“Well,” said Arden between swigs of lemonade. “This riddle thing is a pretty cool old mystery, but what does it have to do with keeping your Uncle from getting pounded by Dudge Hunker?” “It’s just a feeling I have,” replied Ari. “Maybe there is a prize, or a reward, or something for solving the riddle. […]
Archive > August 2009
Chapter 13
There was a small utility room just inside the back door of St. Zita’s, full of things things like cleaning supplies and extra candles. Ari noticed right away that Arden had, in fact, thrown their trash in the plastic waste can to the right of the door. But since she was not in the supply […]
Chapter 14
Finbar Fenker and Flossie Beemis shrieked and cheered and clung to the ropes of the boxing ring. In one corner, Ari wiped the sweat off Uncle Ellery’s brow and handed him water. In the opposite corner crouched Wilton Daylatch, with eight lanky tarantula legs, all tapping impatiently for the bell to resume the fight, while […]
Chapter 15
Ari struggled to stay as far as he could from Finbar Fenker for the rest of the day, and when Arden spotted Finbar rap-dancing by the main entrance after the dismissal bell rang they made a quick detour through the kindergarten room and headed out a side door. The quickest route to the library from […]
Chapter 16
By the time Ari got outside after the last school bell, Arden was already sleuthing around the gigantic trunk of the old black walnut tree. “Maybe there’s something here,” she said looking it up and down. “Initials carved in the trunk, a secret opening in the base…something.” “I think we have to climb it,” said […]
Chapter 17
After school on Wednesday Ari dodged Flossie Beemis, who was posing coyly by the front door, and caught up with Arden in front of the school. “Daylatch moved the fight,” Ari said. “It’s going to be on Friday.” “Friday?” replied Arden incredulously. “It can’t be Friday! That leaves us no time to look for the […]
Chapter 18
The deli was closed for the Founders’ Day celebration, but Ari woke up in no mood to celebrate. He could hear Uncle Ellery sparring with a punching bag in the basement–the chain rattling and clinking with every whomp whomp whomp of his uncle’s boxing gloves. Ari washed his face and clomped down two flights of […]
Chapter 19
“Ari,” demanded Arden as she reached the Daylatch Academy gate right behind him. She paused to catch her breath. “Have you thought about this at all? How are we supposed to get through this gate?” “I don’t know,” he replied. The stone wall loomed tall, gray, and ominous. There was no easy way to get […]
Chapter 20
“You must be the children from the Short Stars Modeling Agency,” gushed the perfectly groomed receptionist. “Um…yes,” replied Arden hesitantly. “That’s right.” “Well…how clever of the modeling agency to send such, such…natural looking children,” said the receptionist in a tone that was clearly meant to be tactful. “This will make for some perfectly realistic advertisements!” […]
Chapter 21
In every direction, heavy equipment clanked and droned. Conveyor belts carrying garishly multicolored bottles rattled past thundering mechanical arms and thumping pistons. The boys in blue jumpsuits, dwarfed by the metallic maze of machinery, were scattered in clusters around the hall. Some were at the tedious task of picking flawed vitamins out of the batch, […]
Chapter 22
“Okay!” yelled Ari, as the boys streamed past him and thundered down Duchy Street. “Okay! So when you get to the park, STOP THE FIGHT!” “I don’t know,” said Arden shaking her head. “They’re not paying any attention to you.” “Let’s go,” yelled Ari. “All they have to do is stampede the fight.” He tore […]
Chapter 23
It was an elegant meal for a kid. Candlelit tables, in a room full of leather upholstery and charbroiled steaks. Flossie Beemis, stretched languidly across the ebony grand piano, sang sultry songs about walnut trees and fluttered her lashes at Ari, while Finbar Fenker, in a waiter’s tux, presented him with a sterling silver dome […]
Chapter 24
Granny Frappler’s cackling was making Ari nervous. She sat rocking in her chair, ever so calmly, turning the compass over and over in her bony hands. Every so often she emitted a sound like “hee hee,” or “hoo hoo.” Ari didn’t know what that could mean, but he imagined that she might make that noise […]
Chapter 3
Mabel woke and glanced at the alarm clock next to her bed, certain it should have gone off by now. She had a panicky feeling that she was about to miss her bus. Sitting up quickly, she squinted at the clock, attempting to bring her brain into focus. Slowly, the numbers began to make sense. […]
Chapter 4
The most annoying aspect of school, even worse than Mitchell Blunt as far as Mabel was concerned, was that it kept her from accompanying her father on all his magazine-related trips. She scrambled ahead of Van on the well-trampled path through the woods until it ended at the edge of an expansive grassy field. Ahead […]
Chapter 5
Mabel and Van positively hounded Ivy with questions on the bus rides to and from school the next day. Did she get a good look at the puppy? Would the dogs be allowed to stay in the shed? Were they feeding Sparkle? Had Sparkle said anything to her? The last question, from Mabel, drew a […]
Chapter 6
“I talked to Verdon Arbogast today,” said Mr. Crockett to Mabel, as she dropped her backpack in the press office after school. “I told him who I was, and he laughed and said it was a big mistake. He had mistaken you for the daughter of an old school-mate.” Mr. Crockett was drinking coffee and […]
BEA AND THE SMART KIDS
BREAKFAST OF SCALLYWAGS
HUNTING THE ROSE
THE LEGEND OF LOGJAM