SIX
Jason found the valentine box and stuffed it under his shirt. He dashed across the hall to his room.
Whoosh! He slid under his bed on his stomach. Grandma would never find him here. Under the bed, he opened the lid. One after another, he ate the chocolates. Mm-m! It was chocolate heaven at last.
After the sixth one, Jason’s taste buds rolled over and played dead. He couldn’t taste a thing!
Then something strange began to happen. Jason felt shaky all over. Like he could jump up and down and never stop!
He tried to get out from under the bed, but he bumped his head on the box springs. He tried to slide out backward. His foot was stuck in the bed frame coils. He rocked back and forth.
Crash! His head hit the bed. “Ouch!” he yelled. Jason was trapped. But he couldn’t lie still. Inside, his whole body wanted to move. Like tiny grasshoppers dancing and twitching.
He pushed the valentine box aside. No more, no thanks!
Now Grandma was calling. Jason stared at the half-eaten candy box. The ooey gooey chocolates smelled horrible. Besides that, he had a stomachache.
Jason was in big trouble. He hadn’t taken his afternoon pill—the pill that helped calm him down. His body needed that medicine.
“Jason,” his grandma called again.
“I’m here,” whispered Jason, still under the bed.
He was too sick to shout.
“Jason, I dished up some fruit for dessert.”
He pushed away from the box springs, trying to get his foot unstuck. He rocked. He rolled. He wiggled.
Bam! The bed frame came loose on one side. It fell on top of him.
“HELP!” It was easy to scream now. Jason kept howling till Grandma showed up.
“Oh, my dear! My dear!” Grandma lifted the bed frame off poor, sick Jason.
Free at last, Jason jumped up. “You saved me. I could’ve been framed forever.”
Grandma scratched her misty gray head. “Are you all right?” Then her eyes grew narrow. She studied him. “You’re all chocolaty.” The smudges on his face told his secret.
Grandma pointed Jason toward the bathroom. “Let’s get you washed up, young man.”
He plodded off to clean his face. But when he closed the door, he forgot why he was there. That often happened when he didn’t take his pills.
Jason pulled a plastic bag down from the cabinet. It was full of cotton balls. One by one, he lined them in a row on the sink counter top.
Soon Grandma was knocking on the door. “Are you all right, dear?”
Jason looked in the mirror. Oops! A chocolaty face stared back. Gooey spots smeared his glasses.
“Jason?” Grandma called again.
“Uh, just a minute.” He turned on the faucet. It was hot water. Too hot, so he added cold. SWOOSH! The water splashed over the sink, onto the floor.
“Jason!” Grandma sounded upset.
“I’ll be right out,” Jason grumbled. He leaned over the sink and cupped his hands under the faucet. He rubbed them over his face, spreading the chocolate all around.
Just then, another idea struck. Jason plugged up the sink and floated cotton balls in it. Two handfuls of them.
Grandma called again, “I’m coming in!” The bathroom door swung wide. “What a mess you’ve made,” she said, and began to clean up.
Jason dried his hands on his jeans. Things had gone crazy. But it was still only Friday. Plenty of time left before Mom and Dad come home, he thought.
Friday night! Monster movie night! Jason was dying to see a monster movie. His first ever.
If only he could get rid of the ache in his stomach. If only he could get Grandma to go to bed early!
But how?
SEVEN
Jason jigged down the hallway to the living room. He plopped into his dad’s favorite chair. Holding his stomach, he groaned.
Grandma came in looking worried. “Let’s get some warm tea in you.” She touched his arm. “Come in the kitchen, dear.”
Jason wasn’t paying attention. He reached for the TV section of the paper instead. Something caught his eye. A sale at the pet store—tomorrow!
Jason read the ad. VALENTINE SPECIAL: FROGS AND LIZARDS HALF PRICE.
A frog! For as long as he could remember, Jason had wanted a frog. He would do anything for one.
He dropped the newspaper. “Grandma, can we go downtown tomorrow?” He turned on the charm. “Please?”
