StoneSoup - MAY 2020 VOLUME 48 / ISSUE 5 - Stone Soup
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StoneSoup MAY 2020 VOLUME 48 / ISSUE 5
StoneSoup Editor’s Note
The magazine supporting A man and a bird. Two young dancers.
creative kids around the world Two chess-players. A “furow” and a fairy.
This issue explores what, other than blood
and kinship, binds us to others—even, in
Editor the case of the final poem, “To Those in a
Emma Wood Cage,” to strangers. As Lydia Iliff asks in
Director her poem “Why are friends like that?”:
William Rubel What is the point of friends?
Operations Are they supposed to make you laugh? Cry?
Are they there for you?
Jane Levi
Education & Production These stories and poems will help you
answer some of these questions, though
Sarah Ainsworth I hope Iliff ’s words will also inspire you
Design to draw on your own well of personal
experience. When I was a child, my best
Joe Ewart friend and I would pretend we were twins
because that was how we close we felt.
Stone Soup (ISSN 0094 579X) is published
The word “friends” didn’t seem adequate
11 times per year–monthly, with a
combined July/August summer issue.
for us! Is there someone like that in your
Copyright © 2020 by the Children’s life? Maybe your best friend is your twin!
Art Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Regardless, what can you express—
organization located in Santa Cruz, whether through words, painting, or
California. All rights reserved. photography—about what a friend is to
you?
Thirty-five percent of our subscription
price is tax-deductible. Make a donation at I look forward to reading what you come
Stonesoup.com/donate, and support us by
up with soon!
choosing Children’s Art Foundation as your
Amazon Smile charity.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Stone Soup, 126 Otis Street, Santa Cruz, CA
95060. Periodicals postage paid at Santa
Cruz, California, and additional offices.
Stone Soup is available in different formats Submissions: read our submission guidelines and link
to persons who have trouble seeing or to our online Submittable portal at Stonesoup.com.
reading the print or online editions. To
request the braille edition from the National Letters to the Editor: write to us via Submittable!
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To request access to the audio edition via Subscriptions: purchase your monthly or annual
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On the cover:
Check us out on social media: Jellyfish,
iPhone SE
by Heloise Matumoto, 13
Quebec, Canada
StoneSoup Contents fiction 5 Whales and Cormorants by Leon Antonov When a killer whale smashes into their ship, Alan and his pet cormorant have to fend for themselves 15 Real Life Checkmate by Harper Fortgang Evelyn is teased for trying to join the Boys’ Chess Club nonfiction 9 One Hop at a Time by Sara Heller After a bad fall shakes her confidence as a ballerina, Sara resolves to get stronger novella 19 Elana by Hannah Nami Gajcowski Part Two: When Casey blinds the army Elana and Henry have assembled, Elana must set out alone to fight her
poetry
12 Why are friends like that?
by Lydia Iliff
13 I Am Me
by Lilly-June Gordon
34 To Those in a Cage
by Naomi Angel Farkas
art
Cover: Jellyfish
by Heloise Matumoto
4 Up Over Bora Bora
by Adhi Sukhdial
8 Cloud Dancer
by Sage Millen
14 Portrait of Adolescence
by Rishika Porandla
18 The Witch
by Ava Shorten
36 honor roll
Up Over Bora Bora, iPhone 8 Plus
by Adhi Sukhdial, 7
Stillwater, OK
4 STONE SOUP
Whales and
Cormorants
by Leon Antonov, 12
Strasbourg, France
When a killer whale smashes into their ship,
Alan and his pet cormorant have to fend for
themselves
The mission was supposed to be straight to port! I repeat: large object
simple: sail out into the Atlantic Ocean, heading straight to port!” Alan wres-
take on board a few specimens. Then tled with the wheel, desperately trying
his work for the month would be done. to veer off course, but he was going
Alan Stevenson readjusted his grip on way too slow. The last dregs of hope
the wheel of his ship, the S.S. Storm- he clung to evaporated as the threaten-
breaker, a sleek vision of beauty and a ing shape’s head breached the surface.
gift from one of his colleagues. It was Slicing through the water right toward
a windy August morning, and Alan them was a fully grown killer whale.
was taking the morning shift at the Alan didn’t feel the whale hit the
wheel. To his left, he could see his pet ship, but suddenly he was tossed out
cormorant, Carlo, making short work of the pilot’s cabin like a champagne
of a can of seafood. His stomach must cork. He was weightless for a moment
have been close to exploding as he was or two, then jolted back to reality when
on his fourth can. He cawed at Alan he hit the freezing water with a sound
like: “’Sup?” In short, everything was like someone slapping aluminium foil.
going just peachy, or at least until the He sank into blissful unconsciousness.
sonar of the S.S. Stormbreaker picked When he regained consciousness,
up a vast shape hurtling toward them the first thing that struck him was
at the speed of 30 knots. the sound of waves crashing against
When he first registered this, Alan rocks. Groaning, he rolled onto his
thought that he must be very tired side and spat out a lungful of sea-
and his mind was playing tricks on water. Alan felt like a sock that had
him. However, the shadow under the been tossed around inside a washing
waves, which was heading straight for machine along with a couple of bricks.
them, seemed very real. Fumbling with Opening his eyes, he saw Carlo looking
the controls, he finally pressed the but- at him expectantly. Satisfied that his
ton on the intercom and as it crackled master hadn’t drowned, Carlo re-
to life, he yelled: “Large object heading sumed his meticulous grooming as he
MAY 2020 5
perched upon a small rock. “I’m alive,” island yet.
Alan croaked. But one problem remained: he had
As his senses expanded, he real- yet to find a source of fresh water. So,
ized that he was on a beach of pristine after a hasty meal, Alan set off into
white sand. On a nearby outcrop of the forest. As he hiked into the under-
grey limestone, a dozen or so seagulls growth, he noticed that it was already
nested comfortably, feeding their late afternoon. He started to jog. Alan
petulant young. To his right, the beach searched everywhere, but nothing
turned into sandy dunes and then into even remotely resembling a stream
a dense assortment of palm trees, came into view. Finally, exhausted and
pines, and bushes. The forest slanted thirstier than ever, he sat down on a
uphill until it evened out into what log. And then he spotted a small deer
appeared to be the crater of a volcano, trotting in the direction of the volcan-
which he presumed to be dormant due ic crater. As a last attempt at getting
to the lack of smoke. I’ll check it out lat- hydrated, he followed it deeper into the
er, he thought. For now, I should search jungle.
