CHAPTER 14
The next day, Danny woke up and turned the alarm clock off. He didn't know why he had it on even though it was summer time. He got dressed and checked the calendar. He received a big shock. He hadn't realized Dea's birthday was only five days away! He hadn't given any thought of what he was going to get her. He decided that could wait until later and went to Dea's room to see if she was even awake yet. Her door was open and she was standing in front of her mirror brushing her hair. Today she was dressed in a black tank top with an odd purple cat with wings on it. She had army print capris on and she was still in bare feet. She turned to face Danny and smiled, still brushing her hair.
Dea: I've been up for half an hour brushing my hair, it's way to long! I'm just gonna go downstairs and grab somethin' to eat really quickly, and then I'm gonna go to the river. I'm planning on climbing one of those trees, they're really tall! Want to come? Danny: (laughing) Got your whole day planned out eh? Sure, I'll come. Dea: I think I'm gonna ride my skateboard today... and that means I have to find my skater shoes...wherever they are, I'm sure I'll find 'em! Danny: Take your time! Must be very messy in that closet of yours!
Dea shoved him and they laughed riotously. Danny calmed down enough to make his way downstairs. He grabbed himself a piece of bread and popped it in the toaster. He noticed a note from his parents stuck to the fridge with a magnet.
Dear Kids, Mom and I are going to a Ghost-Hunting Convention down in Madison. Jazz will look after you while we're away. We'll be back tomorrow
evening. Love, Mom and Dad
As Danny put the note back, Dea came down the stairs, her hair in an army print bandana. Dea picked up the note and read it. "Figures!" she muttered before grabbing herself an energy bar and sitting at the table waiting for Danny.
Dea: Hey, did you notice how lazy people can be in the mornings? Danny: (buttering toast) What do you mean?
Dea: Well, I mean like, how most people just kinda rolls out of bed and barely have the will to even get out of their pajamas?
Danny: You mean like us?
Dea: I guess so! He he! Hurry up, I wanna get there before we run into Dash. Danny: What makes you think we're gonna run into Dash? Dea: (she groaned) I think he's gonna try and catch us up. He will NEVER leave us be for more than one day. Danny: You're right. I'll just get my bike and we can leave.
Five minutes later they were out the door. Dea was on her skateboard and Danny was riding his bike. Danny didn't have pads or even a helmet on, but Dea had the works. Danny could see why too. She kept doing little tricks and falling half the time. She usually laughed it off though. The thirteenth time this happened, Dea didn't laugh it off.
Dea: Ouch, dang! That one actually hurt. Dang! Danny: You OK? That's a nasty one. Dea: I'm fine, you worry too much! Loosen up!
Dea continued skating, and fell once again. This time, she laughed it off. She seemed to never feel pain, and when she did, it came in big waves...odd no? Right when Dea came to the grass, she flipped her skateboard up and stood on Danny's spokes without him knowing. She snickered and jumped off. Immediately, she started climbing one of the higher trees.
Dea: This is fun, I haven't climbed trees since I was a little kid. Where we used to live, there were no trees. It was a big city, so we just climbed on the jungle gym at the park. It's not the same though. Danny: (climbing after her) I bet it isn't. Dea? What's for favorite animal?
Dea: Hmm...I guess I'd have to say...I don't know the breed, but it's a little furry orange and white dog, and it's really, really cute. Their ears like curve forward and they have teeny tiny tails. What's yours?
Danny: I'd have to say... SPACE WORMS!!
They both nearly fell out of the tree laughing so hard. Danny stopped laughing after a while, and Dea wiped the tears from her eyes. It was just really funny.
Danny: Seriously though, I guess I'd say tarantulas. They're kinda cool. Dea: (shudders) I utterly hate tarantulas! Why would you want a huge spider for a pet? Plus, they can eat mice, and I REALLY don't want to watch that. Danny: Not for a pet, I just like them. Race ya' to the top?
Dea: You're on!
Danny and Dea climbed as fast as they could tot eh top of the tree. Danny beat her by a mile and waited for her to catch up.
Danny: Beat ya'! Dea: You have! But who beat you at wrestling?
Danny: Who beat you at a foot race? Dea: Who saved your life?
Danny: Touché! Dea: Race ya' down?
Danny: Get set, go!
Dea won the race down, and waited impatiently for him to follow. She turned into her ghost form and waited for him to come. Danny came down and couldn't find her. She grabbed her water bottle, opened it up, and shook it out over Danny's head. Now he was sopping wet. Dea was laughing hysterically in the background.
Danny: Hey! What was that for? Dea: You looked hot, so I cooled you off!
Danny: If I wanted to be cooled off I woulda' said so! You're gonna get it now!
Dea turned back to normal just as Danny turned into a ghost. Dea acted like she thought nothing of it, and started skipping on the rocks that lead across the river. Dea made it across safely without any incident. Suddenly Danny materialized next to her.
Danny: BOO!! Dea: GYAH!!
