jet Puff,” said Pete. “I think there’s half a jar left, unless Ed took it. I’ll go see.” Pete ran out. He returned a minute or two later, triumphantly carrying the jar. “Here.”
There was enough fluff for all the sandwiches (except Henry, because he had ham on his, and ham and fluff don’t mix). Tim used the rubber scraper to get every last bit of fluff out of the jar. “Sometimes I wish Amy would buy the good stuff.” Amy didn’t only forbid marshmallow fluff. She drew the line at anything prepackaged, microwavable, or canned (except for canned vegetables). The only reason the can of soup was now simmering on Tim’s stove was that Irene had done the shopping that week, and she has better taste than Amy.
Johnny cleared up the dishes and was about to toss the soup can into the garbage when Tim stopped him. “Recycle,” he insisted. “Amy’s rules.”
Johnny prepared to make a perfect pitch across the room.
“Take the label off first!” Tim went on. “That goes in the paper recycling.”
Johnny peeled off the label. He was about to ditch it when something caught his eye. “Congratulations!” he read aloud.
“Let me see that,” said Pete, snatching the label. “Whoa! Look at this!”
For the next few days after Mrs. McGillis and Lauri came home, we didn’t see anything of the Spikers. Finally, our trusty spy Teddy found out why—they were too ashamed to show their faces around us. This suited us fine.
Then, suddenly, we got even luckier.
See, that day we were having lunch at Tim’s apartment. Amy was at work, and Tim’s other sisters were out doing some girl things. Johnny was opening a can of chicken noodle soup, and Pete and Tim were making sandwiches.
Rory gave Tim his order. “I want peanut butter with some fluff.”
“Sorry,” said Tim. “Amy doesn’t buy fluff.”
“We buy Jet Puff,” said Pete. “I think there’s half a jar left, unless Ed took it. I’ll go see.” Pete ran out. He returned a minute or two later, triumphantly carrying the jar. “Here.”
There was enough fluff for all the sandwiches (except Henry, because he had ham on his, and ham and fluff don’t mix). Tim used the rubber scraper to get every last bit of fluff out of the jar. “Sometimes I wish Amy would buy the good stuff.” Amy didn’t only forbid marshmallow fluff. She drew the line at anything prepackaged, microwavable, or canned (except for canned vegetables). The only reason the can of soup was now simmering on Tim’s stove was that Irene had done the shopping that week, and she has better taste than Amy.
Johnny cleared up the dishes and was about to toss the soup can into the garbage when Tim stopped him. “Recycle,” he insisted. “Amy’s rules.”
Johnny prepared to make a perfect pitch across the room.
“Take the label off first!” Tim went on. “That goes in the paper recycling.”
Johnny peeled off the label. He was about to ditch it when something caught his eye. “Congratulations!” he read aloud.
“Let me see that,” said Pete, snatching the label. “Whoa! Look at this!”
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“WHAT?” the rest of us chorused.
Pete read aloud. “You’ve won a trip to Loopy Island!”
“For how many of us?” Johnny asked.
“It says ‘see website for details,’” Pete said.
We hurried over to the computer.
“Henry, you type. You’re fastest,” Pete said. “The web address is www.soupcan.com.”
“Found it!” Henry said after a couple seconds. “Here’s the details: it’s a trip for five, all expenses paid. It’s one week long, and we’d leave next Monday.”
“Five...” Pete said. “That leaves one of us.”
“Um, at least one person 18 or over has to come,” Johnny, who had been reading over Henry’s shoulder, said. “Rules.”
‘Who’s the least bossy person 18 or over that we know?” Henry asked.
“Irene isn’t bad,” Rory said.
“Irene’s going to Florida with some girl from college next week,” Tim said.
“My dad’s working, and Mom has to take care of Lauri,” Johnny said. “Besides, I don’t think she’d want to go anywhere after just going to Alberta.”
“My mom and dad are busy working,” Pete said. “They’re saving their vacation time for Christmas break. We’re flying to England then to see Dad’s family. And don’t even suggest asking Ed. He’d ruin the whole thing with his superior attitude.”
“It’s Ed or Amy,” Johnny said. “Who’s better?”
We all paused for a few moments.
“I say Ed is better,” Tim finally said.
“That’s because you don’t live with him!” Pete objected.
After a five-minute argument, Tim won. “Let’s go ask Ed.”
“We can’t,” Pete said. “He’s at work.”
“Let’s call him,” suggested Rory.
