by Terri Bertha
“That was scary,” said Lizzie.
“I thought it was kind of neat,” hollered Mark.
“I didn’t think it’s neat when crazy people hit my car with a sword and shoot arrows at us,” said Rick.
Driving for a few minutes, they came upon another bridge, over a river of red.
“Yuck,” said Lizzie. “It looks like blood.”
Soft thumps could be heard. Thump, thump, thump. Frogs falling from the sky landed and bounced off the car’s windshield and roof.
“How come dead frogs are coming down from the sky?” asked Mark.
“I don’t know. We’ve got to get out of here, and back on a normal road.”
In the distance, flames could be seen coming out of the ground.
“We’re going to drive into a fire,” screamed Lizzie.
“No, we’re not!” yelled Rick. “There’s an opening in the road ahead of us. Hold on everyone.” He sped the car towards the clearing. Past the flames, they slowed down as they reached a fork in the road. The GPS did not announce whether to take a right or a left. Standing by the side of the road was a woman waving her hands in a motion to stop.
“Help!” said the woman. “I need help.”
Rick looked at Renee and said, “We have to continue on. We can’t stop now. With all the weird things happening, she may be a witch or something. We can’t put all our lives in danger.”
He drove the car past her.
Renee’s eyes pleaded, “Rick, we have to stop and help her. What if it was me out there? You would want someone to stop and help me.”
Rick tipped his head to the side. “You’re right, honey. I’ll back up and stop, but everyone be on your guard if she tries anything funny.”
“Are you okay?” Rick asked as he pulled alongside the woman.
“My car broke down miles back and I’ve been walking forever. I’m trying to get to the next town.”
“Do you know the way to get out of ‘Sloth’?”
“Yes. Take me with you, and I can show you how to get out.”
Motioning his hand to the woman to get in the car, he said, “Move over, kids. Give the woman some room to sit in the back with you guys.”
After she nestled at the back, Rick asked, “Okay. Which way?”
“Take the left,” she said.
Rick and Renee locked eyes, hoping they didn’t make a mistake picking up the stranger.
Lizzie and Mark kept watching out the car windows for anyone or anything coming towards or following them. They all remained quiet hoping they would find the way back to the highway.
Finally, Renee asked, “This is a strange town. Do you live here or were you passing through?”
Silence.
Renee repeated her question louder and turned around in her seat. “Where’d she go?”
Lizzie and Mark looked over to the empty seat next to them.
A soft female voice spoke around them. “You have chosen wisely. Had you not helped a stranger, you would have been doomed in this underworld forever, and never have gotten out. Your kindness will lead you to the path that you seek.”
Then silence. The fog, darkness, and rain seemed to disappear instantly, and the sun shone brightly. Rick saw a sign up ahead. ‘Brian Barry Lake—One Mile’.
The GPS announced, “Stay on the road straight away to your destination Brian Barry Lake. Arrival time six forty-five p.m.”
“What time is it now?” asked Mark.
“I don’t know,” said his mom. “My watch is still stuck on 11:34. Here, look,” and stretching her arm, she turned her wrist for Mark to read the time.
“Mom, your watch is backwards and upside down. It looks like the time says ‘hELL’”.
Chapter 12
The Easy Way Out
“I don’t believe this,” said Paul. “When my mom finds out I got a ‘D’ on this math test, she’s going to make me quit the basketball team. She said if I don’t do good in school, then my sports career is over.”
“Take it easy,” said Nick. “It’s only a test. They’ll be plenty more.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. If I’m doing this bad now, it’s only going to go downhill from here. How am I going to dig myself out of this hole?”
“Well. I’m pretty good at math. How about if I tutor you every night? I’m sure I can help you do better so you don’t have to quit the team.”
“I don’t know,” said Paul. “I wish there was an easier way to do this. I want to be able to go to practice after school, and not sit around being tutored. Nothing against you, Nick.”
“I know, I know. How about if you sit near me during the next test, and I’ll leave my paper uncovered so you can copy?”
