Carbonated Cravings

 On a sunny summer day, Micah walks through the Darke County Fairgrounds, sightseeing during an event while enjoying a can of soda until coming across a booth with a stage.

“And the award for best drink is…Alex C. Arbolo! All the way from London!” said a male voice. Micah turns his attention to the source and sees a man, who looks very identical to him, accepting an award for his achievement while spectators clap.

“I must say, Mr. Arbolo. This is the best soda I’ve ever had in my life! How DO you do it?” asked the host?

“You just got to have a dream…and the right ingredients. As long as your heart is in the right place, everything will work itself out from there.” said the recipient of the award.

“How about another round for Mr. Arbolo?” asked the host. The spectators clap again while Alex heads out, inadvertently bumping into Micah.

“Oh! I am terribly sorry! I should have been paying attention to where I was going!” says Alex while observing Micah’s can of soda.

“Say! Do you make your own soda, too?” asked Alex.

“Oh, this? No. I’m a scientist, not a beverage maker.” answered Micah.

“Well, that’s too bad. Wait a sec, young lad! Did you say you where a scientist?” asked Alex.

“Yeah. Why?” asked Micah.

“With a background like that, you could invent a formula that would blow others away!” answered Alex.

“Hmmm…I don’t know.” responds Micah while contemplating.

“Just give it a shot. What does a young whippersnapper like yourself got to lose?” asked Alex.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. I’m always trying out new things in my laboratory.” responded Micah.

“That’s the spirit! Oh! You have a lab, you say?” asked Alex.

“Yeah. It’s where I go to build all my inventions.” answered Micah.

“Mind if I have a gander?” asked Alex.

“Not at all. I’d be happy to show you around.” answers Micah while summoning his Warp Machine.

“What do you call this thing?” asked Alex.

“The Warp Machine. It takes you to and fro in the blink of an eye.” answered Micah.

“Impressive!” responds Alex while stepping inside the Warp Machine. Micah enters in his destination and warps back to his laboratory while accompanied by Alex. After arriving home, Micah shows Alex around in his laboratory with Alex subsequently saying, “My! Your lab is exquisite! Well, I’d better get going. My ride is about to leave. Mind if I use your Warp Machine again?”

“No. Go ahead.” answered Micah.

“Much obliged, young lad! It was a pleasure meeting you, and good luck with all your inventions!” responds Alex while entering in his destination on Micah’s Warp Machine. Alex warps back to the fairgrounds and enters a taxi while saying, “Take me back to the hotel, please.” The taxi driver hauls Alex off while Micah contemplates on Alex’s words about making soda. The next day, Micah drinks another can of soda while subsequently researching ways of creating it. Micah gathers up some ingredients and experiments with many different combinations to no avail, tiring himself out before he could do one last taste test.

“Oh, what’s the use? I’m not cut out for this!” says Micah frustratingly while heading out of his laboratory. Christopher enters Micah’s laboratory while asking, “Hey, Micah. Do you have anything to drink in here?”

“Nope. Sorry.” answered Micah exhaustingly.

“What about that?” asks Christopher while pointing out Micah’s soda.

“Not a good idea.” answers Micah while exiting his laboratory and going to bed. Being mischievous, Christopher approaches the soda and takes a drink, taking an immediate liking to it.

“Mmmmm! This is the best soda I’ve ever had! I’d better tell Micah!” says Christopher while exiting Micah’s laboratory with the soda. Christopher arrives back in his bedroom while Micah climbs into bed.

“You got to try this, Micah!” said Christopher.

“Not now. Maybe tomorrow.” responded Micah exhaustingly.

“Ok. More for me.” replies Christopher while taking a drink. Micah realizes what Christopher is drinking and annoyingly asks, “Wait. Is that MY soda?!” Christopher pauses in silence for a moment with Micah subsequently continuing, “I thought I told you not to drink that! What were you thinking?!”

“But it’s good.” responded Christopher.

“I hadn’t even tested it yet!” replied Micah.

“I have. Here. You don’t know what you’re missing.” says Christopher while handing the soda.

“Do you promise to leave me alone if I drink this?” asked Micah annoyingly.

