Candy Shop War (44 page)

“I want to come,” Pigeon said.

“Who would you sit by?” Trevor asked innocently.

Pigeon blushed vividly.

“After this, I’ll be able to add some new items to my resume,” John mused. “Geriatric nurse, baby-sitter, and zookeeper. Oh, and antiques dealer—I think I found a buyer for the goblet.”

“I actually wouldn’t mind coming with you also,” Trevor said. “My folks have been in a nasty mood all week, arguing and shouting. Mom sent me to bed without dinner for flipping through the channels too quickly. Dad grounded me from riding my bike for sprinkling too much food in the fish tank!”

“My dad sleeps all the time,” Summer said. “He quit shaving and showering. He’s called into work twice already so he can mope around the house in his pajamas. He’s never acted so depressed.”

“My mom has been eating nonstop,” Pigeon said. “Lately she’s been downing brownie batter and milkshakes. And she’s more overprotective than ever. Technically I’m never supposed to see you guys again. Right now she thinks I’m studying at the library.”

“Everybody deals with white fudge withdrawal differently,” the coyote said. “It will pass in another week or so.”

“See, Nate,” John said. “At least you haven’t had cranky parents to contend with.”

“They think I’m missing,” Nate said.

“They contacted the police last week, once the fudge started wearing off,” John acknowledged. “But you can hardly visit them in your current state. We’ll have you back to normal shortly, and then you can enjoy a happy reunion.”

There came a knock at the door. John bounded over and pulled it open. A short old man with bushy white sideburns and a stained Chicago Cubs cap entered holding a platter of sardines. “Sorry I’m late, I’m no good with directions.”

“We’re honored by your presence, Mozag,” John said solemnly.

Mozag waved him away. “Where’s our young hero?”

John gestured at Nate.

“Not so young anymore,” Nate said.

Mozag squinted at him, deep crow’s-feet spreading from the corners of his eyes. “You aren’t nearly as old as you appear. The application of the artificial years was even sloppier than I expected. This treatment will do wonders.”

Nate gave him an incredulous look. “Sardines?”

“Excuse me?” Mozag asked. Then he glanced down at the platter in his hands. “Oh, no, these are for the others. And you as well. And me. Hard to call it a party without sardines.”

“If you say so,” Nate said.

Mozag handed the platter to John and removed a fortune cookie from his pocket. He handed the cookie to Nate. “Don’t crack it open,” Mozag instructed. “Eat it in a single bite. Chew it well.”

“Is there a fortune inside?” Trevor asked.

Mozag studied Trevor, eyeing him up and down. “Nate will get about seventy years back by consuming it, so yes, I would say that the contents of that cookie are definitely worth a fortune.”

“Just eat it?” Nate asked. “Right now?”

“No time like the present,” Mozag said.

“I don’t have any teeth,” Nate said.

Mozag smiled. “Let it soak in your mouth for a moment.”

Nate put the cookie in his mouth, and waited while his saliva gradually softened it. The cookie tasted slightly sugary as he waited. Finally, when the cookie began to feel mushy, Nate started chewing. The inside of the cookie was pasty and salty, not hollow like he had expected. It tasted like there was sausage in the cookie, and corn, and raisins. Finally he swallowed it. “All done,” he announced.

Mozag squinted at him. “Feel any different?”

“My stomach feels a little sore,” Nate said. Suddenly he began to tingle. The sensation intensified until it burned through all the tissue of his body. His stature diminished. Wrinkles smoothed away and age spots faded. His features became less droopy. His clothes and shoes became loose. Nate stared at his young hands in giddy disbelief.

“It worked!” Pigeon cried triumphantly.

“Almost perfect,” Mozag said, looking at Nate closely. “You’re about seven hours older than you would have been otherwise. Close as I could manage.”

“He looks a little green,” Summer pointed out.

“You’re right!” Trevor echoed. “In his cheeks and around his eyes.”

“Green is good,” Mozag said. “A necessary side effect. The coloring will fade away soon.”

“How long will it take?” Nate wondered.

“Three to five days,” Mozag said.

“Five days!” Nate exclaimed.

“Breaking a curse is no small matter,” Mozag said. “Five days with greenish skin is a small price to pay. While you’re waiting, help yourself to the sardines.”

Mozag grabbed a sardine off the platter and dropped the entire fish into his mouth. He turned and walked toward the door.

“Thank you,” Nate called.

“Don’t mention it,” Mozag replied. “You bailed us out of a tough spot. It’s the least I can do. Don’t forget the temporary preview of your winter years. What a rare opportunity. It will take quite a while to earn your way back. John, a pleasure, as always. The Council will tie up your other loose ends.”

“Thank you,” John said, bowing slightly.

Mozag waved a dismissive hand and walked out the door.

“You sure Nate isn’t stuck with a green complexion?” Kyle asked after the door closed.

John nodded. “You were just in the presence of arguably the most powerful magician in the world. The spell will hold. And the Council knows its business as well. We’ll get Sebastian back on two feet, find a home for Linda, and restore you and Eric to your proper ages.”

