Jackson Jones, Book 1 by Jenn Kelly, Excerpt

Jackson Jones, Book 1 The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish By: Jenn Kelly All Jackson wants is to be the hero, just for once in his life. The hero who steps in at the last minute to save the universe. The hero who saves the entire village from a raging fire. Great Aunt Harriett is always telling him find his own story, but so far his story doesn't seem very exciting. Until he falls into Great Aunt Harriett's hair, that is. There Jackson will encounter a world of elves, trap doors, bubblegum-blowing birds, hairy-backed spiders, kangaroo meat, and perilous danger which requires … a hero.

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Jackson Jones: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky FishCopyright © 2010 Jennifer Kelly Illustrations © 2010 Ariane Elsammak

This title is also available as a Zondervan ebook. Visit www.zondervan.com/ebooks.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kelly, Jennifer, 1973- Jackson Jones : the tale of a boy, an elf, and a very stinky fish / by Jennifer Kelly ; illustrations by Ariane Elsammak. p. cm. Summary: When ten-year-old Jackson falls into Great Aunt Harriet’s very big hair, he finds a wealth of amazing things including a new friend, Meeka the elf, perilous dangers that allow him to be a hero, and even his own story. ISBN 978-0-310-72079-9 (hardcover) [1. Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. 2. Heroes—Fiction. 3. Authorship—Fiction. 4. Elves—Fiction. 5. Hair—Fiction. 6. Humorous stories.] I. Elsammak, Ariane, ill. II. Title. PZ7.K29622Jac 2010 [Fic]—dc22 2010013101

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by per-mission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Editor: Kathleen Kerr Art direction: Sarah Molegraaf Cover design: Ariane Elsammak Interior design: Carlos Estrada and Sherri L. Hoffman

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For my three boys:

I adore you.God, Danny, and Jackson


1.TheFirstChapter 11

2.NoLongertheFirstChapter 13

3.AChapterthatHasaSecretinIt 15

4.AChapterthatInvolvesanAwfulMishapwithaKangaroo 19

5.AVeryHairyChapter 21

6.InWhichWeLearnaboutDiplomacy 25

7.InWhichThisBookBegins 27

8.InWhichThisBookReallyBegins 29

9.InWhichThereWillBeAbsolutelyNoCrying 35

10.InWhichNothingMakesSense 37

11.InWhichWeMeetMeekaandHerDead,SmellyFish 41

12.InWhichtheTourBegins 45

13.InWhichWeEntertheBookRoom 47

14.TheChapterafterThat 51

15.InWhichThereAreTooManyBooks(AsifThat’sPossible) 55

16.InWhichThereIsFrustration,Annoyance,Irritation,andExasperation 63

17.InWhichWeFindaDoorknob 65

18.InWhichWeVisittheCafeteria 67

19.InWhichThereIsaLotofMeat 73

20.WARNING:ThereIsThrowUpinThisChapter! 77

21.InWhichThereIsanImportantConversation 81

22.ANOTHERWARNING:ThisChapterHasGargantuan,Hairy-BackedSpidersinIt! 85


23.AReallyShortChapter 89

24.ARatherLongChapter 91

25.InWhichThereIsaBathroomBreak 99

26.InWhichJacksonCannotBelieveHisEyes 101

27.AVeryStickyChapter 103

28.AChapterwithLotsofShrieking(PerhapsYouShouldPutinEarplugsbeforeContinuing) 107

