Chapter 1
Shocking Information
“Cassie!” Joanie said, reading some information from the computer. “I am changing my name to Macy! Okay?” She skipped to the door, but she stopped and said, “Oh yeah and wake up!!” Macy ran to the computer. It was beeping like crazy. Cassie woke up.
“Ok,” Cassie said.
Cassie got up and looked out the window. Birds and Cars flew through the neighborhood. “I love you San Francisco,” said Cassie. She had been sleeping on a chair in front of the computer. They had installed a laser just in case they got robbed again, and disguised it as a big light bulb. Macy looked at the laser and thought about the last time they got robbed. They had been playing Gold Fish in their lab’s living room, when a stranger barged in. He was wearing a black mask with three holes in it. He threatened to hurt them with a big, metal bat if they didn’t give him all their doughnuts. “You better give me your doughnuts or else.” His voice was hoarse. The girls shivered but stood up for their doughnuts. Cassie ran under the table and hid. Macy grabbed a handful of tortilla chips and threw them at him. That slowed him down while Cassie ran and got the doughnuts. He chased her around. She tripped and the doughnut box fell out of her hand. He took the box, but he left the bat. Cassie took it and put it in the room where we keep burglars’ weapons. It’s full of guns and knives but mostly bats. As in baseball bats. Criminals are constantly attacking the girls, looking for their scientific secrets.
“Also look,” Macy said, “The tracker inside Blobber has sensed the monster chewing something and there is a message. It says: The monster is in the middle of Orlando, Florida. It has gobbled up a couple of human beings but they are still alive.
“We need to get that monster. Let’s go to Orlando!” Macy looked at the screen, trying to figure out what the blob was doing.
Chapter 2
The Annoying Neighbor on the Plane
On the plane Macy slept like a baby. She cuddled up in a ball on her seat while Cassie played on her laptop next to her. Turkey Vultures soared in the sky. It was pretty early in the morning when suddenly, the laptop beeped again. The beep woke everyone who was sleeping and bothered everyone who wasn’t. On the screen Cassie read: The monster is now swallowing people in Disneyland. Macy woke up and nearly fell out of her seat.
“What happened?” Macy asked.
“The laptop beeped again. Why didn’t you wake up? Everyone else woke up when the computer beeped. Why not you?” Cassie continued typing a story on the laptop.
“Well, I did hear the beep but I was tired so I fell back asleep. Then I decided to wake up now.” Macy fell back asleep.
“All right then.” Cassie went back to typing but a shadow came over them. Cassie turned. The shadow belonged to a man. He was small and old. He wore a black vest, a hat, a rainbow scarf, and he had a big purple scar on the side of his cheek. He used a cane but he didn’t stand that steady. He smelled like french fries.
“Hey.” The man spoke in a low voice.
“Hi sir.” Cassie didn’t pay any attention to him besides his smell.
“Hey! I was bothered by the thing you’re holding. It woke me up!”
“Well, I’m sorry. I can’t control it. It beeps every time something moves.”
“What do you mean by something?” the man said, squinting his eyes.
“It’s a secret.” Cassie closed the laptop. She sneered at the way the man dressed.
“Ok, FINE! I just want you to tone that noise down. The next time that thing rings, I’m gonna put you in a straight-jacket!” The man hugged himself and walked away. He stopped, walked back and said, “And I will report you and your little pet to the flight attendant.” He spit out a big green mucus ball aimed right at Cassie’s forehead. He walked away, leaving his cane behind but he walked perfectly. He sat down right behind them.
The stranger took out his cell phone. “Hi, it’s me Mr. Comba. I found the girls.”
The Smith sisters didn’t hear him.