“Cross my heart and hope to die.” answered Christopher. Micah takes the drink and a sip, immediately taking a liking to it while saying, “Wow! You were right, Christopher! This IS good! I got to get the recipe!” Micah enters his laboratory with Christopher following and approaches the area where he made his soda at, moving papers around and subsequently saying, “Shoot! I didn’t even write it down!”

“Well, what about your computer?” asked Christopher.

“Oh! Duh!” responds Micah while slapping his forehead. Micah approaches his computer and pours one drop of the soda onto an analyzing device while saying, “Computer, analyze.” Micah’s computer scans and prints off the recipe, which Micah reads and takes with him while going back to bed.

“Well, that’s settled. I’ll make more in the morning.” says Micah while going to sleep. The next day, Micah immediately goes to work making more of his sodas and heads uptown to give them away.

“What do you got there, young man?” asked a male passerby.

“My own soda. Free sample?” asks Micah while handing a glass.

“Sure. I’m parched.” answers the passerby while taking a sip. The passerby processes the taste and comments, “Mmm! This is delicious! Could I get a can of this, please?”

“Absolutely! On the house!” answers Micah while handing a can.

“Here’s a little something for your trouble.” says the passerby while handing Micah some money.

“That’s very kind of you, sir. But money isn’t everything.” says Micah while handing the money back.

“It’s a tip. Please, take it.” responded the passerby.

“If you insist…” replied Micah guiltily. The passerby walks away, enjoying Micah’s soda while Micah sits at his booth, waiting for other people to try his product. The passerby walks by another person, who asks, “Where did you get that?”

“From some kid down yonder. He made it himself.” answered the passerby.

“Really?” asked the person.

“Yeah. You got to try it. It’s good.” answered the passerby.

“I’ll take your word for it.” responds the person while approaching Micah’s booth.

“Howdy-do, sir. May I interest you in a free sample of my very own soda?” asks Micah while handing a glass to the person.

“Please. I was told it’s good.” answers the person while taking a sip. After processing the taste, the person comments, “Wow! That guy was right! This IS delicious! Everybody should know about this! Here! You’ve earned it!” The person hands Micah some money with Micah responding, “I shouldn’t, but ok.”

“Do you have a full can of this stuff?” asked the person.

“Here you go.” answers Micah while handing the person a can.

“Thanks! I’ll spread the word!” responds the person while walking off. Micah continues waiting at his booth for more business while the second person to try his soda tells everybody he passes by about it, causing them to approach Micah. Micah eventually gets a large crowd surrounding his booth to his astonishment while saying, “Wow. Looks like I’m in business.” The crowd starts ordering sodas and handing money to Micah as he hands off cans.

“They should make a commercial about this!” said a woman.

“You took the words right out of my mouth!” responded a man. The woman turns her attention to the source and finds a film director with a can of Micah’s soda in his hand. The director then turns his attention to Micah, shaking his hand while saying, “Greetings, young man. My name is Phil, and I would like to promote your delectable soda on a TV ad. What do you say?”

“You got a deal!” answered Micah.

“Great! We’ll start filming tomorrow.” responds Phil while parting ways. At the end of the day, Micah closes up shop and heads home with bags of cash, entering his front door while his mother is in plain sight.

“How was the soda business?” asked Micah’s mother.

“You tell me.” answers Micah while setting down the bags of cash in front of his mother.

“Wow! That was ALL from today?” asked Micah’s mother.

“Yep. I didn’t expect this to happen.” answered Micah.

“So your soda’s that good?” asked Micah’s mother.

“According to all of Arcanum, yes. Want to try it?” asks Micah while handing his mother a can.

“I suppose.” answers Micah’s mother while taking the can. Micah’s mother takes a sip and also takes an immediate liking to the soda.

“Mm-mmm! I bet it is a huge hit.” said Micah’s mother.

“And that’s not all. I met this Phil guy today who directs films. He wants to make a commercial on it…tomorrow!” responded Micah.

“That’s awesome! Can we come to see you in action?” asked Micah’s mother.

“I don’t see why not.” answered Micah.

“We’ll be there.” said Micah’s stepfather. Micah enters his laboratory and makes more soda until bedtime, before informing his father and stepmother of his commercial. The next day, Micah’s father and stepmother arrive at Micah’s house and walk up to town with Micah and the rest of the family to the set with many cans of soda.

“Ah, Micah! Right on time!” said Phil.