for food and water. The terrain became steep. His
Food, it appeared, was not a head drooped from exhaustion. He
problem. Sitting up, he noticed a whole would have continued ambling upward
stack of assorted fish and crabs be- forever, except that suddenly our great
hind his now well-groomed pet. sailor had nothing to put his feet on,
“Wait . . . you fished all of that by and he tumbled downward, straight
yourself?” Alan asked, incredulous. A into a large body of water. As his head
seabird’s expression had never looked broke the surface, he realized that the
so smug. volcanic crater had hollowed out into
a pool of fresh water! The deer knew
the area and lay down to drink. Alan
also gulped down great amounts,
Soon the pair were sitting by a nice then called out with a sharp whistle.
warm fire with a few fish hanging Soon Carlo appeared in the sky and
over it. The dry palm branches on the swooped directly into the water with a
beach made excellent tinder. Alan mighty FLOOM!
busied himself with culinary prepara- There. No more problems with
tions: wrapping the fish in palm leaves, water now!
he then proceeded to place them upon
the flames. While the smoked fish
tacos (minus the tacos, of course) were
cooking, the sailor made inventory of It was the evening of the pair’s third
all his materials. In short, they had: five day on the island. Alan lay contentedly
smoked salmon, seven smoked crabs, on a bed of palm leaves while Carlo
palm leaves, palm wood, rocks, and his roosted on a nest of woven palm twigs,
trusty penknife. Not bad, considering preening his feathers. However, Alan
Alan hadn’t even started exploring his was trying to figure out ways to es-
6 STONE SOUP
cape the island, no matter how pretty it house in Washington. Picking up the
was. During the night, he heard hoot- TV remote, he switched to the News
ing and screeches in the undergrowth. Channel. “And now let us recount the
Finally he sank into fitful sleep. terrible adventure of a man, Alan Ste-
In the morning, he waded into the venson, who is very lucky to be alive
caldera of the volcano and admired the today. Sir?”
view of the island. As he was drying “Yes, Mr. Adams, I am. After
off, his gaze came upon an area of the escaping the island on a raft, another
forest that had been torn to pieces. The storm broke out and destroyed my raft.
trees seemed to have been crushed by My pet and I had to swim ashore. The
a large object . . . Could that be a small land was five kilometres away. I’m just
plane? He hurried down excitedly, and grateful that I survived. My boat has
his assumption proved to be correct! sunk, but I think that’s for the best, as
It was a biplane—its hull badly dented I’m going to change careers soon. And
and wings beyond repair—but he was even though—” Click.
rewarded with the discovery of a near- “Ugh. I can’t believe the news
ly intact engine. stations are still talking about me,”
Alan was past ecstasy by this groaned Alan. I’ve got other things to
point. Giggling with barely contained do. Isn’t that right Carlo?”
glee, he set to work. Two hours and “Caw!” agreed the bird.
a restroom break later, the engine lay
before him, fully repaired and adjust-
ed to aquatic form. With difficulty, he
lugged his prize down to the beach,
where he started collecting twigs,
rocks, and palm leaves. And with a
little assistance from Carlo the pro
fisher, he used fish grease to prime the
engine and then tie it to his improvised
raft.
Soon after, the sailor and his bird
pushed the raft out into the water. He
knew that land was not far from here
as in the plane he had also found a
map indicating that the island was ac-
tually pretty close to the east coast of
Africa. As the engine hummed to life,
he smiled. He had escaped.
Nearly a month later, Alan Steven-
son lay in his favorite armchair in his
MAY 2020 7
Cloud Dancer, Canon PowerShot SX600
by Sage Millen, 12
Vancouver, Canada
8 STONE SOUP
One Hop at a Time
by Sara Heller, 12
New York, NY
After a bad fall shakes her confidence as a
ballerina, Sara resolves to get stronger
The thin black straps from my leotard the line in front of me got shorter and
dug into my skin. My feet stung and shorter. My palms got wet and clam-
ached inside my dirty, pink pointe my; my whole body felt fragile and
shoes, and the humid room reeked stiff with anticipation. Soon, I stood
of sweat. The teacher was saying second in line, then first, then . . . I felt
something in Russian, pointing to the a jolt in my toes as I came down from
corner. Her face was very much like my first hop. The hops were meant
that of a hawk; her sharp eyes speared to be on pointe, but I fell off my toes
us one by one. so often, anyone looking would have
Today was my second week at a thought they were supposed to be on
Russian ballet sleepaway camp. Some demi-pointe. There was a big gap be-
of the best Russian teachers were tween me and the person in front, and
brought to Connecticut to train kids I heard groans coming from behind.
in their style. I shifted my gaze to the Suddenly, my shoe came out from un-
corner, and my feet scraped the dusty, derneath me, wind rushed at my face. I
blue floor as I moved toward it. The felt myself plummet to the floor.
words of the teacher passed through People stopped and eyed me with
the translator, and her words hit me curiosity. What had happened? One
like a bucket of ice water. “Hops, from second I was jumping on pointe, the
the corner, one by one!” next, I had gotten well-acquainted
I watched as the girls around me with the floor. My ears burned like fire,
bounced up and down. I, however, was and my eyesight got bleary. A metallic
struck with an overwhelming sense of taste lay in my mouth. I quickly scram-
fear. In my dance school, we only did bled off the floor and stared into my
pointe on the barre. Now I was sup- hands. The rest of the pointe class was
posed to know how to hop on pointe torture for me. It felt like all the girls in
in the center? My feet had reached the the class were watching me, watching
corner of the room, and I found I was me as I stumbled from pointe during
in the middle of the line. It couldn’t be an échappé combination.
impossible, right? I wanted them to accept me as
When the notes of the song began, a dancer who was as good as them.
MAY 2020 9For that to happen, I needed to get stronger. I’ll watch you during pointe
stronger. tomorrow. That’s when the teacher
In class, the teachers didn’t really said we’d be doing hops again.”
notice me. Since I was too shy to ask “But what if I fall?”
for help or any corrections, I wouldn’t “You can always get stronger.”
get any better. Even when I fell from “But—”
pointe, the teacher didn’t tell me what “Hey! Don’t psych yourself out,
to do to stop myself from falling in ’kay?”
the future—she didn’t even ask if I “Alright. Good night, then.”
was okay. I might have even gotten “Night.”
worse at ballet if it hadn’t been for The next morning in ballet, I
my roommate and friend, Clair. One worked harder than ever before.
day, Clair came up to me and asked if During our short break, every molecule
I needed help. I thanked her, and she in my body shook from the effort. My
suggested I do one-foot relevés to get hands felt hot, and sweat clung to my
stronger. forehead. Before I knew it, I was tying
From then on, Clair was my the long pink ribbons on my pointe
teacher. She corrected my posture and shoes. What if I fall again? Then I’ll let
turnout. In less than a week, I knew I everyone down . . . me, my friend . . . I need
had improved a lot. to do this. I slipped into the center of
“Wow, you’ve helped so much!” I the room and warmed up. The tip of
beamed at her one day. my pointe shoes scraped the floor. The
“You’re a great dancer, and you shoes had grown soft from hard work.
learn really quickly,” Clair replied The sun streamed through the dusty
honestly. “I only had to correct you window. The long mirror on the wall
once and you fixed it right away!” We glowed luminously in the dark room.
laughed loudly and chatted in our cold “From the corner. Enter after four
dormitory, eating chips that filled the counts,” the tall woman translated. I
air with a salty smell much like the sea. focused on her hair, long and brown.
