CHAPTER ONE
Elephant Droppings
Three hours before I vanished, I was in science class constructing a model of Mount Everest from common chemical components. When I finished, I stepped back to admire my creation. It was amazing. It looked like a cross between a glob of taupe foam and elephant droppings that had been patted into shape. It was almost perfect, except for one key ingredient.
“You forgot the gray food coloring,” my temporary partner—tall, slender, snooty—Madison Mills snapped.
“Oh,” I finally replied. “I thought you said no color.”
“Come on, Aiden.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Have you ever seen a mountain without any color?”
I smiled. “Yep, plenty of times when they’re covered in snow.”
Her eyes narrowed. Then her heart-shaped …show more content…
“Bro, you’re not even listening to me.”
“I’m listening,” I said. “Cool, yeah, I’ll ask if I can come over, but I doubt it.”
Mr. Wong our teacher marched up to the chalkboard, his polished brown loafers click-clicking across the yellowed linoleum floor. He pushed up the sleeves of his frayed tweed jacket. Then clapped his hands. “Remember people, your midterm projects are due next week. And don’t forget to read chapters five through ten in your textbooks.”
“Hey, call me,” Josh said and the second bell rang.
I picked up my bright orange backpack and yelled, “I will,” as I slung it over my shoulder. Then I walked to my locker, shoved some books inside, and headed to the bus stop. All I could think about on the ride home was, Josh was right. This weekend’s going to be totally lame.
Wow, was I wrong.
I jumped off the bus, bolted past a colossal Sequoia tree and ran through the front door, yelling, “Hi,” to my mom on the way to my bedroom. I threw my stuff on the floor, and had just cracked my seventh grade English textbook when she leaned into the room, her green eyes sparkled and changed color in the light. “Aiden?” she said. “I made you a sandwich.”
Elephant Droppings
Three hours before I vanished, I was in science class constructing a model of Mount Everest from common chemical components. When I finished, I stepped back to admire my creation. It was amazing. It looked like a cross between a glob of taupe foam and elephant droppings that had been patted into shape. It was almost perfect, except for one key ingredient.
“You forgot the gray food coloring,” my temporary partner—tall, slender, snooty—Madison Mills snapped.
“Oh,” I finally replied. “I thought you said no color.”
“Come on, Aiden.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Have you ever seen a mountain without any color?”
I smiled. “Yep, plenty of times when they’re covered in snow.”
Her eyes narrowed. Then her heart-shaped …show more content…
“Bro, you’re not even listening to me.”
“I’m listening,” I said. “Cool, yeah, I’ll ask if I can come over, but I doubt it.”
Mr. Wong our teacher marched up to the chalkboard, his polished brown loafers click-clicking across the yellowed linoleum floor. He pushed up the sleeves of his frayed tweed jacket. Then clapped his hands. “Remember people, your midterm projects are due next week. And don’t forget to read chapters five through ten in your textbooks.”
“Hey, call me,” Josh said and the second bell rang.
I picked up my bright orange backpack and yelled, “I will,” as I slung it over my shoulder. Then I walked to my locker, shoved some books inside, and headed to the bus stop. All I could think about on the ride home was, Josh was right. This weekend’s going to be totally lame.
Wow, was I wrong.
I jumped off the bus, bolted past a colossal Sequoia tree and ran through the front door, yelling, “Hi,” to my mom on the way to my bedroom. I threw my stuff on the floor, and had just cracked my seventh grade English textbook when she leaned into the room, her green eyes sparkled and changed color in the light. “Aiden?” she said. “I made you a sandwich.”