Louis in the Land of Tetra by Frank J. Ling

Author:Frank J. Ling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult Fiction/Fantasy/Contemporary/Action & Adventure
Publisher: Elm Hill
Published: 2018-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

AN OMINOUS OCCURRENCE

Everyone slept the kind of very deep sleep that could only come from total exhaustion.

Gus was dreaming about Mr. Bixbee’s house. Everyone was having a wonderful time eating all sorts of delicacies and tasty things. They laughed, ate, and joked with each other until a gluttonous monster ran in and took all their food away.

“Hey, stop! Come back! That’s our food! Come back, you bandit!” he shouted over and over again.

“Hey. Wake up, Gus. You’re having a bad dream.” Crystal shook Gus from his nightmare.

“What? What happened?” he said groggily.

“You were yelling in your sleep and kept shouting ‘Come back! Come back!’”

“Oh. I was dreaming that we were all having a party at Mr. Bixbee’s house. A scary monster broke in and stole all the delicious food!”

“Yeah, I guess that would be a pretty bad dream for you,” teased Crystal.

“Hey, what do you mean by that?” he said somewhat hurt by her remark.

“I’m just kidding you, Gus. I know how much you enjoy food, that’s all.”

“I guess you’re right. I think everyone in my family likes to eat. But I think we like to eat because we’re not all that happy at home. I think eating makes us feel better about things,” Gus said with a vulnerability that greatly surprised Crystal.

It was the first time Gus had ever told anyone about any problems at home. Things were never peaceful because everyone was constantly arguing with one another. His family argued about anything and everything. His brothers would fight over which TV programs to watch. His parents fought over who would use the family car. His sisters fought every morning over the bathroom. Even the fish in his fish tank fought. It was ridiculous.

“I didn’t mean that you were fat or anything. I was just having some fun with you,” Crystal apologized.

“Oh, that’s all right. Not too many people joke around with me. Usually, I would have beaten someone up for saying something like that.”

“Why didn’t you do it this time?”

Gus was at a loss for words.

“Did you hear me? Why didn’t you do it this time?” she repeated.

“Well, I guess it’s because I consider you guys my friends. Friends don’t beat each other up, do they?” he said.

Gus never had real friends before. There were always kids who followed him, of course, but they weren’t really his friends. He suspected these “friends” of his were just using him to gain respect for themselves. Since Gus was feared by most of the kids at school, they thought, if they hung out with Gus, the other kids would be afraid of them too.

“Well, of course, we’re your friends. We didn’t like you before because you were so mean to us and everyone at school. But you don’t seem the same anymore, Gus. You’re a much better person now,” she complimented Gus.

Gus blushed.

“Hey, how come you guys always blush when I say something?” she asked innocently.

The others stirred awake. Louis noticed that Shining Star was sound asleep and joked, “Gee, look at our faithful guard.

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