“He doesn’t have his cell phone,” Pete said.
“Are you sure?” Teddy asked.
“Definitely. I was using it last night to play the racing game on it, and I forgot to give it back.”
“Well, where does he work?” Henry asked.
“Burger Bud’s. He runs the cash register.”
Pete read aloud. “You’ve won a trip to Loopy Island!”
“For how many of us?” Johnny asked.
“It says ‘see website for details,’” Pete said.
We hurried over to the computer.
“Henry, you type. You’re fastest,” Pete said. “The web address is www.soupcan.com.”
“Found it!” Henry said after a couple seconds. “Here’s the details: it’s a trip for five, all expenses paid. It’s one week long, and we’d leave next Monday.”
“Five...” Pete said. “That leaves one of us.”
“Um, at least one person 18 or over has to come,” Johnny, who had been reading over Henry’s shoulder, said. “Rules.”
‘Who’s the least bossy person 18 or over that we know?” Henry asked.
“Irene isn’t bad,” Rory said.
“Irene’s going to Florida with some girl from college next week,” Tim said.
“My dad’s working, and Mom has to take care of Lauri,” Johnny said. “Besides, I don’t think she’d want to go anywhere after just going to Alberta.”
“My mom and dad are busy working,” Pete said. “They’re saving their vacation time for Christmas break. We’re flying to England then to see Dad’s family. And don’t even suggest asking Ed. He’d ruin the whole thing with his superior attitude.”
“It’s Ed or Amy,” Johnny said. “Who’s better?”
We all paused for a few moments.
“I say Ed is better,” Tim finally said.
“That’s because you don’t live with him!” Pete objected.
After a five-minute argument, Tim won. “Let’s go ask Ed.”
“We can’t,” Pete said. “He’s at work.”
“Let’s call him,” suggested Rory.
“He doesn’t have his cell phone,” Pete said.
“Are you sure?” Teddy asked.
“Definitely. I was using it last night to play the racing game on it, and I forgot to give it back.”
“Well, where does he work?” Henry asked.
“Burger Bud’s. He runs the cash register.”
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“I really don’t think we should bother him at work,” Tim said. “We can just ask him when he gets home.”
“That won’t work. When he comes home he locks himself in our room and talks with all his college friends on facebook.”
“Hey! How can he lock you out? It’s half your room!”
“True, but Ed says that I get the whole room while he’s at college and work, so he gets it in the evenings.”
“I know! We’ll ask him on his facebook page!” Johnny said.
“How?” Tim asked.
Johnny grinned. “I know Irene’s password...and I happen to know she’s one of Ed’s facebook friends.”
Tim was shocked. “You know her password? How come you figured it out, but I didn’t?”
“I have ways,” said Johnny vaguely. “Come on.”
“You don’t happen to know the password for her diary document?” Tim asked hopefully.
“No, but if you want to know it, I’ll find out by next week.”
“She keeps her diary on the computer?” Rory asked. “Why not a simple notebook?”
“She used to have some flower sticker diary kit, but I found it and read it last year. Now her security level has gone up.”
Our plans were ruined when we discovered Irene had changed her password. She had obviously suspected Johnny.
“We’ll all make a barricade across the door of your room and ask Ed before he can escape,” proclaimed Henry.
“Good idea,” Pete said. “And after Ed says yes, we can tell our parents. They’ll be more likely to let us go if we have the chaperone all taken care of.”
“We have one other problem, you know,” said Henry. “Two of us aren’t included in that prize. What’ll we do about that?”
Pete smiled. “I have it all figured out. I have enough money saved up from birthdays and allowance to pay for about half of my ticket, and my parents will pay the rest.”
“Why?” asked Johnny.
“Oh, last year I really really wanted to fly to Florida and visit my cousin, but I didn’t have enough cash then. My parents said if I saved up half, they’d pay for the rest. Well, meanwhile my cousin moved up here. I guess the agreement to pay for the other half of something I want is still in effect.”
“How about the other guy?” Rory wanted to know.
“The park admission is cheapest for kids eight and under,” Pete said. “I saw the prices listed on the website. That cuts Teddy’s ticket price almost in half! I’m sure your parents will pay for you, Teddy...after all, it wouldn’t be nice to let the rest of us go and leave you behind.”
At five-thirty, confident that it would all work out somehow, we made a line in front of the door to Pete and Ed’s room. Four minutes later, Ed walked into the apartment.
“Get away from the door,” he said.
