Superheroes Don't Eat Veggie Burgers by Gretchen Kelley

Author:Gretchen Kelley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781627790901
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

CHAPTER

21

Vikings are Number One!

It’s Monday afternoon, and the banner hanging from the side of the bus announces our fake confidence as we roll down Route 128 to our biggest game of the season. The Peabody Patriots have been the district champs for three years in a row. With an offense that can score from midfield and a goalie named Mark “Hands Man” Mansfield, they are unstoppable.

That is, I hope, until today.

“Grant?” I poke the lump sitting next to me. Grant can’t make it for more than five minutes in a moving vehicle before he’s sound asleep, his head lolling against the window and his mouth wide open. It normally makes him a crummy seat partner, but today it’s exactly what I need.

I reach into my gear bag and pull out my journal.

I’ve got work to do.

I showed up at school early again this morning, hoping to catch Mr. P before the first bell. I had more questions, ones that had been rolling around in my head since Saturday.

Was he the science teacher who had given my grandfather his journal?

Was it a catalyst like mine?

But when I got to Mr. P’s room, the door was locked. I peeked in. Beakers lined the back counter, and stools were scooted neatly under the lab tables. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.

I went to the front office. Ms. Carson, the secretary, shook her head as soon as I said his name.

“Terrible tragedy for Mr. Perdzock. There was a death in his family over the weekend. He’s off to retrieve the body.”

“Retrieve the body?” My throat tightened. “Where?”

“Not sure. He said something about an island in the Pacific.” She peered at me over the top of her glasses. “Look, kid, when someone calls in sick, my job is to track down a substitute, not keep track of the teacher.”

I thought about what Stella said, about how Mr. P would leave for somewhere exotic around fall break. I started to sweat. He couldn’t leave now. Not when I finally had some questions to ask.

“All right, boys!” Coach’s voice booms at us from the front of the bus. “You got ten minutes until show time!”

I flip open my journal, knowing I have to hurry.

After my visit with Ms. Carson this morning, I headed straight to the eighth-grade hallway. I realized that if Mr. P wasn’t around to answer my questions about Gramps, I needed to try to get some answers about Coach. If I hadn’t changed that last journal entry in time, Ms. Carson might be looking for a substitute for him, too.

As I rounded the corner, Linda Prattsworth, a cheerleader, was coming out of the math room.

Mere mortals don’t talk to Linda. Especially not sixth-grade ones like me.

“Um … hi … Linda, it’s Charlie Burger.” I shot her a smile that I hoped was more charming than cheesy. “Stella’s brother?”

Her movie-star lips turned downward. “Stella has a brother?”

“Never mind that,” I said. “I saw you coming out of Mr. Crenshaw’s room just now. Did you notice anything strange about him today?” I paused.

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