Dea screamed and fell into the water. She started getting back up looking soaked. Danny cracked up though looked sorry about it.
Danny: Oh my gosh, I'm sorry Dea. Lemme help you up.
Danny extended his hand and she took it...but she didn't pull herself up. A split second too late, Danny realized what she was about to do. She yanked him into the water and they both fell backwards. They got up again in the foot-deep river and looked at each other, pointing. They laughed riotously thinking both their appearances were funny.
Danny: You look like a drowned rat!
Dea: And you look like a wet tarantula! Oh my gosh, you look really stupid!
Danny: Hey! If anything you look silly! Dea: Maybe we should get out of the river before the fish start biting us?
Danny: Fish don't bite. Dea: How would you know? He he.
They stepped, dripping, out of the river, sliding on the bank. They were covered in water, leaves, tree sap and bark, and their shoes were squishing as they walked back.
Dea: I am going to kill you once I get into dry clothes. Danny: By then I'll be in a bomb shelter. Dea: I'm going to get you even worse now. Danny: I'm still going to be in a bomb shelter. Dea: Would you like 'Beloved friend, brother, and son' on your tombstone or simply jerkasorous?
Danny: Still gonna be in a bomb shelter. Dea: You sure you want to say that again? Danny: Still going to be in a BOMB SHELTER!! Dea: You're a dead man...if you could call yourself a man. Danny: I'll shut up now. Dea: Good boy! Here's your treat!
She held out a simple chocolate chip cookie to him. He snatched it and ate it. He felt silly eating it, but a cookie is a cookie, right?
Dea: Dang, these were my good skating shoes. Oh well, they'll dry. Danny: By the way, happy early birthday!
Dea: Thanks! Soooo....what're you getting' me?
Danny: I'm not telling! You have to wait. Dea: Oh fine! Heh heh!
She started doing cartwheels down the sidewalk. She was counting to herself as she first positioned and as she landed. Danny thought this was very odd.
Danny: Uhh, Dea? What're you doing?
Dea: I'm doing gymnastics, why?
Danny: Why are you counting to yourself? Dea: That's how you do it in gymnastics. You count your steps, starting from when you position yourself, to the point when you land. Danny: I'm going to go inside. It's getting cold out. Dea: I'll be in in a few minutes. Danny: OK.
Danny went inside and went to his room to change. His clothes were still soaking wet. He changed and laid down on his bed. Today was exhausting, yet fun. Just then, the blue mist came from his mouth.....
The next day, Danny woke up and turned the alarm clock off. He didn't know why he had it on even though it was summer time. He got dressed and checked the calendar. He received a big shock. He hadn't realized Dea's birthday was only five days away! He hadn't given any thought of what he was going to get her. He decided that could wait until later and went to Dea's room to see if she was even awake yet. Her door was open and she was standing in front of her mirror brushing her hair. Today she was dressed in a black tank top with an odd purple cat with wings on it. She had army print capris on and she was still in bare feet. She turned to face Danny and smiled, still brushing her hair.
Dea: I've been up for half an hour brushing my hair, it's way to long! I'm just gonna go downstairs and grab somethin' to eat really quickly, and then I'm gonna go to the river. I'm planning on climbing one of those trees, they're really tall! Want to come? Danny: (laughing) Got your whole day planned out eh? Sure, I'll come. Dea: I think I'm gonna ride my skateboard today... and that means I have to find my skater shoes...wherever they are, I'm sure I'll find 'em! Danny: Take your time! Must be very messy in that closet of yours!
Dea shoved him and they laughed riotously. Danny calmed down enough to make his way downstairs. He grabbed himself a piece of bread and popped it in the toaster. He noticed a note from his parents stuck to the fridge with a magnet.
Dear Kids, Mom and I are going to a Ghost-Hunting Convention down in Madison. Jazz will look after you while we're away. We'll be back tomorrow
evening. Love, Mom and Dad
As Danny put the note back, Dea came down the stairs, her hair in an army print bandana. Dea picked up the note and read it. "Figures!" she muttered before grabbing herself an energy bar and sitting at the table waiting for Danny.
Dea: Hey, did you notice how lazy people can be in the mornings? Danny: (buttering toast) What do you mean?
Dea: Well, I mean like, how most people just kinda rolls out of bed and barely have the will to even get out of their pajamas?
Danny: You mean like us?
Dea: I guess so! He he! Hurry up, I wanna get there before we run into Dash. Danny: What makes you think we're gonna run into Dash? Dea: (she groaned) I think he's gonna try and catch us up. He will NEVER leave us be for more than one day. Danny: You're right. I'll just get my bike and we can leave.
Five minutes later they were out the door. Dea was on her skateboard and Danny was riding his bike. Danny didn't have pads or even a helmet on, but Dea had the works. Danny could see why too. She kept doing little tricks and falling half the time. She usually laughed it off though. The thirteenth time this happened, Dea didn't laugh it off.
