Read No Grown-ups Allowed Online
Authors: Beverly Lewis
No Grown-ups Allowed
No Grown-ups Allowed
Copyright © 1995
Beverly Lewis
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 95-23931
Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh.
Story illustrations by Barbara Birch.
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansâelectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwiseâwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
eISBN 978-1-4412-6067-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
This book is dedicated
in loving memory
to
my grandmother,
Zelma Elaine Jones.
(1906-1994)
Her chocolate chip cookies
were the best
in the world,
because she mixed them
with love.
CONTENTS
ONE
Jason Birchall stared at the valentine box on the kitchen table. He could almost taste the juicy chocolates. Cherry-filled, jelly-filled, coconut . . .
“Jason,” his mother called. “Come here, please.”
He backed away from the heart-shaped box. He didn't want his mother to know what he was thinking. Snitching thoughts!
“Coming,” Jason answered.
His mother sat on the sofa in the living
room. “Let's talk,” she said.
But Jason's mind was on something else. He was thinking about ooey gooey chocolates.
“We're going out of town for Valentine's Day,” his mother began. “And Grandma Birchall will stay with you from Friday until Sunday.”
Jason whined, “Oh, Mom. A whole weekend with Grandma?”
His mother frowned. “Now, Jason, you know better than that. Your grandma will take good care of you.”
Jason quickly changed the subject. “Can't I stay up late on Friday night?”
His mother shook her head. “You must get your rest, Jason. It's important.”
“But, Mom!”
“Jason,” she said firmly. “You will go to bed at your regular time. I don't want you to be sick.”
Jason nodded, but he didn't mean it. He was tired of taking pills. He was tired
of being an Attention Deficit kid. No junk food and early bedtimes were boring. It was time for a changeâa big change.
Jason tiptoed to the kitchen. He glanced over his shoulder. Was his mother watching? Could she hear him lift the candy box lid?
The glorious smell greeted his nose. Ah, yes! Jason's taste buds started to jig. They danced the chocolate twist, followed by the ooey gooey chocolate boogie.
The fantastic smell floating out of the valentine box grabbed Jason. It made him pick out the juiciest mound of chocolate. It made him plop that mound into his mouth.
“Jason Birchall!”
He jumped half out of his skin. Slowly, he turned around. There stood his mother. She glared at him, her hands on her hips.
Jason gulped.
TWO
Jason nearly choked.
She must have come in during the chocolate boogie,
he thought.
He tried to speak. “Yesh?” The heavenly ball of chocolate crowded his mouth.
His mother scolded, “I can't turn my back for one second!”
Jason swallowed. The sweet mound of heaven slid down his throat. Five seconds was too short to enjoy a chocolate valentine.
“Well, Jason?” his mother asked.
“I'm sorry.” But Jason was only sorry about one thingâthe short time the chocolate stayed in his mouth.
Mrs. Birchall opened the lid. The smells leaped out of the box. She counted the chocolates. “How many did you eat?”
“Just one.”
She stared at the heart-shaped candy box, then at Jason. “Are you sure?”
Jason nodded.
“You
know
what sweets do to you, Jason.”
But Jason didn't care about being wound up and hyper. He could think of only one thing. Dark, rich chocolate.
His mother snatched up the pink vaientine box. “I'll put this away.” And she carried it out of the kitchen.
Jason peeked around the corner. He watched her turn into the master bedroom. He heard the closet door squeak open.
Good!
Jason could almost see the hiding
place. It was the same spot his parents hid Christmas candy. And caramel corn. And Dad's M&M's.
Just then, the garage door opened. Jason ran to meet his dad.
“Here's an early Valentine's Day gift,” his dad said. He handed the gift to Jason.
Jason tore the wrapping off and looked at the present. It was a tiny marker board with a green marker.
“Like it?” his dad asked, smiling.
“Uh, sure, thanks.” Jason stared at the gift.
Just what I always wanted,
he thought.
“You can write important things on it,” Dad explained. “It will help you remember to take your pills while we're gone.”
Jason pulled the green marker off the Velcro. He wrote his name on the board. His stomach felt tight. He gritted his teeth. His parents were no fun. No fun at all! Why did God make parents anyway?
Jason followed his dad into the house.
He shuffled down the hall to his room. Closing the door, he plopped down onto his beanbag.
Jason drew a picture on his new marker board. It was a giant ice cream sundae. Covered with chocolate candies. And gobs of whipped cream.
He daydreamed about the chocolates in his mother's closet. He thought about his plan. Soon he wouldn't have to daydream about chocolates. He would gobble them right down!
Jason took his glasses off and twirled them. He danced a wild jig. Fridayâtwo days away. He would trick his grandma. Easy!