“If you don’t mind, I brought my family. They wanted to see me in action.” said Micah.

“Not a problem. Families are always welcome to see castings. Places, everyone!” responded Phil. Micah goes to his assigned spot with the rest of the cast and crew, who finish setting up the shot. The crew activates the lights while the cameraman rolls the camera as Phil says, “Lights! Camera! Action!” Micah says his assigned lines as his family watches on in joy.

“Wow. Our own son…a star.” said Micah’s father. Micah wraps up his lines while Phil subsequently says, “Cut! Well done, Micah! We’ll get this on the television as soon as possible!”

“Can’t wait.” said Micah. Micah parts ways with his family and lives out his life while Phil and his staff edit the commercial and air it on TV sometime later with Alex watching it in bed one night at the hotel he’s staying at.

“Carbicah! A sweet treat you cannot beat!” said Micah at the end of the commercial on TV.

“Jolly good work, Micah! I shall see you come morning!” says Alex while going to sleep. The next day, Alex arrives at Micah house and rings the doorbell with Micah’s mother answering.

“Good morning, ma’am. I’m looking for Micah.” said Alex.

“Micah! Someone’s here to see you!” hollered Micah. Micah exits his room and approaches the front door with Alex saying, “I just saw your commercial. I am quite proud of you and your hard work. Care to show me your product?”

“Right this way.” responds Micah while leading Alex to his laboratory. Micah hands Alex a can of his soda with Alex taking a sip and processing the taste until coming to his conclusion.

“My! What a unique taste! You certainly are full of surprises!” said Alex.

“You like it?” asked Micah.

“LIKE it? I LOVE it!” answered Alex.

“Thank you…though it’s probably not as good as yours.” responded Micah.

“Now, now. Let us not compare ourselves to one another. There’s always going to be room for improvement.” replies Alex while finishing off his can.

“Well, I must be going. I got a big day today. Keep up the good work.” continues Alex while parting ways. Micah continues making sodas and giving them out, humbly profiting off of them while Alex continues his shows during his time in the United States. As days pass, Micah gets more and more tired of making sodas due to no one helping him. There comes a day when Alex meets Micah in his laboratory for the final time and says, “Micah! I’m about to head back to my…” Shocked, Alex finds Micah passed out at his table, attempting to wake him up while saying, “Lad? Wake up!” Alex shakes Micah until he gains consciousness while asking, “Huh? What’s going on here?”

“Oh, good. You’re ok. What seems to be the problem?” asked Alex.

“My sodas are in such high demand. I don’t have the help that I need.” answered Micah exhaustedly.

“Can’t you get your family to help you out?” asked Alex.

“No. I don’t want to burden them, and I can’t just stop making the sodas either. It would disappoint everybody.” answered Micah.

“I understand. This is no job for a kid. No offense.” responded Alex.

“None taken.” replied Micah.

“I have an idea…” said Alex. Sometime later, Micah and his family, along with the rest of Arcanum, attend a public speaking event being run by Alex.

“Everyone, I have an announcement. Carbicah is under new ownership!” said Alex. The crowd starts clapping with Micah and his family joining in with Alex asking, “Are there any questions?” A woman raises her hand with Alex pointing at her and asking, “Yes, madam?”

“You’re not going to change the recipe, are you?” asked the woman.

“Heavens, no! Carbicah is perfect the way it is, and we shall never fix what’s not broken!” answered Alex. The crowd starts clapping again while Alex begins to head out while saying, “I must be getting back to London, now! Best of luck to you all!”

“Are you sure you can handle it?” asked Micah.

“Absolutely, my friend! I live and breathe soda! Plus, I have enough staff to cover the labor! You got your whole life ahead of you, lad! Enjoy it while you can!” answered Alex.

“I will.” responded Micah. Alex enters his taxi and heads off to the airport while Micah and his family go about their lives. One day, while shopping with his mother, Micah sees coolers fully stocked with his soda, causing him to smile and commemorate Alex’s work.

 

The End

Deer Old Trekker

 One day, Micah sits in his room playing with a toy plane when suddenly, he hears the sound of shattering glass. He goes into the living room and finds two burglars robbing his home. Micah turns himself into Power Micah and beats up the burglars, tying them up and leaving them sit until the cops arrive to arrest the invaders and haul them off to jail while Trekker watches the live footage from his mansion.