We all grinned. We could almost hear his facebook account calling him in a hypnotic voice.
“Uh, Ed?” Pete said. “We were wondering...do you want to go to Loopy Island?”
“What the heck is Loopy Island?” Ed asked. “It sounds like someplace you belong. And where’s my cell phone?”
Pete was prepared. “Here.”
Ed grabbed it and stuffed it in his pocket. “Why’d you take mine? Yours is just as good...better, even.”
“It doesn’t have that racing game yours does. Anyway, would you?”
“Would I what?”
“Would you go to Loopy Island if all expenses were paid?”
“I’m gonna ask you one...last...time. What’s that?”
“It’s a new huge amusement park.”
“And why would all my expenses be paid?”
Pete explained.
“Are you kidding, Pete?” Ed laughed. “You think I want to follow you and your friends around some amusement park for a WEEK?”
We were shocked.
“Ed, you’re missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” Pete gasped.
“No,” Ed said flatly. “Now get out.”
He pushed Henry and Rory (who were blocking the actual doorway) aside, went in, and slammed the door.
“Great. Now I know what you meant, Pete,” Johnny said.
Tim was depressed. “Now we’ll HAVE to ask Amy.”
“That won’t work. When he comes home he locks himself in our room and talks with all his college friends on facebook.”
“Hey! How can he lock you out? It’s half your room!”
“True, but Ed says that I get the whole room while he’s at college and work, so he gets it in the evenings.”
“I know! We’ll ask him on his facebook page!” Johnny said.
“How?” Tim asked.
Johnny grinned. “I know Irene’s password...and I happen to know she’s one of Ed’s facebook friends.”
Tim was shocked. “You know her password? How come you figured it out, but I didn’t?”
“I have ways,” said Johnny vaguely. “Come on.”
“You don’t happen to know the password for her diary document?” Tim asked hopefully.
“No, but if you want to know it, I’ll find out by next week.”
“She keeps her diary on the computer?” Rory asked. “Why not a simple notebook?”
“She used to have some flower sticker diary kit, but I found it and read it last year. Now her security level has gone up.”
Our plans were ruined when we discovered Irene had changed her password. She had obviously suspected Johnny.
“We’ll all make a barricade across the door of your room and ask Ed before he can escape,” proclaimed Henry.
“Good idea,” Pete said. “And after Ed says yes, we can tell our parents. They’ll be more likely to let us go if we have the chaperone all taken care of.”
“We have one other problem, you know,” said Henry. “Two of us aren’t included in that prize. What’ll we do about that?”
Pete smiled. “I have it all figured out. I have enough money saved up from birthdays and allowance to pay for about half of my ticket, and my parents will pay the rest.”
“Why?” asked Johnny.
“Oh, last year I really really wanted to fly to Florida and visit my cousin, but I didn’t have enough cash then. My parents said if I saved up half, they’d pay for the rest. Well, meanwhile my cousin moved up here. I guess the agreement to pay for the other half of something I want is still in effect.”
“How about the other guy?” Rory wanted to know.
“The park admission is cheapest for kids eight and under,” Pete said. “I saw the prices listed on the website. That cuts Teddy’s ticket price almost in half! I’m sure your parents will pay for you, Teddy...after all, it wouldn’t be nice to let the rest of us go and leave you behind.”
At five-thirty, confident that it would all work out somehow, we made a line in front of the door to Pete and Ed’s room. Four minutes later, Ed walked into the apartment.
“Get away from the door,” he said.
We all grinned. We could almost hear his facebook account calling him in a hypnotic voice.
“Uh, Ed?” Pete said. “We were wondering...do you want to go to Loopy Island?”
“What the heck is Loopy Island?” Ed asked. “It sounds like someplace you belong. And where’s my cell phone?”
Pete was prepared. “Here.”
Ed grabbed it and stuffed it in his pocket. “Why’d you take mine? Yours is just as good...better, even.”
“It doesn’t have that racing game yours does. Anyway, would you?”
“Would I what?”
“Would you go to Loopy Island if all expenses were paid?”
“I’m gonna ask you one...last...time. What’s that?”
“It’s a new huge amusement park.”
“And why would all my expenses be paid?”
Pete explained.
“Are you kidding, Pete?” Ed laughed. “You think I want to follow you and your friends around some amusement park for a WEEK?”
We were shocked.
“Ed, you’re missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” Pete gasped.
“No,” Ed said flatly. “Now get out.”
