The Pastries of Evil

             One day, Micah works on a shovel in his laboratory until his friends (Wesley and Sarah) show up.

“Hey, Micah. What do you got there?” asked Sarah.

“Behold! The Muscle Shovel! With this invention of mine, you’ll be able to scoop bigger piles of dirt and speed up production by 50%!” answers Micah while presenting his shovel.

“Neato! Shall we give it a try?” asked Wesley.

“You bet! All inventions need a test run, right?” asks Micah while tossing shovels to Wesley and Sarah.

“Where are we going to try it out?” asked Sarah.

“Let me take a look here…” answers Micah while researching on his computer. Micah suddenly finds live surveillance of a person buried alive deep down underground with the digging crew struggling to get him out.

“Oh no! That’s gentleman is in trouble!” exclaimed Wesley.

“Not for long. Come on, guys! We got a life to save, and an invention to try out!” responds Micah while leading Wesley and Sarah to his Warp Machine. Micah and his friends arrive at the scene with one of the digging crews saying to his supervisor, “It’s no use, sir! Our equipment just can’t take it anymore!”

“We have to get him out of there fast!” said the supervisor.

“Yeah, like a miracle’s just going to show up before our very eyes.” said another crew member worriedly. Micah and his friends suddenly arrive and walk towards the area with the buried man.

“Stand back, everyone! Muscle Shovels coming through!” said Micah.

“You guys are just kids! There’s no way you’re going to get that man out of there in time with those…whatever you call them!” said a crew member.

“Au, contraire, amigos! These are no ordinary shovels!” responds Micah while digging with Wesley and Sarah. Micah and his friends quickly save the man with everyone cheering for them.

“Thank you, kind kids! One more minute and I would have been a goner!” says the man while shaking hands with Micah and his friends.

“Don’t mention it, kind sir! I’m glad my Muscle Shovels work!” responded Micah.

“I’ve never seen those kinds of shovels before.” replied the man.

“I invented them myself.” said Micah.

“Really? Well, I must say, they were very useful in my hour of need. Thanks again for all your help!” responds the man while walking away.

“Sorry we ever doubted you three.” said the crew member.

“Not a problem. It happens all the time. Our work here is done, so…carry on.” responds Micah while summoning his Warp Machine. Micah and his friends warp back to Micah’s laboratory with Wesley saying, “These are the coolest shovels I’ve ever used!”

“I agree! Can we keep them?” asked Sarah.

“Of course! I’ve made plenty!” answered Micah.

“Gee, thanks Micah!” said Wesley.

“What else are friends for, huh?” asked Micah.

“With all that out of the way, how about we go to the park?” asked Sarah.

“You got it!” answers Micah while joining his friends again. Micah and his friends all go to the park and hang out until the end of the day, all returning home to their respective houses later and turning in for the night. The next day, Micah works on some balloons and takes one as it fills with helium, inhaling it while Sarah shows up.

“What are you up to today, Micah?” asked Sarah.

“Why, working on a new balloon flight, thank you for asking!” answered Micah with a high-pitched voice from the helium. Sarah laughs and subsequently says, “You’re so silly, Micah!” The helium in Micah’s vocal cords wears off with Micah saying, “These balloons contain the equivalent amount necessary to carry a person. I call it…the ‘Superloons’!”

“Sounds like fun!” responded Sarah.

“And it will be! Just a little bit more and we’ll be able to try these out!” replied Micah. After a short while, Micah and Sarah head outside with the balloons, grabbing onto them while Micah activates them. The balloons inflate with helium and lift Micah and Sarah off the ground with Sarah shouting, “Weeeee!!!!!”

“Wee is right.” said Micah.

“How do we get down?” asked Sarah.

“Like this…” answers Micah while pressing a button on a remote. The balloons drain out the amount of helium necessary to land Micah and Sarah safely down on the ground.

“Wesley’s already at the park. Want to join us?” asked Micah.

“Sure!” answered Micah.

“Awesome! Bring those balloons, if you don’t mind.” responded Sarah.

“Ok! I’ll be right back!” replies Micah while heading back to his laboratory. Micah grabs some more balloons and heads off to the park with Sarah, where he gives some of his balloons to Wesley. Micah tells Wesley how his balloons work while Wesley subsequently tries them out with Micah and Sarah joining him. Later in the day, Micah arrives home and sees a cooking show on TV that his mother is watching with the chef talking about jelly-filled donuts. As the chef lists the ingredients, Micah pulls out a notepad and pencil, quickly writing down what the chef is saying and going into his laboratory afterwards, baking a dozen jelly-filled donuts in the shape and design of his head. The next day, Wesley arrives in Micah’s laboratory with Micah saying, “Ah, Wesley! You’re just in time to try out my jelly-filled donuts!”

“Mmm!” responds Wesley while taking a donut off the tray and eating it.

“Wow! These are delicious!” said Wesley.

“I’m glad you like them. Let’s see if my family feels the same way.” responds Micah while taking the tray to the kitchen.

“Mom? Kyle? Care to try my jelly-filled donuts?” asked Micah.

“He made them himself!” said Wesley.

“Absolutely!” answers Micah’s mother while taking a donut. Micah’s stepfather also takes a donut and eats it with Micah’s mother doing the same thing.

“Very good, Micah!” said Micah’s stepfather.

“I agree with Kyle! These are probably the best donuts I’ve ever had!” said Micah’s mother. Micah’s brothers come out to the kitchen with Micah’s mother saying, “Boys! You got to try this!” Micah’s brothers take a donut and eat it with Micah’s older brother (Matthew) saying, “Yum! These are good!”

“I think I’m going to have another!” says Micah’s younger brother (Christopher) while taking another donut.