Chapter 3
Orlando and the Wild Goose Chase
It was early in the morning. The girls were exhausted after the plane ride. A cab dropped them off in front of their hotel. Macy tried not to doze off as she dragged their suitcases out of the trunk. Cassie saw a dark figure approaching them. Cassie was afraid. She shivered even though it was 88 degrees. She grabbed Macy and ran. Cassie and Macy ran past strangers who thought they were acting. People clapped and cheered. The stranger was right behind them. Cassie and Macy ran out of breath. Their luggage bounced everywhere. Luckily, the girls had enough energy to sprint forward and hide in a coffee shop. The stranger stood right in front of the coffee shop but he didn’t notice them. Cassie saw him take something out of his coat. The sun was coming out and Cassie could see clearer. The stranger was Professor Higgly! He was phoning Cassie. Her phone rang, chirping out “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black-eye Peas. “Hello?” Cassie covered her face.
“Hi.” Professor Higgly sounded tired too. “It’s me. Professor Higgly. Where are you? I was chasing a girl that looked just like you, but I don’t think she was. She was dragging another girl. She looked a little bit like Macy. Where are you? I came to pick you up.” Professor Higgly breathed heavily.
“Oh, Professor Higgly. We’re in a coffee shop. In fact, I can see you right now.” Cassie knocked on the window and Professor Higgly waved to them. He hung up and walked inside. Macy was sitting on a chair and snoring away.
The professor sat down at a table with Cassie and Macy. They woke Macy up for breakfast.
Chapter 4
The Braggers and the Homeless Man
The girls had been searching the streets of Orlando for the monster for hours.
“Hey, let’s get some pizza!” Macy said.
“Sure! Let’s go!”
Macy and Cassie walked up Main Street, passed a homeless man.
“May I please have some change?” the homeless man said weakly.
“Sorry, we don’t have any,” Cassie said, turning to Macy.
“It’s ok.” The man buried his face in a dirty blanket. “What are your names?”
“My name is Cassie and this is my sister Macy.”
“Hi,” Macy said, losing patience.
“Hello,” the man said. “My name is Robert E. Tomptson. I used to be a scientist but when I got fired from my job I lost all my money and had to live in the streets.” Robert sniffed at the air in front of the pizza place.
“Oh,” Macy said. “I’m so sorry.
“Yep,” Cassie said. “Me too. Would you like some pizza?”
“That would be great. Thank you.” Robert’s eyes filled with tears.
The sisters went inside the restaurant and returned with half a pizza for Robert.
“Thank you very much,” he said.
“No problem.”
The girls’ worst enemies showed up in front of the restaurant, Ices and Lea Nabella, the braggers. The two snotty sisters were always bragging about their pretty prettiness. They dressed in fancy gowns, but they were actually nightgowns. They wore purple make-up every day and brown shoes. That was the only unfashionable and hated detail about them.
“Hey braggers, what are you doing here?” Macy said.
“Well, we were looking for you to tell you we got another award for best dress,” the two braggers said in unison.
“So?” Cassie said. “Who cares? We won a trophy at the science fair.” Cassie walked toward Ices and Macy walked toward Lea.
“Geeks!” The braggers said together.
“You guys won at the science fair?” said Robert.
“Yeah,” Cassie said. “But we made a mistake and created a monster.” Cassie covered her eyes.
“What?” the braggers said. “You created a monster?”
“Yeah,” Cassie said in a slow way.
“Oooooh,” Robert said. “You girls must be in big trouble with your professor.”
The braggers shook their heads. “We’re going to tell your professor.”
“Oh no you’re not,” Macy said, twisting her neck.
“Oh yes we are!”
“Are you challenging us?”
“Maybe we are and maybe we aren’t,” Ices said.
“On your mark, get set, go,” Robert shouted.
The braggers set off first to Professor Higgly’s lab. The Smith sisters followed.
Chapter 5
The Race
The Braggers were in the lead. They didn’t know where to go but they followed their instincts. They were going the right way.
Cassie and Macy were close behind and Robert was behind the Smith sisters. “Hey Cassie,” Macy shouted loud enough for the Braggers to hear.
“What?” Cassie immediately knew what Macy was up too.
