They’ve left me no choice. I’m going to have to save them.
“Yes!” I fist pump the sky. Every hero must face a moment like this, and finally it’s my turn. I’ve waited for this day my entire life!
I tug on the end of my braid, suddenly nervous.
Mom would want me to call the cops. Should I?
No.They’ll just think I’m calling to report Mrs. Morrison again and say something stupid like, “It’s not nice to spy on people with a telescope.”
This is Manhattan, and I’m a kid in a giant penthouse. What else am I supposed to do? Besides, I wasright. That woman is loco. I knew all those boxes coming and going from her place were suspicious. But no one listens to a kid.
I can do this.
I grab my belt with all my tools, unlock the latch on the floor, and jump right into the foam pit a floor below.
I love this penthouse.
Too bad I’ll have to move when Mom and Dad split up. Which is stupid. They built their favorite things into this place. Then somehow those things becamemyfavorite instead of theirs. When did they stop playing?
Probably when Mom started throwing all those stupid parties for rich people and Dad came into all that stock stuff with his game. Work ruins people. I hope I never grow up.
I pull open the small door and then go through the next door. And the next. Past the ladder that leads to Mom’s sitting room. I sneak through the small corridor in the see-through hallway. I’ve seena lotof things here. Guess what? You can’t wash your eyes out. I tried.
Aha! There’s the psycho man.
All he has to do is press the light switch next to his shoulder, and he’d find the two of them. They’re lucky they have me.
I reach the end of my invisible hall and tap behind the armoire.
The old guy stops walking. I hold my breath as he turns in my direction.
I tap again. He pulls open the armoire and—
The fire extinguisher sprays him right in the eyes.
“Booyah, sucker!” I cackle as he falls backward. “I am the queen of this penthouse!”
He turns, looking at the wall as if he can see me.
Oops. This is why Penny says not to get cocky.
He swings his sword—which is actually my dad’s—into the wall, and I scream. He’s going to destroy my favorite secret hallway. Thatdespicable beast! I run through the hall and up the ladder to my mom’s sitting room. He’s still pounding the walls below me.
Clearly, no one taught him not to break other people’s stuff!
I learned that lesson, like, two years ago.
I dash out of the room and across the hall, pushing in on the sconce and opening a hatch. There used to be a climbing rope here, but I took it down to set up a bucket. I put my hand on the button, ready to release, then whistle.
It’s quiet for just a moment, and then his ugly big white-and-green face appears.
I slam the button, and the bucket of water falls. He yells a naughty word. I cover my mouth with my hand, so he doesn’t hear my laugh and sprint to my next battle station: the library. I pull out the purple fake book, and a small door opens. I hop down the slide.
I’m theHome Alonekid. Only better. Because I’m not stupid enough to be alone.
My adults are just kissing right now. Ha! I knew they weren’t siblings.
They’re clearly in love but can’t seem to say the words out loud. Why are adults so weird about that stuff? It’s not that hard. I told Dean I loved him last week. He didn’t say it back, so now I love Michael instead. See? Love is easy.