“If you behave yourself, we’ll see about it,” she said from the kitchen.
Jason burst out laughing. “It’s a deal!” But, of course, he had no plans to behave. And he would wait to tell Grandma about the frog.
“Your tea is ready,” Grandma said.
Jason hurried to the kitchen. “I’ll clean up the kitchen for you,” he said. Jason wiggled all over waiting for her answer.
“What a dear boy,” Grandma said. She pulled out a chair for him. Then she served him a cup of mint tea. Stirring in a little honey, his grandma smiled. “We’re having a lovely time together, aren’t we?”
Lovely? Jason rubbed his stomach and groaned. “I feel horrible,” he said.
“Sip your tea slowly,” Grandma said. “It will help.”
Jason held his breath and pretended to sip and swallow. “I’m done.” He pushed the cup away.
Grandma frowned at him over her glasses. “Perhaps an early bedtime will help.”
“After I do the dishes,” he said. “And you can watch TV while I do that.” He was hoping she’d get sleepy and go to bed early.
“Why, thank you, dear,” Grandma said, heading for the living room.
Jason turned on the water at the sink. Next came dish soap. He squeezed out too much, and it made tons of bubbles. Soon, they were dripping down the sides of the counter. And onto the floor.
Jason was getting more and more hyper. His last pill had been at breakfast. His mother had placed it beside his hot oatmeal and toast. Right in front of his nose.
When Jason finished in the kitchen, it was messier than when he started. He held his stomach as he went to his room. It’s too early to go to bed, he thought.
Peering out the window, he saw lights across the street. Abby and Carly Hunter and their Korean brothers were still up. And Dunkum’s lights were on next door. Stacy Henry’s, too.
“All the Cul-de-sac Kids are up,” he muttered. “It’s only 7:30.” Shoving the curtains closed, he planned his next move.
He hopped like a frog over to his closet and pulled out his robe and pajamas. “Er-r-rib-bit!” he croaked over and over. Then he got undressed.
His plan was perfect! Now if he could just stay awake till Grandma went to bed.
EIGHT
Grandma tucked Jason in and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Sleep well, dear,” she said.
“Good-night, Grandma,” he whispered, pretending to be tired.
“I think I’ll read awhile. It’s early. If you need anything, I’ll be across the hall in your parents’ room.”
“Thanks, Grandma.” Jason wanted to sound polite. More than that, he wanted to trick his grandma. Late-night TV was on his mind. Once she was asleep, he would get up.
Jason listened to the clock in the hall. He counted the ticks, but he couldn’t lie still. At last, he sat up in bed. Was Grandma asleep yet?
Tiptoeing across the hall, Jason peeked into the room. His grandma was sitting up in bed, but her eyes were shut. And a book lay open on her lap.
Yes! Jason closed her door softly and dashed to the living room. He lay on the floor in front of the TV. Some scary show was on. He could tell by the music.
Jason gritted his teeth as a giant snowman roared down from the mountain. It had a monster face.
A snow creature? thought Jason. Νah, couldn’t be.
Suddenly the music changed. It got louder and higher in pitch. Jason turned down the volume. He didn’t want Grandma to wake up.
Phooey on grown-ups! thought Jason.
He sat clo
se to the TV. The giant snowman clumped down the mountain and across the field. It was heading straight for two boys. They were shoveling snow.
Jason watched, eyes glued to the screen. What was the snow giant going to do? Why didn’t the boys turn and run?
Jason held his breath. Yikes! His stomach knotted up as the snow giant crept behind the boys.
Leaping up, Jason stood in the middle of the living room. The snow giant roared and the boys ran for their lives. Jason’s muscles felt frozen. His breath came in short puffs as he watched the boys run. Jason wished they’d hurry. The snow giant was catching up with them.
“Hurry! Get away,” Jason said to the TV.
Just then—cre-eak!—Jason’s front door inched open.
Jason jerked around, ready to fight off the snow monster. “NO!” he yelled as a furry hand touched the doorknob.
Jason’s heart did a giant flip.
