Arcade and the Fiery Metal Tester by Rashad Jennings

Author:Rashad Jennings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Published: 2020-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

Doug holds a finger up in the air. “Hey, is that Florida? Because if it is, it’s gonna take me a lot longer to get there now.”

We all stare in awe. I turn to Zoe. “We’re on the moon, Zoe!”

“Good observation, Copernicus.”

“Why do you think the token brought us here? I asked it to take us somewhere we could be together.”

“Oh, we’re together, all right. And that promise you made about not talking to another living soul is not going to be hard to keep, either.”

“Arcade, I think I see New York too! I can see Florida and New York at the SAME TIME.” Doug is in his own little world. His finger can’t stop circling the blue planet in the sky.

“I asked the token to show us Doug’s new home.”

“Yep.” Zoe gestures toward the earth. “There it is. Maybe you should be just a teeny bit more specific next time.”

“But his new home can’t be Florida. It just can’t.”

Doug stands and starts picking things up from the ground, examining them. Zoe scoots a little closer to me. “Arcade, do you remember when Dad told us we were going to move to New York City?”

A knot forms in my stomach. “Yeah. I hated that day. Derek and I ran out to the woods and tried to come up with a plan for me to stay.”

“Did it work?”

“Well, duh, no. Because, well . . . here we are.” I pointed to earth. “I mean, there we are.”

“And do you totally hate living in New York City?”

I shrug. “No. I mean, I miss Derek, and some things about Virginia, but it’s not so bad. Kinda fun sometimes, actually.”

“Sounds like Florida might be better for Doug, don’t you think? He’ll have family there who can take care of him. That’s better than living by himself with a squawking flamingo.”

It feels like someone reaches in and squeezes that knot in my stomach. “But he’s my best friend, Zoe. He likes me no matter what. It’s not fair that I have to lose him right when we’re starting middle school.”

Zoe gives me a shove.

“What’s that for?”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing! It’s not fair to you? What about Doug? It doesn’t sound like you’re thinking about him at all. Wow. I never knew you were this self-absorbed.”

“SELF-ABSORBED? Says the girl who can’t be away from a mirror for more than five minutes.”

Zoe gets up and brushes dust off herself. “Fine. Don’t listen to me.” She goes over and begins helping Doug with his collection.

I stare up at the earth. And for some reason, Mr. Dooley’s words pop into my brain.

ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU ARE BEING TESTED!

Is this a test? If so, I’m not doing so well.

As soon as that thought hits me, something else almost does. It shoots in from outer space, looking like a small meteorite. “Watch out, Zoe!” I push her out of the way, just as the burning object lands at my feet.

“It’s the token,” I whisper in shock and disbelief.

Zoe and I stand there, staring at the smoldering piece of gold.

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