My Friend Slappy Read online

  Kids were shouting and crying out in surprise.

  I wrapped my hands around Slappy’s head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Plame,” I said. “It’s an old dummy. I think the controls may be broken.”

  I shoved my hand into Slappy’s back and fumbled around until I found the mouth control. “I think the mouth spring is busted,” I said.

  I knew it wasn’t the mouth spring. I knew it was Slappy being vicious. But I had to pretend he was like a normal dummy.

  I tugged the string inside his back … tugged it … tugged it—and Slappy’s mouth finally sprang open.

  Mr. Plame sighed loudly and shook his finger in the air. It was red and swollen like a sausage. He jumped to his feet. “I’m going to run down the hall and see the nurse. I’m sure my finger is broken.”

  “I … I’m sorry,” I stammered. I held Slappy by the neck, down at my side. “I hope this won’t hurt my grade.”

  Mr. Plame didn’t answer. He strode to the door and hurried out of the classroom.

  Everyone started talking at once. I saw Travis and Kelly laughing their heads off and bumping knuckles.

  The bell rang. Time to go home. I packed the two marionettes in the case I’d brought for them. And then I slung Slappy over my shoulder.

  “You promised,” I whispered to him. “You promised you wouldn’t move.”

  The dummy blinked his eyes, but he didn’t reply.

  “Good report, Barton,” Lizzy said. She swung her backpack over her shoulders. “Too bad about Mr. Plame’s finger.”

  “Yeah. Too bad,” I muttered.

  The classroom had emptied out. “Are you walking home?” she asked.

  “Uh … no,” I said. “I have some things I have to do first.”

  She squinted at me. “Really?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Catch you later.”

  Lizzie shrugged and turned away. I watched her make her way out of the room.

  I knew what was going to happen next. And I wanted to enjoy it all by myself.

  I knew that Kelly had a dentist appointment. But I also knew that Travis would be waiting for me. Travis couldn’t resist. I was sure of it. Travis was waiting to give me a hard time. To make fun of me and my puppets.

  I knew he would be there.

  And I was right.

  He was waiting in the vacant lot on the next block. He leaned against a fat tree trunk with his legs crossed at his ankles. Like real casual. And his grin grew wider as I walked toward him.

  I knew it. I knew it.

  My heart started to pound because I knew I was about to wipe that grin off his face.

  I knew it was time for my new best friend Slappy to go to work.

  “Hey, Dummy Boy!” Travis called. He stepped away from the tree and came striding toward me. “Dummy Boy! How uncool can you be?”

  “Travis, give me a break,” I murmured.

  He sneered at me. “Think you’re so awesome because you have these stupid puppets?” He laughed. “You’re twelve years old, and you’re still playing with dolls!”

  “Please,” I murmured. “Just let me go home.”

  I tried to step around him. But he moved fast and blocked my path. Then he raised both hands—and shoved me back as hard as he could.

  “Hey—!” I shouted as I struggled to keep my balance.

  The puppet case hit the ground. The latch snapped open, and the puppets tumbled onto the grass. Slappy fell face-forward and landed on his stomach. His head bounced once. I saw his eyes blink.

  Travis laughed some more. “You’re such a klutz. I hardly touched you.”

  I didn’t say anything. This was the moment I’d been waiting for.

  “Go get him,” I whispered to Slappy.

  The dummy snapped to a sitting position, then jumped quickly to his feet. His jaw clicked up and down a few times, as if he was testing it.

  Then he turned to Travis. “Did you know that Travis rhymes with idiot?” Slappy rasped.

  Travis lowered his hands to his waist and studied the dummy. “How’d you do that, Sluggs?” he asked. “How did you make him stand up?”

  “How do you stand up?” Slappy shouted. “Did your mother tie your shoes for you this morning?”

  Travis squinted at me. “How did you do that? Some kind of remote control?”

  “You’re right about that, Travis!” Slappy exclaimed. “I have control! Watch what I can do!”

  Slappy swung both hands high above his head.

  I uttered a startled cry as Travis floated up from the ground.