“You know? I think I’ll sell these as part of a bake sale for Arcanum’s upcoming Old Fashioned Days festival.” said Micah.

“Not a bad idea. I’m sure you’ll do great.” responded Micah’s mother.

“Then so be it!” says Micah while heading back to his laboratory with Wesley. Micah bakes dozens of donuts with Wesley’s help until tiring himself out.

“It’s getting late. I’d better get back home before my family starts to worry.” says Wesley while heading to Micah’s Warp Machine. The following day comes with Wesley and Sarah showing up in Micah’s laboratory with Sarah saying, “So, Micah. Word on the street is, you’ve made some scrumptious donuts.”

“You heard that right! But first, care to try my spaghetti?” asks Micah while presenting Wesley and Sarah a plate of pasta.

“Sure! Lunch first! Then dessert!” answers Wesley while taking a plate and eating the spaghetti. Sarah also takes a plate and begins eating her spaghetti with Micah joining in.

“This is very good spaghetti, Micah! I can’t stop eating it!” said Wesley.

“You should be a chef!” said Sarah.

“I’m afraid that’s not in my passion.” responded Micah.

“It’s all good. It serves no interest to me either.” replied Wesley. Micah and his friends finish off their spaghetti with Micah bringing a dozen donuts to Wesley and Sarah.

“Can’t wait to try these!” says Sarah while taking a donut. Sarah takes a bite and says, “You were right, Wesley! These are scrumptious!” Trekker watches live surveillance of Micah and his friends eating the donuts from his computer at his mansion, angrily pounding the keyboard and saying, “I hate that brat! Always getting all the glory and whatnot! Time to fight donut with donut! Jr.!” Trekker snaps his finger with Trekker Jr. approaching him and asking, “Yes, dad?”

“Get your toque and apron, son. We’ve got some baking to do!” said Trekker.

“You got it, dad!” responds Trekker Jr. while rushing to his room. Trekker heads to his kitchen and puts on a toque and apron while Trekker Jr. arrives with his toque and apron on. Trekker and Trekker Jr. begin baking dozens of jelly-filled donuts in the shape and design of Trekker’s head, taking them to Arcanum afterwards and asking people to try them. One citizen takes a bite and spits it out afterwards while saying, “Gross! What did you put in these?”

“Jelly. Why?” asked Trekker. Trekker Jr. pulls out a jar of jelly and sees the expiration date on the bottom.

“Uh, dad? You might want to take a look at this.” says Trekker Jr. while showing the expiration date. Trekker looks at the expiration date and disregards it while saying, “Those tell you nothing. We’re just off to a slow start is all. There’s got to be at least one person in this town that will like these.” Trekker and Trekker Jr. approach more citizens, who all take bites out of Trekker’s donuts and spit them out afterwards with Trekker and Trekker Jr. later returning to their mansion.

“I don’t get it! How does Micah make his donuts so good?” asked Trekker angrily.

“Maybe because he’s…” said Trekker Jr.

“Don’t say it! I know! I’ll just taint his donuts with this! Just one bite and everybody will be mine to control! Ha ha ha ha!” responds Trekker while pulling out an ingredient. While Micah and his family sleep at night, Trekker arrives in Micah’s laboratory and injects his ingredient into Micah’s donuts while saying, “All right, Micah! Let’s see you get out of this mess!” Trekker returns to his mansion while Micah and his family continue to sleep soundly. The next day at school, Micah brings his donuts to school and presents them to his teachers and classmates, who all take a bite and find them delicious.

“Wow, Micah! These are better than ever! Did you add in a new ingredient or something?” asked Wesley.

“No. I used the exact same ingredient.” answered Micah baffled. Micah suddenly hears monstrous groaning and a voice asking, “What’s happening to me?!” Micah draws his attention to the source and sees one of his classmates turning into a Trekster.

“That can’t be good.” said Micah to himself. The rest of Micah’s class and teachers turn into Treksters, Traksters, Trekkersauruses, Trekkerdactyls, Trekbominabers, Trekrats, Trakrats, Goldy Birds, Trekians, Treaniedactyls, and Troulkers, staring menacingly at Micah while growling, chirping, squeaking, or groaning.

“What’s going on here?” asks Micah while backing up to a corner. The monsters inch closer to Micah while Trekker and Trekker Jr. watch the live surveillance from the mansion.

“We did it, Jr.! Everybody’s a monster! Now for my next plan!” says Trekker while heading to his Warp Machine with Trekker Jr. Trekker and Trekker Jr. arrive in Micah’s classroom with Trekker saying, “Attention, minions!” The monsters turn their attention towards Trekker, who then says, “I am your master, Trekker! And as your master, I order you to destroy that brat you see before you!” The monsters turn their attention back to Micah while exposing their teeth and extending their arms menacingly. Micah runs through the entire school to find help, only to find Trekker’s monsters in every single classroom he could find. Micah later returns home and finds his mother, stepfather, and brothers as monsters as well, running uptown to find help. Micah goes up and down every street and finds Trekker’s minions everywhere he goes.

“What’s happening?!” asked Micah worriedly.

“Isn’t it obvious? My minions and I have taken over Arcanum.” answers Trekker while approaching Micah.

“Trekker, you no-good son of a loose bolt! What did you do?” asked Micah angrily.

“Oh, nothing…except I added an extra ingredient to your donuts!” answers Trekker menacingly while showing Micah his ingredient. Micah reads the label and angrily draws his attention back to Trekker while asking, “Why?!”

“I can’t stand watching you get all the attention while my son and I are forced to live in hiding!” answered Trekker angrily.

“You know why that is!” responded Micah angrily.