The room was comfortable and I felt I looked at the chair, the floor . . .
content . . . almost. anywhere but the corner. The dreaded
“Am I bad in pointe?” I queried. I corner. I felt faint as I shifted my
wanted to know what others thought. weight from one foot to the other.
“No . . . You could always get better Hundred-pound weights lay on my
though.” Her eyes shifted, and I caught shoulders, and my muscles were
her fingers curling and uncurling like sore from how hard I had worked
a flower. throughout the week. Slowly, I
“Am I that bad?” shuffled up to the corner. The gnarled
“Well, I think you’ve grown much fingers of the piano player hit the
What if I fall again? Then I’ll let everyone down . . .
10 STONE SOUPkeys as I placed myself in line. Fellow words came out low and broken up.
dancers rose onto pointe and bounced “We can work on it, sure, but you
like rabbits across the room. I watched learn fast. Your hops’ll be perfect in no
the flat tips of their shoes slam down time.”
on the floor, scattering dust right and I realized what Clair meant.
left. I felt my throat close up; I wanted In less than a week, I had grown
to melt into the floor. much stronger. At the end of camp, I
Before I knew it, I was next in line. fantasized, my hops would be as good
I counted myself in, then was hopping as everyone else’s.
up and down with everyone else. My “Sit with me at lunch?”
heart raced like a set of drums; I felt “Definitely!” I replied. I thought
sure I’d fall and humiliate myself and back to the first day, how hard I had
my friend. My knees were significantly worked after that, and how much
bent, and my hops were not perfect, stronger I had become. I ran to take off
but I didn’t look down. I bored holes my pointe shoes and get to lunch.
into the faded blue wall. Closer. . . I might
make it! I could almost touch the wall,
and my eyes lit up at the thought of
success.
Then, my foot twisted, and my
knees slumped forward like a sack of
potatoes. My sweaty arms flailed in
the air as I crumpled to the ground. I
grabbed hold of the barre in front of
me—my only hope. I held on to it and
heaved my body up. I felt tears spring
into my eyes but choked them back. I
turned around. I hadn’t made it.
Clair ran over to me. I
thought she’d tell me I had shown
improvement, but I hadn’t; I had failed.
When she reached me, her arms
widened and then engulfed me in a
hug. I smiled weakly. She was probably
trying to make me feel better.
“Sara, you were awesome! I mean,
sure, you need work, but on Monday,
you fell and stumbled dozens of times.
In four days, falling once is a big
improvement!” Her words stumbled
over each other and her eyes glowed
with pride.
“But—but I fell!” I whispered. The
MAY 2020 11Why are friends like that? by Lydia Iliff, 10 Sewickley, PA What is the point of friends? Are they supposed to make you laugh? Cry? Are they there for you? Are they kind? Hard-working? Do they give up? Do people like you just because you’re rich? Will you ever truly know why your friend is being your friend? 12 STONE SOUP
I Am Me by Lilly-June Gordon, 12 New York, NY Who am I? It depends if you are asking me. My peers know only a rendition of me. An aloof me. Do I even have friends? It depends if you are asking me. My peers know only a rendition of me. An aloof me, whose only friends are baubles and pens. What do I know? It depends if you are asking me. My peers know only a rendition of me. An aloof me whose only friends are baubles and pens, and who doesn’t know how to properly use her head. But what if you were to ask me? Who am I? I know not a rendition of me. I know a kind girl, with many friends, who knows to survive with only a pen. MAY 2020 13
Portrait of Adolescence, Acrylics
by Rishika Porandla, 13
Coppell, TX
14 STONE SOUPReal Life Checkmate
by Harper Fortgang, 11
San Francisco, CA
Evelyn is teased for trying to join the Boys’ Chess
Club
Meet Evelyn Thompson. In kindergar- powerless pawn.”
ten, she tore down the micro-soccer He then turned toward the boys
field in a dress and Mary Janes. By and said, “Who’s going to teach Evelyn
first grade, she could play Bach on the a lesson?”
piano as smoothly as a river. During Logan, the team captain, stepped
second grade, she smoked all the kids forward. “I will.” He mocked Evelyn by
in her class playing checkers, and as flipping his tiny strands of hair. She
she started sixth grade, she joined ignored him and made her first move:
chess club. knight to c3. Logan moved his pawn
Evelyn walked confidently through to h4. The game went on and on, each
the door of the Colorado Boys’ Chess grainy, wooden chess piece progress-
Club. She didn’t mind the looks the ing slowly across the black-and-white
nearby boys flashed at her. If it mat- board.
tered to them that a girl was walking Finally, Evelyn called out “check-
through the door, that was their prob- mate,” certain she had proved her right
lem, not hers. Once the boys saw her to play in the chess club.
performance, they would forget about Mason raced over to her. “You’re a
the dividing line that existed between cheater, Evelyn. Logan has never lost
genders. a game.”
Evelyn soon found out she was in “Neither have I,” Evelyn replied
real-life checkmate. nonchalantly.
When she introduced herself, Lo- “She’s a cheater. I saw her,” Logan
gan, a tall boy with untidy, dull-blond declared.
hair shouted, “Evelyn—what type of
pretty-girl name is that?”
The other boys burst into laughter.
Evelyn sat awkwardly and tried to Later that day, Evelyn collapsed on her
laugh, but only a grunt escaped. These bed. No one had the right to accuse
boys had a different sense of humor, a her of something she didn’t do. Chess
kind that stung your heart. was about strategy, and she had
Before the chess games began, simply outplayed Logan. Evelyn did
Liam whispered to Evelyn, “Good luck, not want to go back to the club—she
MAY 2020 15Should Evelyn run? No. She wasn’t going to be
intimidated.
was treated like a mouse, and the boys stand?
were hungry cats. But, if she left this “Why would I go to chess club and
club now, these boys would know they tolerate your awful behavior? I didn’t
could scare off other girls in the future. cheat, which you already know!” Eve-
Evelyn wanted to change their minds. lyn shouted.