“Curses! Micah’s always ruining all the fun!” said Trekker angrily. On another day, Micah makes some adjustments to his Warp Machine, giving it a test run afterwards only to appear in a rainforest. A swarm of mosquitoes suddenly surround and bite Micah, leaving him with itchy bumps all around his face and body. Micah runs away from the mosquitoes while they chase after him until Micah bumps into a buck, which gets angry and prepares to attack. Micah pulls out a remote to his Warp Machine and summons it, making it appear and warping him back home with Trekker watching the whole time at his mansion.

“Once again, all the fun’s been ruined! But...I think I have an idea…” says Trekker menacingly while looking at the buck. On another day, Micah is hanging out with Wesley and Sarah during recess until two bullies approach them.

“Look, Kendall! The three stooges!” taunted one bully.

“Soon to be…the three bruises! Ha!” taunts the other bully while cracking his knuckles.

“Very clever, you guys. We’re out of here.” responds Micah annoyingly while walking away with Wesley and Sarah. Kendall grabs Micah and asks, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“None of your business!” responded Sarah angrily. The other bully, Kevin, grabs Sarah while Wesley angrily says, “Let them go, you rusty bolts!”

“Make us.” taunted Kevin.

“Watch out! A big meteor is hurtling right towards you guys!” says Wesley while pointing up to the sky. Kevin and Kendall gasp and cower in fear, allowing Micah to break free of their grip and make a run for it with Wesley. After a short moment, Kendall opens his eyes and looks up at the sky while angrily saying, “Hey! We’ve been duped!”

“You think?” asks Kevin annoyingly while pointing out Micah, Wesley and Sarah. Kevin and Kendall chase after Micah, Wesley, and Sarah with Micah tripping over and inadvertently breaking a glass ball, in which a fairy emerges from it and says, “Hi! I’m a fairy! Thank you so much for releasing me from that dreadful prison! I will grant you one wish in return.”

“I wish for something to stop Kevin and Kendall!” responded Micah urgently.

“Your wish is my command!” replies the fairy while waving her wand. A meteor suddenly appears above Kevin and Kendall, who look up at it with Kevin saying, “Now there really is a big meteor hurtling right towards us!” Kevin and Kendall run away screaming while the meteor chases after them with Micah asking, “So, let me get this straight. You were imprisoned this whole time in that ball I just tripped over a little bit ago?”

“Yes. I have been trapped inside of there forever. Sorry, but I can’t stay. My folks must be worried sick about me. Got to go. Bye!” answers the fairy while flying off. Micah, Wesley, and Sarah wave to the fairy while Trekker watches them from his mansion.

“Enjoy this moment, Micah…because this will be the last time you’ll ever ruin my fun! Ha ha ha ha!” says Trekker while approaching a herd of brainwashed deer. After getting home from school, Micah goes to his room and puts his backpack away while hearing shattering glass again coming from his living room.

“Not again!” says Micah angrily while observing the living room. Micah finds some deer hopping around and causing mayhem in his living room while turning himself into Power Micah.

“Well, at least we’re not getting robbed this time.” said Micah. Micah approaches the deer and tames them, leading them outside and releasing them back into the wild while Trekker watches from his mansion.

“Ah, well. Trial and error.” says Trekker while pointing out his Warp Machine. Another herd of deer head to the Warp Machine and disappear while Micah helps his family clean up the mess left behind at his house.

“We can’t keep doing this. It’s not getting any cheaper.” said Micah’s stepfather annoyingly.

“Why can’t people, or animals, just leave us alone?” asked Micah annoyingly. Micah and his family wind down for the evening and head uptown the next day in the middle of a herd of deer attacking everything in its path with everyone screaming, panicking, and fleeing for their lives.

“Now what?” asked Micah’s mother annoyingly.

“Something tells me Trekker’s behind all this.” responded Micah. Micah and his family suddenly hear evil laughter drawing closer to them, followed by a voice saying, “Attack to your evil heart’s contents, my furry friends! Arcanum is ours!” Micah and his family turn around and find Trekker approaching them while riding on a buck.

“Sometimes, it stinks to be right.” said Micah annoyingly.

“Look around and witness the birth of a new era.” said Trekker menacingly.