29.InWhichThereIsaGreatDealofImportantTalk.Also,Feathers. 111

30.InWhichWeNeedaKey.DoYouHappentoHaveOneWeCouldBorrow? 113

31.InWhichWeMeetaScowl 115

32.AChapterThatHasManyPortraits 117

33.InWhichJacksonWondersifHe’sLosingHisMind 123

34.InWhichNothingParticularlyImportantHappens 125

35.InWhichSomethingSmallHappens 127

36.InWhichThereIsAnotherRoom 129

37.InWhichWeLearnabouttheBook,theAuthor,andFredtheTurtle 131

38.AChapterthatIsNotNearlyasLongastheLastOne 145

39.IBetYouThoughtIForgot 147

40.InWhichThereIsaSecret 149

41.InWhichtheWriterPreparesYou 153

42.AChapterthatRequiresaKeyAgain 155

43.InWhichtheStoryContinues 159

44.AChapterthatIsTerriblyMean 161

45.AChapterthatIsEvenMoreMean 163

46.InWhichNoOneCanFindaLightSwitch 165

47.AChapterthatExplainsaLot 167

48.InWhichtheQuestBegins 179

49.AChapterthatInvolvesMoreQuesting 181

50.AVeryGloomyChapter 185

51.InWhichaHeroIsNeeded 189


52.InWhichStepsAreTakentoBecomeaHero 191

53.AChapterthatIsaLittleScary 193

54.InWhichaHeroIsBorn 197

55.InWhichWeWaitforDeath 199

56.InWhichWeMeetAnotherHero 201

57.InWhichNoOneDies 203

58.InWhichThereIsaGreatDealofDancing 205

59.InWhichMeekaIsBossy 209

60.InWhichJacksonHurries 211

61.InWhichNoQuestionsAreAnswered 213

62.InWhichaHeartHurts 215

63.InWhichThingsAreNotasTheySeem 219

64.AChapterthatExplainstheAuthor...EvenMore! 223

65.InWhichJacksonMayDrinkBugs 233

66.InWhichTheyRushHome 237

67.InWhichJacksonHitstheFloor 239

68.AChapterthatHasaKey,aBook,andaPicture 241

69.InWhichJacksonHasanIdea 243

70.AChapterthatInvolvestheHighPriceofLattes 247

71.AChapterthatInvolvesAnticipation,aCarRide,andCowPoop 249

72.AChapterthatHasMoreWordsintheTitlethanintheChapter 251

73.InWhichaHouseIsFound 253

74.InWhichBirdsAreVeryLoud 257

75.InWhichJacksonFindsAnotherDoor 259

76.AChapterthatInvolvesAnotherPlace 261

77.InWhichWeLearnMore 263

78.InWhichWeLearnEvenMore 265


11

The First Chapter

Jacksondidn’tknowityet,butinafarawayplace,closerthanhecouldimagine,alittlecreaturewas

sighinginfrustration.Thislittlecreaturewassighingbecauseshehad

absolutelynoideawhattodo.Thiswasn’tasurpriseinitself,especiallyifyouknewher.Sheneverhadanyideawhattodo.

Thetrapdoorwasshut.Locked,infact.Itwasn’tsupposedtobe

locked.Itwassupposedtobe

unlocked.Andwideopen.Shewassupposedto

unlockitandopenit,sothatitwouldnolongerbelockedandunopened.

ButgiventhatMeekawasjustthatkindofelf,shehadforgottenthekey.

Sothereshestood,atthetopofathirty-footladder,tryingtounlockatrapdoorwithadead,smellyfish.


13

No Longer the First Chapter

Jacksonrolledoverandopenedhiseyes.Helookedattheclock.Stillearly.Hiseyesclosed.Hebegan

todreamagain,butthensomethingtickledhismind.Whatwassoimportantabouttoday?

Ohyes.Familyreunionday.


15

A Chapter that Has a Secret in It

Jacksonhadalotoffamilymembers.Thatdidn’tmeanhisdadhadfourarmsorhisaunt

hadtwelvelegs,butwhatitdidmeanwastherewerealotofpeopleinhisfamily.

Hehadamom,adad,onebrother,onesister,sevenaunts,eightuncles,andtwenty-fourcousins.Theywereaclosefamily.Jacksonsawhisfamilyallthetime.Whatwithbirthdays,anniversaries,soccergames,talentshows,sciencefairs,andvacations,lifewas...insane.AndChristmaswasjustanimbroglio,asyoucanimagine.(Imbroglioislikewhenyou’replay-ingtagwithtwentyotherkids...inthekitchen...andyourmomiscooking...andthedogjustthrewup.)

However(andthisisaratherlargehowever,mean-ingyouareabouttoreadsomethingthatisabigdeal,sopayattention),HOWEVER,Jacksonhadjustmoved.Notjusthim,buthisentirefamily.Notallofhisauntsandunclesandcousinsandalloftheirimbroglios,butjustJacksonandhismom,dad,brother,andsister.Notonlydidtheyjustmove,buttheymovedfar,faraway.Thismeantnomoreimbrogliosforawhile.

