Invasion of the Scorp-lions

by Bruce Hale

  I considered his words as we drove off. Could Benny be right? If I’d risen to the occasion in getting rid of the scorp-lions; maybe I could do the same in other parts of my life. Maybe I could be a sort of everyday hero, even when the monsters weren’t around.

  Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders. Hero or not, it was time to face what was coming.

  A SURPRISE GREETED me in the dining room. Instead of one of Abuelita’s delicious meals, a full-on Chinese takeout feast covered the table. The rest of my family was just sitting down to it.

  After collecting a hug from my mom, I greeted my sister, Veronica, with a “Hey, Ron-Ron.”

  “Hey, C-Man,” she said, with her usual blend of sunny brattiness.

  I took in this perfectly normal family scene, and a knot the size of Cleveland formed in my throat. Suddenly it seemed hard to draw a full breath. Was this all coming to an end tonight?

  I checked my parents’ faces for clues (Abuelita had driven off to play a gig), but they were harder to read than Scandinavian furniture assembly instructions. For a few minutes, it was all “Pass the spring rolls” and “More moo shu pork?”

  My nerves wound tighter. My head throbbed. The suspense was killing me, but I did my best to act normal. I even slipped my dog, Zeppo, a piece of pork.

  Then my dad wiped his mouth. “Kids, we wanted to have everyone here together for an announcement—kind of a celebration, actually.”

  Celebration? I’d heard of putting a positive spin on things, but celebrating divorce? Still, I leaned forward. Half a spring roll lay in my mouth, forgotten.

  “It’s over,” said my mom.

  “No!” I cried. Or at least I tried to cry. What happened was, the half-chewed spring roll shot from my mouth and hit my dad smack in the chest.

  He looked down at the wet spot. His eyebrows lifted. “We thought you’d be pleased.”

  “Pleased?!” I half rose from my chair. “That’s nuts! Who would be happy about their parents getting divorced? Somebody always moves out, and then you don’t get to see them as much as you want, and it’s all awkward, and you have to figure out who lives with who, and, and—”

  I ground to a halt, mid-rant. My family was gaping at me like I’d just sprouted reindeer antlers and an eagle beak.

  “Divorce?” said my mom softly. “Is that what you thought this was about?”

  A chuckle escaped my dad’s lips.

  “It’s…not?” I asked. I didn’t even dare to hope.

  “Oh, chamaco,” said Dad. His big hand rested on my wrist.

  “Honey, our marriage is not what’s over,” said my mom. “But this living arrangement is.”

  “Huh?” I said. Because I’m good with the insightful questions.

  Dad was grinning. “Veronica’s show has been canceled. She and your mom are moving back home—full-time.”

  “Noooo!” screamed my sister. “I can’t be canceled!”

  A whoop exploded from my gut like a beach ball popping out of a pool. “The show’s done? You’re really coming home for good?”

  “Yes, we are,” said Mom.

  “That’s great!” I yelled.

  “It’s not great!” cried Veronica. “I’m calling my agent!”

  I tried to tamp down my enthusiasm enough to give my sister some sympathy. “Uh, I mean, it’s great that you’re coming back. It totally stinks that your show was canceled.”

  “Stinks like a big bunch of doody-heads,” said Veronica, crossing her arms.

  Mom wrapped her in a hug. “So sorry, honey. It has nothing to do with you. They loved you.”

  I couldn’t keep the goofy grin from my face. “Hey, you’ll get another acting job. You’re really talented.”

  My sister’s pout weakened. “You think so?”

  “Absolutely,” I said. “That time you stole my ray gun? You had me totally convinced that you didn’t.”

  A small smile broke out. “I am a good actress.”

  My mom and dad laughed.

  Boneless with relief, I sprawled in my chair. So life was back to normal again. How about that? I looked around at my family, laughing, chattering, and eating. This, I thought, this is worth fighting for. This is worth trying to be a hero.

  And then my phone rang. Fishing it from my pocket, I stepped away from the table. “Hello?”

  “Oh, Carlos,” said a girl’s voice. “You won’t believe what’s happened.”

  “Esme?”

  “My mom went up to Mr. Hanzomon’s place to check on the monsters, and you know what?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “They’re gone. Someone let them out—all of them.”

  The news should have rocked me. It should have filled me with fear. But instead, I heard myself calmly saying, “Thanks for letting me know. We’ll get right on it.”

  I hung up.

  “What was that?” asked my mom.

  “Oh, a project for school,” I said, sitting back down. “Pass the chow fun?”

  Tomorrow, I knew, Benny and I would be back on the job with Esme and Tina. After all, a hero’s work is never done.

  But for tonight, I’d be with my family. For tonight, it was enough to be home, together, and looking forward to a merry Christmas and hairy New Year.

  ALSO BY BRUCE HALE

  The School for S.P.I.E.S. Series

  Playing with Fire

  Thicker than Water

  Ends of the Earth

  Monstertown Mysteries

  Curse of the Were-Hyena

  Mutant Mantis Lunch Ladies!

  BRUCE HALE is the author of two previous Monstertown Mysteries: The Curse of the Were-Hyena and Mutant Mantis Lunch Ladies! His other popular series include the Chet Gecko Mysteries, Underwhere, and School for S.P.I.E.S. He lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife, Janette, and dog, Riley.