“Hey, Trekker! Do you know what time it is?” asked Micah.

“Time to surrender?” asked Trekker.

“No. Time to fight!” responds Micah while pulling out his Power Micah Mask. Trekker pulls out a remote and points it at Micah’s mask, pressing its button and making the mask disappear. Micah pulls out his Water Micah Mask, Thunder Micah Mask, and Leaph Micah Mask, which also disappear after Trekker presses the button on his remote.

“You don’t stand a chance! My ‘deer’ friends will tear you apart!” said Trekker.

“What are we going to do?” asked Micah’s mother worriedly.

“We’re going to fight back! That’s what we’re going to do!” answered Micah.

“But, your masks…” responded Micah’s mother.

“I really don’t have a choice, mom. If you and Kyle want to get home safe and sound, do it now!” replied Micah. Micah’s mother and stepfather rush home while Micah and Trekker prepare to fight with Micah quickly getting defeated.

“That was easy! Come, my friends! We’ve got more places to terrorize!” says Trekker while riding off with the rest of the herd following. Micah gets up off the ground and observes the damage done in Arcanum.

“Boy, Trekker sure made a mess. But…where’d he go?” asked Micah. Micah starts walking around looking for Trekker while running into Wesley.

“Oh! Hey, Wesley! Didn’t expect to see you here.” said Micah.

“Oh! Hey, Micah! What are you up to?” asked Wesley.

“Looking for Trekker. This is his doing! You hadn’t happen to see him anywhere, have you?” asked Micah.

“Yeah! He went that way! I’m chasing him down myself!” answers Wesley while pointing his finger. Micah and Wesley begin heading in the direction pointed out by Wesley, who then says, “Oh, wait! This ought to speed things up!” Wesley pulls out his Biking Power Wesley Gloves and slips them on, powering up into Biking Power Wesley while asking, “Why won’t you power up into Power Micah?”

“Trekker made all my masks disappear.” answered Micah.

“That’s a shame. Care for a ride?” asks Wesley while patting the back seat of his Biking Power Wesley Bike.

“Please!” answers Micah while taking his seat.

“Hang on tight!” says Wesley while revving up the engine. Wesley does a wheelie and takes off fast, eventually finding Trekker and his herd of deer causing more mayhem.

“How are we going to tame all those wild deer? There’s too many of them!” asked Micah.

“Here. We’ll try this.” answers Wesley while pulling out food. Wesley gives some food to Micah while subsequently approaching the deer, whistling loudly to get their attention. The herd of deer look at Micah and Wesley and start charging after them until Wesley holds out the food with one deer taking a bite and coming to its senses, showing affection towards Wesley while saying, “Look! It’s working! You try!” Micah holds out the food with groups of deer approaching and eating, eventually becoming tame and showing affection towards Micah while Trekker angrily asks, “What’s going on here?” After getting all the deer tame, Micah and Wesley instruct the deer to chase after Trekker, in which they obey and charge after him.

“I’ll get you, Micah and Wesley, if it’s the last thing I do!” shouts Trekker while running away.

“Now, to get back home and repair all the damage.” says Micah annoyingly while boarding Wesley’s Biking Power Wesley Bike.

“Let’s not waste our energy on that. I know someone else who will be perfect for the job…” responds Wesley while smirking at Trekker. The deer eventually catch up to Trekker and drag him off to jail, later being sentenced to community service. While helping the herd of deer repair Arcanum, Trekker eventually gets tired and sits down until a buck bumps him with its antlers and grunts at him to let him know to get back to work. Trekker groans angrily and continues his community service with the herd of deer to restore Arcanum to its former glory.

 

The End

Upper Matthew

 A quick look at Micah’s kindergarten year, he is with his mother to pick up his younger brother (Christopher) from preschool. Upon entering the building, a health worker walks out and stops them while saying, “Please do not enter. There’s a gas leak in here.”

“My goodness! My son is in there!” responded Micah’s mother worriedly.

“I understand your concern, ma’am, but my team and I are working as fast as we could to get all the children out.” replies the worker while Micah pulls out his Power Micah Mask.