“I know a short cut,” Macy pointed to the next turn. Coincidentally, the Braggers got a glimpse of the Smith sisters and their shortcut. Instead of following their instincts, the Braggers took the shortcut but soon realized it was actually the wrong way. Macy and Cassie sprinted to the lab while the Braggers headed to a toy factory.
Chapter 6
And the Winners Are...
Cassie and Macy made it to the professor’s lab first. The room smelled like fresh roasted coffee. The lab was made of three metal domes stacked atop each other. The bottom dome was the main room and the entrance. The second dome, which was really big, was filled with secret rooms, bedrooms, restrooms, and a huge living room for all the people. There was also a secret room. Inside, there was a buffet. It was constantly stocked with food.
Macy and Cassie slipped through the entrance. Macy and Cassie looked out the window and saw the braggers running towards them. Robert was right next to them. Macy quickly locked the door.
“Ladies,” Professor Higgly said. “What is going on?”
Cassie and Macy told him everything.
“Wow. That was a long story.” Macy dozed off while Cassie told Professor Higgly the last part about their adventure. “What girks!” Professor Higgly was mad as ever. He knocked down a cup of hot coffee all over his pants. He screamed. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.” He ran to the bathroom and got a towel out of a basket. He dried himself immediately and sat back down.
“First of all, what are girks, and second, are you ok?” Cassie said. “Do you need to eat your meds?”
Macy ran to his cabinet and grabbed his Anger Management Issue pills. She threw two pills to him. He took them then started to giggle. The girls freaked out. They whispered to each other. A loud bang came from outside. It was the braggers. They were panting. Macy and Cassie ran to the door. The braggers fell to the cement floor and stared at the Smith sisters. The Smith sisters stared back at them.
“What was that?” Professor Higgly tried to look but he wasn’t tall enough to see through the window.
“Wow,” Cassie said. She opened the door and the Braggers fell to the floor. “You guys are fast.”
“Thanks, ” Ices mumbled.
Chapter 7
Mr. Comba
Mr. Comba stood next to Blobber, leaning on the fence of the teacup ride. Disneyland was deserted. “Where do you think the Smith sisters are right now?” Mr. Comba said.
“Probably hatching up a plan to destroy us,” Blobber said.
“Or they could be partying nonstop.”
Chapter 8
Hello
Robert walked over the Braggers and into Professor Higgly’s lab. The Braggers still lied on the floor. They were winded.
“Hello,” Robert said to Professor Higgly.
“Hello,” Professor Higgly said.
“Are you the famous and cool professor I think you are?”
“Who do you think I am?” Professor Higgly was smiling like crazy.
“I think you’re a Professor-”
“Yes?”
“Professor Higgly! Are you?”
“In the flesh. Oh my god, I’ve just noticed something.” Professor Higgly covered his mouth like a surprised little girl.
“What? What did you notice?” Robert jumped up and down to protect himself from imaginary bugs.
“Are you Robert E Tomptson?”
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“I love your work.”
“Why, thank you,” Robert said. “I’m very fond of your work as well. You’re the very best.”
Professor Higgly remembered reading his books and seeing his inventions at the University of Los Angeles. “Well, thank you.” Professor Higgly looked at the dirty blanket Robert wore. “Would you like to get some new clothes and some rest?”
“Thank you oh-so much,” said Robert. He walked down the hall to the guest room and fell right asleep.
Leah and Ices got up.
Chapter 9
No Way
Leah looked at Professor Higgly. “Do you know what your little ‘geniuses’ did to Orlando?” She said, looking back at the Smith sisters.
“Well, young ladies. Please tell me what they did.” Professor Higgly secretly winked at the Smith sisters. They nodded.
“Okay,” Ices said. She cleared her throat. “So, they created a monster!” Ices and Leah fainted at that statement. Macy stared at Leah and Cassie stared at Ices. Professor Higgly stared at both of the braggers. It didn’t take long for the Nabella sisters to come to. They hopped up and laughed in unison. Leah and Ices said, “So Mr. Professor, What are you going to do about what they did?”