But how? Her eyes filled with tears, “Uh . . .” Logan stammered.
upset at the situation, and even more “Why did you treat me that way?”
that these boys could make her feel Evelyn snapped.
this way. “Look, I used to be a loner. No one
liked me, so I started acting like the
others. I don’t know how the boys
would react if I stopped teasing you;
When the time rolled around to go they might kick me out of the club. I
back to chess club, Evelyn skipped it. have to be like them,” Logan said.
That afternoon, she headed out, her Evelyn looked Logan up and down.
dog, Kaia, several steps ahead. They He seemed truthful. She was quiet for
were walking to the park to play fetch a moment before speaking.
and then to drop off a weekly meal— “It sounds like we’re both unhappy
lasagna—for Mrs. Gates. in chess club. But you can’t treat me
As Evelyn was about to throw like that, not even if all the other boys
Kaia’s ball, she spotted that head of un- in that room will hate you.” She then
tidy, dull-blond hair. Uh-oh. Logan. Eve- tried a different move. “Maybe we can
lyn dropped the ball she was holding team up.”
and pulled Kaia in the other direction, Logan’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re
but it was too late. Kaia was already crazy. How can we do that?”
barking at Logan’s Labrador. “We just have to think about this
Logan looked up and recognized as a chess problem.”
Evelyn immediately. What bad luck. Lo- The two began to brainstorm.
gan waved—a surprising gesture giv- Evelyn was certain they would find a
en what he’d done to her in chess club. solution.
He started walking toward Evelyn, his On the way home, Evelyn was
Labrador now headed for Kaia, Kaia hopeful and even excited. She was so
headed for his Labrador. Big mess. focused on chess club that she forgot
Dogs barking. Should Evelyn run? No. to drop off the lasagna dinner—and
She wasn’t going to be intimidated. received a phone call from a very un-
“Hey,” Logan said. “Why weren’t happy Mrs. Gates.
you at chess club today?” The answer
was so obvious—why didn’t he under-
16 STONE SOUPIt was time for chess club again, and “Good point. We’re sorry, Evelyn. I
Evelyn’s stomach was twisting harder think you got the worst treatment out
than ever before. She looked at Logan. of anybody that’s ever joined the chess
He looked at her and nodded. Her club,” Ben admitted. The boys were
throat clenched. But then she imagined starting to move out of their boxes.
a new sign hanging above the chess Logan and Evelyn gathered every-
club’s door that read: Colorado Boys’ one in a circle to share their best chess
and Girls’ Chess Club. tips. Over the next two weeks, Evelyn
Evelyn started: “I’m here to do the received apologies from each member
same thing as you, play chess. We of her team.
all deserve to be on this team, but it
doesn’t feel like a team . . .”
“It isn’t a team, powerless pawn,”
Liam interrupted. “We’re the kings, One month later. National Chess
and we rule.” He cracked up, and Hugo Championship Tournament. Chicago,
high-fived him. Illinois.
Evelyn was about to continue Evelyn and Jonah, last year’s chess
when Logan jumped in. “What’s the champion, were finishing the defini-
problem with having Evelyn in our tive match. Everyone gathered around,
club?” picking a side. Evelyn was getting tired
“She belongs on a girls’ chess of moving her chess pieces back and
team; we don’t need her help,” Ben forth. She had to admit: Jonah was a
said. strong competitor. She didn’t give up,
“Chess isn’t won just by a king or a though, and that was when she saw
queen. You have to use all of your piec- her queen’s winning move.
es. Don’t we want to be the best team Before she could declare victory,
possible?” Evelyn shot back. her entire team shouted: “Checkmate!
Logan stepped to Evelyn’s side. Evelyn wins.” The Colorado Boys’ and
Mason glared at Logan. “Why are Girls’ Chess Club had won first place.
you supporting Evelyn?” They roared with excitement.
Logan responded, “How many of “Nice job, queen,” Liam said. Eve-
us have felt different and decided the lyn broke into a full smile, bubbling
only way to be liked is to blend in and with excitement. Her teammates hoist-
exclude others from the group?” ed her above their heads, chanting her
An awkward silence followed name as loudly as they could.
while the boys pondered this idea. Evelyn realized that she had the
“That happened to me,” Hugo power to make significant change, and
whispered. she knew chess was only the begin-
“Me too,” Ben piped in. ning.
“Me three,” Liam said, nodding.
“Exactly,” added Evelyn. “While I’m
a girl, we all share a love of chess. Let’s
not be players in someone else’s game.”
MAY 2020 17The Witch, Cloth, paper, chalk
by Ava Shorten, 9
Mallow, Ireland
18 STONE SOUPElana (Part Two) A Novella by Hannah Nami Gajcowski, 9 Bellevue, WA You can read the first installment of Hannah’s novella, which placed third in our 2019 book contest, in the April 2020 issue of Stone Soup. The final installment will appear in our June 2020 issue. CHARACTERS – In order of appearance ELANA (Uh-LAY-nuh) A young furow girl who is the Chosen One MS. SMIT Elana’s science teacher, who later reveals a secret identity HENRY A tiny, green-haired fairy who guides Elana CASEY FLUMPTON An evil rock star and Elana’s mortal enemy ASTREA, DANIEL, HERA, ALLEN, and SOPHIA Henry’s friends TWEETLE and TWOOTLE Casey’s messengers TOONA A Neptune devil MRS. RICHARD Elana’s writing teacher MOM, DAD, MARY, DAISY, JOHN, FIONA, and EDGAR Elana’s family KĀLEKA CAKE (Kay-LEE-kah), TAFFY CRUSTULUM, MEL LIMBUM, SUGAR SWEET, CHOCOLAT TREAT, COCO SCELERISQUE, and VANILLE GLAÇAGE Gingerbread workers in the Palace of Honey GALETTA A snappy owner at a bakery in Sugar Top BUBBLES, GUMMER, LICORE, and CHOCO Workers at the Background Theater SPOTS Coco’s pet dog PRANKSTER Vanille’s pet cat HALLOWEEN and EASTER Bubbles’s pets FILLINUS The ambassador of light HAU’OLI A girl who befriends Elana in Casey’s palace PHILADELPHIA Hau’oli’s pet rat CAPTAIN HAWKINS The police chief MR. REMY and MR. SAGARD Two police officers MAY 2020 19
VI (continued): The shouted.
“You’re friends with—?” the gin-
Background Theater gerbread man started.