OfcourseJacksonshouldhavebeenmad.Butashardashetriedtobemad,hecouldn’tbe.Yousee,Jackson’smomwasawriter.Andnotjustanywriter,


16 17

butareallygoodone.Notonlywassheareallygoodwriter,shewasalsoakind-heartedwriter.Thismeantshedidn’tturnintooneofthosewriterswhodemandfirst-classtreatmenteverywheretheygo,likedemand-ingsteakandchocolateicecreamonaplanewhentheyareonlyservingpeanuts.ButbecauseJackson’smomwassuchagoodwriter,shehadtodoresearchinaplacethatwasfaraway.ButthereasonJacksoncouldn’tbemadwasbecauseheunderstood.Heunderstoodhowimportantwritingwastohismom...becausewritingwasimportanttohim.

Yousee,Jacksonhadasecret.Asecretonlyheandhismomknewabout.

Jacksonwantedtobeawritertoo.EverySundaynight,afterchurchwasfinishedand

thehugelunchwasfinishedandtheyhadallgoneforahealthywalk,admiringtreesandpondsandsillylittleducks,aftereveryonehadgoneintotheirownroomstojust“takeitdownanotch,”Jacksonwouldgo


16 17

intohismother’sstudio,sitinthehugeleatherchair,anddrinkhotchocolatewhileshereadhisstoriesandtalkedtohimasawriter,butwiththekindheartofamom.Sometimestheywouldtalkaboutimportantthings,likewhathewouldwriteaboutnext,aboutthecloudstheyhadseenthatday,andabouthowfasthewasgrowing.Maybegrowingfastisn’timportanttoaten-and-a-half-yearold,butit’salwaysimportanttoamom.Andsometimestheywouldtalkaboutunimportantthings,suchas...well,actually,there’snosuchthingasunimportantthingstotalkabout.

ButIsupposeyou’rewonderingmoreaboutJackson.Jacksonwasanaverage-lookingten-and-a-half-

year-oldboy.Hewasalittleonthesmallside.Hehadblondish-brownhairandhiseyeswereabluish-grayish-greenishbrown.Hedidhaveverystraightteeth,however,whichmeanthehadaverynicesmile.

Jacksonwasinsixthgrade.Yes,heshouldhavebeeninfifthgrade,butafteraten-minutecoffeebreak(whichincludedanunpleasantpieceoffruitcake),theprincipaldecidedJacksonwouldbeinsixthgrade.Theyhadmoredesks,yousee.Thatwasaridiculousdecisionofcourse,butonemakesridiculousdecisionswheneatingunpleasantcake.Warshavebeenknowntobreakoutoverleaderseatingdryspongecake,andthereisspeculationthatKingHenryVIIIhadhisfifthwifedisposedofbecausesheservedhimplainwhitecakeinsteadoftheraspberryhecraved.

SoJacksondidn’treallyfitinathisnewschool.AlloftheotherkidshadknowneachotherforalongtimeandJacksonwasthenewkid.Andhewasthesmallest.Hegotpickedlastforgamesatrecess.Hemadethebaseballteamonlybecausetheywereshortaplayer.Andwhenhedidplay,I’msorrytotellyou,hewasterrible.Andheknewhewasterrible.

Jacksonlovedtoread.Itpassedthetimeatrecesswhenhedidn’tfeellikebeingpickedlastthatday.He


18 19

alsolovedwritingstories.Oh,thestorieshe’dwritten!Jacksonwasalwaysthehero,ofcourse.

Theunassumingherowhosteppedinatthelastminutetosavetheuniverse.

Theunassumingherowhosavedtheentirevillagefromaragingfire.

Theunassumingherowhosavedthecatupthetree,receivedamedalfromthemayor,andgotathank-youparadethatincludedthoseoldguyswhodrovearoundinlittlecars.

Theunassumingherowhocouldfigureoutalgebra.


18 19

A Chapter that Involves an Awful Mishap with a Kangaroo

Jackson!Timetogetup!”hismotheryelledfromthedownstairskitchen.Jacksonslidoutofbed.Asheputonhisjeansand

aclean-ishshirt,hethoughtaboutwhatthedaywouldentail.

FamilyreuniondaymeantthatJackson’swholeentirefamily(aunts,uncles,cousins,andalloftheirarmsandlegs)werecomingoverforabigparty.Hehadn’tseenthemallinmonths!Theywouldeatbarbecuedtofudogsandbeanburgers(hisAuntGertrudehadbecomeavegetarianafteranawfulmishapwithakangaroo,butwewon’tgetintothatrightnow),fresh-cutveggies(obviously),bakedpotatochips(yougotusedtothem),andbakedbeetrisotto(don’tevenask).