He pushed Henry and Rory (who were blocking the actual doorway) aside, went in, and slammed the door.
“Great. Now I know what you meant, Pete,” Johnny said.
Tim was depressed. “Now we’ll HAVE to ask Amy.”
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“No! We have to find somebody else!” insisted Teddy.
“It’s not like our parents will let us go with some complete stranger we pick off the street,” Pete said. “It has to be somebody they know well. And Amy’s the only person...”
“Suppose she won’t take off work?” Johnny interrupted.
Tim looked glum. “She was gonna take a week off soon anyway. I heard her tell Evelyn.”
“What if she’s like Ed and doesn’t want to spend a week following us around?” asked Johnny.
“Nope. She’d LOVE to have the chance to watch me all day,” Tim said. “Actually, if Ed had said yes she probably wouldn’t have let me come. I heard her tell Irene a few days ago that Ed Lewis was a selfish kid.”
Rory was stunned. “Ed? Are you sure she didn’t say Pete Lewis?”
“Hey!” Pete protested. “I’m not selfish. But why would she call Ed a kid? Isn’t she like the same age as him?”
“Are you kidding? She’s a lot older--eleven years,” said Tim. “That’s like the difference between Sally and Lauri.”
“Well, once you hit eighteen it’s all the same after that. Anyway, Amy has no business to talk about Ed,” said Pete.
“You say worse things about him all the time,” Henry remarked.
“Yeah, but I’m his brother.”
Tim informed us that Amy would be home in half an hour, which gave us enough time to formulate a plan. We hoped it would turn out better than our previous one.
“It’s not like our parents will let us go with some complete stranger we pick off the street,” Pete said. “It has to be somebody they know well. And Amy’s the only person...”
“Suppose she won’t take off work?” Johnny interrupted.
Tim looked glum. “She was gonna take a week off soon anyway. I heard her tell Evelyn.”
“What if she’s like Ed and doesn’t want to spend a week following us around?” asked Johnny.
“Nope. She’d LOVE to have the chance to watch me all day,” Tim said. “Actually, if Ed had said yes she probably wouldn’t have let me come. I heard her tell Irene a few days ago that Ed Lewis was a selfish kid.”
Rory was stunned. “Ed? Are you sure she didn’t say Pete Lewis?”
“Hey!” Pete protested. “I’m not selfish. But why would she call Ed a kid? Isn’t she like the same age as him?”
“Are you kidding? She’s a lot older--eleven years,” said Tim. “That’s like the difference between Sally and Lauri.”
“Well, once you hit eighteen it’s all the same after that. Anyway, Amy has no business to talk about Ed,” said Pete.
“You say worse things about him all the time,” Henry remarked.
“Yeah, but I’m his brother.”
Tim informed us that Amy would be home in half an hour, which gave us enough time to formulate a plan. We hoped it would turn out better than our previous one.
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After our formulating was done, we headed for Tim’s apartment. Johnny, Tim, Rory, and Teddy went into Tim’s bedroom while Pete and Henry sat on the sofa in the living room. We didn’t have long to wait...Amy arrived in five minutes.
“Hello, boys,” she said. “Where’s Timmy?”
In the bedroom, Tim made a frustrated sigh. “She still thinks I’m three.”
“Uh, Tim’s around,” Pete said. “Uh...we have a question to ask.”
Amy carefully filed away the mail she’d brought in and headed for the kitchen. “Well, maybe later. I have to make dinner.”
“It’s real important,” Pete said, getting up to follow her and nudging Henry.
“What is it?”
“Um...see this soup can?”
“Yes, why?”
Henry began the explanation. “You know Loopy Island?”
“An amusement park. Tim told me about it.”
“Yeah. Well, anyway, Tim won a trip there. See, on the soup can: ‘Win a trip to Loopy Island! Details on our website!’”
Amy looked confused. “Wait, what?”
“Well, the trip is for five, and one of the five has to be an adult. Nobody else can go, so we kinda hoped that you would.”
We could tell Amy was thinking about the ride accidents website.
“You don’t have to go on any rides,” Henry said. “You just have to chaperone us, and...”
“Anyway, Loopy Island has a no-accident record,” Pete interrupted.
“Actually, there was that one insignificant one when they first opened,” legal Henry had to say. “But it wasn’t fatal. It was a malfunctioning plumbing system in the restrooms, and someone slipped and sprained their ankle.”
“You’re SO honest,” muttered Pete. “No wonder your middle name is Lincoln.”