“Don’t remind me. But now that I have what I want, it’ll be me getting all the attention…while you have to live in hiding! Ha ha ha ha! Get him, minions!” replies Trekker menacingly while pointing Micah out. The monsters chase after Micah, who flees to his laboratory while saying, “I need to find an antidote, fast! Or I’ll be stuck living under Trekker’s dictatorship for the rest of my life!” Micah takes one of his donuts and analyzes it, receiving the data for Trekker’s ingredient and researches to find an antidote. After a long period of researching, Micah creates his antidote and injects it into his newly-baked donuts while saying, “I hope this works.” Micah turns himself into Power Micah and flies uptown with his donuts, feeding them to every monster he encounters. The monsters eat the donuts and revert back to normal with Micah saying, “Success!”

“No!” exclaimed Trekker.

“Give it up, Trekker! As long as I’m around, you’ll never win!” taunted Micah.

“That’s where you’re wrong, you broken bolt!” responds Trekker while approaching Micah. Micah and Trekker get into a fight with Micah winning in the end.

“All right, Trekker. Time to put you behind bars!” says Micah while flying off to jail.

“No! Please! I’ll do anything!” begged Trekker.

“ANYthing?” asked Micah tauntingly. Later on at Arcanum’s Old Fashioned Days festival, Micah sells his donuts like hotcakes at his own stand until selling out.

“Hey, patissier! More donuts!” hollered Micah. Trekker reluctantly bakes up dozens of donuts while quietly saying to himself, “Blast you, Micah!”

“Less talk, more work!” responded Micah. Trekker continues baking Micah’s donuts while Micah smirks at him and continues to sell his donuts, making a big profit.

 

The End

Waltz of the Guinea Pigs

             One day in school, Micah feeds the class guinea pig right before class starts with Principal Sarver activating the P.A. system and making his announcements. After Principal Sarver makes his announcements, Micah, Wesley, and Sarah start school with their teacher, Mrs. Pitzer, proceeding with her lessons. At the end of the school day, Mrs. Pitzer announces to her class that the class guinea pig needs a summer home.

“If any of you are interested, please let me know.” said Mrs. Pitzer. The bell rings to dismiss school for the day with Micah walking home with his friends.

“I could probably keep the guinea pig for the summer, just as long as my dog doesn’t eat him.” said Sarah.

“My cats eat whatever rodents they could find, including guinea pigs. So, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pass.” said Wesley.

“As much as I love animals, I’m not ready to take on that kind of responsibility yet. My dog, Kami, is enough for me, and it’s really my mom and stepdad who take care of her.” said Micah.

“Sorry, Sarah. Micah and I are just not into animals as much as you are. We’ve got more important things to worry about. So, if it’s no trouble…” said Wesley.

“No trouble at all. I don’t mind. I’ll see you guys later.” responds Sarah while parting ways from Micah and Wesley. Wesley also parts ways from Micah, who walks home with his brothers and begins working on homework as soon as arriving home. Later, while working in his laboratory, Micah’s computer sounds an alert while showing surveillance footage of Trekker destroying Arcanum with a herd of guinea pigs. Micah turns himself into Power Micah and flies uptown to confront Trekker.

“Oh no! Power Micah has come to stop me!” said Trekker sarcastically.

“That’s right! And your herd of guinea pigs are no match for me!” taunted Micah.

“I’ll be the judge of that!” responds Trekker while snapping his fingers. The guinea pigs band together and form a giant guinea pig monster that grabs Micah, who struggles to free himself from its grip.

“I’ve been training these little guys to help me destroy you and take over the world. And so far, things are working perfectly. Ha ha ha ha!” laughed Trekker. As Micah continues to struggle freeing himself from the guinea pig monster’s grip, a girl walking her dog comes by with the dog’s tail brushing up against one of the guinea pigs’ nose, causing it to sneeze with the monster breaking back down into the herd.

“Drat! I got to work on that!” said Trekker annoyingly. Micah pulls out his Fire Whip and wraps Trekker with it, twirling him around and flinging him out of distance while subsequently gathering up the guinea pigs and returning them to Trekker. Micah and his friends proceed with their day at school the next day while Trekker works his guinea pigs to no end, wearing them out and causing them all to pant from exhaustion.

“I didn’t say you broken bolts could rest! Get back to work!” said Trekker angrily. The guinea pigs return to work, despite their exhaustion, while Trekker laughs menacingly and says, “Soon, the world will be mine!” After returning home from school, Micah goes into his laboratory and conducts science experiments while Trekker continues to work his guinea pigs too hard.

“You broken bolts keep working! I’m turning in for the night!” says Trekker while heading off to bed. After Trekker closes his bedroom door, one of the guinea pigs chuts to the group, making an escape to Trekker’s Warp Machine and unknowingly ending up in Micah’s laboratory. Micah turns around and carries a beaker full of chemicals to a table and sees Trekker’s guinea pigs standing before him to his surprise.

“What are you guys doing here?!” exclaimed Micah. One of the guinea pigs runs up to Micah’s computer and jumps onto the keyboard, typing in some letters while Micah says, “Hey! Get off of there!” Before Micah could grab the guinea pig, surveillance footage of Trekker mistreating the guinea pigs shows up on Micah’s computer.

“Awww! Sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I can’t keep any of you, but I promise to find each and every one of you loving homes. What do you say?” asked Micah. The guinea pigs all chut while Micah returns to work with the guinea pigs running around and inadvertently causing destruction.

“Hey! Careful! This is a very dangerous environment!” said Micah. Some of the guinea pigs pound their feet on some beakers, unknowingly making music and giving Micah an idea.

“You guys like music? Let me help you out with all of that.” says Micah while placing out a music sheet stand. Micah takes a baton and taps the music stand three times with it while the guinea pigs subsequently quiet down and prepare for Micah’s conduction. Micah points the baton at a group of guinea pigs, who pound their feet on some beakers and make music.

