New Kid Catastrophes: 1 (TJ and the Time Stumblers) (17 page)

And I do mean
everywhere.

The skylights . . .

(Which, of course, is the sound of falling glass.)

the people . . .

(Which, of course, is the sound a judge makes when his pants are set on fire.)

and

(Which, of course, is the sound a teacher makes when her wig is set on fire.)

But it wasn’t just skylights and people. Even the science fair exhibits were hit.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU HIT A TOMATO WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER?

became

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THIS KETCHUP?!

Then, the second-worst of all worsts happened. (The worst of all worsts is coming up in the next chapter.) Little Wendell the mouse spotted little Killer the kitty. And since Wendell was now a major weapon of mass destruction, the little furball went after Killer with everything he had.

Normally, this wouldn’t have been a problem. I mean it’s only a mechanical kitty, right (despite the cute pipe-cleaner whiskers)? The problem was that TJ still held Killer in her arms. And since TJ had a thing for living, she took off screaming. She ran this way and that.

Then that way and this.

She could have just set Killer down, but it’s hard remembering those types of details when you’re screaming and running for your life.

Seeing the problem, Chad took off to catch the mouse.

Meanwhile, Hesper was yelling such helpful things as, “Don’t break the laser; we want to get an A!”

“Tuna!” TJ cried. “Herby, where are you?”

“That’s our cue!” Tuna shouted from the corner where they’d been watching.

“I’m on it!” Herby yelled. He reached for his Swiss Army Knife, pulled open the blade, and fired the Morphing Beam directly at the little mouse.

Sadly, at that exact moment, Wendell turned left as Herby fired right. Sadder still, Chad didn’t.

TRANSLATION:
Chad Steel just became a giant chunk of cheddar cheese.

Worse yet, he smelled like a giant chunk of cheddar cheese. Which explains why Wendell skidded to a halt, sniffed the air, and spun around. It also explains why he charged after Chad with all the hunger of a starving mouse who had only been fed a celery stick once a week.

“Stop him!” TJ shouted. “Somebody stop him!”

Herby changed knife blades and fired again. The good news was he

finally hit Wendell. The bad news was, instead of one Wendell, there were now

two.

Make that four.

“What’s going on?!” Tuna shouted.

“The Duplication Blade!” Herby yelled. “It’s stuck!”