“Well...I suppose if your parents say it’s all right...” Amy began.
The rest of us burst out of the bedroom. “Yaaaaay!”
“Wait! I said IF your parents...”
“They will,” Pete said confidently. And he was right—about everything, even the part about his parents putting up half the money and the McGillises paying for Teddy.
A few days later, we were on a plane, headed for Loopy Island!
GGray
New member
5: Loopy Island
The plane ride was great. It was the first time any of the McGillises had ever been on one—except Johnny, and the only time he’d flown was when he was two, so it didn’t really count.
“This is so...SWEET!” Rory said, looking out the window and crunching the candy bar he’d bought at the airport.
Teddy looked confused. “The candy or the plane?”
“Both.”
Johnny was completely absorbed in the little TV screen mounted in the seat in front of him. “Whoa.”
“What’re you watching?” asked Amy.
Pete nudged Johnny, who quickly removed his headphones. “What? Who asked what?”
Amy repeated her question.
“Oh, it’s just an innocent movie.”
Amy was suspicious. “What’s it called?”
Pete handed her the DVD case.
“Don’t!” Johnny yelped, but it was too late.
Amy looked dubiously at the cover picture of a planet exploding, an army of robots, and a lady who was somehow managing to cower behind a man with an enormous machine gun and look sentimental at the same time.
“Don’t worry,” said Johnny. “The guy and lady are only on there to hook the twenty-five percent.”
“What?”
“The twenty-five percent of the audience who come to see the emotional parts. But I’m not in that percentage, so I’ll skip the love chapters and go right to the action.”
“Does your mother know you brought this?”
“My dad does, and he approves.”
Amy sighed and handed it back.
Johnny replaced the headphones and was immediately engrossed.
Henry looked up from the 300-page book he was reading. “Can I have that case?”
Pete tossed it across the aisle. “Here.”
“Oh, this is that new movie—War in Space. It’s cheesy.”
Johnny somehow managed to hear this with the headphones on. “It’s science fiction!”
“No scientist ever wrote that.”
Johnny was annoyed. “It happened in 4050. No living scientist would be able to comprehend it.”
“Happened in 4050?” Henry was skeptical. “Anyway, if civilization is so advanced, why is everyone wearing Roman togas? It seems the farther they go into the future the more primitive the outfits are.”
“They’re not Roman togas. They’re sun-deflective robes created on the planet Radium. Now quiet! I’m at the first climax!”
“A good story only has one climax.”
“Well, this is a BETTER story, ‘cause it has three. Now, shh!” Johnny turned the volume up and refused to say anything else until Teddy shouted, “There’s the airport!”
The plane ride was great. It was the first time any of the McGillises had ever been on one—except Johnny, and the only time he’d flown was when he was two, so it didn’t really count.
“This is so...SWEET!” Rory said, looking out the window and crunching the candy bar he’d bought at the airport.
Teddy looked confused. “The candy or the plane?”
“Both.”
Johnny was completely absorbed in the little TV screen mounted in the seat in front of him. “Whoa.”
“What’re you watching?” asked Amy.
Pete nudged Johnny, who quickly removed his headphones. “What? Who asked what?”
Amy repeated her question.
“Oh, it’s just an innocent movie.”
Amy was suspicious. “What’s it called?”
Pete handed her the DVD case.
“Don’t!” Johnny yelped, but it was too late.
Amy looked dubiously at the cover picture of a planet exploding, an army of robots, and a lady who was somehow managing to cower behind a man with an enormous machine gun and look sentimental at the same time.
“Don’t worry,” said Johnny. “The guy and lady are only on there to hook the twenty-five percent.”
“What?”
“The twenty-five percent of the audience who come to see the emotional parts. But I’m not in that percentage, so I’ll skip the love chapters and go right to the action.”
“Does your mother know you brought this?”
“My dad does, and he approves.”
Amy sighed and handed it back.
Johnny replaced the headphones and was immediately engrossed.
Henry looked up from the 300-page book he was reading. “Can I have that case?”
Pete tossed it across the aisle. “Here.”
“Oh, this is that new movie—War in Space. It’s cheesy.”
Johnny somehow managed to hear this with the headphones on. “It’s science fiction!”
“No scientist ever wrote that.”
Johnny was annoyed. “It happened in 4050. No living scientist would be able to comprehend it.”