“How did Mozag get here?” Pigeon questioned. “I thought magicians needed to remain in their lairs.”

“You don’t miss much,” John said. “He came in a portable lair. And, of course, this is a lair. Plus, that Cubs hat he was wearing is almost as good as a lair. It grants him abnormal mobility for a magician.”

“It looked old,” Trevor said.

“He’s caught eleven foul balls in that hat, all at Wrigley,” John said.

“Let’s get going,” Kyle said. “I’m antsy.”

“Relax,” John assured him. “The hard part is over. This trip will be a piece of cake.”

“Can I use the rest room before we get started?” Linda asked.

“Of course,” the coyote said. “Down the hall on the left. There’s no mirror. It’s a long story.”

Linda walked off down the hall.

“What about you, Sebastian?” John asked. “Want me to let you out back before we get rolling?”

“Actually, sure, if you don’t mind.”

John and the coyote went into the kitchen.

“Well, guys,” Nate said, tossing his cane aside, “I guess we did it.”

They huddled together in a group hug.

“Thanks for saving us, Nate,” Pigeon said seriously.

“You can stop saying that,” Nate said. “A million times is enough.”

“I’m not sure we’ll ever stop saying it,” Summer said.

“We all owe you big,” Trevor added.

“Including Diego,” Pigeon said.

“I’m just happy to put all of this behind me,” Nate said.

“All of it except the jeweled goblet,” Summer reminded him.

“John thinks he might be able to get a lot of cash for it,” Pigeon said.

Nate shrugged. “He said any gold we found was ours to keep. We’ll see.”

“Think he’ll really split the money between us?” Trevor asked quietly.

“I think he keeps his promises,” Nate said.

Linda returned from the bathroom, and John entered alongside the coyote. “Should we get rolling?” John inquired.

“Yes,” Kyle replied. “Before I die of old age!”

Acknowledgments

Perhaps more than any other book of mine so far,
The Candy Shop War
has benefited from feedback gathered from readers and editors. Entire sections of the book were completely transformed multiple times. The reactions I received reshaped the story in ways that helped it become clearer, more inventive, and more appropriate for use in schools.

Key people who provided feedback include Chris Schoebinger, Lisa Mangum, Emily Watts, Caleb Freeman, Josh Freeman, Chandler Labrum, Mary, Pam, Liz, Cherie, and Summer.

In fifth grade I lived in a Northern California town, having moved there the year before. This story owes a lot to that town. Although all of the characters are fictitious, the memories of the adventures I tried to find there with my own club of underage thrill seekers helped spawn this book.

It is tough to name everybody who deserves to be mentioned in a section like this. I need to place some emphasis on the publicity and marketing team at Shadow Mountain and the great work they have been doing. Gail Halladay, Angie Godfrey, Liz Carlston, MaryAnn Jones, Tiffany Williams, and Roberta Ceccherini-Nelli have been making great things happen with getting the word out for this book as well as my
Fablehaven
series. I owe a special thanks to my sister Summer, who has been working for my publisher booking my tour and traveling with me. Her help has been invaluable to the success my books have been enjoying.

Thanks also need to go out to others at Shadow Mountain. Chris Schoebinger—the guy can manage a project. I appreciate the skills of Emily Watts, editor; Brandon Dorman, illustrator; Richard Erickson and Sheryl Dickert, designers; and Laurie Cook, typographer.

I have to give a special nod to my Uncle Tuck, who loaned me the Flatman from a strange nightmare he had years ago. That guy has some weird things in his head. I hope he’ll lend me other odd ideas in the future.

I’ve been taking some heat for naming certain family members and not others. Since I owe a lot to all of my family,
here I go. Parents: Pam and Gary. Siblings: Summer, Bryson, Tiffany, and Ty. Grandparents: Cy, Marge, John, and
Gladys. Uncles: Tuck, Danny, Chuck, Dave, and Bob. Aunts: Kim, Trudy, Jody, and Pam. Cousins: Travis, Jason, Mike, Matt, Ashley, Stephanie, Lindsay, Curt, Jason, Dave, Sheena, Nicole, Marisha, and Tanu. I love and appreciate all of you!

Of course my wife and kids need a special acknowledgment. Mary, Sadie, and Chase put up with Daddy traveling a lot to do assemblies at schools, to speak at libraries, and to sign books. I dread when my work takes me away from them, and I love them deeply.

As always, thank you for picking up this book. Without readers, I’d be a crazy guy typing alone in a room. Some of you have expressed concern that this book is releasing before the
Fablehaven
series is even halfway done. Don’t worry, I’m working hard! My goal is to release books 3, 4, and 5 in consecutive years. Keep on reading and I’ll keep on writing!

Reading Guide

 1. Losing the ability to get help from their families limited the options for Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon. How does your family support you during hard times? Who would you turn to if your family was unable to help?

 2. In what ways did Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon watch out for one another? What have you done recently to show loyalty to a friend?

 3. Between Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon, who would you most want as a friend? Why?

 4. Trust was a big issue in this story. Why did the kids trust Mrs. White? How did she lose that trust? Why did they trust Sebastian? Why did they trust John? Who did you trust most as a reader? Why?