I like the different colors you used for each word I said distracting my captor I got a multipack of chalk for my birthday It’s nice when I have a reason to use them he said letting his guard down You’re always running a risk using them outside when it’s a rainy season like this one I said trying to wiggle out of the impossible knot behind my back The bell sounded wildly sealing my fate It was nine a m It’s showtime the shadow said The light on the camera switched to a flashing red Every room in the school could hear and see me I begin to read aloud My name is Jon Gummyshoes And I am the one who stole the Warlock Rule video game from Principal Links’s office I took the prize for the raffle to repair the soccer field And I am the one who made it so the Tri-County Soccer Regionals cannot be played I could hear the whole school gasp The only thing I could think about was all of this the light the water gun the shadow was all for a game 11
Chapter 2 Waiting for a Game One day earlier I was standing in front of Gamerz Video Game Hub I was just another stooge waiting in line for a game I didn’t need and barely wanted The rest of the fourth grade class was there with me I can’t believe it’s here Warlock Rule is finally here screamed the boy behind me He nudged me in the back and shouted Hey buddy Aren’t you excited for Warlock Rule It was Frankie Flats Frankie was in fourth grade with me I unwrapped a piece of chewing gum and stuck it in my mouth I don’t believe 12
in all of this wizardry and hocus-pocus stuff That load is for kids I said between my first few chews Frankie thought about that for a second Hey wait a minute Then why are you in line waiting to buy it Frankie had a point I wasn’t even sure I had been minding my own business at home watching my favorite television program Max Hamilton Daring Detective He was one of the main reasons I took up the detective game in the first place Hamilton had the right idea that’s for sure He did what’s right despite the cost During a break in the show a commercial came blaring on for the game I had to see what it was all about The next morning I was stuck in line with that unstoppable yapping kid I just wanted to see what all the hubbub was about I guess I answered The gum lost its flavor so I spat it out Well listen You picked a perfect time to come Frankie said Wallace the Warlock was here for an hour this morning signing the first 100 copies of the game Now Waldorf the Warlock is here in the store signing the rest of them 13