  His eyes went wide, and his mouth dropped open. He kicked his feet as he rose up in the air. “Hey—put me down! Put me DOWN!” he screamed.

  Slappy swung his hands again, and Travis floated even higher.

  I crossed my arms in front of me and watched. Travis was in a total panic now, so frightened he couldn’t even scream. I couldn’t keep a big smile from spreading across my face.

  “He’s like a big bird!” Slappy cried. “A dodo bird! Hahaha!”

  Travis kicked and squirmed and waved his arms. He floated above our heads now. I had to bend my neck to see him.

  “P-please—!” he choked out. “Please! Put me down!”

  His face had darkened to purple. Big tears rolled down his cheeks.

  I stepped up to Slappy. “Think it’s time to let him down?”

  “No way!” the dummy cried. “I’m just getting started. I saved my best stuff for now!”

  “But, Slappy—” I protested.

  He clasped both of his wooden hands together above his head. Then he moved them quickly in a wide circle.

  “Nooooo!”

  High above us, Travis screamed as he began to spin.

  He twirled like a top, slowly at first, then picking up speed. Around and around he went, his hands shooting out at his sides as he spun.

  “Please—!” he wailed. “I … I’m getting dizzy! I’m going to be sick!”

  Slappy laughed. “Your face is making me sick!” he shouted up to Travis.

  The dummy swung his hands again, and Travis stopped in midair. Then he began to spin in the other direction.

  “Barton—please!” Travis cried. “Let me down! I’m begging you!”

  Slappy made him spin even faster. So fast his cell phone flew out of his pocket and sailed into the trees.

  I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted up to him as loud as I could. “Do you really want to come down?”

  “Yes!” he screamed. “Yes! Please!”

  “Then swear you won’t ever mess with me again!” I yelled.

  “I swear! I swear!” he cried. “Never! I promise!”

  He was spinning so hard, both of his shoes came flying off. They thudded to the ground next to me.

  I turned to Slappy. “Okay. Let him down.”

  Slappy didn’t move. He kept his hands twirling above his head.

  “Let him down, Slappy,” I repeated. “Good work. You’ve done it. He won’t mess with me again.”

  Slappy ignored me and kept him spinning.

  I grabbed the shoulder of the dummy’s jacket. “Let Travis down,” I insisted. “Do you hear me? Let him down now.”

  “You’re joking,” Slappy said, turning his evil grin on me. “He’s been mean to you, my friend. I don’t like people who hurt my friend.”

  “But, Slappy—”

  Slappy tossed back his head and laughed. “Barty, my friend, I saved the best for last. Watch THIS!”

  “Slappy, please—” I begged. But I couldn’t stop him.

  He called out some strange words and shot his arms down to his sides.

  “Whoooooaaaah!” High above our heads, Travis screamed as he went sailing toward the tall tree in the middle of the lot. He spun his arms crazily, trying to stop himself.

  But he was totally in Slappy’s control.

  I gasped as Travis landed hard on his knees on the top limb of the tree. The branch bent and made a cracking sound.

  Was it about to break off?<
br />
  No. It held.

  With another scream, Travis tumbled off the high tree limb. He stopped his fall by grabbing it with both hands. Now he was hanging on to the limb, his face twisted in horror.

  Leaves came flying off. Small branches fell to the ground.

  “He—he’s going to fall!” I stammered. “Slappy—he’ll get hurt!”

  Slappy snickered. “That will teach him to mess with my friend!”

  “No!” I cried. “Get him down! You can’t do that! You can’t leave him hanging up there!”

  Slappy turned his grin on me. “Let’s go home, friend.” He turned and started to walk away.

  “No. Come back—!” I shouted.

  “What an awesome day!” Slappy exclaimed. “Come on. Let’s go home, friend.”

  My heart was pounding. This wasn’t at all what I wanted. I wanted to scare Travis. I didn’t want to kill him!

  I spun back to the tree and gazed up at the top. Travis had pulled himself back up onto the heavy limb. He sat there, hunched, straddling the branch and clinging to it with both hands.

