The Prankster's Lesson

On a lousy afternoon after a bad day at school,
I was stomping down the street with my trusty duffel bag slung around my shoulder.

My name is Brody.

"Why do we have to go camping with our troop anyway?," I grumbled
still tramping towards the bus that would take me to
mosquitoes, prickly pines and cold food:  camping.

When we got there, I almost opened a can of soda,
though better of it, shook it up and
gave it to our leader.  And turned around so he wouldn't see me smirking.

Everyone heard him open the can
and when it sprayed him,
I whirled around in sync with everyone else
gaping, trying my best to look innocent.

That night while everyone was asleep after creepy ghost story.
I sneaked out of my tent soundlessly.
I could hear the crickets chirping,
inhaling the aroma of pine as I padded along in my socks and moaned 3 times pretty dramatically,
then with 1 last groan I scrambled back to my tent, panting hard.

Well, I don't know exactly what happened but I did get spanked.

Today our leader was going on about something about not going into the forest.
That night I slept like a log prepared for my journey the next day.
After breakfast I sneaked out into the so-called "Forbidden Forest" aka. Shady Waters.
5 minutes later I was sitting by the spring drinking cool water, when I saw a red flash.
Next thing I knew I was being chased by a coyote
while I was screaming and yelling, "Eeek! Help me!! I'm being chased by a coyote!!"
I tripped over a rock and howled in pain.
An adult came and scared the coyote away
and then gave basic first-aid to my bleeding ankle.
Only then did I realize that it was my leader that helped me.
Through chapped lips I mumbled,

"How did you know I was here?"
"I heard your cries for help and I came immediately," he said still wrapping the bandages,
"Next time though remember it's important to listen and to respect adults.
I suddenly realized that respecting adults could get you out of big trouble.
I apoligized to him.

Now I am very polite to everyone, especially adults.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

This is a brief book descripion about an intriguing book called Chasing Vermeer.  I would recommend this book especially if you're interested in mysteries.

Join Calder and Petra as they follow the trail of the thief of a famous Vermeer painting, A Lady Writing.  (That lady is definitely not me. ) :-)  They work together as they follow a mysterious trail of coincidences and they find help in unexpected places.

With mysterious codes and clues, will Calder and Petra be able to rescue A Lady Writing?  Read this book to find out.