NINE
“Anybody home?” It was Dunkum. He stomped his feet on the mat. “It’s freezing out there.”
“Don’t you ever knock?” Jason asked.
“I did,” Dunkum insisted.
“I didn’t hear you,” Jason replied. He pointed to the TV screen. “Check this out.”
Dunkum sat on the sofa for a minute, then he frowned. “I don’t watch scary stuff.”
Jason wasn’t listening now. He was watching the snow giant bend the boys’ shovels in half.
During the commercial, Jason stretched. “What are you doing here?” he asked Dunkum.
Dunkum grinned. “I’m checking up on you.”
“I’m fine,” Jason said.
Dunkum got up and looked in the kitchen. “It’s a mess in there. Where’s your grandma?”
“What do you care?”
Dunkum frowned. “You can’t fool me, Jason Birchall.” He pulled something out of his pocket. “Look what I found in the snow.”
Jason stared at it. It was his afternoon medicine. The pill he should have taken. “Hey, where did you get that?”
“From the pill fairy,” Dunkum teased.
Jason held his hands up like a boxer.
Dunkum dodged Jason’s swing. “Whatcha doin’ Sunday morning?” Dunkum asked.
“Me?”
“You and your grandma,” Dunkum said.
“Not much,” Jason said.
“Why don’t you come to church? There’s room in Abby’s van.” Dunkum turned to leave.
Jason remembered the Christmas service at Dunkum’s and Abby’s church. The ushers had given out candy. Maybe they’d have valentine candy this Sunday!
“Sure, I’ll come,” Jason replied.
“Good.” Dunkum’s eyes sparkled. “It’s a special day. We’re having a kids’ choir.”
Jason liked music. It made him want to dance. Slow or fast, it didn’t matter. “That’s good,” he said, but the commercial was over now. And the snow giant was back.
Jason hardly heard his friend say goodbye.
At the next commercial, Jason tiptoed to his room. He pulled the chocolates out from under his bed. Time for a little snack.
By the end of the movie, Jason wished Dunkum had stayed. They could have shivered together with fear. But Dunkum was smart. He didn’t watch this stuff.
It was late and Jason was wiped out. He jumped into bed without washing his face or brushing his teeth. He held his stomach. It was hurting again. But not as bad as the pain in his head.
He shook all over and scooted under his covers. Jason glanced at his clock. The time glowed back at him. It was past midnight!
The room was darker than usual. It made Jason nervous. If he stared into the blackness long enough, little snow creatures began to appear.
E-eek! Jason hid under the covers. But he couldn’t hide from the snow giant’s roar. It was stuck in his brain. It made him quiver and quake.
Suddenly, Jason heard another sound. Low at first. Then it grew louder. He reached for the light. Dashing to the window, Jason cupped his hands on the frosty glass.
The two-headed snow creature shimmered under the streetlight. One set of eyes stared back at him—the chocolate ones.
Jason bumped his head on the window. He blinked. “What’s going on?” he whispered.
Snow Creature moved his twig arms.
Jason rubbed his eyes.
Then it happened again!
Thump! Thump! Jason’s heart pounded in his ears. Had Snow Creature come to life?
TEN
Whoosh! Jason closed the curtains. “Grandma!” he hollered.
She rushed into the room. “What is it, dear?”
Jason danced around, trying to tell her what he’d seen. “It started with a low roar. I looked out the window. That’s when I saw him move!”
“Please slow down, Jason. What are you saying?”
“It’s Snow Creature. He’s alive! Look outside!”
A sleepy smile spread across her face. “You must be dreaming.”
Jason tugged on her nightgown. “Come see for yourself.”
“You can’t see anything outside with this light on.” She flipped the switch off.
Jason stood at the window. “Just watch,” he whispered.
The two of them waited. And waited. The snow creature stood very still.
At last, Grandma tucked Jason in bed again. “It must be all those chocolates you ate,” she said. And she blew a kiss.
Jason shook all over. There was a live snow creature out there making roaring sounds. Just like in the movie. And Grandma was going back to bed!