“Good work, you guys! It’s getting late. You guys stay here while I get some sleep. I got school tomorrow.” says Micah while exiting his laboratory. The next day, Micah wakes up to find the guinea pigs in front of his bed looking at him with smiles on their faces.

“How did you guys get out of my lab?!” exclaimed Micah. The guinea pigs follow Micah everywhere he goes with Micah sneaking them out.

“I’m sorry, guys. But I have to go to school. If you keep slowing me down like this, I’m going to be late.” says Micah while attempting to walk to school. The guinea pigs stop Micah in his path with Micah saying, “I guess I have no choice.” Micah pulls out his baton and starts conducting the guinea pigs, who all make music and march off to school with Micah. Mrs. Pitzer takes attendance and asks, “Has anyone seen Micah?” Micah suddenly opens the classroom door and conducts the guinea pigs in while approaching Mrs. Pitzer.

“Sorry I’m late, Mrs. Pitzer. These guys won’t leave me alone.” says Micah while handing Mrs. Pitzer his tardy slip.

“What is this? Some kind of marching band? You know pets aren’t allowed in here.” said Mrs. Pitzer.

“I know, I know. But, long-story short, Trekker’s mistreated them and came to me for help. I don’t know what else to do.” responded Micah.

“Here, Micah.” says Wesley while pulling out a remote. Wesley points the remote at the guinea pigs and presses a button, freezing the guinea pigs, digitizing them, and storing them away in a cube.

“That should hold them off.” said Wesley.

“Thanks, buddy.” responded Micah.

“Anytime, pal!” replied Wesley. Mrs. Pitzer proceeds teacher her lessons while Micah goes about his day at school with his friends. At the end of the day, Micah walks home with his friends while discussing his concern with the guinea pigs.

“One guinea pig is enough for me, but THAT many…there’s just no way.” said Sarah.

“So, what do you propose we do, Micah?” asked Wesley.

“We have to find them homes, good ones. They need someone who will love and care for them. We CANNOT return them to Trekker.” answered Micah.

“Ok. We’ll think of something.” responded Wesley. As Micah walks home with his friends, they start to hear panicking and destruction coming from uptown, heading in that direction to investigate. Upon arriving, Micah and his friends find Trekker causing destruction again with Trekker quickly turning his attention to Micah and saying, “Hey, Micah! You have something of mine!”

“You mean, these guys?” asks Micah while Wesley releases the guinea pigs.

“Yes! Now, give them back!” answered Trekker angrily.

“Certainly! But first…” responds Micah while preparing to conduct the guinea pigs. Micah begins conducting the guinea pigs, who all play music and follow Micah to Trekker’s dismay.

“Uhhh…what are you doing?” asked Trekker.

“Returning your guinea pigs, as you requested.” taunts Micah while marching towards Trekker with the guinea pigs.

“On second thought…you’d better keep them.” responds Trekker while attempting to run away. A police officer catches Trekker and handcuffs him, loading him into the cruiser and hauling him off to jail.

“Excuse me. Are these guinea pigs up for adoption?” asks a woman while approaching Micah.

“They sure are.” answered Micah.

“How much do you want for them?” asked the woman.

“Just take them. I don’t want your money.” answered Micah. The woman takes a guinea pig and walks home with it while other nearby citizens line up to adopt guinea pigs. After all the guinea pigs have been adopted, Micah walks home with his friends while saying, “Well, that worked out better than expected.”

“I didn’t think it’d work out that fast.” said Wesley.

“I wonder what will happen to Trekker?” asked Sarah. Not long after summer break starts, Trekker gets escorted to an office in jail by a security guard, who says, “Trekker, you’ve been chosen to do community service.”

“I’d do anything to get out of this stink hole.” says Trekker while signing some papers.

“ANYthing?” asked the guard.

“Yes! Do I got to spell it out for you?” asks Trekker annoyingly while getting ready to head out. To his dismay, Trekker sees the guinea pigs and their new owners (along with Micah and Wesley) standing before him, as well as Sarah and the class guinea pig from school. The security guard hands Trekker a baton while saying, “That’s the kind of attitude we like to see!”

“What are you talking about? I thought I was doing community service.” asked Trekker.

“You are! And this is your first job!” responded the guard.

“We got a parade today, Trekker. And YOU’RE a part of it.” taunted Micah. Back in Arcanum, Micah watches the parade with his family and friends as participants come down the street with their designs. Trekker shows up in the parade a short while later, conducting the guinea pigs reluctantly while everyone watches.

“I’ll get you, Micah! If it’s the last thing I do!” said Trekker angrily.

 

The End

Jessica on Dangerous Vacation

 In the city of La Paz is a very dangerous road high above the mountains called the “Yungas Road”. With its one-car width, two-way traffic, little to no guardrails, and certain weather patterns, it has been nicknamed the “Road of Death”, and is considered the most dangerous road on the planet. So many accidents have occurred and many lives have been lost as a result of this road, but many still bear the risk. Some have a job to do, while others seek thrills. One day at his mansion, Trekker is watching activity going on at the Yungas Road on surveillance while chuckling menacingly to himself.

“This road could be quite useful for my next diabolical plan. Hey, Jr.! Come here for a minute!” hollered Trekker. Trekker Jr. approaches Trekker and asks, “Yes, dad?”

“I got a job for you…” responds Trekker while leaning in on Trekker Jr.’s ear. Meanwhile, Micah and his friends are finishing up an assignment in their final class for the day at school with only one minute left before they get dismissed for a three-month summer break. After the bell rings, Micah and his classmates excitedly rush out of the school building, cheering as they make their way towards the bus.

