Jackson Jones, Book 1_ The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish - Jenn L. Kelly [31]
“Meeka, you were the one who unlocked the gate. Do you remember what you did with the key?” he asked.
Meeka shook her head.
“Okay, let’s backtrack a little. What happened after you unlocked the gate? You followed Rayaa to chase the crubbie right?”
Meeka nodded, her fingers going into her mouth.
“Okay, Rayaa shot the crubbie, and then what happened?” he asked.
“Mmmmphaaamphhhaaaoooomphhhssssssmphhh.”
“What did you say?”
Meeka removed her hands from her mouth. “I went to look at the birdcage.”
“Okay, and then what?”
“Then I climbed up on the perch. I was thinking about cat food.”
“Sorry?”
“Cat food. How gross it is. I was imaging how gross cat food tastes.”
“You’ve tasted cat food?” Jackson scratched his head.
“And I remembered it so vividly that I had a yucky taste in my mouth, so I wanted a piece of gum.”
“So what did you do with the key?”
Meeka’s eyes popped with delight. She slid her hand into her left pocket and…
Chapter 43
In Which the Story Continues
Well of course the key was there. Why else would there be such a buildup? I mean, did you think Jackson would walk away from the doorknob? That’s just silly. Of course he was going to unlock the door. If he didn’t, the story would no longer be interesting and you would write me many letters to state your disappointment. I might get UN-fan mail. And that just wouldn’t do. I’m all for encouraging letters, but I don’t need letters on how I am a bad writer, how I drink too many chai lattes, or that it’s silly to shriek when one encounters earwigs. Er…never mind.
By the way, the disappointment is coming.
Just to warn you.
Meeka slid her hand in her left pocket and pulled out a key.
“Good girl, Meeka!” Jackson shouted.
She beamed a big smile from elf ear to elf ear.
Jackson took the key from her, slipped it into the lock, and turned it and…
Chapter 44
A Chapter that Is Terribly Mean
…I’m so mean…
Chapter 45
A Chapter that Is Even More Mean
…it turned…
Chapter 46
In Which No One Can Find a Light Switch
Jackson took a big breath and pulled. The floor opened as the door swung open. Jackson looked into the hole. Well, he tried to. It was dark. Very dark. Actually, it was pitch-black. Jackson looked back at Meeka.
“Meeka, is there a light switch or something?”
Meeka shook her head and said nothing. She slunk backward to the wall and sat down. Jackson sighed and looked back down the hole.
“Hello!” he called out. His voice was swallowed by the darkness.
A light came on, blinding Jackson.
“Hello.”
Chapter 47
A Chapter that Explains a Lot
Could I be meaner? Actually, yes I could. I could totally change the subject of this chapter and drive you absolutely bananas and make you want to throw this book against the wall in frustration or even write an UN-fan letter. Now it is really making you crazy with wanting to know what is behind that door. Well, I’m done toying with your emotions, and I will let the story continue on. This is a long chapter so make sure you take the time to read it, because when you begin you will not want to stop.
Jackson rubbed his eyes. A head popped out from the bright light. The head had short, spiky, blond hair and kind eyes. He smiled a big smile, his teeth twinkling because he had braces.
“They have braces in here?” Jackson wondered aloud.
This was a rather rude thing to say. Jackson should have said, “Hello, how do you do?” which are the appropriate words to say after someone says hello (unless of course it’s a stranger down a dark alley, in which case you should run the other way). But you must understand that Jackson had seen so many strange things that day, he was a little surprised to see something so normal. Oh sorry, I’m keeping you from the story. My bad.
The head laughed a deep laugh.
“Yes, we have braces in here. I wear them because my teeth are crooked.”
Jackson just stared at him.
“You coming in?” he