“Well, they can start by finding the monster and destroying it, but first--” Professor Higgly said, and signaled the Smith sisters to follow him. “I will see you two later after I have a talk with the girls.” They went to another room, leaving the Nabella sisters standing in the doorway.
Buffet tables were everywhere. They sat down at a small table with three seats. “I know you two did a bad thing,” Professor Higgly said, “but I hardly could wait to celebrate the winning of the science fair. It’s too bad your mom and dad died. They would’ve been really proud of you.” Professor Higgly looked glum.
“At least we still have you Professor. You’re like an uncle to us,” Cassie said and rubbed his bald, rubbery head.
“Thank you. At least I still have you girls. I mean girks.”
They all chuckled.
Chapter 10
The Bat
“Hey where are you guys?” Leah shouted from the hallway. Ices and Lea had been looking for the Smith sisters and Professor Higgly all over the lab.
“We’re somewhere you can’t find ever. Not in a million years,” Professor Higgly said in a loving voice. Leah and Ices skipped back to the main room of the lab. The door to the dining room was closed.
“I wonder what they’re doing in there,” Leah asked Ices. Ices shrugged.
“I think that weird professor is giving them a spanking,” Ices jumped off her seat and fell to the ground on her butt.
“Yeah I agree,” Leah said even though she hardly ever agreed with Ices.
“But I didn’t hear any cries or anything. I think it’s a soundproof room. Don’t you?” She tilted her head and smiled.
Leah burst into tears. She fell to the ground while Ices ran to look for candy. But there was none. She wouldn’t wake up.
“There is no candy here,” said a bat sitting on top of a splintery cabinet. “Unless you want pills, you shouldn’t get near this cabinet.”
“Who are you?” Ices shivered. She’d never been so scared in her life.
“I’m The Bat. I live here. My parents went away when I told them I was going to live on my own, and then--”
Ices stopped The Bat before he could go on. “I know how you feel. My parents never paid any attention to me. Now they’re dead but we got an inheritance of many millions of dollars.” Now she saw the bat was crying. He was using his wings as a tissue. “Are you okay?” Ices patted the bat.
“Yeah I’m okay.” The Bat sniffed her hand. She pulled back. “Would you like to know a secret?”
Chapter 11
The Secret
“Let me know the secret Mr. Bat,” Ices said.
The Bat nodded his head. “There is a secret room. You can’t find it, but you can go in it if someone leads you there blindfolded. The only people who know about the room are the Smith sisters and Professor Higgly. I don’t know even though I helped him build that room. Even though I don’t know, I still love him for taking me in, under his wing!” The bat danced around and sang a little song. “There is a man who cares for me, There is a man who loves me, I was lonely, on the streets, I didn’t know where I belonged until he brought me home.”
“Anyways, what is in that secret room?” Ices rubbed her long, thin chin.
“Well, there are many secret rooms. Which one do you want to know about?”
“The one Macy, Cassie and Professor Higgly are in.” Ices saw Lea walk toward her. Ices quickly shoved the bat into the wooden cabinet. She heard a muffled noise and then some singing. “Hush up little bat. I don’t want my sister to know about you. She might bother you ‘till you cry. So shh.”
The bat hushed up.
“Hey sis, what’s up?” Lea said.
“Nothing.” Ices leaned against the cabinet.
Boom! The cabinet’s doors shook.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing. It’s just something.”
“Oh, are there any cookies? I want some. Are there any cookies in that cabinet?” Lea tried to push past Ices to get to the cabinet. But Ices was stronger today and pushed Lea, which caused both of them to fall down.
“Hey,” Ices grunted. “Why did you keep repeating?”
“I don’t know. I was crazy I guess.”
“You always are.” Ices and Lea got up. Ices told everything to Lea and introduced The Bat to her.
“Hello, my dear,” The Bat said.
