انتقام کوتوله های حیاط فصل 15

Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes - Chapter 15

“Mom! Dad!” I cried. Racing to their bedroom. “Wake up! Wake up! The gnomes are gone!” Mom bolted straight up. “What? What’s wrong?”

Dad didn’t budge.

“It’s the gnomes!” I shouted, shaking Dad’s shoulder. “Wake up!” My father opened one eye and squinted up at me. “What time is it?” he mumbled.

“Get up, Dad!” I pleaded.

Mom groaned as she snapped on the light next to her bed. “Joe. It’s so late. Why did you wake us up?” “They’re—they’re gone!” I stammered. “They disappeared. I’m not kidding. I’m really not.” My parents glanced at each other. Then they glared at me. “Enough!” Mom cried. “We’re tired of your jokes. And it’s the middle of the night! Get to bed!” “Right now!” Dad added sternly. “We’ve had just about enough of this nonsense. We’re going to have a serious talk about this. In the morning.” “But—but—but—” I stammered.

“Go!” Dad shouted.

I backed out of the room slowly, stumbling over someone’s slipper.

I should have realized that they wouldn’t believe me. But someone had to believe me. Someone had to.

I raced down the dark hall to Mindy’s room. As I neared her bed, I could hear the whistling sounds she always makes when she lies on her back. She was fast asleep.

I stared down at her for a moment. Should I wake her? Would she believe me?

I patted her on the cheek. “Mindy. Wake up,” I whispered.

Nothing.

I called her name again. A little louder.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Joe?” she asked drowsily.

“Get up. Quick!” I whispered. “You have to see this!”

“Have to see what?” she groaned.

“The gnomes. The gnomes have disappeared!” I exclaimed. “I think they ran away! Please, get up. Please.” “The gnomes?” she mumbled.

“Come on, Mindy. Get up,” I pleaded. “It’s an emergency!” Mindy’s eyes shot wide open. “Emergency? What? What emergency?” “It’s the gnomes. They’ve really disappeared. You have to come outside with me.” “That’s the emergency?” she screeched. “Are you crazy? I’m not going anywhere with you. You’ve totally lost it, Joe. Totally.” “But, Mindy—”

“Quit bugging me. I’m going back to sleep.”

Then she closed her eyes and pulled the sheet over her head.

I stood in her dark, silent room.

No one would believe me. No one would come with me. What should I do now? What?

I imagined the gnomes ripping up every last vegetable in our garden. Yanking out the yams and smashing the squash. And for dessert, chomping on the rest of Mr. McCall’s casabas!

I knew I had to do something. Fast!

I ran from Mindy’s room and raced down the stairs. I jerked the front door open and sprinted outside.

Outside into the murky fog.

Swallowed up inside the thick blanket of mist.

So dark and foggy. I could barely see. I felt as if I were moving through a dark dream. A nightmare of grays and blacks. All shadows. Nothing but shadows.

I inched forward slowly, moving as if I were underwater. The grass felt so wet against my bare feet. But I couldn’t even see my own feet through the thick carpet of fog.

Like a dream. Like a heavy, dark dream. So many shifting shadows. So silent. Eerily silent.

I pushed on into the haze. I had lost all sense of direction. Was I heading toward the street?

“Ohhh!” I cried out when something grabbed my ankle.

Frantically, I shook my leg. Tried to break free.

But it held on.

And pulled me down.

Down into the whirling darkness.

A snake.

No. Not a snake. The garden hose. The garden hose that I had forgotten to roll up after watering the lawn that night.

Get a grip, Joe. I told myself. You have to calm down.

I pulled myself up and staggered forward. Squinting hard. Trying to see my way. Shadowy figures seemed to reach for me, bend toward me.

I wanted to turn back. And go inside. And climb into my nice, dry bed.

Yes. That’s what I should do, I decided.

I turned slowly.

And heard a shuffling sound. The soft thud of footsteps. Nearby.

I listened closely.

And heard the sounds again. Footsteps as light as the mist.

I was breathing hard now. My heart pounding. My bare feet chilled and wet. The dampness creeping up my legs. My entire body shuddered.

I heard a raspy cackle. A gnome?

I tried to turn. Tried to see it in the billowing blackness.

But it grabbed me from behind. Hard around the waist.

And with a dry, evil laugh, it threw me to the ground!