part that twisted allowing the lenses to get closer together or further apart That was how you focused the telescope That’s it Michael thought I need a way to move the lenses He had an idea He went to Grandpa Henry’s bathroom and found an empty toilet paper tube Using scissors Michael cut the tube so it would fit inside the large cardboard tube he already had He slid the small tube into the bigger one Then he taped one of the magnifying lenses to the end of that smaller tube He taped the other lens to the end of the big tube Now the little tube could twist and move in and out I think I fixed it Michael said He took the telescope to the window that looked over Shaker Street and pointed it toward the sky Looking through the end with the smaller tube he could now slide the tube and move the image around until things came clear He saw the moon He checked out a couple bright stars Then he pointed the telescope down toward Shaker Street What’s that he muttered to himself Michael twisted the lens around to get a clearer view There was a woman walking quickly in the light of the streetlamps She was wearing a long dark coat and dark hat If Michael wasn’t using the telescope he’d never have seen her He adjusted the telescope again focusing on her arms She was carrying a rolled-up piece of paper like a map or poster and a shovel
Strange Michael muttered to himself He saw the woman look around as if checking to make sure she wasn’t being followed After that Michael saw her jump a fence into a neighbor’s yard A few minutes later the figure came back She appeared to be shaking her head sadly Michael stared out a few minutes more until the woman disappeared behind a large leafy tree near the house where Leo and his dad lived Michael set down the telescope Strange things are happening on Shaker Street he said to himself
In the morning he’d tell Leo what he saw Liv would come over And together they would investigate
CHAPTER TWO When Leo woke up Michael was sitting in a chair near the bed staring at him Tell Liv to come over for breakfast he said in a rush I gotta show you both something Leo yawned Then without asking what the hurry was got out his laptop It was old Michael had rescued it before it was thrown away and fixed it up The laptop worked great most of the time Leo logged in He asked Michael what was for breakfast then he messaged Liv LeoTheLion Pancakes UFOWatcher be there in 5 She’s on the way Leo reported Though I can’t see how she’ll get here in five minutes Shaker Street is a huge hill Leo often complained about going up and down the hill It would take me a lot longer he said pointing to himself Little legs They’re my curse Michael laughed He was sure that Liv would be there fast She always moved fast I have a problem Michael confessed to Leo He wanted to solve this before Liv arrived Telescope still busted Leo asked as he got dressed in a T-shirt and shorts Nah Michael said I figured that out He got dressed quickly It’s that I don’t want to tell Liv about the telescope yet I want it to be a surprise Liv’s birthday wasn’t for four more days Why’s that a problem Leo said I can keep a secret I won’t tell her Michael picked up the telescope from his desk Last night when I was checking to be sure the magnification worked I saw He didn’t finish saying what he’d seen because just then the bedroom door slammed open with a heavy bang