  “I can’t get down from here!” Travis shouted. “Barton, help me! Don’t leave me up here!”

  I pulled out my phone. “I … I’m calling 911!” I shouted up at Travis. “I’ll call the fire department!”

  I punched in the emergency number and told them where to find Travis. Then I gathered up my marionettes and hurried to catch up with Slappy. “That wasn’t right. You went too far!” I told him.

  Slappy laughed. “Too far isn’t always far enough!” he said.

  What did THAT mean? “You can’t walk,” I said. “People will see you.” I picked him up by the waist and slung him over my shoulder.

  I crossed the street and headed for home. The afternoon sun was lowering behind the trees. A cool breeze felt good on my face, which was burning hot.

  My heart was still fluttering in my chest. I kept picturing Travis up at the top of that tree. “How’s he going to get down?” I asked Slappy.

  The dummy’s head bounced against my back as we walked. “That’s his problem,” he answered. “He shouldn’t have been mean to my friend Barty.”

  “I hope the fire department has a ladder that’s tall enough to rescue him,” I said.

  “Forget about him,” Slappy replied. “He’s history. You think that was bad? Wait till you see what I have planned for your friend Kelly!”

  The house was empty. Mom and Dad were still at work.

  I carried Slappy and the marionettes up to my room and hung the marionettes in my closet. I stared at Slappy. What did he have planned for Kelly? Did I make a huge mistake telling Slappy about Travis and Kelly?

  I propped him up on my windowsill. “You’ll be comfortable here,” I said. “We’ll talk later about Kelly. Don’t do anything till we talk. Promise?”

  He raised his right hand. “Promise. Anything for a friend.”

  I sat down at my desk and pulled my math textbook from my backpack. I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on my homework. But I had to try.

  I kept picturing Travis spinning high in the air. And I kept seeing him sail helplessly onto the high tree branch, and hang there … hang there for dear life.

  “Haha. Kelly is next,” Slappy interrupted my thoughts. “And who comes after Kelly? You have to give me a list, Barty.”

  “No one comes next!” I said. “Kelly, then that’s it. We’re done.”

  “No way. We won’t be done. I’ll never stop protecting you. I’ve never had a real friend before. Everyone has always been scared of me.”

  He sighed. “You’re the first one who understands me, Barty. You’re my first friend. And I’m going to protect you from now on.”

  I stared back at him. I didn’t really know what to say. “Thanks,” I murmured.

  Of course, I couldn’t tell him what I was really thinking. After we taught Kelly a lesson, Slappy was going bye-bye.

  He was dangerous. He was evil. And he had frightening powers.

  He said he was my friend now. But I knew there was no way I could trust him.

  What if he turned against me? What if something I did made him angry, and he decided to go after me?

  The thought sent a shiver to the back of my neck.

  He slumped back against the window. He shut his eyes, and his head dropped forward. Instantly asleep? Very strange.

  I opened my math textbook and thumbed through to the assignment. But the front doorbell interrupted me.

  It must be Lizzie, I thought. Maybe she wants to do the math together. I hurried down the stairs and pulled open the front door.

  Not Lizzie.

  I uttered a gasp of surprise—and stared out at Travis, his dad, and a blue-uniformed police officer. They weren’t smiling. In fact, they had really grim expressions on their faces as they stared back at me.

  Travis had bandages on his hands and a dark bruise on his forehead.

  “Are you Barton Suggs?” the police officer asked. He had a hard, scratchy voice, almost whispery.

  “Uh … yes,” I answered.

  “Well, Barton,” he said, “may we come in? We need to have a serious talk with you.”

  I led them into the living room. My legs felt a little rubbery, and I could feel the blood pulsing at my temples.

  Of course, I knew why they were there.

  Travis kept giving me cold stares. Like he was trying to destroy me with his magic eye rays. Mr. Fox kept a hand on Travis’s shoulder. They both sat down side by side on the couch.

  “I’m Officer Marcus,” the policeman said. He pulled off his cap as he dropped into the leather armchair that faced the couch. He had short blond hair and crinkled-up blue eyes and freckles around his nose. He looked like a teenager. But he had to be older.