TheywouldplayHide-and-SeekandCapturetheFlagandswiminthecreek.Atnighttheywouldsitaroundthebonfire,roastingtofumarshmallowsandcatchfirefliesintheirhands.Theywouldsquishtheirlittleglowingbodiesbetweentheirfingersandsmearthegoopontheirteethandhaveglow-in-the-darksmiles.

Goodtimes.


20 21

WhenJacksoncamedowntothekitchenhismomalreadyhadheranxiousfaceon.Herhairwasabigfrizzball,gettingfrizzierbythesecondasshestirredthebeetrisottooverthehotstove.Hissisterpouredthebakedpotatochipsintopartybowls.Amoundofvegetableswaitedonthecountertobecutup.Jackson’ssisterlookedupandstuckhertongueoutathim.Hescowledather.Whatelsecanyoudotoasix-year-old?Actually,don’tanswerthat.

“Mom!Jackson’smakingthatfaceagain!”shewhined.

Jackson’smomdidn’teventurnaround.“Jackson,quitpickingonyoursister.”

“ButMom,I’mnot!She’stheone...”heprotested.“Look,it’sareallybigdayforeveryone,okay?And

wearedefinitelybehindschedule.Justgoupstairsandgetyourroomreadyforyouraunt.Youcancutthevegetableswhenyou’redone.”

Jacksonranoutofthekitchenandupthestairs.Buthisstepsfaltered.Hehadforgotten.

Great-AuntHarriettwouldbe...staying ...in ...Jackson’s ...room.


20 21

A Very Hairy Chapter

Great-AuntHarriettalwaysmadeJacksonalittleuncomfortable.Itwasn’tbecausesheworefunny

dresses.Itwasn’tbecauseshesmelledlikemothballs.Anditwasn’tevenbecauseshewas“Oh-So-VeryOld.”Andshewas“Oh-So-VeryOld.”Jacksonfiguredshewasahundredandtwelveyearsold.Nowthat’sold.Especiallyifyou’readog.Why,that’ssevenhundredeighty-fouryearsold!

No,itwasn’tthefunnydresses,themothballs,orbeingsevenhundredeighty-fouryearsold.

Itwasherhair.Yes,youreadthatcorrectly:herhair.Jacksonwasuncomfortablebecauseofherhair.I’msureyoumustthinkhewasoverreacting.

Howcouldanyonebeafraidofhair?Butyoudon’tunderstand.Shehadvery,very,very,very,very,very,verybighair.

Oh,Iknowyou’veseensomebighairbefore.Atpromsanddebutanteballs,mostcheerleaders,in’80smusicvideos,insouthernTexas,andonthewomanwhositsrightinfrontofyouatthemovietheater.Butherhairwasevenbigger.

Imagine,ifyouwill,averylargeweddingcake.Youknowthekindtheyserveatallthebestweddings?Notattheboringweddingswhereyoueatdrychickenand


22 23

listentohoursofspeechesabouthowthebridecutherfirsttooth.Andtheweddingcakeisflavorlessenoughtoinvokeafull-blownpoliticalrevolt.

I’mtalkingabouttheawesomeweddingswhereyourparentsletyourunaroundwithoutyoursuitjacketon.WhereyouhavetheoptionofdancingtheHokeyPokeyortouringthebuffetagain.Andwheretheweddingcakeisbigenoughforeveryonetogetabluesugaryrosetostaintheirteeth.

Great-AuntHarriet’shairwasevenbiggerthanthat.Itwasastrangegrayish-redcoloranditwasoh-so-verythick.Sothick,infact,thatwhenthewindblew,itstoodcompletelystill.Once,duringatornado,shehidalittledoginthereandafterwardtheyhadtea.

Great-AuntHarriettwasalsovery,very,very,very,very,very,veryshort.


22 23

Soshort,infact,thatifyoustoodupstraightyouwouldtalktohair.Ifyoubentoveratthewaistyouwouldtalktohair.Ifyousatonthegroundyoucouldseeherscrunched-uplittleface,crinkled-applecheeks,squintyeyesbehindherverythickglasses,andhertoothlessmouth.

IfJacksondidn’tsitonthefloortotalktoher,shewouldtalkdirectlytohisbellybutton.Itisneverapleasantsensationhavingsomeonetalktoyourbellybutton.Unless,ofcourse,theywant totalktoyourbellybutton.Butwewon’tgetintothatrightnow.