“So, guys. What do you all have planned for summer?” asked Micah.

“I don’t know. It’s too soon to tell.” answered Wesley.

“I’m sure something will come to our minds eventually.” said Sarah. As Jessica follows Micah, Wesley, and Sarah out of the building and onto the bus, a strange-looking man in a suit approaches her and asks, “Are you Jessica?”

“Why, yes I am.” answered Jessica.

“Congratulations!!! You’ve just won a free, all-expense paid vacation to La Paz!” responded the man.

“Pinch me! I must be dreaming!” replied Jessica. The man pinches Jessica hard with Jessica responding, “Ow!!!!!”

“This is a dream, all right. A dream come true!” said the man.

“When do I leave?” asked Jessica.

“Immediately!” answered the man.

“Immediately?” asked Jessica.

“You bet! Your dream vacation awaits!” answered the man.

“What about the rest of my family?” asked Jessica.

“The more, the merrier!” answers the man while handing Jessica a brochure and rushing away. Jessica glances at the brochure and catches up to Micah, Wesley, and Sarah while excitingly saying, “Guys! Guys! Guys! You’re not going to believe this, but I just won a free vacation to La Paz!”

“No kidding?” asked Micah.

“I don’t mean to put a damper on the mood, but how did you win this?” asked Wesley.

“Who cares? I’m going on vacation!” answers Jessica while boarding the bus with Micah, Wesley, and Sarah.

“Wesley’s right, you know. Normally, you have to do something in order to win a prize as big as this. Who awarded you this free vacation?” asked Micah.

“Oh, some guy in a suit. He just came up to me and said I won! Can you believe it?” asked Jessica excitedly.

“That’s great, Jessica! I hope you have fun! You deserve it!” responded Sarah.

“No, not great! Did you even know the guy?” asked Micah.

“No, but still! A free, all-expense paid vacation to La Paz! I can hardly wait!” answered Jessica. Jessica continues talking about her vacation to Sarah while Wesley turns to Micah and says, “Something’s definitely off here.” Micah and Wesley discuss their concern towards Jessica while the man in the suit watches them ride off in their bus, subsequently removing his suit and revealing himself to be Trekker Jr. in disguise, who pulls out a walkie-talkie and contacts Trekker.

“Dad? It’s Jr. Jessica has taken the bait! I repeat! Jessica has taken the bait!” said Trekker Jr.

“Excellent! Rally up some of the henchmen! We’re going to give Jessica a permanent vacation…of doom! Ha ha ha ha!” laughed Trekker. After arriving home, Jessica rushes up to her mother and sister, telling them about her vacation to La Paz.

“How exciting! We’d better start packing!” said Jessica’s mother. Jessica begins packing up her suitcase with her mother and sister while Micah arrives home with his mother in the kitchen and stepfather on his computer.

“You guys should come see this. This is a real highway.” said Micah’s stepfather. Micah and his mother approach the computer, in which Micah’s stepfather has pulled up photos of the Yungas Road to Micah’s dismay.

“Where is this highway located?” asked Micah.

“La Paz. Why?” asked Micah’s stepfather.

“Oh no! That’s where Jessica’s headed! I knew something was off about that contest!” responded Micah worriedly.

“Contest? What contest?” asked Micah’s mother.

“A complete stranger awarded Jessica a vacation to La Paz right out of the blue. That’s all I can explain right now! I’d better get there fast!” answers Micah while rushing to his room. Micah enters his laboratory and does some research on La Paz and the Yungas Road, gathering up as much information as possible while Jessica and her mother and sister board a plane departing to La Paz.

“Boy, I can’t wait to get to La Paz!” said Jessica.

“Me too!” responded Jessica’s sister.

“Though I can’t help feeling…something very suspicious is going on here. I mean…why would a complete stranger just come up and give you a free vacation like this? A prize like that is usually complicated. I think we’re making a huge mistake here.” said Jessica’s mother.

“You worry too much, mom. We’re in this as a family, so let’s enjoy it as a family.” responds Jessica while flying off in the plane with her mother and sister. After hours of researching La Paz and the Yungas Road, Micah grows tired and sleepy while Wesley enters his laboratory from Micah’s Warp Machine.

“Micah? You don’t look so good.” said Wesley.

“I’ve been doing a lot of research on La Paz. Turns out…it’s the home of the Yungas Road, the most dangerous road on the planet!” responds Micah while pulling up photos of the Yungas Road on his computer. Wesley looks at the photos in dismay and asks, “A road like that actually exists?”

“I’m afraid so.” answered Micah.

“Looks like we’re going to La Paz ourselves, or Jessica’s a goner! But first…you’d better get some sleep.” says Wesley while walking Micah to his room. Jessica arrives in La Paz with her mother and sister, being escorted to a hotel by a staff member. After arriving in their room, Jessica unpacks her belongings with her mother and sister while Micah and Wesley arrive near the hotel with Micah saying, “This must be where Jessica is.” Micah pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks through them, seeing Jessica spending time with her mother and sister in their hotel suite.

“No danger to report…yet.” said Micah. Later in the day, Jessica goes out sight-seeing with her mother and sister while Micah and Wesley keep an eye on them with Wesley saying, “Well, at least she’s not alone.” Jessica spends her whole day with her mother and sister going on tours, swimming in pools and rivers, hiking, and doing other activities they can find in the city of La Paz while Micah and Wesley continue to keep watchful eyes on them.

“Boy, this is fun! I wish I could stay here forever!” said Jessica.

“I have to admit. This was a fun day, but...still…” said Jessica’s mother.

“Oh, stop it mom! Nothing’s happening!” responded Jessica annoyingly.