At the end of the hallway was a “Henry,” Elana finished. Everyone
theater, but without any seats for an just stared.
audience. Instead, on stage, everybody “I really am!” Elana continued.
was creating beautiful sets. There was “What’s your name?” A ginger-
everything from fancy houses to beau- bread woman asked.
tiful landmarks and unforgettable nat- “Elana,” Elana said. Everyone
ural scenes. Elana stood amazed. She gaped at her. “Uh-” Elana paused.
had never seen such beautiful back- “What’s the big deal?”
drops! She looked at Henry, smiling, “Well, the Chosen One is Elana,”
then noticed that Henry looked com- said a slim gingerbread man with a
pletely dazed and unresponsive, which fake smile, “but I had no idea she was
puzzled Elana. What was wrong? such a cute little chubby-cheeker.”
Suddenly, all the gingerbread “Well, that’s me,” Elana admit-
artists scurried over to Henry. “Henry’s ted, ignoring the gingerbread man’s
sick!” one of them cried out in despair. name-calling. What is he talking about?
During the commotion, Elana had Elana thought to herself. I don’t even
wandered over to the sets. Sudden- have chubby cheeks!
ly, there was a deafening crash. To “So you’re the one that Henry was
Elana’s horror, she had spilled a paint talking about!” said the angry ginger-
bucket onto a drying masterpiece! bread with the wrecked masterpiece,
Everyone’s attention suddenly turned who suddenly seemed more friendly.
to Elana. She turned red. “So, what’s your name?” Elana
What are they going to do to me? asked the gingerbread, changing the
Elana thought to herself. Just then, an subject.
angry gingerbread confronted her. “Gummy, but call me Gummer—I
“What did you do to my master- like that better.”
piece?” he shrieked. Elana looked at “Bubblegum. Bubbles for short,” a
Henry helplessly. She wished Henry gingerbread woman said.
would help her. She was confused “Licore,” another gingerbread man
What happened to Henry? What was introduced himself.
going to happen? Will I ever get back into “Choco,” (pronouncing it Choe-coe)
the cozy hotel room? What am I going to the slim gingerbread said, then chuck-
say? Elana thought frantically. led and added, “you cute little chubby
Then she thought about the Palace itsy-poo!”
of Honey. She thought about how Elana tried not to glare at Choco,
everybody there knew Henry. Even a because she felt awfully annoyed. She
gingerbread here had cried, “Henry’s quickly felt better when Bubbles gave
sick!” Suddenly, a plan formed in her her an I-know-how-you-feel face and
mind. understanding nod.
“I’m friends with Henry,” she “Is that all?” Elana asked.
20 STONE SOUP“Yes, Coochi-poo,” answered “Done,” she said as she rubbed her
Choco. Elana was burning with annoy- finger on a page.
ance. She was sick and tired of being “Find anything useful?” Choco
called names and so confused by what inquired.
was happening to Henry. She felt like “Fairies have Nisht-” Elana started.
shouting out to Choco how horri- “Yeah, yeah,” Choco interrupted.
ble she thought he was—you skinny, “That’s what I thought. Read page 58
fake-smiling, name-calling cookie!—but and tell me something important.”
she knew it wasn’t right. Her mind was Elana wondered why he had said
bursting with words that she could use “tell me something important,” not
to describe Choco. Instead, she took “tell us something important,” but she
a deep breath and inquired, “Henry’s obeyed Choco’s orders.
sick, right?”
“I don’t know, Itsy-pie,” Choco re- HOW TO CURE THE PAINT-
plied, handing her a book. “This book is FAINTING SICKNESS
about paint-fainting. Read page 57 and Curing the paint-fainting sickness is
tell us if anything is helpful.” a very hard job. There are 53 steps
in all! This is the easy way to use in
case of emergency.
1. Cover your patient with a hand-
VII: Curing Henry kerchief.
Elana took the book from Choco’s 2. Touch his or her throat lightly
hands. Then she flipped to page 57. and then check pulse.
After that, she began to read to herself. 3. Rub his or her stomach gently
and pat his or her head.
CAUSE OF PAINT-FAINTING 4. Pat his or her right thigh gently,
SICKNESS then the left.
The paint-fainting sickness is
caused by a chemical in heavy frost- WARNING: Don’t cradle your patient
ing paints; it is called Europitha (EE- during the operation. If needed, put
rope-ee-tha). Europitha can cause your patient on a table to help them
fairies to become entranced and then balance.
faint after smelling the paint at least
five times. The Europitha is deadly “Done,” Elana whispered, because
for all fairies. A chemical in fairies’ Licore had fallen asleep due to bore-
stomachs called Nishto (NISHE-too), dom.
interferes with the Europitha and “Good, Choochie,” Choco whis-
makes a deadly gas. pered back. “Tell me what to do and I’ll
Scientists are trying to figure out do it.”
why the gas makes the fairies faint, Elana gritted her teeth. I thought
but the mystery still hasn’t been you would stop calling me names, Elana
solved yet. thought. I’m in fourth grade, you know.
Or maybe you don’t know.
Elana looked up from the book. “I can do it myself,” Elana said,
MAY 2020 21folding her arms. book Elana had read to cure her, and
“Fine, Chubby-poo,” Choco said she began to cheer.
carelessly. Finally, Bubbles collapsed to the
“Where are the handkerchiefs?” ground in exhaustion. Licore panted.
Elana questioned. Henry perched on Elana’s shoulder, too
“What!?!? It’s not the 1950s,” tired to fly.
snorted Choco, who very much dis- “Con-grats, Choo-chie P-ooo,”
liked old-fashioned customs. Choco gasped.
“Handkerchiefs were common “I think . . . it’s time . . . to go home!”
in the 1800s through 1900s,” Elana Henry suggested.
pointed out. All the gingerbread nodded; their
She’ll probably win a million dollars work was done for the day. Elana and
on Sugar Top’s Got Talent for arguing, Henry walked slowly out the theater
Choco thought. door with the gingerbread dragging
“Okay, you’re right, Coochie Cutey,” behind them. When they got to the
he responded in a you-may-think- EMPLOYEES ONLY door, no one even
you’re-smart-but-I’ll-get-you-back-soon noticed the hole Elana had made.
tone of voice. Gingerbread recruiting would have
“The handkerchiefs are in the cabi- to wait until the next day.
net to your right,” Bubbles volunteered
helpfully.