Not Jason. He reached for a book from his shelf. It was a Christmas gift from Abby Hunter. It had a Bible verse and a story for each day of the year.
Jason pulled his knees up to his chin and read: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother . . . that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.
Jason stopped reading. He thought about things going well if he obeyed his parents. He wanted to live a long time on the earth. And he thought about obeying. That was hard.
Next, he read the story. It was so good, he forgot about being scared. The book from Abby had done the trick. Nothing could scare him now. He turned the light out and fell asleep.
Hours later, Jason heard a noise at his window. He sat up in bed. There it was again.
Someone was knocking on his bedroom window!
Jason was too tired to care. Maybe he was dreaming. He hoped so. Then he could snuggle down into his blankets again.
SCR-I-I-TCH! SCR-A-A-TCH!
Jason leaped out of bed. He peeked between the curtains. His heart jumped.
Snow Creature was staring into his window. He had walked all the way across the yard!
Jason dashed away from the window, yelling for Grandma. She had to believe him now. Jason raced across the hall. Running up to the bed, he pulled the covers down. The bed was empty!
Jason ran out of the room and down the hall. “Grandma!” he called.
He opened the front door and ran out into the night. He looked around. Snow Creature was still standing beside his window.
Jason darted back inside and slammed the door. His heart thumped wildly.
Suddenly, he had an idea. He would go outside and tell off that Snow Creature! Who did he think he was, scaring him like that?
Jason pulled his coat on over his pajamas. He shook with fright. What if Snow Creature had gotten to Grandma’s room first? What if he had taken her away?
Jason ran through the house shouting, “Grandma! Where are you?”
Grandma was nowhere to be found!
ELEVEN
At that moment, Jason missed the grown-ups in his life. His dad, his mom, and his grandma . . . all of them. He was on his own now. Alone with scary Snow Creature!
He took a deep breath and opened the front door. He stared at Snow Creature. A mean look shot out of the icy monster’s eyes. Jason shivered.
And then it happened. A low roar bellowed out
of Snow Creature’s mouth.
Yikes! Jason wanted to run inside. But no! He was determined to be brave. Marching up to Snow Creature, Jason punched his snowy stomach.
“You’re not alive,” Jason shouted. “This must be a bad dream.”
Snow Creature took a giant leap toward him.
But Jason stood still. “All I have to do is pinch myself and you’ll be back where you belong,” he shouted. He pointed to the spot where he and the Cul-de-sac Kids had made the creature.
“That’s what you think,” Snow Creature thundered, reaching out to grab Jason. “Your grandmother is mine now. And you are next!”
“No! No!” screamed Jason. He twisted away from Snow Creature’s reach. “No!”
“Jason, dear! Wake up! It’s Grandma.”
He twisted and rolled around in his sheets.
“You’re dreaming,” Grandma said.
Jason opened his eyes. The sweetest wrinkled face in the world smiled down at him. He rubbed his eyes. “Nobody should watch scary shows,” Jason whispered. “Not ever.”
His grandma nodded slowly. “It’s almost time for breakfast,” she said. “And your pill.”
Jason started to groan but stopped.
“Maybe you won’t have to take pills when you’re a grown-up,” she said.
Grown-up. A nice word, thought Jason.
Grandma went to fix scrambled eggs and toast. Jason could almost taste it. A good breakfast beat chocolate candy any day!
At the table, Jason took his pill. And after breakfast, he brushed his teeth and washed his face.
Jason went to his room and wrote on his marker board.
Always remember—
Take pills
Watch good TV shows
Go to bed early
Obey grown-ups (like parents and grandparents)
Jason spotted the book from Abby. He remembered the verse about obeying your parents. Then, kneeling beside his bed, Jason talked to God. He was sorry about watching the scary movie. And about eating his mother’s chocolates. He was sorry about not wanting any grown-ups around.
After the prayer, Jason hopped around his room like a frog. He pretended his bed was a lily pond.
No Grown-ups Allowed Page 2