“Micah, stay right here, please.” says Micah’s mother while looking over. With Micah absent, his mother worriedly gasps and asks, “Micah?! Where are you?!” Inside the preschool, the gas flows throughout the entire school with some kids coughing while Micah arrives in Christopher’s classroom as Power Micah, helping his brother and other kids get out of the building. With the building vacant, the kids cheer for Micah while his mother approaches him.

“That was very dangerous, Micah. You could have been killed.” said Micah’s mother.

“Sorry, mom. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just trying to help.” responded Micah.

“And you did. I’m very proud of you. Just don’t let this happen again, ok?” asked Micah’s mother. After arriving home, Micah and Christopher go to their room and play with toys while Matthew arrives home later on with a nervous look on his face.

“Hey, Matthew. Everything ok?” asked Matthew’s mother.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Everything’s fine.” answers Matthew while heading to his room.

“Did you have a good day at school?” asked Matthew’s mother.

“Yeah.” answered Matthew weakly.

“You don’t sound like yourself. Is there something you’d like to talk about?” asked Matthew’s mother.

“No, mom. I…I…I just want to get started on my homework. That’s all.” answers Matthew while entering his room. Matthew’s mother shrugs her shoulders while subsequently continuing her work in the kitchen. Three years later, Micah and Matthew are one day at the driving range of Beechwood Golf Course, hitting balls with Matthew distracted by thoughts of entering middle school.

“Come on, Matthew. Try to have some fun. You know you want to.” said Micah.

“I’m trying. It’s just…hard.” responded Matthew.

“But you like golf.” replied Micah.

“I know, but my thoughts of entering middle school are consuming my mind.” says Matthew while quickly putting his hand over his mouth.

“That’s what you’re afraid of?” asked Micah.

“No. I’ve said too much. Let’s just keep hitting.” answered Matthew.

“Your secret’s safe with me. You should talk to mom. She’s always good at smoothing things over.” responded Micah.

“Micah, just stop, ok? Let’s finish out the rest of these balls and go home. The sooner, the better.” replied Matthew annoyingly. Micah and Matthew continue hitting golf balls while Micah says, “You can’t hide those feelings forever, you know. I’m just saying, it would be a whole lot better for you to come clean and get it off your chest, rather than keeping it bottled up and letting it eat you alive. If I were you, I would talk to mom as soon as possible.” Matthew ignores Micah and continues hitting balls while Schae, one of Micah’s classmates, approaches Micah and says, “You hit like my grandma!”

“Do you mind? We’re trying to have a decent evening here.” responded Micah annoyingly.

“At least I know how to hit a golf ball.” taunted Schae. Micah places a ball on the ground and picks his club, bringing it up and coming down while Schae shouts, “DON’T MESS UP!” Startled, Micah tops the ball and accidentally releases his club, which goes flying.

“See what you made me do?” asked Micah annoyingly.

“Ha ha! You lost your club!” taunted Schae. Micah retrieves his club and places another ball on the ground while preparing his swing.

“Boo!” shouted Schae. Micah stops in the middle of his swing and sarcastically responds, “Nice try, Schae. I’m on to your little game.” Micah prepares his swing again with Schae screaming, causing Micah to angrily throw his club down and grab Schae, carrying her off and sending her flying out of his site by kicking her. After landing on her stomach, Schae approaches Micah again and continues her taunts with Micah continuously grabbing and kicking her out of his site until he and Matthew have no golf balls left. Sometime later, Micah and his brothers get released from school for summer break with Matthew still thinking about middle school to his anxiety. One day, during summer break, Micah and his brothers go over to their grandma’s house with their mother for a visit, in which at one point, Matthew begins tearing up with his mother asking, “What’s wrong, Matthew?” Matthew glances at Micah, who cues Matthew to talk to their mother by gesturing with his head.

“Middle school.” answered Matthew.

“What about it?” asked Matthew’s mother.

“I’m afraid of the transition, what I’m up against.” answered Matthew.

“Oh. I’m sorry you feel that way. What’s one thing troubling you about it?” asked Matthew’s mother.

“Well, they said if you don’t do your homework, you get a detention.” answered Matthew.

“That’s never been a problem for you.” responded Matthew’s mother.

“I’ve been praying for you, Matthew. The Lord’s got your back.” said Matthew’s grandmother. Matthew continues to shed tears while his mother and grandmother comfort him with Micah and Christopher playing with some toys. Trekker watches Micah and his brothers on surveillance while taunting, “Oh, boo hoo! Matthew’s going to middle school. I can help with that, and I know just the thing.” Trekker heads to Trekker Jr.’s room and knocks on his door while asking, “Jr., it’s dad. May I come in?”