Great-AuntHarriettlovedtotalk.Shewouldchatteronandonaboutoldhouses,birds,andkeys.(Notpianokeys,butkeysthatopendoors.)Shedidn’thaveanyteethinhertiny,puckeredmouth,soshemumbledandlispedalot.Andwhenshemumbledandlisped,bitsofspitsprayedallovereverything.Thisusuallymadeformessy(andwet)conversations.Andshewouldgoonandon,sometimesaskingaquestion,butsinceshewasvery,very,veryhardofhearing(maybeitwasallthathair?),sheneverreallyheardtheanswers.Forexample:

Great-AuntHarriett:“Sohowareyoudoinginschool,Jackson?”(Actually,itsoundedlike“Thohowawyoudointhcoo,Jackthon?”butI’vetranslatedforyou.)

Jackson:“It’ssummertime,Great-AuntHarriett.I’mnotinschoolrightnow.”

Great-AuntHarriett:“You’recaptainofthetuba-bassoongroup?”

Jackson:“No,IsaidI’mnotinschoolrightnow.Idon’tevenlikethetuba!Orthebassoon!Idon’tevenplayaninstrument!”

Great-AuntHarriett:“Youknow,thatremindsmeofthebirdsIsawlastnight.Theyweresolovely.Theyjustkeptsingingthemostbeautifulsongs.Maybeyoucanplaythosesongsonyourbassoonforme?”


24 25

Andsoon.OnethingGreat-AuntHarriettalwayssaidwas,

“Findyourstory!”Buttherewasaslightproblem.Itwaslovelythat

shetoldhimtofindhisownstory,becausethatwasaverynicethingtosay,anditwasveryencouraging,especiallyforpeoplewhowere,atthatmoment,livingtheirstoriesorperhapsonthevergeofmakingthedecisiontodojustthat.

Theslightproblemwasthat:Jackson... did... not... have... a... story.Hewasonlytenandahalf,forgoodness’sakes!

Howonearthcouldhetellhisstoryifhedidn’tknowwhatitwas?Imean,sure,he’dliketoplaybaseballalittlebetter.Whowouldn’t?Andofcourseitwouldbeprettyneattoseehisstoriespublished,butallwriterswantthat.Itwouldalsobenicetohaveafewfriends...butthat’snotreallyastory.

Isit?


24 25

In Which We Learn about Diplomacy

It’sneverfuntoshareyourroomwithrelatives,especiallywhenyouhaveasmallishbedinyour

smallishroom.Youenduponthefloor,possiblyevenunderyourbed.Andthefoodwrappersthatyouforgottothrowoutarecracklingunderyoursleepingbag,andsomethingseemstobegrowingonthatbananapeel.What’sworseiswhenyousleepwithyourcousinonthesofabedinthebasement,andhe’stwitchingandsnoringanddroolingonyour pillowthewholenight.No,that’snotmuchfunatall.Relativesshouldjuststayinahotel,butaskingthemtodosoisjustnothospitable.Sothey’llstayinyourroom,andyou’lljustlearntolikeit.

Jacksontriedarguing,diplomaticallyofcourse,aboutGreat-AuntHarriettstayinginhisroom.Diplomaticislikewhenyoutellyourbigsistertostayoutofyourroomoryou’lltellmomwhatshewroteinherdiary.(NotthatIcondonediaryreading.That’saninvasionofprivacy.)

Jackson’smompulledhimintoherstudioandsathimdown.ShediplomaticallytoldhimthatGreat-AuntHarrietthadhadaveryhardlife,thatshewasveryold,andcouldtheycuthersomeslack?Diplomatically


26 27

means,“Chilloutlittleguy.Iloveyou,butI’mtheboss,andyouwillbegraciousaboutsharingyourroom.”

ItwasagoodthingthatJacksonhadanawesomebunkbed.Helovedhisbunkbed.Hehadafortmadeoutofoldgreensheetsonthetopbunk.Hekeptaflashlightupthereand,underneathhissignedpictureofReggieJackson,apenandanotebook.

JacksonwouldsleeponthetopandGreat-AuntHarriettwouldbeonthebottombunk.


26 27

In Which This Book Begins

Andnowtheadventurebegins.