“Happened in 4050?” Henry was skeptical. “Anyway, if civilization is so advanced, why is everyone wearing Roman togas? It seems the farther they go into the future the more primitive the outfits are.”
“They’re not Roman togas. They’re sun-deflective robes created on the planet Radium. Now quiet! I’m at the first climax!”
“A good story only has one climax.”
“Well, this is a BETTER story, ‘cause it has three. Now, shh!” Johnny turned the volume up and refused to say anything else until Teddy shouted, “There’s the airport!”
GGray
New member
Amy passed out sticks of gum (sugarless), and all of us kids leaned over to see the landing field.
Johnny gasped. “Oooh, remember the plane crash on ‘Destroyed in Seconds’?”
Rory nervously chewed his gum. “Yeah. That’s what I was thinking about, too.”
“It did a nose-dive and crashed,” Pete explained to Tim, who wasn’t allowed to watch those kind of shows.
“Anybody killed?”
“No, but there were three injured—two people and a stewardess.”
For some reason, Amy gave Pete a look. Why, we had no idea.
As the plane came down, several of the nearby passengers looked anxious. (They must have heard Pete’s description.) As the pilot made a perfect landing, they looked relieved, but Johnny looked disappointed. “A little turbulence wouldn’t have hurt.”
We disembarked and headed for the luggage area, where Pete accidentally got somebody else’s suitcase (because there were at least ten black ones). After that mess got straightened out, Amy dragged us and the luggage outside and hired two taxis to take us to the hotel.
Once we got there, Amy had to stand in a long line to check in. That took at least fifteen minutes, and we had nothing to do but sit in the crowded lobby and stare at a fish aquarium. When Amy got back, she took one look at us and almost shouted, “Where’s Teddy?”
We hadn’t even noticed he was gone. There was a big panic, and the moment Amy ran to get the hotel security the rest of us split up to search for him. Pete finally found him running up the down escalator, but when we all got back togther, Johnny was gone. Turns out he had decided Teddy’d been kidnapped and was trying to contact the FBI on the nearest payphone.
When Amy finally came back, followed by a couple of guys in uniforms (they must have been security), we were all sitting on the couch, calmly watching the fish.
“Never mind, I found him,” Pete informed Amy.
Amy muttered something about getting a leash and motioned a bellboy to come and help with the luggage.
After an hour, we were situated in two rooms (510 and 511). Amy shared 510 with Tim and Teddy, and the other four had 511.
511 had two beds, a couple of armchairs, a dresser, two nightstands, and a TV—complete with a DVD player.
“Neat!” Pete shouted. “No adults in this room!”
Johnny slammed his suitcase onto the bed, unzippered it, and pulled out War In Space. “We can watch all night!”
“Lights out at ten!” came Amy’s voice through the wall.
Johnny frowned and tossed the DVD onto the bed. “She’s just trying to ruin our vacation.”
By this time, it was six o’clock. Amy took us down the street to Burger Bud’s. (Even though she didn’t approve of fast food, it was the least expensive place within walking distance.)
“Tomorrow we’ll go to the store and get some healthy food,” she said as we attacked the greasy fries and burgers with relish. (That doesn’t mean we literally had relish with the burgers—well, Teddy did.)
We simultaneously groaned.
“She’s still trying to ruin everything!” Johnny moaned. “You’re supposed to eat junk food on vacations. We should have convinced Ed!”
“Well, there’s nothing to do now except hope the healthy food is cheese and bread and not broccoli and spinach,” Tim said.
Johnny gasped. “Oooh, remember the plane crash on ‘Destroyed in Seconds’?”
Rory nervously chewed his gum. “Yeah. That’s what I was thinking about, too.”
“It did a nose-dive and crashed,” Pete explained to Tim, who wasn’t allowed to watch those kind of shows.
“Anybody killed?”
“No, but there were three injured—two people and a stewardess.”
For some reason, Amy gave Pete a look. Why, we had no idea.
As the plane came down, several of the nearby passengers looked anxious. (They must have heard Pete’s description.) As the pilot made a perfect landing, they looked relieved, but Johnny looked disappointed. “A little turbulence wouldn’t have hurt.”
We disembarked and headed for the luggage area, where Pete accidentally got somebody else’s suitcase (because there were at least ten black ones). After that mess got straightened out, Amy dragged us and the luggage outside and hired two taxis to take us to the hotel.
Once we got there, Amy had to stand in a long line to check in. That took at least fifteen minutes, and we had nothing to do but sit in the crowded lobby and stare at a fish aquarium. When Amy got back, she took one look at us and almost shouted, “Where’s Teddy?”