“Great. That’s all I need, getting expelled for three days for cheating will definitely get me thrown off the basketball team. I like the idea, but it’s kind of risky.”
Nick stood and thought for a moment. “I got it! I remember Lindsay’s mom went to this psychic when her dad was working a lot of late hours. Her name was ‘Madame something’. I can’t remember right now, but I can find out. Maybe she has some kind of charm or magic potion that can make you smart so you can get a good grade on the next test.”
“Really?” said Paul. “They have stuff like that?”
“We can go and find out. Let’s go tomorrow after school and talk with her. I’m pretty sure she’ll have some kind of potion or maybe she can put a ‘smart’ spell on you.”
“Do you think she can make me the greatest middle school basketball player while she’s at it?”
“Don’t push it. One thing at a time. First we need to get you a better grade.”
The next day after school, Nick and Paul visited ‘Madame Herlet—The Sensible Psychic’ hoping to find a magic ‘cure all’ smart pill.
Entering the store, Paul immediately started coughing. “What the heck is she burning in here? I can hardly breathe.”
Glowing candles of various sizes filled tabletops, and incense permeated the air. Everything in the dim shop appeared black, purple or blue.
Paul squinted and frowned. “I’m not so sure about this.”
“Don’t worry,” said Nick nonchalantly.
The boys searched the store, where tapestry doors hung from the ceiling leading to other rooms. Statues, crystal balls, tarot cards, charms and closed boxes with ‘who knew what’ inside covered every table and shelf.
Peering at a crystal ball with a small skeleton inside, Nick reached down but before he could pick it up, a voice came out of nowhere.
“Don’t touch that!”
The small table wobbled as the boys turned around, and saw a small gypsy woman standing before them, arms across her chest, and eyes locked on the crystal ball. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Choking on his words, Nick said, “Well, we’re not sure. We’re looking for something to help my friend here do better on his next math test.”
Inspecting Paul from head to toe, Madame Herlet readjusted her shawl. “Having trouble in school?”
“I..I…didn’t do so good on my math test.”
“Hmm. I may have something to help. It will increase your brain power and make you smarter. Is that what you had in mind?”
“Yes!” hollered Paul. “I want something to make me smarter so I can pass all my tests and stay on the basketball team.”
“Follow me,” said Madame Herlet, walking into one on the back rooms through the dangling beads.
“Ah choo,” sneezed Paul. “Those candles smell worse than those air fresheners my mom buys.”
“Here,” said Madame Herlet, holding up a deep purple colored crystal dangling from a silver chain. “This should do the trick. Wear this on the day of your test and you will do fine. If you need more intelligence, wrap your fingers around it, and feel the warmth emitted. A warning though. If you use it too much or abuse the amulet, it will begin to fade, losing its color and effectiveness. Use it in moderation, and it will continue to work fo
r you.”
“I like the dark blue one,” said Paul.
“Blue is for strength. I thought you were looking for something to make you smarter.”
“I think you should take the purple one for now,” said Nick. “You can get the blue one later after you pass math.”
“You’re right,” said Paul. “I’ll take it. How much is it?”
“Twenty-five dollars.”
Paul’s desperate look clued Nick in right away.
“I can lend you ten,” said Nick.
“Great,” said Paul. “You know I’m good for it.”
Closing her eyes and pressing the necklace against her forehead, Madame Herlet hummed and spoke in an unfamiliar language. Then she placed the purple crystal in a small box and handed it to Paul. “Wear it well, and good luck on your next test.”
Walking back home Paul wondered if he’d been duped by the ‘psychic’ woman. “Twenty-five dollars for a piece of purple glass is a lot of money,” he said to Nick. “Maybe I should have saved my money for that Kastle Kapture game I wanted.”
“It’s worth a try. If it doesn’t work, you can give it to Amy next year for her birthday. She’ll love it. Girls always like jewelry.”
“Good point,” said Paul. “The last birthday present I gave her didn’t work out too well.”