“Hi.” Lea was blushing.
“So you live around here?” The bat said.
“No I’m just visiting the city. How about you?”
Ices explained the details about the bat. Lea sobbed again. No one knew why she was crying.
“Don’t cry my darling,” the bat said. “There is nothing to be ashamed of. You know, when I was young, my parents threw me out on the streets because I sang too much. Oh well. It’s not like you’re willing to donate money for me to go back to my family.” The Bat rubbed his puny black hands together. He snickered.
“Oh my god.” Ices said.
“What?” Leah said.
“He’s trying to con money out of you. He’s a con bat.”
The Bat slapped Ices and Leah with his sharp, black wings. Lea and Ices fell to the ground once again. The bat flew up into the air and disappeared.
“Where is the bat?” asked Ices.
Lea shook her head and stared in the direction that the bat went.
“Did you like the buffet girls?” a voice interrupted Leah and Ices.
“Yes, of course we did,” said a voice. And the figures of Cassie, Macy and Professor Higgly appeared from the darkness.
“You guys were in a buffet?” said Ices.
“Yeah.” Cassie said.
“Finally,” Leah said. “I thought you guys were getting spanked.”
“Good guess,” Cassie said. “But not correct.”
“So did Robert wake up?’ asked the Professor.
“We weren’t paying attention to him,” said Ices.
“Then what were you doing this whole time?” asked Cassie.
“Well, we were talking to this mysterious bat from a cabinet,” said Leah.
“I never knew that there was a bat in my house,’’ said Professor Higgly.
“Well there was,” said Leah.
“So could we, like, track the monster down now,” said Macy.
“Of course,” said the Professor.
“Do we have to?” said the braggers.
“Well, if you’re here then yes,” said Professor Higgly.
They all followed Cassie to the computer. Blobber was back. On the screen there was a tiny purple oval, the symbol for Blobber. According to the map, Blobber was at Disneyland.
“How did you get this information?” asked the Professor.
The girls explained about the tracking device.
Cassie and Macy grabbed two backpacks and packed a water gun, a bomb, a knife, a fork, and a spoon so if they got hungry they could eat Blobber.
“So who’s driving?” said Professor Higgly.
“Who has their driver’s license?” said Leah.
“I do,” Ices said.
They all got in Professor Higgly’s car and drove off.
Chapter 12
It’s War Time Blobber!
Professor Higgly turned the radio on as they drove toward the monster. We have an emergency! a radio reporter said. There is a big slimy monster gobbling citizens up so you better watch-The sound of something licking its lips came through the radio speaker.
“Oh my god,” Cassie said. “She got eaten.
“We better hurry up because he might eat everybody,” said Leah. They drove to the parking lot and ran to the danger spot. They saw people screaming inside Blobber’s stomach. Blobber stood in front of the teacup ride. People were still in the teacups. He picked them up, stuck his pinky finger out and said, “Pip pip cheerio.” He drank the human beings. His body was transparent. They got out of the car and Macy and Cassie passed out the weapons. The Professor had a water gun, Leah had a fork, Ices had a spoon, Cassie had a bomb, and Macy had a knife. “It’s war time Blobber,” said Macy. They approached Blobber and took their positions. Macy and Cassie noticed a man holding an Icee drink in his hand. The recognized him. he was the annoying neighbor on the plane. “Well, well, well, here are the girks,” said Blobber.
“Yeah,” Mr. Comba chuckled. “They are girks.”
“Hey, I am the only one who can use the word girks,” Professor Higgly said.
“Too bad. You are not worthy enough to say that word,” Blobber chuckled.
“We’re gonna beat your slimy butt Blobber,” Cassie said.
“Oh, what a lovely dream.” Blobber laughed like mad Call me when you idiots wake up. In the meantime, I’ll be ‘inviting’ more people to my giggly fun.” Blobber laughed once more. Professor Higgly shot water at him. Blobber chocked. “I have a little too much meat in my diet,” Blobber said. “I need to go on a diet of vegetarians.”