“You listen to me, young lady! I am your mother! It’s my job to look after you! I sense that we’re in danger here!” replies Jessica’s mother angrily while Micah and Wesley eavesdrop on the argument that commences.

“Oh, you guys are in danger, all right.” said Micah to himself.

“I’m really glad Jessica’s mom is aware of the pending danger that’s coming their way.” said Wesley. Jessica continues arguing with her mother while her sister tries to break them up.

“Guys, don’t fight! We’re on vacation! We should be spending quality time with one another as a family!” said Jessica’s sister.

“You know what?! I wish I didn’t even have a mom!” said Jessica angrily. Jessica’s mother, Micah, and Wesley all gasp in horror with Micah saying, “This is not going to end well.”

“You take that back right now!” said Jessica’s mother angrily.

“Dream on, you snot! I’m going to enjoy my vacation here, whether you like it or not!” says Jessica while going to bed. Jessica’s mother groans in anger and goes to bed herself with Jessica’s sister following suit. The next day, Jessica and her mother refrain from talking to each other until a staff member approaches them and says, “Come on, you guys! You don’t want to be late for your tour!”

“Another tour? Of what?” asked Jessica excitedly.

“Of the Yungas Road, of course!” answers the staff member while escorting Jessica and her mother and sister to a bus. Micah and Wesley hear the staff member inform them of the tour with Micah saying, “I knew this was going to happen!”

“I think it’s high time we come out of hiding.” says Wesley while approaching another bus. Jessica, her mother, and sister board a bus, which takes off to the Yungas Road while a tour guide talks about it.

“See, Jessica? Thanks to you, we’re now touring the most dangerous road on the planet! None of this would be happening if you would have just listened to me!” said Jessica’s mother angrily.

“Shut up, you snot! I’m still not talking to you!” responded Jessica angrily.

“That’s it! You are so grounded when we get back home! That is…if we ever make it home!” replied Jessica’s mother angrily.

“Jessica, please listen to mom. Even I have second thoughts about this vacation. This Yungas Road is really giving me the heebie-jeebies. What if we fall off?” asked Jessica’s sister.

“We’ll be fine. The bus driver and tour guide know what they’re doing.” responded Jessica annoyingly. The bus driver and tour guide quietly chuckle to each other with the bus driver quietly saying to himself, “Oh, don’t worry. We know exactly what we’re doing.” Micah and Wesley board another bus with Micah pointing out Jessica’s bus while saying to the bus driver, “Follow that bus!” The bus driver takes off quickly and catches up to Jessica’s bus while the tour guide on it says, “We’re reaching the end of the road. But I have one question. Are you Jessica?” The tour guide points at Jessica, who then answers, “Yeah! How did you know my name?”

“Excuse me for a minute.” responds the tour guide while walking to the back of the bus and ducking down behind the seats. The man in the suit pops up in the tour guide’s place and asks, “Hey there, Jessica? Remember me?”

“Yes! You’re the guy that gave me this vacation! What are you doing here?” asked Jessica.

“THAT’S the guy that got us into this?” asked Jessica’s mother dismayed.

“Are you enjoying your vacation?” asked the man.

“You bet! I don’t ever want it to end!” answered Jessica.

“Good. Because you’re in for a surprise…” responds the man while throwing off his suit. The man reveals himself to be Trekker Jr., who laughs manically while Jessica exclaims, “Trekker Jr.???!!!???!!!”

“That’s not all.” replies Trekker Jr. while pointing to the bus driver. After Jessica, her mother, and sister draw their attention to the front, the bus driver gets up out of his seat and throws off his uniform, revealing himself to be Trekker with Jessica, her mother, and sister exclaiming, “TREKKER!!!!!?????!!!!!?????”

“That’s right, and you’ve all fallen right into my trap! You can thank Jessica for making this all possible!” said Trekker menacingly. Jessica’s mother and sister give Jessica a stern look with Jessica nervously responding, “Heh heh heh! Whoops!” The bus approaches the edge with Trekker saying, “Ah, this is where we get off! Enjoy your vacation, you broken bolts! Ha ha ha ha!” Trekker and Trekker Jr. turn themselves into Anti-Super Trekker and Anti-Super Trekker Jr., subsequently flying out of the bus and watching from in the air as the bus inches closer to the edge. Jessica’s mother starts another argument with Jessica while Jessica’s sister pays attention to the road.

“Uh, guys?” asked Jessica’s sister. Jessica and her mother disregard Jessica’s sister and continue arguing while Jessica’s sister asks, “Guys?!” Jessica and her mother still don’t hear Jessica’s sister and keep on arguing to each other back and forth with Jessica’s sister shouting, “Guys!”

“What?!” asks Jessica and her mother angrily while drawing their attention to Jessica’s sister with stern looks on their faces. Jessica’s sister points to the front of the bus, which then drives off the road and begins to fall with Jessica, her mother, and Jessica’s sister all screaming in terror while still inside the bus. As they fall, Jessica, her mother, and Jessica’s sister hug each other and close their eyes while screaming. With the bus just inches above the ground, it stops in the air with Jessica, her mother, and Jessica’s sister opening their eyes.

“Are we dead?” asked Jessica’s mother.

“I don’t think so…” answers Jessica while approaching the front of the bus. Jessica looks out the front window and sees Micah (in his Power Micah form) holding the bus by the front bumper with one hand while smiling.

“Micah?!” shouted Micah excitedly. Micah nods and places the bus back where it departed from while Jessica, her mother, and Jessica’s sister subsequently exit.

“You saved us! Thank you!” says Jessica while embracing Micah tightly.

