A Novellette by Elizabeth Phelps

Illustrated by Chelsea Lane

Narrated by Sam Phelps

 Chapter 1



 

GRANNY Mint was something else; everyone said so and Jake knew it was true. She lived up the street at the top of the hill in a house called Fiddlefish Farm. It wasn't really a farm, just a house like all of the other houses on the street, but Granny had a sign in the yard that said "FIDDLEFISH FARM" and that's what it was called. Jake's Mom and Dad both worked so he walked up the hill each day after school to be with Granny Mint.

Jake liked everything about Granny Mint. She was short and round with wiry white hair that stuck to her head like a pile of springs. She wore the same sleeveless smock every day, bright pink with yellow and orange flowers all the way down the front. It had big, lumpy pockets full of everything Jake could think of and a few extra things besides. You could hear her laugh several houses away, a big, happy laugh that started in her belly and landed in her nose with a squeak.

Her yard was full of interesting things: plastic flamingos and ducks, plaster kittens and pigs, deer in all sizes and shapes, and a big, wooden cow that opened its mouth when you pulled its tail. He liked the plants that flowered all Summer long and hung thick with apples and berries in the Fall, and the pumpkin vines that trailed around the house like a ball of thick yarn unraveled by a cat. He liked the two wooden boxes at the end of the drive - the blue one for mail, the yellow one for cookies or cupcakes or whatever else Granny was baking that day. The sign on that box said,

GOODIES FOR FREE

TAKE ONE

(PLEASE!)

and people did. He liked her dog, Sweet Pea, who patrolled the yard on thick, stubby legs and followed Granny every­where like a pull-toy on a string. Granny talked to Sweet Pea like she talked to anyone and that little dog talked right back. Everything about Granny Mint was unexpected and Jake liked that best.

What he didn't like was The Horde. There were only three of them, Toby, Will and Max, but they were always together and they were mean. Everyone in the neighborhood stayed out of their way. They made people nervous, even adults. Toby was the biggest and definitely the boss. Whatever he said, the other two did, even when it got them into trouble which was most of the time. Will was the smallest but he was tough, tight like a rubber band and ready for a fight. Max could crack his knuckles better than anyone Jake knew and he was really strong. Jake had bruises to prove it. He touched his arm where the bruises were and sighed as the bus pulled up to the stop.

Jake took a deep breath and stepped off the bus looking quickly each way to see if they were there. The neigh­borhood was quiet. Jake started to run. He could see Fiddlefish Farm at the top of the hill.

All at once he heard footsteps behind him, heavy footsteps, running fast. He tried to speed up but his knapsack slowed him down. It was no use; he came to a stop.

"Hey Squirt!" Toby called, jogging easily to his side, "You didn't say hi—where are you going so fast?"

Jake looked at his feet and gritted his teeth. The Horde laughed. Max grabbed his arm.

"Ouch! Let go!" Jake said, trying to squirm away.

Max squeezed harder and lifted him to his toes. His voice was dark.

"My friend asked you a question!"

"You know where I'm going—let go!" Jake cried.

Toby broke in, "Put him down."