The next math test was first period tomorrow, and Nick questioned, “Are you going to study?”
“I’ll try,” said Paul. “But I’m going to make sure I wear the crystal.”
Paul and Nick shot hoops when they returned home before supper. After dinner, Paul went to his room and watched TV and played video games. He lost track of time, and the next thing he knew, he woke up, still wearing his school clothes. Rubbing his eyes, he read the red numerals on his bedside clock. Oh no. It’s two o’clock in the morning, and I didn’t get any studying in. That crystal better work. If I get another D or worse, I may as well forget about basketball.
Changing out of his clothes, he crawled into bed and fell back to sleep, able to wake early in the morning. After showering, he dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt. He put the necklace in his pants pocket as he didn’t want his mom asking questions on why he was wearing jewelry this morning.
Before first period math class, Paul put on the necklace. He started the test and struggled with the problems. Remembering what Madame Herlet said, he wrapped his fingers around the amulet, and started writing the answers.
This is easy, he thought. I wish Nick would have thought of this before. I better not get too cocky though, at least until I find out how I did.
Paul couldn’t wait until the test scores were posted at the end of the day. After last period, he ran down the hall to check the results taped on the classroom door. Sure enough, his ID was first at the top, with a hundred percent by it.
I did it! Wait until Nick finds out!
Paul ran down to the gym and changed into his basketball shorts. Spying Nick at the end of the lockers, he ran up to him. “It worked! I got a perfect on the math test. The purple crystal worked.” His fingers automatically touched the crystal around his neck.
“Watch it,” said Nick. “The purple color looks a little faded. Remember, Madame Herlet said to use it in moderation, and it would revitalize itself and come back to full power.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t overuse it.”
The boys joined the rest of the basketball team, practicing drills, and dividing into two teams for a pick-up game. During the game, one of the opposing team members accidently ripped the amulet from Paul’s neck. The necklace fell to the floor, chain broken. Paul quickly picked up the amulet and put it into his shorts pocket.
After school, Paul sped to his room where he changed into an old pair of jeans, and then visited the kitchen to tell his mom the good news. He saw a note left on the counter ‘gone grocery shopping’. “Oh well, I guess it’ll have to wait until later.”
Paul was headed back upstairs when his dog Dexter scampered towards him greeting him with a green plastic bone. The two played tug of war until Dexter tired and emptied his water bowl. “Had enough?” Paul laughed. “Come on, boy. Let’s go upstairs.”
Paul bolted up the stairs, Dexter faithfully following, pouncing and running in and out the bedrooms. Scampering into the bathroom, he pawed at the toilet paper.
“No!” shouted Paul, seeing long shreds of paper laying in the hallway. “Bad dog! You’re not supposed to do that.”
Paul cleaned the mess and sat on his bed lacing up his basketball shoes. Laying in the middle of Paul’s bed, Dexter’s eyelids began to get heavy.
“Come on, Dex. Let’s go outside and shoot some hoops.”
Dexter jumped from the bed and the two ran to the driveway, where Paul practiced his free throw.
Paul’s mom arrived home and before she could say anything about doing homework, then basketball, he blurted out, “Guess what, Mom? I got a perfect on my math test today.”
She blinked. “You got a perfect on a math test?”
“Yeah!”
“Wonderful! I knew if you studied harder you could do it,” she said, holding her groceries and giving him a big kiss on his forehead.
A pang of guilt filled Paul’s heart. He just lied to his mom about his hours of studying. He decided to go to his room and make a determined effort to study for the upcoming history and science tests.
As Paul sat at his desk ready to begin studying, he sang in a low voice, “Oh, if 2x + 3 = 9, what does x equal?” Laughing and muttering, he said, “I know the answer! I know all the answers!”
Opening his history book, he heard a voice from across the room.
“3.”
Paul turned around, expecting to see Nick standing in the doorway, but only saw Dexter laying on his bed.
