CARL LET OUT A YELP. HE WAS SO SURPRISED THAT HE LET GO OF HIS BALLOON.
''DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB?'' THE GIRL DEMANDED. ''ONLY EXPLORERS GET IN HERE. NOT JUST ANY KIND OFF THE STREET WITH A HELMET AND A PAIR OF GOGGLES. DO YOU THINK YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES? WELL, DO YOU?''
CARL STAMMERED.
''ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE IN,'' SAID THE GIRL.'' WELCOME ABOARD.'' SHE HELD OUT HER HAND, BUT CARL DIDN'T TAKE IT. HE FOUND THE GIRL A BIT INTIMIDATING.
''WHAT'S WRONG?'' SHE ASKED, MORE GENTLY. ''CAN'T YOU TALK? HEY, I DON'T BITE.''
THE GIRL TOOK OFF HER HELMET AND SHOOK OUT HER MESSY RED HAIR. BUTTONS AND BADGES WERE PINNED TO THE FRONT OF HER SHIRT. SHE UNFASTENED ONE MADE OUT OF THE CAP FROM A BOTTLE OF GRAPE SODA. ''YOU AND ME, WE'RE IN A CLUB NOW,'' SHE SAID, PINNING THE CAP ONTO CARL'S SHIRT.
CARL SMILED, AND THE GIRL GRINNED BACK.
''I SAW WHERE YOUR BALLOON WENT,'' SHE SAID, LOOKING UP TOWARD THE SECOND STORY.'' COME ON, LET'S GO GET IT.
THE GIRL QUICKLY WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM, HEADING FOR THE CREAKY OLD STAIRCASE IN THE HALLWAY. CARL DIDN'T MOVE. HE WAS STILL FEELING STUNNED.
HALF A SECOND PASSED. THEN THE GIRL POPPED BACK IN WITH A QUIZZICAL LOOK ON HER FACE. CLEARLY, SHE WAS WONDERING WHY CARL HADN'T FOLLOWED. THEN SHE GRINNED, REALIZING WHAT THE PROBLEM MUST BE. SHE HAD FORGOTTEN TO INTRODUCE HERSELF!
''DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB?'' THE GIRL DEMANDED. ''ONLY EXPLORERS GET IN HERE. NOT JUST ANY KIND OFF THE STREET WITH A HELMET AND A PAIR OF GOGGLES. DO YOU THINK YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES? WELL, DO YOU?''
CARL STAMMERED.
''ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE IN,'' SAID THE GIRL.'' WELCOME ABOARD.'' SHE HELD OUT HER HAND, BUT CARL DIDN'T TAKE IT. HE FOUND THE GIRL A BIT INTIMIDATING.
''WHAT'S WRONG?'' SHE ASKED, MORE GENTLY. ''CAN'T YOU TALK? HEY, I DON'T BITE.''
THE GIRL TOOK OFF HER HELMET AND SHOOK OUT HER MESSY RED HAIR. BUTTONS AND BADGES WERE PINNED TO THE FRONT OF HER SHIRT. SHE UNFASTENED ONE MADE OUT OF THE CAP FROM A BOTTLE OF GRAPE SODA. ''YOU AND ME, WE'RE IN A CLUB NOW,'' SHE SAID, PINNING THE CAP ONTO CARL'S SHIRT.
CARL SMILED, AND THE GIRL GRINNED BACK.
''I SAW WHERE YOUR BALLOON WENT,'' SHE SAID, LOOKING UP TOWARD THE SECOND STORY.'' COME ON, LET'S GO GET IT.
THE GIRL QUICKLY WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM, HEADING FOR THE CREAKY OLD STAIRCASE IN THE HALLWAY. CARL DIDN'T MOVE. HE WAS STILL FEELING STUNNED.
HALF A SECOND PASSED. THEN THE GIRL POPPED BACK IN WITH A QUIZZICAL LOOK ON HER FACE. CLEARLY, SHE WAS WONDERING WHY CARL HADN'T FOLLOWED. THEN SHE GRINNED, REALIZING WHAT THE PROBLEM MUST BE. SHE HAD FORGOTTEN TO INTRODUCE HERSELF!
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