Swindle by Gordon Korman

Author:Gordon Korman [Korman, Gordon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-545-45738-5
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2008-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

17

The next day, Logan Kellerman started up the walk at 530 Park Avenue Extension, a package under his arm.

Eli Mulroney was sitting on his porch, just as Griffin and Ben had been certain he’d be. “He’s always there,” Griffin had said. “We passed by that place a dozen different times. He might as well be a pink flamingo on the lawn.”

“What can I do for you, son?”

Logan beamed at the old man. “I live at 530 University, and this parcel was delivered to our house by mistake. Are you” — he consulted the label — “E. Mulroney?”

“That’s my name. But I’m not expecting any packages.”

Logan stepped onto the porch and showed the old man the label — fresh from the printer of Melissa’s computer.

Mr. Mulroney looked bewildered. “That’s me, all right. Who’s it from?”

Logan shrugged. “It doesn’t say. Maybe there’s a card inside.”

The old man produced a lethal-looking pocketknife and neatly slit the taped sides of the carton. Several hundred Styrofoam peanuts scattered across the porch.

“God bless America!” he roared at the mess. Then he pulled out a magnetic chess, checkers, and backgammon set, a box of dominoes, a deck of cards, and a Monopoly game.

“No note?” asked Logan.

“I’m not reaching in there! Those fool peanuts stick to your hand and you can’t shake them off!”

“Well, it must be from someone who knows you like games,” Logan persisted.

“I hate games!” Mulroney snapped. “Although” — his eyes gleamed — “I used to be a real whiz at backgammon. Of course, that was a long time ago.”

Logan sensed the opening and went for it. “I always wanted to play backgammon. Would you teach me? You know, if you have time?”

The old man raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t a kid like you have something better to do than pal around with an old geezer?”

This is it! thought Logan. Time for his talent to shine. He cultivated a wan look that was part shy and part sad.

“Not really. We just moved here. I haven’t made any friends yet.”

“Pull up a chair, son. What’s your name?”

Logan’s heart was pounding. His first real acting job. And this one could bring in the biggest paycheck this side of Hollywood.

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