We hadn’t even noticed he was gone. There was a big panic, and the moment Amy ran to get the hotel security the rest of us split up to search for him. Pete finally found him running up the down escalator, but when we all got back togther, Johnny was gone. Turns out he had decided Teddy’d been kidnapped and was trying to contact the FBI on the nearest payphone.
When Amy finally came back, followed by a couple of guys in uniforms (they must have been security), we were all sitting on the couch, calmly watching the fish.
“Never mind, I found him,” Pete informed Amy.
Amy muttered something about getting a leash and motioned a bellboy to come and help with the luggage.
After an hour, we were situated in two rooms (510 and 511). Amy shared 510 with Tim and Teddy, and the other four had 511.
511 had two beds, a couple of armchairs, a dresser, two nightstands, and a TV—complete with a DVD player.
“Neat!” Pete shouted. “No adults in this room!”
Johnny slammed his suitcase onto the bed, unzippered it, and pulled out War In Space. “We can watch all night!”
“Lights out at ten!” came Amy’s voice through the wall.
Johnny frowned and tossed the DVD onto the bed. “She’s just trying to ruin our vacation.”
By this time, it was six o’clock. Amy took us down the street to Burger Bud’s. (Even though she didn’t approve of fast food, it was the least expensive place within walking distance.)
“Tomorrow we’ll go to the store and get some healthy food,” she said as we attacked the greasy fries and burgers with relish. (That doesn’t mean we literally had relish with the burgers—well, Teddy did.)
We simultaneously groaned.
“She’s still trying to ruin everything!” Johnny moaned. “You’re supposed to eat junk food on vacations. We should have convinced Ed!”
“Well, there’s nothing to do now except hope the healthy food is cheese and bread and not broccoli and spinach,” Tim said.
GGray
New member
When we got back to the hotel, we wanted to explore the gift shop. However, Amy said we needed to rest up for tomorrow, and we all rode the elevator to our rooms.
Johnny took a flying leap onto the closest bed. “This room is COOL!”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Henry advised.
Johnny was annoyed. “Now, don’t you start. I’ll jump if I want.”
“No, no, no,” Henry said. “Jump as much as you want—just take that bedspread off first. I remember on this one TV show these guys did a test on one of those spreads to see how dirty it was. You don’t want to know what they found on it.”
Johnny hastily got off the bed. “What?”
“Well, one of the discoveries what that the hotel only changes them about every three or four customers.”
Johnny and Pete quickly removed the bedspreads and dumped them in the corner.
“Now what’ll we do?” asked Rory, munching on some chips he’d brought in his luggage.
“Let’s watch something!” Johnny said. “I brought a lot of stuff!” He dumped one of his suitcases on a chair.
“Didn’t you pack any clothes?” asked Pete.
“Of COURSE. They’re in the other suitcase. Anyway, which DVD should we watch?”
“What did you bring, other than Space Wars?” asked Rory, who was too lazy to get up off his chair and look at the selection himself.
“It’s called War in Space,” Johnny corrected him. “Let’s see...in cases I’ve got The Two Towers, The Return of the King, and both Narnia movies. In this handy little CD holder I borrowed from Sally I have Spider-Man 2, Star Wars II, III, IV, and V, and the 1950's Zorro TV show. It’s cool.”
“Uh...are we gonna have time to watch all that?” Pete said doubtfully.
“Sure! If we watch one movie every night and some on the way home. Anyway, take your pick.”
After some arguments, we chose Spider-Man 2. Just as the beginning credits started, the connecting door between 510 and 511 slowly opened.
“Doc Ock!” yelled Rory, diving under his bed.
Needless to say, it wasn’t Doc Ock. It was Tim and Teddy.
“Amy’s sleeping,” Tim whispered. “Can we watch, too?”
“Of course!” Pete said. “Johnny, is Teddy allowed...?”
“Yeah, if we mute the three instances of...uh...bad language.”
The movie only took us about an hour and a half, since we skipped all the mushy stuff with MJ.
“Why does Spider-Man even wear a mask?” asked Tim. “It always comes off in the fight scenes.”
“That’s so you can see his emotions,” Johnny said.
“Ugh,” Teddy said. “He looks cooler with it on.”
“What’s next?” Henry asked. “How about...”
“I know!” Rory interrupted. “Star Wars III! I’ve never seen the end.”