Elana walked toward the cabinet VIII: Collecting an
hidden on the side of the stage. She
pulled a handkerchief from the top
Army
drawer and returned to where every- When Elana awoke, she quickly
one was waiting. Elana took one quick remembered what had happened the
glance at the book, then began to wrap previous day. Elana quietly got dressed
Henry up in the handkerchief. Then, and brushed her teeth. But, of course,
after touching Henry’s throat and Henry woke up. Once Henry was ready
checking her pulse, Elana carefully to start her day, Elana asked her what
rubbed Henry’s stomach and patted they were going to do that day.
her head. Finally, Elana gently rubbed “Oh, we’re going to collect our
Henry’s right thigh and then her left. army,” Henry replied.
Henry’s eyes flickered open. “Can we at least eat first?” Elana
“Elana did it!” Bubbles cheered in wailed. “We haven’t had breakfast
a singsong. “ELANA DID IT! ELANA, since the day you declared I was the
ELANA DID IT! SHE-E CURED HENRY. Chosen One! Yesterday, all I had were
WA-AY TO GO. WHO-HOO-HOO- snacks, and the only meal we had
HOO-HOO-HOO!” since we got here was dinner at the
And of course, Licore woke up bakery!”
from Bubbles’s cheering. “Can’t you see that gingerbread
“Whoohoo!” Gummer cheered. don’t really have meals?” Henry asked
Henry took one quick glance at the in a haven’t-you-noticed-that-before type
22 STONE SOUPof voice. “They do have lunch, mostly snapped. “Stop dreaming right now
as a break from work, but other than because we’re here to recruit an army,
that they just snack. After all, their OKAY?!” Elana was surprised by this
food is everywhere. In fact, in fights, rude response; only her mom called
they just attack by eating. Winning a her by her middle name, and only
fight means that they have devoured when she was mad. Elana disliked the
their opponent.” name a lot because, in her opinion, it
“Are you telling the truth?” Elana sounded like a boy’s name.
asked suspiciously. “Or are you just “Okay,” Elana sighed while con-
making it up? Joking—that’s what I tinuing to think about her imaginary
meant. Not, uh, lying.” scenario.
“No,” Henry said with a scowl. “I’m “Oh, the microphone is waiting for
not a liar.” She was feeling a lot more us,” Henry mocked.
irritable than usual today, after her or- “Grow up,” Elana grumbled as she
deal with the paint-fainting sickness. opened the door.
“No, I didn’t say that,” Elana pro-
tested. Then she added, “Can we just
go?” forgetting about her hunger.
“Obviously not,” Henry answered Elana knocked on the doors of the Pal-
through her gritted teeth. “You just ace of Honey. No one answered. Elana
called me a liar.” looked at Henry.
“I didn’t say that, okay?” Elana “Oh, drat,” Henry moaned. “The
argued, “I didn’t. I was just asking you Palace of Honey opens at 9:00. We’ll
if you were joking or not.” have to wait 30 minutes.”
Henry cleared her throat, then “While we wait, I have a quick
began. “I don’t lie. It’s true. I know that question. Are you—” Elana started,
you don’t believe me, though, because then paused. “Are you Ms. Smit?”
of what you said.” “No,” Henry replied. “I’ll tell you
“I admit that I didn’t believe you,” the story. No; instead, read this.” Henry
Elana confessed. “But let’s not argue waved her wand and created a book
about it now.” out of thin air and gave it to Elana. It
“Okay,” Henry sighed. “But you was a beautiful book, silver with gold-
said you didn’t believe me,” she said in en letters. It read:
an it-was-all-your-fault singsong voice.
“Okay, let’s go back to the theater Confusion, A True Story: How
and recruit our gingerbread,” Elana to Figure Out if a Person is a
said impatiently. Then she added, “The Transformed Fairy
microphone is waiting for us; it would By: Henry Wings
be marvelous to sing in the theater! Oh,
how fantastic it would be if they never Prologue
ran out of popcorn. Oh, Henry, you A rotting log that is left alone turns
could be my harmony singer and—” into a Hallucinator. Hallucinators are
a very rare species. They resemble
“Elana Jones Garfield,” Henry
grown-up women and men furows
May 2020 23and blend in with furows by finding snuck away, and Lila walked to work
regular furow jobs in the city. at a school called the School of
Intelligence. She was disguised as
Hallucinators can make people a science teacher: Ms. Smit. There,
hallucinate by staring directly into she looked for the Chosen One and
their eyes. Hallucinators can die very put hallucinations on some kids.
quickly, though. With just a tiny shock
or illness, they literally begin to shrink That day, in “Ms. Smit’s” class, a stu-
and fade away. They slowly become dent named Elana seemed to know
smaller and more transparent until everything about the new subject,
they’re gone. The bigger the shock, electricity. Almost a year ago, in my
or the worse the illness, the faster diary, I wrote that my friends and I
they will fade. In rare cases, they will wanted the Chosen One’s name to
blow up in a burst of smoke. I knew a be Elana. The Chosen One would be
Hallucinator who was the mother of able to control powers, be kind, and
my enemy, Casey. be willing to help. Well, maybe with a
bit of convincing.
It all started with a mission to protect
the world from Casey and her mom. On that day, to Ms. Smit’s great
The story about Casey’s mom is go- surprise, Elana didn’t budge from her
ing to be told right now. Sit back and seat when the bell rang. The surprise
enjoy! Hope you like it . . . was enough of a shock to make Ms.
Smit fade a little.
***
Then, Ms. Smit made a plan and de-
One morning at 5:00 e.m., a 16-year-
cided to give Elana an iPad. She told
old girl named Casey Flumpton woke
her to type the emojis she liked the
up with her mom, Lila Flumpton. They
most. Elana did, and right after that,
were on a long, evil mission that had
Ms. Smit had such a shock that she
to do, well, mostly with me.
blew up and disappeared, leaving no
trace behind. The emojis Elana typed
The girl and her mom set off through
were the exact same emojis that my
the woods. Then they stopped at a
diary said the Chosen One would
small, green cottage that happened
choose:
to be my cottage. They quietly snuck
through the front door because they So, after Ms. Smit was gone, I decid-
knew that I never lock my door. (I ed to take her place.
don’t lock it because my friend, the
Tooth Fairy, always comes through “Stop there, Elana,” Henry instruct-
the front door so I can help her collect ed. Elana stopped.
teeth and deliver money to kids. “I like your, uh, story,” Elana lied.
She didn’t like it at all; it had more than
Unfortunately, I was not at home. enough private information. Plus, Hen-
Casey and Lila looked through my
ry had forgotten all of her tabs.
diary and saw that I wrote about
“C’mon, that’s what everyone
how to find the Chosen One. They
24 Stone SoUpsays,” Henry complained. “But I know potion that can heal and mend up to
the truth because I can read thoughts.” infinity furows and gingerbread.”