“Don’t mention it. Wesley and I have been keeping an eye on you guys the whole time.” responds Micah while struggling for air. Wesley, in his Biking Power Wesley form, suddenly shows up next to Micah while Jessica’s mother asks, “So, all this time, you guys have been looking after us?”

“Is that a problem?” asked Wesley.

“No! No problem at all! You guys are like guardian angels! Thank you!” answered Jessica’s mother.

“Well, they do save the world on a regular basis, after all.” said Jessica’s sister. Trekker and Trekker Jr. suddenly show up with Trekker saying, “Well, look who decided to crash the party.”

“Them?! Crashing YOUR party?! You guys are the ones who tried to crash us into the cliff!” responded Jessica angrily.

“I knew you guys were behind this!” said Micah angrily.

“Micah? Wesley? I have something to tell you! That man in the suit I told you about was Trekker Jr. the entire time!” said Jessica.

“You mean the guy that gave you this so-called ‘vacation’?” asked Micah.

“Yes!” answered Jessica.

“And now, it’s time to take care of some unfinished business! Jr., Plan B!” says Trekker while grabbing Jessica. Trekker Jr. grabs Jessica’s mother and sister, who scream and attempt to fight off Trekker Jr. while Jessica does the same with Trekker.

“I’ll meet you there!” says Wesley while taking off to the Yungas Road. Micah takes off into the air and chases after Trekker and Trekker Jr., who eventually stop high above ground and hold Jessica, her mother, and sister over, preparing to drop them.

“Guys, let’s not go this route.” said Micah.

“It’s too late for that, you broken bolt! You must choose who you will rescue, starting…now! Ha ha ha ha!” laughs Trekker while dropping Jessica. Trekker Jr. subsequently drops Jessica’s mother and sister, who all plummet toward Earth while screaming with Jessica doing the same. Wesley watches as Jessica, her mother, and sister fall to their doom with Micah trying to catch up to them, subsequently driving his Biking Power Wesley Bike off the road and onto a very steep edge into the forest below. Micah manages to catch Jessica and her sister while failing to catch her mother, who disappears in the forest with Jessica shouting, “Mom! No!” Micah lands on the ground and releases Jessica and her sister from his grip while Jessica starts mourning the loss of her mother with Micah comforting her. Micah, Jessica, and Jessica’s sister suddenly hear a dirt bike gradually getting louder and draw their attention to the source, seeing Wesley riding towards them with Jessica’s mother safe and sound riding on the Biking Power Wesley Bike.

“Mom!” shouts Jessica excitedly while running up to her mother. Jessica embraces her mother while Micah and Wesley happily watch until Trekker and Trekker Jr. show back up.

“This isn’t the end! We will get you guys!” shouts Trekker while swooping in with Trekker Jr. Micah stops Trekker and Trekker Jr. in their path just inches away from Wesley, Jessica, her mother, and sister, fighting them off and flying them out of distance. A short while later, Micah returns to Wesley, Jessica, her mother, and sister, subsequently returning them to their hotel with Wesley’s help.

“Mom, I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you, and for calling you a snot.” said Jessica remorsefully.

“That’s ok, sweetheart. But, you’re still grounded.” responded Jessica’s mother.

“Fair enough. I deserve that.” replied Jessica. Micah summons his Warp Machine while saying, “Last call for the Warp Machine Express!” Jessica, her mother, and sister head to their suite and pack up their belongings while subsequently heading to Micah’s Warp Machine.

“Micah…Wesley…thanks again for all that you’ve done.” said Jessica’s mother.

“All in a day’s work.” responded Micah.

“You guys take it easy, all right?” asked Wesley. Jessica, her mother, and sister enter Micah’s Warp Machine and warp themselves home, returning to their normal lives while Jessica copes with her grounding. Micah and Wesley both warp back to Micah’s laboratory with Wesley asking, “What happened to Trekker and Trekker Jr.?”

“Let’s just say…they’re smooth sailing.” answered Micah. Back in Bolivia, Trekker and Trekker Jr. gain consciousness and find themselves tied to a makeshift raft floating down a river, which eventually goes down a waterfall with Trekker and Trekker Jr. screaming.

“BLAST YOU, MICAH!!!!!” shouts Trekker while plummeting into the stream.

 

The End

Christopher's Goal

            Micah’s younger brother (Christopher) is quite the athlete. He has played a wide variety of sports including baseball, basketball, bowling, football, golf, soccer, and tennis. Over the course of time, Christopher has grown to favor baseball, basketball, and football as his top sports, playing them as young as kindergarten. Micah and his older brother (Matthew) were never really big on sports, despite playing baseball and soccer (with Micah also playing basketball) a couple of times or so throughout their earlier childhoods. It may have taken a while, but Micah and Matthew finally worked up the courage to tell their mother that sports aren’t for them. Micah has grown to favor golf, tennis, and bowling as his top sports while Matthew only grew to like golf. This, however, hasn’t stopped Micah and Matthew from attending Christopher’s games for whichever sport he was playing, especially football. One day, Micah, Matthew, and the rest of their family watch Christopher play football with Micah’s mother shouting, “Come on, Christopher!” At one point in the game, Christopher’s coach rallies up the team to discuss positions, sending them out onto the field afterwards to continue playing. Not long after the players hike the ball, one of Christopher’s teammates tosses Christopher the football, who catches it and runs to his appropriate goal, scoring a touchdown for his team with Micah, Matthew, and the rest of their family cheering.

“Yeah, Christopher! Keep it up!” shouted Micah. The referees then arrange for a kickoff with one of Christopher’s teammates being assigned to kick. After the players hike the ball, Christopher’s teammate kicks the ball and scores another point with the referee shouting, “It’s good!” Micah, Matthew, and the rest of their family cheer for Christopher’s team with Micah’s mother shouting, “Yes! Let’s keep it that way!” Micah, Matthew, and the rest of their family continue watching Christopher play football with Christopher’s team winning the game later with Micah, Matthew, and their family cheering. Micah, Matthew, and the rest of their family pick up Christopher afterwards with Micah saying, “Good job today, Christopher!”