“Sure, dad.” answered Trekker Jr. Trekker enters Trekker Jr.’s room and says, “Son, I’ve got a little assignment for you…” At night, Micah and his brothers, along with his mother and grandmother, turn in and start sleeping while Trekker and Trekker Jr. watch on surveillance at their mansion.

“Operation: Back to School…is a go!” says Trekker while holding out a remote and pressing its button. Micah, Christopher, and their mother and grandmother wake up at Trekker’s mansion the following morning cuffed onto a slab of concrete, struggling to break free while Trekker approaches them and laughs, “Ha ha ha ha! Looks like summer vacation is ending early this year!”

“What do you mean?” asked Micah’s grandmother.

“You’ll see sooner or later.” answers Trekker while Matthew wakes up with middle school still on his mind. Matthew occupies himself with activities like video games and playing on his computer while later asking, “Hey, mom? What are we having for lunch?” With no answer, Matthew stops what he’s doing and goes into the living room while asking, “Mom?” Matthew searches the entire house, looking for his mother, as well as Micah and Christopher, while asking, “Micah? Christopher? Are you here?” After searching for a while longer, Matthew goes into Micah’s room and enters his Lab Entrance Cube, going into Micah’s laboratory and saying, “Computer, locate mom.”

“Scanning…” says Micah’s computer while scanning the globe.

“Your mother has been found.” continues Micah’s computer while showing live surveillance of his mother at Trekker’s mansion with Micah, Christopher, and his grandmother.

“Oh, no!” says Matthew while slapping his forehead.

“I guess I have no choice.” continues Matthew while entering Micah’s Warp Machine. Matthew warps to Trekker’s mansion and approaches Trekker while saying, “All right, Trekker. I’m here.”

“Excellent. You’re going to love what I have in store for you.” responds Trekker menacingly while leading Matthew to a desk. Matthew sits at his desired desk while Trekker Jr. sits right next to him.

“Class is now in session. For today’s lesson, both of you will solve a bunch of problems at the middle school level. Matthew, if you score better than Jr., you get your family back. But if Jr. scores better, say goodbye to them. Ha ha ha ha!” laughed Trekker. Matthew and Trekker Jr. pull out a pencil with Trekker continuing, “You may begin your tests…now!” Trekker Jr. immediately starts writing on his test while Matthew thoroughly reads the questions given to him, writing his answers down and turning them into Trekker at the same time Trekker Jr. turns in his test. Trekker runs the tests through a scanner, which grades and prints them back out with Trekker looking over them and showing the grades afterwards while saying, “It’s a tie.” Trekker crumples both tests into a ball and tosses them behind him while continuing. “That doesn’t count! On to Phase Two!” Trekker leads Matthew and Trekker Jr. to a podium and subsequently says, “Most points wins!” Trekker begins asking a series of questions with Matthew and Trekker Jr. being neck and neck in the end with Trekker saying, “This question is for the win…” Trekker asks the question with Trekker Jr. buzzing first, getting the answer wrong with Matthew subsequently answering it right.

“As your host, I declare these results null and void! Initiate Phase Three!” said Trekker annoyingly.

“This isn’t fair!” said Matthew.

“Give it up, dad. He’s just going to beat me again.” said Trekker Jr.

“What did you say to me?!” asked Trekker angrily.

“Nothing...” answered Trekker Jr. worriedly.

“Don’t lie to me!” responds Trekker angrily while scruffing Trekker Jr.

“I’m not!” answered Trekker Jr. Trekker drags Trekker Jr. off while angrily responding, “Looks like we’re going to need a long talk…” Matthew frees Micah, Christopher, and his mother and grandmother from the concrete slab while his mother excitedly says, “You did it, Matthew! I’m so proud of you!”

“See, Matthew? You’ve got nothing to worry about.” said Matthew’s grandmother.

“You know? I think I’m going to like middle school…” said Matthew. At the end of summer break, Matthew and his classmates exit the bus and head to their lockers on their first day of middle school without a care in the world, heading to their first period class and happily transitioning to their new life.

 

The End