She tapped her temple. Elana heard some sarcasm in
At first, Elana had liked the Henry’s voice, but no one else seemed
thought that her companion could read to have noticed it. Also, Henry made
minds, but now it was just too creepy. “infinity” sound like a number, which
She needed to have some private it isn’t.
thoughts. Elana quickly stopped her- Thankfully, Elana got some dis-
self from thinking about the topic any tance from Henry because she got
longer, because Henry was giving her pushed away by the gingerbread. Hen-
a criticizing look. ry couldn’t read her mind, but she was
Just then, out of nowhere, all the close enough that Elana could still hear
workers of the Palace of Honey began what she was saying. As Elana walked
to march inside. When Henry saw Kāl- back to the group, she decided that by
eka, she told her to round up all of the reading minds, Henry was teaching
gingerbread that worked in the Hall of Elana not to lie or say bad stuff about
Honey. people.
A few minutes later, Kāleka “Any questions?” Henry asked.
returned with all the Hall of Honey “May I bring my dog?” Coco asked.
workers trailing behind her. All of “His name is Spots. I got him from a
them looked at Henry, still and quiet, different place in Neptune, so he’s not
like she was going to tell them some- made out of chocolate or something
thing that would change their lives— like that. Also, he’s really good at sniff-
and that was exactly what Henry did. ing and catching smells. I even taught
“Would you, uh, like to fight, uh, him not to eat chocolate if he sees it!
Casey with me?” Henry asked. Chocolate is deadly for dogs, after all.”
The gingerbread stared at her like “You may take Spots,” Henry
she was nuts. sighed.
“What do ya’ mean?” Mel Limbum “Yay!” Coco cheered.
asked. “Oohh,” Vanille cooed. “Can I bring
“I mean . . .” Henry started, then my cat, Prankster? I taught him whom
continued by explaining the story of he should trust and whom he shouldn’t
how they were searching for Casey. trust—”
“Uh, yeah . . .” the gingerbread “My dog was born with that ability,
mumbled in a wave of unsure voices. silly,” Coco bragged.
“C’mon, Mel,” Henry snapped. “Well, Prankster can also play the
“I can read minds, and I can tell that piano.”
you’re lying.” “So what?” Coco snorted. “Spots
“Okay, okay,” admitted Mel. “But if can play the recorder, flute, and the
I or anyone gets hurt, you’re the one to violin. Do you think Prankster has
blame.” enough patience for that?”
“Well, no one will,” Henry snapped. “I’m not finished yet. Prankster can
“And if anyone does, I have a healing climb a tree–”
MAY 2020 25“All cats can do that.” “Do you all have any questions?”
“And get down!” Vanille snapped, Elana added. She liked the idea of hav-
ignoring Coco’s comment. ing pets during the trip. Unfortunately,
“ALL GINGERBREAD AND HU- Henry didn’t.
MANS CAN DO THAT!” “May I also bring a pet?” Bubbles
Everyone covered their ears, so asked. “Or actually, two pets? Their
Elana did too. She felt a bit annoyed the names are Halloween and Easter!”
two gingerbread kept arguing about “What kind of pets are they?” Hen-
some silly stuff that didn’t matter. ry asked suspiciously.
“WELL, HUMANS AND GINGER- “A dragon and a—”
BREAD CAN PLAY THE RECORDER, “A dragon!?” Henry interrupted.
FLUTE, AND VIOLINE TOO!” Vanille “It’s friendly!” Bubbles shouted
screamed back. over Henry’s screaming “Here, I’ll call
“THAT’S NOT HOW YOU PRO- it. Tweeeeeet!!!”
NOUNCE ‘VIOLIN’!” A huge dragon appeared from the
“WHATEVER!” skies and bowed to Henry.
“I CAN SPEAK BETTER ENGLISH “Do you need any help?” the drag-
THAN YOU!” on boomed. “I am Halloween. But I’m
“I DON’T CARE! ALSO, ON NEP- not named Halloween because I look
TUNE, YOU CALL ENGLISH ‘NEPTU- scary. I am named Halloween because I
NIUM’!” brought all the broccoli to the children
“YOU’RE A BOSSY KNOW-IT- who lost theirs on Halloween.”
ALL!” As soon as Henry heard this, she
“NO, I’M NOT!” Vanille screeched. began to pet the dragon.
“GUYS!” Henry interrupted. “I’ll let “Ah-choo!” The dragon sneezed.
both of you bring your pets, but only “I’m allergic t-to pixie dust! Ah-choo!”
if you don’t argue. Now let’s go get our “Oh, sorry” Henry replied, remov-
microphone.” ing her hand and backing away slowly.
The group followed Henry while “Didn’t realize.”
Vanille and Coco, glaring daggers at “May I go get Easter, my chick that
each other, walked home to get their won the grand prize at Easter for find-
pets. ing the most eggs?” Bubbles inquired.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Henry re-
plied.
Once Bubbles left, Henry explained
“Guys, are you ready to join our micro- how grown-up gingerbread like to be
phone?1 Henry asked. young so much that they try to act
Elana snorted. childish themselves. Also, they are
“YES!” All the gingerbread an- known as the best pet trainers in the
swered immediately. galaxy.
“I already know that,” Elana re-
1 In the code that Henry made up, “micro-
plied. “That’s all Ms. Smit would talk
phone” means “army,” “CeeCee” means
“Casey,” and “attack” is “sing.” about when we were studying pets.”
26 Stone SoUpJust then, Vanille and Coco returned The wind, once calm, began to
with their pets and a small sign each. howl furiously; Elana thought that it
Coco’s sign was in neat handwriting was a hurricane. Rain lashed and thun-
that said: der boomed. Then lightning flashed,
but it wasn’t your typical lightning. It
Dogs are the best pets in the world! was a lightning that could blind furo-
They treat you like children, which ws and put them under an awful spell
we gingerbread love. Don’t get if they looked directly at it.
cats—they just sleep. Elana, who was looking at the
ground, could see that a message was
Elana looked at Vanille’s sign, forming on it. The lightning cast a
which said: mark right in front of her eyes. The
words looked like this:
Cats are the absolute best pets in the
world! They’re quiet and sweet—not YOU WILL HAVE NO LIGHT IN
yappy, barky, and loud like dogs. YOUR WORLD. HAHAHAHA!
