Jackson Jones, Book 1_ The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish - Jenn L. Kelly [14]
roasted chicken, twice-fried chicken wings, campfire pheasant, barbecued teriyaki kangaroo…you name it. If it was meat, it was there.
Jackson hovered for a moment. Then in a frenzied fit, he grabbed a piece of everything.
I mean
E-
VER-
Y-
THING.
His tray was very heavy when he finished.
Jackson shuffled over to the table and dumped his tray onto the table, startling Meeka in the process. She looked up at him with buttery carrot mash on the side of her face.
“Jackson, that’s a lot of meat,” she said with her mouth full.
Actually it sounded like, “Muphmun! Muph a muph mutt!” but I’ve translated for you. I’m sure you don’t have Thompson’s Full-Mouth Translation Book.
Jackson sat down. “I know, but I never eat this stuff at home, Meeka. I’m not allowed to eat meat or junk food.”
Meeka swallowed. “What’s junk food?”
“Um, well, it’s food that…well, I guess it’s not really good for you.”
“Why would you want to eat junk?”
Jackson ignored her question and picked up a large knife. He cut into the steak. The blade slid through the meat and oozed a pool of juiciness onto his plate. He dabbed the steak into the garlic-shrimp sauce and took a bite.
That…was…so…GOOD!
Jackson ate another piece.
And another.
He felt the blood pump in his veins.
Jackson cut a piece of double-fried chicken. The greasy meat slipped on the plate, making it difficult to stab with his fork, so he picked it up with his fingers and popped it into his mouth.
Oh, that was so good.
He felt the chewy batter melt on his tongue. He swallowed.
He felt funny.
Maybe he was just very hungry.
Jackson devoured a piece of deep-fried shrimp. He didn’t eat shrimp at home. He didn’t eat anything that ate off the bottom of the ocean or anything that carried its house on its back either.
He cut into a piece of greasy bacon. Delicious!
Jackson cleaned his plate. He ate E-V-E-R-Y single piece of meat. He would have licked his plate, but that’s just bad manners. His belly poked out under his pajamas. He felt a little full. But there was so much more to try!
Delicious!
Jackson lurched his way to the dessert table, pausing to glance at the salad section. Why bother? He ate salad all the time. It was time to live a little and try new things! He loaded up his tray with sweets, candy, chips, and sour gummies. He sat back down at the table and threw the candy into his mouth.
Meeka stopped eating and stared at Jackson. He was chewing so fast his jar was a blur.
“Um, Jackson?” she said hesitantly.
Jackson’s hands and mouth moved with blinding speed. “Muh?”
“Your face is sweating. And you’re turning red.”
Jackson wiped his face with a cloth napkin. He kept eating.
And then something strange happened.
Chapter 20
WARNING: There Is Throw Up in This Chapter!
Jackson opened his mouth wide and…
Meeka’s eyes popped open and her jaw dropped. She had spinach stuck in her bottom teeth.
“Ah, uh…excuse me,” Jackson muttered, very embarrassed.
Usually a good burp makes you feel better. You know when you feel the pressure in your belly and then you burp, and all the smelly air comes out and your stomach deflates? Those are the best kind of burps. They’re right up there with the loud ones and the ones you use to recite the alphabet.
But this burp didn’t relieve the pain. In fact, Jackson felt very sick. His stomach protruded so much he felt like he was going to throw up…or maybe explode. Or maybe do both. He rubbed his belly. His face was sweating. His stomach churned and jiggled with nausea, just like when a pop quiz was coming up.
“Ooohhhh, Meeka! I feel so sick!” Jackson groaned.
“Well, I’m not surprised! You didn’t eat any salad or greens or fruit at all!” she scolded.
Jackson rubbed his belly faster. His heart pounded in his chest and he felt afraid. He was sick indeed. He had eaten too much, and he had