29

In Which This Book Really Begins

Ithadbeenaperfectfamilyreunionday.Adayfulloftofudogsandbeanburgers,bakedpotatochips,

hidingthebeetrisottoinabun(becausethedogsurewouldn’teatit),hide-and-seek,capturetheflag,fireflygoop,andswimminginthecreek.Jackson’sdadevencaughtahorseflywithhisbarehands(hisbarehands!)andtiedapieceoflonghairaroundthehorsefly’sbellysothatwhenittriedtoflyaway,hecouldyankitback.Jacksonbeamedwithpride.Hisdadwassocool.

Jacksonhadaperfectday,buthewaslookingforwardtobed.Hecouldusesomedowntime.

Hemeticulouslybrushedandflossedhisteeth,thenpracticedhisfriendlysmileinthemirror.

“Hi,I’mJackson,”hesmiledintothemirror.Jacksonfrownedandtriedagain.

“Doyouwanttoplaywithmetoday?”HewethishairandbrusheditupintoaMohawk.

Notbad.“Dude,didyou,likeseethegame,like,lastnight?”

Themirrordidn’treply.“Hey,haveyoueverread...”But cool guys don’t read books.Jacksonsighed.

Why couldn’t there be just one other dork at school?


30 31

Why couldn’t there be just one person who didn’t have a friend yet?

ButJacksonknew.Heknewhowitwastobethenewkidinschool.Heknewitwouldtakeawhileforeveryonetolikehim.Andthentheywouldreallylikehim.Jacksonquicklyblinkedbackhottears.Theywouldseethathewasacoolguytoo.Butnocrying.Nottonight.HefrownedandpattedthetipsofhisMohawk.No more reading at school. I’ll be the cool guy everyone wants to hang out with.

Jacksonclimbedintohisfavoriteredpajamasandstretchedoutonthetopbunk.Hesnuggleddownintohiscozysheets.Hepausedinreachingforhisbook.

But I can read at home, heremindedhimself.AhuffingandapuffingmadeJacksonlookupfrom

hisbook.Great-AuntHarrietttrundledin,draggingherselfovertothebottombunk.Sheplunkedherselfdownheavily,shakingthewholebunkbed.Sheletoutabigsighandsmackedhertoothlessgums.Jacksonslidfurtherunderhisblanketsandturnedthepageveryquietly.

Ohdear,she’sstartedtotalk.“Jacksondear,haveIevertoldyouaboutthehouseI

grewupin?”“Yes,Great-AuntHarriett.Manytimes.”(page turn)“Well,letmetellyouaboutmyhouse.Itwasa

beautifulhouse,dear.”(Sheobviouslyhadn’theardhim.)“Ithadabigfrontporch...”“Ithadabigfrontporchthatmydaddybuiltway

backwhenIwasjustalittlegirl.Andifyoufollowedthatporchallthewayaroundtothebackofthehouse,therewerestepsthatledinto...”

“...thegardenthatyouplayedin.”(page turn)“...thegardenthatIplayedin.Itwasalovelygar-

den.Andbehindthegardenwasalittleshedthatmydaddybuiltforthegardenertokeephistoolsin.Oh,whatwashisname?”


30 31

“Mr.Shaw.”Jacksonsighedquietly.“Mr.Shaw.Ohmy,hewasaniceman.Hetaught

meallkindsofthingsaboutflowersandbirds.HeevenletmehaveakeytotheshedsoIcouldhideinitandpretenditwasmyownlittlehouse.Heknewsomuchaboutbirds.Heknewsomuchabout...”

Great-AuntHarriett’seyesshut.Thelittlewrinkleswerelesspronouncedashereyesclosed.Jacksonheldhisbreath,waiting.

“Birds...houses...goldkey,”shemurmured.Allwasquiet.Jacksonlethisbreathout.

“Findyourstory!”shesighed.Andthenshebegantosnore.

JacksonhadwonderedearlierifmaybeGreat-AuntHarriettwoulddieinhisbottombunkbed,whichwas


32 33

areasonablethoughtbecauseshewasOh-So-VeryOld.ButDadsaidthataslongasshewassnoring,shewasfine.

JacksoncouldNOTfallasleep.Atall.Hetossedoneway,hislegstanglinginthedarkblue

sheets.Hetossedtheother,hislegstanglingagain.Heevenlearnedhowtotossanewway,whichIcan’t

revealtoyoubecauseit’ssomethingyouwillhavetofig-ureoutforyourselfsomenightwhenyoucan’tsleep.

