I felt the restaurant begin to spin. My ears were ringing. I was about to faint. This couldn’t be happening. Todd Vanderdick and his father—dressed in matching outfits—were now standing at the side of our booth. And they had just heard me confess everything to Jessica! Todd looked at her and introduced himself. “I’m the snotty rich kid you mentioned.”
“Uh, pleased to meet you.”
“My dad’s buying me a red Ferrari when I turn sixteen.”
“That’s nice,” she said, smiling politely.
I tried to speak. “Wha . . . Wha . . . What are you doing in Garrettsville?”
“Oh, we’ll be spending a lot of time here,” Mr. Vanderdick announced with a sickening grin. “I’m funding construction of the new Business Studies Center at Hiram College. Just five minutes from here. They’re naming it Vanderdick Hall . . . and my company’s building it. Why, it’s almost like Todd and I will be moving to Garrettsville!”
“Yeah,” Todd said directly to me, “and I can’t wait to meet your friends and tell them everything I just learned about you.”
My perfect date with Jessica had turned into a perfect nightmare. Things couldn’t get any worse in my life. I had finally hit rock bottom.
“Actually, Todd,” Mr. Vanderdick said with a sly grin, “I believe our friend Helga Lutzkraut had Rodney as a student last year. I’m sure she would be only too happy to help you locate his friends. Heck, she probably knows his enemies as well!”
You could hear the two of them laughing all the way out to the parking lot. I stared down at the table. When would I ever learn? I always underestimated just how low rock bottom can get.
And then I heard a girl’s voice that reminded me just how lucky I was. “What creeps!” Jessica laughed. “They were even worse than I pictured! And what’s with those loafers they both had on?”
I had to smile.
“Listen, Rodney,” she continued, “I wouldn’t worry about that jerk Todd. If he comes around again he’ll be laughed right out of town.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed with her, but it sure felt great knowing she was trying to make me feel better. And it was working. For the next ten minutes all we did was make fun of Todd and his fake rich accent. By the time Jessica and her dad and I were ready to leave, I was feeling pretty good—considering Todd Vanderdick was back in my life.
As we passed the kitchen and walked outside I heard a loud banging of pots and pans followed by, “What do you mean we’re fired? You can’t fire us! We’s is respected chefs!”
I looked up at the gigantic autumn moon hanging over the town and smiled. Just another night in Garrettsville.
Acknowledgments
Since my first book was published in January 2012, two constants have made my experience as a writer both effective and rewarding. The first is the many letters and messages from parents, teachers, librarians, and especially children. Their kind words let me know that my stories are making a difference and serve as tremendous motivation to keep the adventures coming.
The second is the continued help of my friend, Lloyd Singer. He’s been with Rodney every step of the way. During the entire process his creative insights, strong edits, and sound advice have had an immeasurable impact.
About the Author
Photo courtesy of author
Scott Starkey is author of How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying, The Call of the Bully, and Revenge of the Bully. A longtime elementary school teacher, Starkey is passionate about helping reluctant readers and lectures on the subject. He lives with his wife and three children in Long Island, New York. Visit him at ScottStarkeyBooks.com.
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MORE ADVENTURES WITH RODNEY RATHBONE!
How to Beat the Bully Without Really Trying
The Call of the Bully
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2014 by Scott Starkey
Jacket illustration copyright © 2014 by Tim Jessell
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Starkey, Scott.
Revenge of the bully / Scott Starkey.
pages cm
Summary: Rodney Rathbone tries to live up to his reputation as a reluctant hero when he earns a spot on his school football team—along with his archnemesis—while trying to regain his girlfriend Jessica’s trust and survive his mother’s new job as the restaurant reviewer for a local paper.
ISBN 978-1-4424-5677-8 (hardback)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5679-2 (eBook)
[1. Middle schools—Fiction. 2. Schools—Fiction. 3. Bullying—Fiction. 4. Football—Fiction. 5. Heroes—Fiction. 6. Ohio—Fiction. 7. Humorous stories.] I. Title.
PZ7.S7952Rev 2014
[Fic]—dc23
2014011733
Revenge of the Bully Page 21