  I sat on the hard, dark wooden chair that no one ever sits on. I clasped my hands tightly in my lap to stop them from shaking.

  “Are your parents home?” the officer asked, looking around.

  “Not yet,” I said. I tried to keep my voice low and steady.

  “Well, this won’t take long,” Officer Marcus said. “We need—”

  “We need to know the story,” Mr. Fox interrupted. “The truth.” He squeezed Travis’s shoulder.

  Travis just kept staring darts at me.

  “The truth?” I repeated. My brain whirred. No way they’d believe the truth.

  “The fire department had a very hard time getting Travis down from that tree,” Officer Marcus said. “I know you know what tree I’m talking about, Barton. I know you were there. We traced your 911 call.”

  I nodded. I didn’t know what to say.

  “Travis told me a crazy story,” Mr. Fox said. “He claims you used some kind of a puppet to make him fly up to the top of that tree.”

  “Puppet?” I said. I avoided Travis’s stare.

  “He claims your puppet has magic powers,” Mr. Fox continued. “I know it’s a ridiculous story. But I reported it to the police anyway.”

  He leaned toward me in the chair. “Travis got caught up at the top of that tree somehow. And he says you’re responsible.”

  My brain was doing flip-flops in my head. I knew I had to lie my way out of this. “I don’t get it,” I said. “Do you really think I have magic powers?”

  Travis jumped to his feet. “You know you did it!” he shouted at me, shaking a fist at me. “You know it was that dummy. That dummy is alive. And he forced me into the air, and made me spin, and sent me flying onto the tree limb.”

  Officer Marcus motioned with one hand. “Sit down, Travis,” he said softly. “Let’s stay calm and not shout. Let’s just get to the bottom of this.”

  Travis scowled at me. He dropped back onto the couch. His hands were still balled into fists.

  “Travis, can you tell us the truth?” his dad asked. “The magical dummy story is just too impossible.”

  “But it’s true!” Travis insisted.

  Officer Marcus turned to Mr. Fox. “Sir, ha
s your son been watching a lot of horror movies lately?”

  “I’m not making it up! It’s not a movie!” Travis screamed.

  “Did you climb the tree?” his dad asked. “And you couldn’t get down. So you’re making up this story because you’re embarrassed?”

  “Dad, listen to me,” Travis begged. “I’m not making it up. The dummy waved his hands in the air, and I went flying. You’ve got to believe me.”

  Mr. Fox turned to the officer. “I’m sorry to waste your time like this, but—”

  “I have an idea,” Officer Marcus said. “Barton, can we see the dummy? Do you have it?”

  “It’s upstairs in my room,” I said. “I’m sorry Travis is so upset.”

  “No, you’re not!” he screamed. “You’re not sorry!”

  Officer Marcus motioned for Travis to calm down. “Could you bring the dummy down?” he asked me. “I think if we show it to Travis, maybe he’ll start to remember things differently.”

  “No problem,” I said. I jumped up from the chair and made my way to the stairs.

  In my room, I lifted Slappy off the windowsill. “Not a word out of you,” I told him. “Do you hear me? Don’t blink. Don’t talk. Don’t do anything. I’m serious.”

  He blinked his eyes. “Anything for a friend, Barty, my man.”

  I lifted him to my shoulder. “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t gone too far.”

  “I’ll always go too far for you,” he said.

  “Shut up, Slappy. I mean it,” I whispered.

  I carried him down to the living room. He hung limply over my shoulder, his arms and legs dangling in the air.

  “This is my ventriloquist doll,” I said. “My dad gave it to me as a gift.”

  I could see that Travis had begun to tremble. “That’s it!” he cried. “That’s him. Watch out. He can make you do things!”

  Officer Marcus stood up and took Slappy from me. I saw the dummy blink. But no one else seemed to notice.

  The policeman held Slappy by the neck, and the dummy’s arms and legs fell limply down. The officer shook Slappy hard. The arms and legs dangled loosely. He tilted the dummy’s head back, then forward. Slappy’s eyes stared blankly straight ahead.