Jacksonsighed,staringattheceiling.Hesighedagain,staringattheinsideofhiseyelids.Would the flashlight wake her up?JacksonturnedoverquietlyandpokedhisheadovertheedgetolookatGreat-AuntHarriettbelow.


32 33

Herbodytwitchedasshesnored.Thatwasagoodsign.Hercreepytoothlessmouthopenedandclosedwitheachrasp.Shehackedandcoughedviolentlyandthenresumedsnoring.

Jacksoncouldnottakehiseyesaway.Itwassogross,andyetsofascinating.Herlittleeyelidswerecoveredindeepwrinkles.Herdried-outapplecheekspuffedupandsankwitheachbreath.Jacksonlookedatherhair.

Themoonlightthatsnuckinthewindowmadeherhairglow.Jacksonwasmesmerizedbyit.Hebecamesleepyashestaredatit.Theshimmeringglow,sohypnotic,sosleepy...Jackson’seyeshadalmostshut.

Herhairtwitched.


35

In Which There Will Be Absolutely No Crying

Oh,forCRYINGOUTLOUD!”Alarge,juicyfishhitthefloor.Apike,infact.Thelittlecreaturesatononeoftheladder’srungs

andsighed,pushingherlong,wispybrownhairoutofherface.Shehadn’tevennoticedthebitsofstinkyfishgunkinherhair.

Ofcourseafishwouldn’topenalockeddoor.Whywouldsheeventhinkthat?Andwhatwasshegoingto do?

Thefishideahadbeenhers,ofcourse.Whenshearrivedatthelockedtrapdoorlateandwithoutthekey,shehadbeensosurprised,soembarrassed,somortifiedthatshewasdesperateforideas.Shehaddugthroughherworkbag,searchingforanythingthatwouldhelp.Thebarrettehadn’tworked.Itwasasuse-lessatpickingalockasitwasatkeepinghercrazyhairoutofherface.Thekeyshehadorigami-edoutofpaperkeptbendingandthenfinallytore.Herpennibhadbroken,stainingherrighthandandmostofherworkshirtafabulouspink.Thefishhadbeenherlastchoice.Shepriedopenhisdeadmouth,tryingtousehisteeth,butasweallknow,fishareratherslipperyanduncooperative,especiallywhentheyaredead.Sonowitlayatthebottomoftheladder.


36 37

Meeka’sfistsmackedthedoor.Tiny,frustratedtearsthreatenedtofall.Shewouldnotcry.Shewould notcry.She would not cry!Howonearthcouldshebetakenseriouslyifshecriedeverytimeshemessedup?Meekasighedandclimbedbackdowntheladder.Timetofacetheinevitable.


36 37

In Which Nothing Makes Sense

Ifyourparentsmadeyouputdownthisbookafterthelastchapter,I’mverysorry.Someparentshaverules

likethat,onlylettingtheirchildrenreadafewchaptersbeforebedtime.However,toconsoleyou,whenyouareanadultyoucanstayupaslateasyouwantandreadasmuchasyouwant.

Wait,what?Jacksonpinchedhimself.Herhairtwitchedagain.

Jacksonwas...well,youtellme.Imean,howwouldyoufeelifyousawherhairtwitch?

Jacksonslowlyleanedovertheedge.What if I touch it? What if something comes out?

Jacksonleanedjustalittlebitfar-therovertheedge.Histoesdugintothecrackbetweenhismattressandthewall.Wasithisimaginationordidhesmellroastbeef?Andleather?And...whatwasthat?Deadfish?And...

...hefell.


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Jacksoncouldn’tbreathe.“Ohn...!”ThatwasallthatcameoutofJackson’smouth

beforeheateamouthfulofhair.Hecoughedandgrabbedashishandsdugfranticallyatthehairinhismouth.Hislefthandgraspedtheairandtouchedsomethingsolid.Hesteppedclosetothewall,pushingthehairoutofhisfacewithhisarms.Asignhungonthewallofhair.

Jacksonfrowned.It’s definitely past five o’clock.Underneathwasthefineprint.

Jacksonsteppedcloser,pushingthehairoutofhiseyesandsquinted.


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Jacksonsearchedthewallsblindlyandfoundapairofgoggleshangingonahook.Heputthemon.Hecouldsee!Allthetendrilsofhairturnedintotunnelsandhallways,likeamaze.Hewaslookingaroundforabellwhenasweetvoicechirpedbesidehim.


Documents

Jackson Jones, Book 1 by Jenn Kelly, Excerpt