Paul sang louder. “Oh, if 4x + 5 = 25, what does x equal?”
“X = 5”.
Looking at Dexter he asked, “Did you hear that?”
Turning his head and looking behind him, Dexter said, “I didn’t hear anything. What are you talking about?”
Paul’s chin dropped. “What the heck…? Dexter, are you talking?”
Dexter’s mouth moved up and down. “Yes, it’s me talking. Who do you think’s talking? There’s no one else in the room.”
Paul rose from his chair and sat on the bed next to the dog. His attention was focused on Dexter’s as he asked, “I didn’t know you could talk. When did you learn to talk?”
“I’ve always been able to talk. You never listened.”
“This is great. My dog can talk, and he knows how to do algebra! Why didn’t you tell me you were smart?”
“You never asked.”
Paul placed his hands on both sides of Dexter’s head holding it steady. “Besides math, do you know history, English and science? Are you good at those subjects too?”
“You bet I am. E equals MC squared.”
“I don’t even know what that means,” said Paul, “but I’m sure it means something. I’m in heaven. No more studying. I can play basketball whenever I want, and my dog can do all my homework.”
“What are you going to do about taking your tests in school, when I’m at home?”
“Well, you’re small enough to fit in my backpack. You can whisper the answers if I get stuck. Let’s see if you can finish the rest of my homework.”
Dexter and Paul spent the next hour finishing up Paul’s homework. Paul couldn’t believe his dog was smart enough to do his homework, and help him with tests. After they finished, Paul said, “Dex, you have to promise me something.”
“What’s that?”
“Promise me you’ll never let anyone else know how smart you are or that you can talk. If you can do that, I’ll promise you a hot dog treat every night after supper.”
“It’s a deal.”
“And... I want Nick to come over and see you. You can talk to Nick. I’ll allow that. But only Nick. No one else.”
“Is that hot dog deal still in it for me?
”
“You betcha,” said Paul, pressing the call button next to Nick’s name.
“Hey Nick! You have to come over to my house right away. I have something spectacular to show you.”
“What do you mean ‘spectacular’?”
“This is a once in a lifetime thing. I’m positive you never saw anything like this before.”
“Okay, but it better be good. My mom wants me to put in a little more effort into studying and not fooling around on school nights. But, I’ll be over in a few.”
Ending the call, Paul scratched Dexter behind the ears. “Okay, Dex. Nick’s coming over to see you in a few minutes.”
“Hey, no problem,” said the dog. “I like Nick. He’s always a lot of fun, and I like playing ball with him. I gotta go now.”
“Go? What do you mean ‘go’? I told you Nick’s coming over.”
“I gotta go to the bathroom.”
Paul went downstairs to the kitchen, Dexter following, where he let him out the back door. Rain poured down, and it wasn’t long before the dog was scratching at the door to be let back in.
“It’s nasty and wet out there,” said Dexter.
Paul patted him dry with an old bath towel. “Come back to my room and lay down. You deserve it.” The two ascended the steps. When they got to his room, they heard the tapping on the front door.
“I bet that’s Nick.”
Paul ran down and answered the door. “Boy, do I have something to show you.” The boys bolted to Paul’s room.
“Okay, Nick. Watch and listen to this,” he said, looking directly at Dexter sitting in the middle of the bed.
“If 2x + 4 = 10. What does x equal?”
“X= 3,” answered the dog.
“Oh my gosh!” screamed Nick. “Did your dog just answer a math question?”
“Yep! Isn’t it great? Dexter can talk and he’s smart too.”
“Give him another one,” said Nick.
“Okay. I’ll make it a little harder. If 3x + 4 = 37. What does x equal?”
“X= 11,” said Dexter.
“Holy crap! You don’t even need that amulet. You have a genius dog.”
“Well, I don’t know what happened to my amulet anyway,” said Paul. “When I was playing basketball and the chain broke, I put it in my gym shorts. I couldn’t find it when I came upstairs to study, but don’t need it now anyway. Dexter can take my tests.”