Dea: Ouch, dang! That one actually hurt. Dang! Danny: You OK? That's a nasty one. Dea: I'm fine, you worry too much! Loosen up!
Dea continued skating, and fell once again. This time, she laughed it off. She seemed to never feel pain, and when she did, it came in big waves...odd no? Right when Dea came to the grass, she flipped her skateboard up and stood on Danny's spokes without him knowing. She snickered and jumped off. Immediately, she started climbing one of the higher trees.
Dea: This is fun, I haven't climbed trees since I was a little kid. Where we used to live, there were no trees. It was a big city, so we just climbed on the jungle gym at the park. It's not the same though. Danny: (climbing after her) I bet it isn't. Dea? What's for favorite animal?
Dea: Hmm...I guess I'd have to say...I don't know the breed, but it's a little furry orange and white dog, and it's really, really cute. Their ears like curve forward and they have teeny tiny tails. What's yours?
Danny: I'd have to say... SPACE WORMS!!
They both nearly fell out of the tree laughing so hard. Danny stopped laughing after a while, and Dea wiped the tears from her eyes. It was just really funny.
Danny: Seriously though, I guess I'd say tarantulas. They're kinda cool. Dea: (shudders) I utterly hate tarantulas! Why would you want a huge spider for a pet? Plus, they can eat mice, and I REALLY don't want to watch that. Danny: Not for a pet, I just like them. Race ya' to the top?
Dea: You're on!
Danny and Dea climbed as fast as they could tot eh top of the tree. Danny beat her by a mile and waited for her to catch up.
Danny: Beat ya'! Dea: You have! But who beat you at wrestling?
Danny: Who beat you at a foot race? Dea: Who saved your life?
Danny: Touché! Dea: Race ya' down?
Danny: Get set, go!
Dea won the race down, and waited impatiently for him to follow. She turned into her ghost form and waited for him to come. Danny came down and couldn't find her. She grabbed her water bottle, opened it up, and shook it out over Danny's head. Now he was sopping wet. Dea was laughing hysterically in the background.
Danny: Hey! What was that for? Dea: You looked hot, so I cooled you off!
Danny: If I wanted to be cooled off I woulda' said so! You're gonna get it now!
Dea turned back to normal just as Danny turned into a ghost. Dea acted like she thought nothing of it, and started skipping on the rocks that lead across the river. Dea made it across safely without any incident. Suddenly Danny materialized next to her.
Danny: BOO!! Dea: GYAH!!
Dea screamed and fell into the water. She started getting back up looking soaked. Danny cracked up though looked sorry about it.
Danny: Oh my gosh, I'm sorry Dea. Lemme help you up.
Danny extended his hand and she took it...but she didn't pull herself up. A split second too late, Danny realized what she was about to do. She yanked him into the water and they both fell backwards. They got up again in the foot-deep river and looked at each other, pointing. They laughed riotously thinking both their appearances were funny.
Danny: You look like a drowned rat!
Dea: And you look like a wet tarantula! Oh my gosh, you look really stupid!
Danny: Hey! If anything you look silly! Dea: Maybe we should get out of the river before the fish start biting us?
Danny: Fish don't bite. Dea: How would you know? He he.
They stepped, dripping, out of the river, sliding on the bank. They were covered in water, leaves, tree sap and bark, and their shoes were squishing as they walked back.
Dea: I am going to kill you once I get into dry clothes. Danny: By then I'll be in a bomb shelter. Dea: I'm going to get you even worse now. Danny: I'm still going to be in a bomb shelter. Dea: Would you like 'Beloved friend, brother, and son' on your tombstone or simply jerkasorous?
Danny: Still gonna be in a bomb shelter. Dea: You sure you want to say that again? Danny: Still going to be in a BOMB SHELTER!! Dea: You're a dead man...if you could call yourself a man. Danny: I'll shut up now. Dea: Good boy! Here's your treat!
She held out a simple chocolate chip cookie to him. He snatched it and ate it. He felt silly eating it, but a cookie is a cookie, right?
Dea: Dang, these were my good skating shoes. Oh well, they'll dry. Danny: By the way, happy early birthday!
Dea: Thanks! Soooo....what're you getting' me?
Danny: I'm not telling! You have to wait. Dea: Oh fine! Heh heh!
She started doing cartwheels down the sidewalk. She was counting to herself as she first positioned and as she landed. Danny thought this was very odd.
Danny: Uhh, Dea? What're you doing?
Dea: I'm doing gymnastics, why?
Danny: Why are you counting to yourself? Dea: That's how you do it in gymnastics. You count your steps, starting from when you position yourself, to the point when you land. Danny: I'm going to go inside. It's getting cold out. Dea: I'll be in in a few minutes. Danny: OK.
Danny went inside and went to his room to change. His clothes were still soaking wet. He changed and laid down on his bed. Today was exhausting, yet fun. Just then, the blue mist came from his mouth.....