“You were on fire!” said Matthew.

“Thanks, guys! It was a lot of fun!” responded Christopher.

“I’m so proud of you, Christopher, the way you worked with your team and won the game!” said Micah’s mother.

“Thanks, mom.” responded Christopher.

“It’s always fun watching the three of you play.” said Micah’s father. Micah goes about his life while attending Christopher’s football games whenever they’re scheduled until the end of the season. Fast forward to Micah’s 6^th grade year, there comes a day where Micah attends another one of Christopher’s football games at the ball diamonds in the Arcanum Community Ballpark.

“This is just my opinion, but I think it’s silly for Christopher and his team to have their games here at the ball diamonds. They need to be used for their sole purpose, and so does the football field.” said Micah.

“I know, but Coach Sprada and Coach Schondelmyer are too worried about them tearing it up.” responded Matthew.

“And yet, they let high school play on it.” said Micah’s mother.

“Yeah. I mean, it’s getting worn out anyhow. What difference does it make for Christopher’s team?” asked Micah.

“Let’s just watch the game.” said Micah’s stepfather. Micah watches Christopher’s game with the rest of his family with Christopher’s team losing in the end.

“Tough loss, Christopher.” said Micah.

“Ah, it’s still early in the season. There’s still time to catch up.” responded Christopher. Micah goes on about his life with his family, attending Christopher’s games until the end of the season. After football season ends, Christopher continues playing football with some of his friends and tossing footballs back and forth with his family while occasionally playing football video games. Sometimes by himself and sometimes with his friends when they are over at the house or when Christopher is at their house. Fast forward again to Micah’s freshman year of high school, Christopher (who is now in 7^th grade), has football practice right after the first day of school. During practice, he and his team practice tackles, in which one of his teammates gets injured very badly with the coaches rushing to his aid. Seeing his teammate groaning in pain scares Christopher into wanting to quit the team, but continues practice with his teammates under the direction of his coaches. After practice, Christopher walks home in tears with his mother asking, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared.” answered Christopher.

“Of what?” asked Christopher’s mother.

“Getting hurt.” answered Christopher.

“Did someone get hurt during practice?” asked Christopher’s mother.

“Yes.” answered Christopher.

“How serious was it?” asked Christopher’s mother.

“Not too serious, but it could escalate into that. I want to quit the team before it happens to me.” answered Christopher.

“But you just had your first practice. Give it some time, ok? It’s probably just the depression of starting school from summer break.” responded Christopher’s mother. Christopher walks to his room, still in tears, and enters Micah’s laboratory while asking, “Micah, I’m scared of getting hurt in football. Do you have anything that will protect me?”

“I’m afraid I do not.” answered Micah.

“What about your Shield Ball?” asks Christopher while pointing out his Shield Ball.

“You could use that, but here’s the thing…” responds Micah while activating the Shield Ball onto Christopher. Micah then takes a football and throws it at Christopher, in which the Shield Ball deflects the ball with Micah asking, “How will you be able to catch the ball in that state?”

“Point taken. What about your Micah Coin?” asks Christopher while pointing out the Micah Coin.

“The invulnerability only lasts for 16 seconds. You could reactivate it after the effect wears off, but doing it so many times in one day is a major health concern, so I do not advise going that route. Also, the coin makes you run faster and jump higher, which would be cheating.” answers Micah while deactivating the Shield Ball and storing it away.

“Oh.” responded Christopher.

“I’m sorry, Christopher, but there’s really nothing I can do for you. I’m a scientist, not an athlete. I’m afraid your only dilemma would be to continue playing as you already are or quit the team.” said Micah. The next day in school, Christopher gets distracted by thoughts of getting hurt in football while attending football practice later on. As this continues, Christopher’s grades start to decline to the intimidation of his mother, who eventually says to herself, “You know what? It’s not worth it. We’re taking him off the team.” After coming home from football practice in tears one other day, Christopher’s mother approaches Christopher and says, “I’ve decided I’m going to take you off the team. I can clearly see how much it’s stressing you out. Your grades have not been very good lately in school. I’ll talk to Kyle and your coaches about it, ok?” Christopher sighs in relief and hugs his mother, subsequently going to his room and playing video games. On one Sunday, Christopher’s mother brings up Christopher’s situation with football to her husband, who does not take it lightly and begins an argument to the dismay of Micah and Matthew, who are in their rooms working on homework. After the argument ends, Micah and Matthew exit their rooms and enter the hallway to approach their mother, who is in tears and says to them, “I had to get it out.” Their mother then enters her room to get dressed for the day and cleans out her eyes with water from her bathroom sink. After Labor Day, Christopher’s mother approaches Christopher’s coaches during practice and talks with them about Christopher’s situation.

“I don’t blame you. He hasn’t been doing well lately with drills. I had a feeling something was on his mind.” said one of Christopher’s coaches. As Christopher fearfully practices tackles with his teammates, the coach approaches them and says, “Time out!” The coach then escorts Christopher to a more isolated area of the football field and says, “You can leave. I’m sorry this hasn’t worked out for you.” Christopher removes his football gear and gives it to his coach while subsequently approaching his mother, who drives him home. Christopher, now relieved of playing football himself, just enjoys playing it by himself or with some friends, whether if it’s watching games, playing video games, or even tossing a football back and forth. He no longer fears getting hurt, which has made him happier and able to concentrate on his school work, getting better grades and enjoying life for what it is.

 

The End