Jupiter Storm by Marti Dumas

Author:Marti Dumas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marti Dumas

"See," he said, holding up an animal card for Jackie to look at. "They eat ants and termites. That's a roly-poly."

Jackie leaned forward to look at what Sam was holding. Her whole body was trembling. She could barely make out the words on the card. Thankfully "Draco Lizard" was printed in large, clear letters right across the top.

She had seen this card before. She remembered thinking that the draco looked cool, but now she couldn't see why she thought that. The lizard on the card looked pretty ordinary. It certainly looked nothing like Jupiter Storm. Well, they did bear a tiny resemblance in the body, but those pathetic flaps of skin sticking out from the draco's sides were nothing like Jupiter's wings. But still...

"Do you want to pet him?" She knelt down next to Sam and held Jupiter out toward him, her hand steady.

Sam nodded, cautiously reaching out to touch Jackie's "pet draco" with one finger. "Where did you get it?"

"From school. Wait. Not like that," she said, pausing to catch Sam's hand. He was stroking Jupiter against the direction of his scales. That didn't feel good to him. "Like this. Softly and down. See? He likes it." Jupiter folded his wings and wrapped himself up like a cat, letting Sam continue to stroke his head and back. "Mr. Fowler didn't want him anymore, so he gave him to me as a prize for being the best at science."

"Cool!" Sam said. "What's his name?"

"Jupiter Storm."

"That's a cool name."

"It is, right? Mr. Fowler called him Jumper, but that wasn't a cool enough name for him. I had to think of something better."

"Where does he sleep?"

"In the terrarium in my room."

"I didn't know you had a terrarium in your room."

"Yeah. It's been there since you were little. Do you want to see it?"

Sam nodded eagerly. Jackie hardly ever let any of the boys into her room, so it's possible that Sam was as excited to go in there as he was to see where the ‘draco’ slept.

"Okay, but on one condition." Jackie continued, "It has to be our secret." Sam didn't say anything, so Jackie kept talking. "Mama doesn't know. If she finds out, she'll make me give Jupiter back to Mr. Fowler. You know how Mama feels about animals in the house. Do you want me to have to give him back, Sam?"

Sam looked down at Jupiter. He was quiet, and Jackie thought maybe she had better give him room to think. Finally, he looked up and said. "I want us to keep him."

"Okay. So, will you promise not to tell anyone?"

Sam nodded again, holding out his pinky finger. "I promise." He looked so solemn, like a little knight swearing an oath of fealty.

Jackie linked her pinky into his. "Good! It's getting late. We should put Jupiter to bed and call the boys inside before Mama starts looking for us. Think you can help me?"

Sam nodded.

"Good. Let's get to work. You put the stuff back in the basket, and I'll shake out the blankets.

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