Pete was shocked. “How is that possible?”
“Our DVD was scratched,” Rory explained. “Johnny ordered a new one, and it came right before we left.”
“Okay, we’ll watch it,” said Johnny, inserting the disc.
“Uh...I don’t think Amy would like me to,” Tim said.
Pete rolled his eyes. “Why?”
“Well, a few years ago she went under this one website that described in detail all the problematic elements of movies, and she took one look at the three paragraphs under ‘violence’ and said it wasn’t fit for seven-year-olds.”
“Oh, THAT website,” Pete said. “Anna Rose found it while searching movie reviews. Seriously! You know what was under ‘violence’? Stuff like: ‘a humanoid gives another humanoid an angry look’ and ‘a humanoid slams its fist on a desk’!”
“What’s with the ‘humanoids’?” asked Johnny.
“They didn’t want to give any spoilers. Anyway, I completely agree with Amy for once. Star Wars III is NOT fit for seven-year-olds. But none of us are seven, so I don’t see how that’s an issue here.”
Johnny took a flying leap onto the closest bed. “This room is COOL!”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Henry advised.
Johnny was annoyed. “Now, don’t you start. I’ll jump if I want.”
“No, no, no,” Henry said. “Jump as much as you want—just take that bedspread off first. I remember on this one TV show these guys did a test on one of those spreads to see how dirty it was. You don’t want to know what they found on it.”
Johnny hastily got off the bed. “What?”
“Well, one of the discoveries what that the hotel only changes them about every three or four customers.”
Johnny and Pete quickly removed the bedspreads and dumped them in the corner.
“Now what’ll we do?” asked Rory, munching on some chips he’d brought in his luggage.
“Let’s watch something!” Johnny said. “I brought a lot of stuff!” He dumped one of his suitcases on a chair.
“Didn’t you pack any clothes?” asked Pete.
“Of COURSE. They’re in the other suitcase. Anyway, which DVD should we watch?”
“What did you bring, other than Space Wars?” asked Rory, who was too lazy to get up off his chair and look at the selection himself.
“It’s called War in Space,” Johnny corrected him. “Let’s see...in cases I’ve got The Two Towers, The Return of the King, and both Narnia movies. In this handy little CD holder I borrowed from Sally I have Spider-Man 2, Star Wars II, III, IV, and V, and the 1950's Zorro TV show. It’s cool.”
“Uh...are we gonna have time to watch all that?” Pete said doubtfully.
“Sure! If we watch one movie every night and some on the way home. Anyway, take your pick.”
After some arguments, we chose Spider-Man 2. Just as the beginning credits started, the connecting door between 510 and 511 slowly opened.
“Doc Ock!” yelled Rory, diving under his bed.
Needless to say, it wasn’t Doc Ock. It was Tim and Teddy.
“Amy’s sleeping,” Tim whispered. “Can we watch, too?”
“Of course!” Pete said. “Johnny, is Teddy allowed...?”
“Yeah, if we mute the three instances of...uh...bad language.”
The movie only took us about an hour and a half, since we skipped all the mushy stuff with MJ.
“Why does Spider-Man even wear a mask?” asked Tim. “It always comes off in the fight scenes.”
“That’s so you can see his emotions,” Johnny said.
“Ugh,” Teddy said. “He looks cooler with it on.”
“What’s next?” Henry asked. “How about...”
“I know!” Rory interrupted. “Star Wars III! I’ve never seen the end.”
Pete was shocked. “How is that possible?”
“Our DVD was scratched,” Rory explained. “Johnny ordered a new one, and it came right before we left.”
“Okay, we’ll watch it,” said Johnny, inserting the disc.
“Uh...I don’t think Amy would like me to,” Tim said.
Pete rolled his eyes. “Why?”
“Well, a few years ago she went under this one website that described in detail all the problematic elements of movies, and she took one look at the three paragraphs under ‘violence’ and said it wasn’t fit for seven-year-olds.”
“Oh, THAT website,” Pete said. “Anna Rose found it while searching movie reviews. Seriously! You know what was under ‘violence’? Stuff like: ‘a humanoid gives another humanoid an angry look’ and ‘a humanoid slams its fist on a desk’!”
“What’s with the ‘humanoids’?” asked Johnny.
“They didn’t want to give any spoilers. Anyway, I completely agree with Amy for once. Star Wars III is NOT fit for seven-year-olds. But none of us are seven, so I don’t see how that’s an issue here.”