“You know, you guys don’t have to come to every game,” said Riley. Her parents’ faces were completely painted with the team colors.
“Are you kidding? I’m not missing one! Go, Foghorns!” Dad said, making a foghorn noise.
“Go, Riley! Foghorns are the best!” shouted Mom, making a foghorn noise, too.
Riley shushed them. “Okay, okay. I gotta go.” She smiled and walked away, feeling a little embarrassed.
Inside Headquarters, Joy was beaming. “Awwww,” she said.
“They love us!” Fear exclaimed.
“Yeah, Mom and Dad are pretty cool,” said Anger.
“Guys, of course they are,” said Disgust, cautioning them. “But we can’t show it!” She stepped up to the console and pushed a lever.
Inside Dad’s head, his Emotions had their faces painted, too! They cheered. “She loved the face painting!” said Dad’s Fear happily.
“Ha!” said Dad’s Anger. “Told you it was a great idea.”
Dad turned to Mom and smiled. She smiled back.
Inside Mom’s mind, her Emotions also had their faces painted! “Best idea he’s had in a while,” Mom’s Anger said.
“He’s a really good guy,” said Mom’s Sadness.
Riley walked toward the ice and accidentally bumped into a teenage boy, causing him to drop his drink. She picked it up and handed it to him. “Sorry,” she said, smiling.
Inside the boy’s mind, a warning light was BLARING. All of his Emotions ran around his Headquarters in a panic. They were yelling at the same time as an alarm sounded: “Girl. Girl. Girl.”
The boy stood, stunned, unable to utter a word.
“Uhh…Ooooooo-kay,” said Riley. She walked away but looked over her shoulder and gave him one last little smile.
“All set, Riley?” asked one of her teammates as she skated onto the ice. Riley high-fived her and they skated into position.
Mom and Dad cheered like crazy from the stands as the game began.
Inside Headquarters, Joy and Sadness stood together at the new console. “All right. Let’s play some hockey!” said Joy.
As soon as the puck dropped onto the ice, Riley snapped into action, skating like a pro, with a smile on her face.
“All right, Anger, take it,” said Joy.
“Give us that puck or you’re dead meat!” shouted Anger.
“On our left! On our left!” screamed Fear.
“Let’s just try not to get all smelly this time,” Disgust warned.
Joy felt terrific. Riley had made great new friends, was doing well at school, and loved her new hockey team. Things couldn’t be better. Joy was confident that she and Sadness, along with the rest of the Emotions, would work together to help Riley live a happy life. Things might have gotten turned inside out and even upside down and around, but everything was going to be just fine.
Inside Out Junior Novel Page 7