—CASEY
“Henry,” Elana whispered, “come
see Vanille’s and Coco’s posters!” “We have to do something!” Elana
Henry, who was looking at a set in shouted, blinking a couple of times as
the Background Theater, spun around her eyes adjusted to the dark.
and gasped. “Get into the boat!” Henry shouted
“Stop it! Prankster and Spots are back. “The little rowboat on the pier.
both great pets, but if you fight one Block Casey’s lightning attack! Block it
more time, I’ll take them away!” Henry with your hands! Row out to sea. Talk
shouted. to Casey. Be careful about what you
Just then, Bubbles arrived with think. Remember, she can hear minds
Easter. “We’re all ready! Let’s go!” Elana from a mile away!”
shouted happily. Elana followed Henry’s orders,
Suddenly, everything in Sugar Top raced to the pier, and grabbed the
went dark. “Casey’s nearby!” Henry only rowboat, but she didn’t see any
warned. Everyone froze in fear. oars around. Suddenly, a bald eagle
swooped down.
“Stand up facing the wrong way,”
IX: The Surprise the bald eagle screeched. “By the way,
I’m Fillinus, the ambassador of light.
“We need to attack!” Elana yelled des- Call me when you need me!”
perately. Fillinus flew away, leaving Elana
“We don’t have enough wires for even more puzzled.
the microphone!”2 Henry shouted back Facing the wrong way, Elana
thought. The wrong way? Hmmm. Tricky.
2 Translation: We don’t have enough Neptu- Wait! I got it! Stand up on the boat facing
nians (i.e., furows and gingerbread) for the the opposite way that you do when rowing
army!
MAY 2020 27a boat! path of light came to an end at a tiny
Elana did exactly that, and a path island.
of light lit up in front of her. “Slower! I mean darker!” Elana
“Move it!” Elana yelled, kicking the yelled “Darker, darker, darker, darker,
boat in frustration. But the boat didn’t darker, darker!”
move. The boat stopped at the small is-
“Oh, that ambassador,” Elana mut- land, and Elana climbed out. The island
tered. “He’s such a birdbrain. I thought had a wall around it and only a tiny
he was supposed to be the ambassador patch of grass around the wall.
of light . . .” It was much brighter here than
At the word “light,” the boat swift- any other place Elana had seen or
ly started to move through the path been. This must be Casey’s house, she
of light. Lightning flashed in Elana’s thought.
direction, and she blocked it with her The wall was coated in pink, with
hands. Suddenly, the sky erupted with high castle turrets and only blue skies
light. Elana suspected the ambassador above. Elana clasped her hands to-
had done that. gether; she was excited to explore the
“Oh, Fillinus!” Elana smiled glee- castle. Then, she felt a spark between
fully. “He is so smart. Now, when I call her two hands. Elana looked down at
someone a birdbrain, it’ll mean that them.
they’re smart. I like this path of light. It To her surprise, her hands were
guides me through the dark—” holding a lightning rope. Then, she had
The boat abruptly stopped. an idea . . .
“Uh, light!” Elana shouted, and the
boat continued along the path. Elana
smiled. She felt like she was gliding X: The Break-In
toward a place that was unknown.
Elana swung the lightning rope under
“Go, Elana!” a voice cheered. Elana
a loose stone on the castle wall and
spun around and saw Henry and the
began to silently climb up. The rope
gingerbread. She waved goodbye as
was sturdy, and while she was holding
her boat headed away.
on to it, she felt like she was climbing
“We’re blinded by the lightning!”
up to the heavens.
Henry called and Elana froze, remind-
When she finally reached the top,
ing herself that Neptune depended on
the view was magnificent. There was
her.
sea as far as the eye could see. Sugar
“Faster!” Elana shouted, but the
Top was a tiny speck in the distance.
boat didn’t change its speed. “No—
Elana dug her hand in her pocket and
lighter, lighter, lighter, lighter, lighter,
was pleasantly surprised to find there
lighter, lighter!” The boat went faster
was a sandwich and a piece of cookie
and faster as she spoke.
in it. She didn’t realize how hungry she
“Darker!” Elana shouted over the
had been and ate them while enjoying
rushing wind. The boat slowed a bit.
the view. Once finished, she swung
Elana looked ahead and saw the
28 STONE SOUPdown the lightning rope and climbed Elana’s arms were working faster than
down, landing on a patch of grass ever. When Elana got to the other side
right behind a moat. of the moat, she climbed on shore as
Elana wondered how she could fast as she could, ran to the side of the
break into the castle. She finally decid- castle, and changed her clothes. When
ed to swim. she was done, she stuffed her bathing
Elana, unfortunately, did not have suit into her bag.
a bathing suit, so she gathered a bunch Now, Elana thought, comes the
of lightning rope and began to weave tricky part.
one. Then she made a sack so she Elana saw an open window. She
could carry her normal clothes. Elana slowly crept toward it and peered
looked up at the lightning rope on the inside the room while hanging outside
wall. She didn’t want anyone to catch the window, keeping herself covered.
her, and the rope was plain evidence There was a small desk, a chair, and a
that she had been there. bed inside.
She quickly changed into her bath- “BOO!” Two little boys jumped out
ing suit, put her old clothes into the of a small closet, looking around the
bag, and tied the lightning rope around room suspiciously.
it, sealing it closed. Then, trying not to “I thought I heard Casey coming,”
make a big splash, she slipped into the one of them whined.
water. “Yeah, Twootle. Me too,” the other
Elana wished she had brought boy replied.
goggles since she couldn’t see a thing These must be Tweetle and Twootle,
with her eyes closed; plus, she kept Casey’s messengers, Elana thought. I
bumping into patches of seaweed. wonder how I’ll get inside.
When she came to the surface to Elana was thinking so hard about
breathe, she saw a crocodile a couple how to get inside that she didn’t hear
of feet away. It was enormous, and Twootle remark, “Maybe she’s under
Elana dived back into the water, so the window.”
scared that she forgot to shut her eyes. Tweetle and Twootle walked over
Her eyes stung in the murky water to the window. When they saw Elana,
Suddenly, a bright yellow light they yelled in unison: “INTRUDER!”
came from her eyes and blocked out Elana needed to think of a plan,
the water. Elana was shocked, but then and quick. One soon formed in her
remembered the story Henry asked mind. She stood up.
her to read. She realized that the yel- “Hello!” she said in a pleasant
low light was one of the powers Henry voice.
had given her! It felt like someone had “Are you Nostril Spit?” Tweetle
fastened yellow goggles on her eyes. asked.
Elana could still see the crocodile. Elana didn’t like the name very
It was even closer now, and it was much, but she had to get inside as fast
ready to strike. She swam her fast- as she could.
est (and splashiest) stroke: freestyle. “No,” she blurted out nervously,
MAY 2020 29You can also read