Chapter 13
Fight Fight Fight
Blobber’s legs melted and his arms fell off, but somehow, the melting stopped and everything grew back. His little finger popped out of his slimy body and his little toes wiggled themselves out too. He stood straight once again. Professor Higgly’s water gun ran out of ammo. Ices ran to Blobber with a spoon and started to eat him up! She poked her spoon into Blobber’s leg and stuffed the sticky jelly into her mouth. Ices’ belly grew bigger as she gobbled up the berry goo. Leah rushed to Ices and sobbed.
“You’re so fat.” Leah lightly pounded Ices’ belly. It jiggled. She stopped, stood up and took out her fork and stabbed Blobber’s leg. Juices oozed out.
“Was that the wind or was that you trying to hurt me?” Blobber said. “That doesn’t hurt.”
“It was me hurting you,” Leah said. “You should have fallen by now or be shrieking. The main point is that you should be dead by now.”
Ices and the Smith sisters saw Mr. Comba at the Icee shop next to the teacup ride. He didn’t even notice what was happening. Leah stared at the big blob. Blobber looked down at her. Blobber smiled and the more Blobber smiled, the more he shrunk. Leah sat down but never took her eyes off of him. Blobber was still staring at her. Blobber shrunk to the size of the prisoners so they all broke free. They pushed through Blobber’s transparent stomach. Jelly scattered all over the sidewalk. Mr. Comba was crushed by the mob escaping from Blobber’s body. Blobber flopped over and crumbled. Everybody but Leah cheered. Ices’ stomach jiggled and shrunk. Leah quickly joined the group for the celebration. Macy and Cassie danced a robot dance and Professor Higgly danced the tango with Ices and Leah.
A couple police cars pulled up to the scene. Officers got out of the car and arrested Mr. Comba. “Who called the police?” Mr. Comba thrashed. “Well, whoever did will pay, you hear, pay!”
“No one will,” the officer said. He pushed Mr. Comba into the police car.
Chapter 14
Hip Hip Hooray!!
“Blobber finally died!” Cassie said, holding a glass of cider.
“We no longer have to fear going to Disneyland,” said a stranger.
“Whoo!” shouted the crowd.
Professor Higgly, Macy, Ices, Cassie, and Leah joined the crowd of people from Blobber’s stomach in the line for the Haunted Mansion ride. The survivors were still covered with slime but they didn’t mind at all. Everyone clapped and whistled. All were smiling and laughing.
“This might just be the best day ever, said one of blubber’s victims. Everyone around her nodded their heads.
“We did it girls! We all did it!” Professor Higgly said.
“Yeah,” said Macy, and we couldn’t have done it without Leah and Ices.” Creepy music played and they all danced.
About the Authors
Hi! My name is Nhung. I am 10 and a half years old, and live in San Francisco with my mom and dad. I like knitting, hiking, sports, and shopping. I am good at reading, math, sports and playing games. I want to be good at English Language Arts and writing more. When I grow up I want to be a person who creates vaccines or a pediatrician. Natural disasters confuse me. Why do they happen? If I were weather I would be a sunny day so I could warm up the earth. I wish I had a big brother and sister, and I could speak at least three languages. This is my fifth published book. I am also the author of The Disaster Cake, The Flying Car, The Apple Explosion, and a biography of my mom.
Hello. My name is Michelle. I am 11 and a half years old. I live in San Francisco with a big family. I like hiking, playing sports with my friends, shopping, and going to school. I am good at many school subjects, some sports, and Nhung says I am good at talking to younger kids. I want to be good at knitting and sports. When I grow up I want to be an elementary teacher or a naturalist. If I were a food I would be a blueberry muffin because I like blueberry muffins and how most of the time they are crunchy on the outside but warm and creamy on the inside. This is my fourth published book. I am also the author of Twelve Midnight, The Apple Explosion, and The Magic Pizza.
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