The Gewgaws Adventure
Page 16
PIZZZZZ
Electricity arced across both holes in the TTS, sending a stinging shock into my fingertips.
“Ouch,” I said, looking at the coin. “Do what you’re told, gewgaw.”
PIZZZZ-POP
A flash of blinding light blew us against the railing, flipping us over the deck into a freefall. Our hard hats flew off our heads into the wind.
“AHHH!” We screamed, falling towards the glass-covered street. “AHHH!”
The ground rushed at us faster and faster. The glass shards got closer and closer with every terrifying second. The wind blew through our hair and over our skin, flapping our cheeks like the loose rubber of the balloon. People on the street ran in every direction, screaming at two boys about to splatter like spit on glass. Seconds from slamming into the pavement, I closed my eyes.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Two Sides of a Coin
WHOOSH-SPLASH!
A flood of frigid water washed over us. Goosebumps popped up like buttons all over my skin. I kept my eyes closed from the cold water, but it only took a moment to know where we were. The crowd around us started laughing hysterically. The youngest kids jumped up and down, splashing in the soggy grass.
“Arvin, are you ok?” I asked, keeping my eyes focused on the grass until I had blown all the water out of my nose.
“I’m fine. I need to stan-.”
“Need to stan? What’s that mean?”
“Stand up,” a girl’s delicate voice said. “Hi, Perry.”
I opened my eyes to see Emilia Wren helping Arvin to his feet. He was back in his rainbow swimsuit, and I was wearing my blue shorts with orange palm trees.
Emilia reached out her hand to help me. “Hi Emilia,” I said as she took right my hand in hers to help me off the drenched ground.
“Are you two ok? That was really weird, but I guess you know that already,” Emilia said, crooking her neck to the side, looking at smiling Arvin. “Didn’t you have long, curly hair a minute ago?”
Arvin reached up and scratched his head. “Nope. I like it better this way. I got it cut to look like Perry’s.”
“Aww,” she said, smiling. “You are so sweet, Arvin. The two of you are like brothers.”
The TTS must’ve given Arvin what he wanted most, I thought.
“More like two sides of a coin,” I said, putting the TTS deep into my pocket. “Arvin’s the brave one.”
“Perry’s the handsome one,” Arvin said, patting my back.
He must be trying for wingman of the year.
“Perry, can I talk to you over here for a minute? Excuse us, Emilia,” Arvin said, pulling me to speak by the gate. “Perry, we went back. You’re still thirteen, and so am I.”
“Gotcha, Wingman.” The crowd went back to their swimming and rocket pops as we returned to talk to Emilia.
Arvin helped a little while longer. “Emilia, Perry has something he’d like to ask you.”
“Emilia,” I said, taking a deep breath, “will you come to my birthday party next weekend?”
She smiled. “Sure. I’d love to. Can I bring someone?”
My heart sank. Does she have a boyfriend? “That’s fine. You can bring your boyfriend.”
“What? I don’t have a boyfriend. I mean my sister. She’s a year older than me, but I think Arvin and her might get along.”
“Yes,” Arvin said, jumping between us. “I mean I don’t think Perry would mind.”
I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh at Prince Charming. “What he said. She’s welcome to come.”
“Great,” Emilia said. “She’ll be here in a few minutes to swim with us.”
“Then let’s swim some before she gets here,” I said, “and then Arvin can invite her for me.” I patted Arvin on the shoulder.
“You seem a little different, Perry,” Emilia said.
“How so?” I asked.
“Last time I said hello to you, you threw up on my shoes.”
“Yeah. Sorry about that. I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m better now.”
“Good. Let’s swim,” Arvin said, smiling on his way through the rusty gate.
We had a great time swimming together before eating at Arvin’s home. Kaila, Emilia’s older sister, and Arvin seemed to like each other. Neither stopped smiling the entire time. After dinner, we all glued rhinestones on Arvin’s rainbow tank-top and made plans for my birthday party. Everyone was happy, and everything was going great - until the TTS disappeared from my trunk.
But that’s another story.
About The Author
C.M. Bacon is the author of the Perry & Arvin Adventures contemporary fantasy series. When he’s not writing, he likes to doodle and hike.
Thank you for reading The Gewgaws Adventure, book 1 of the Perry & Arvin Adventures. You can read book 2, The Knick Knack Nightmare at the link below.
Read The Knick Knack Nightmare here:
http://www.cmbacon.com