March of the Blue Moon

March of the Blue Moon

Elaine Donadio

Copyright © 2020 by Elaine Donadio

This book is dedicated to Giuliana, Adriano, and Vienna with love

Series: The Montgomery School Kids

Book 1: The Science Project

Book 2: The Ocean’s Way

Book 3: Who Do Voodoo?

Book 4: March of the Blue Moon

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Series: The Montgomery School Kids

Chapter 1—All Shook Up

Chapter 2—You Would Not Believe

Chapter 3—Who Would Have Thought?

Chapter 4—As Luck Would Have It

Chapter 5—For the Win

Chapter 6—Some You Win, Some You Lose

Chapter 7—Breaking Code

Chapter 8—Teach a Man to Fish

Chapter 9—Stranger Than Fiction

Chapter 10—Date With Destiny

Chapter 11—Shape Shifters of the Shinulaktup

Chapter 12—Rise and Shine

Chapter 13—Heads Up

Chapter 14—Subliminal Messages

Chapter 15—Creepypasta: The Alaska Triangle

Chapter 16—Gun It, Samuel!

Chapter 17—A Vision With a Dream: Lance Mackey

Chapter 18—Because They Have a Song

Chapter 19—Yes, We Have Duck Farts

Chapter 20—Barely There Bears

Chapter 21—No Waste Human Waste

Chapter 22—Nocturnal Flourescence: Aurora Borealis

Chapter 23—Accepting Fate: The Gold Rush

Chapter 24—Tempting Fate: The Alaska Pipeline

Chapter 25—Twist of Fate: Disasters

Chapter 26—Because It’s There

Chapter 27—Cataclysmic Fate: Arctic Dinosaurs

Chapter 28—Contentious Fate: the North Pole

Chapter 29—Precarious Fate: The Arctic Circle

Chapter 30—Usually Naughty, Sometimes Nice

Chapter 31—For Seriously?

Chapter 32—Copacetic Commutations

About the Author

Books by Elaine Donadio

Other Books

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

All Shook Up

Everything was fine until it wasn’t. Or so I thought.

I had settled into my routine, managing to stay out of trouble since I just became a semi-celebrity at school. My best friend Phil got hurt and had to miss school for a few days so I had a chance to shine for once. From zero to hero! Just like that! It only lasted until Phil came back and took over as super cool dude. But, hey, I’m still working on my image.

I was at the top of my game for a couple of days and I liked it. I still need more practice, but believe me when I tell you there was only one way for me to go, and that was up. I drove a lot of kids crazy. Teased until they wanted revenge. Nobody gets popular that way. To be honest, I was as low as I could get, but sometimes life hands you a chance on a silver platter. Zoom! Right to the top.

That’s when it happened.

My father called out of the blue to invite me and my mom to visit him in Alaska. My dad went there to start a lumber business. We didn’t hear from him for the last four months. No explanation. He just called like nothing happened. Sure, I missed him a lot but I wanted him to feel bad when he got back in touch with us. Not just, Hi. It’s me. Why don’t the two of you come up for a visit?

I had serious anger issues right then and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see him. My mom said she couldn’t take off from work but I think it was an excuse.

So, that left me.

I eavesdropped on the one-way conversation even though Mom asked me to go to my room so she could talk without me hearing. Alejandro, are you forgetting our son is only eleven years old? You want him to travel alone to some forest in Alaska?

Things were quiet for a minute.

What? Now you’re telling me you moved. No more forest? And you never bothered to tell me. Hmmm. You’re sorry. Is that all you have to say?

More silence.

Yes, I’m sure you miss Nestor. And me. Of course you do.

Mom was really mad.

I thought I was off the hook for a minute. I couldn’t hear what my dad said, but I heard my mom loud and clear, Are you saying Nestor can bring a friend and you’ll pay for everything? Really? I’ll have to call you back. I need to think.

He must have made some big bucks over there to offer to pay for me and one of my friends. My dad never had extra money. That’s why he went to Alaska in the first place. Maybe he was rich now. That would be a switch.

I was on a roll with my self-improvement.

This could interrupt my flow. What if I didn’t get it back?

I could hear Mom banging pots and pans in the kitchen.

Nestor, please come out here. I know you’re listening.

What’re you talking about?

I see the shadow of your feet under the door and I hear you breathing.

Man, sometimes I think my mom is related to the Bionic Woman. I flopped down next to her on the living room couch and gave her one of my charming smiles. I’m not going. It’s not in my best interest right now.

I explained my reasons.

Mom explained hers.

Mom won.

You’re going. That’s it. You can go during spring break. See if you can get one of your friends to go with you.

My friends don’t like Alaska.

Then Grandpa will have to come from Florida to travel with you.

That’s crazy for Grandpa to come all the way to New York City. It’s cold enough here. You think he’ll want to go to freezing Alaska and leave eighty degree weather? I love my grandfather but when you’re eleven you don’t want someone hugging you in public all day.

The choice is yours. A friend or Grandpa.

Aren’t I still punished? I’m not allowed out after school or weekends for another bunch of weeks. Remember?

At times like this, being punished can come in handy.

This is important to your father and important to our family.

But, Mom …

We have to give him a chance to make things right.

But, Mom …

Please, Nestor. I’m counting on you.

What could I say?

Chapter 2

You Would Not Believe

I went into my room to text Phil: Can you come to Alaska with me during spring break?

Phil texted me back: Are you out of your mind?

I’m serious. My dad wants us to go to Alaska for a visit but my mom can’t. My dad said he’ll pay for a friend to come with me. That friend would be you.

My phone rang. It was Phil.

What’s going on? I thought you didn’t know where your father was.

I told Phil about the phone call. My mom said we can go during spring break. Easter is in a few weeks. We have off from school anyway.

Why can’t your mom go with you?

She’s scheduled to work at the hospital. The other nurses want to be with their families on holidays so she won’t be able to get someone to cover for her. At least, that’s her story and she’s sticking to it.

Wow! I’ve never been to Alaska. My parents are still really mad about New Orleans, but … do you want to hold on while I go talk to them? I’m putting the phone down.

OK.

I forgot to mention when Phil and I went to New Orleans a few weeks ago to straighten out some of his family problems, we had the adventure of a lifetime with some lowlife people. We made some dumb decisions that almost got us killed. It was so cool! Phil got hurt and that’s why he wasn’t in school. That’s why I got to tell all the kids the story that gave me the chance at fame. Boy, was Phil mad!

We got a two-month sentence each. Our parents talked it over and agreed on how we should be punished. We were hoping we could get some time knocked off for good behavior, but it hasn’t been long enough yet for us to make the appeal.

There was a lot of yelling in the background. In between I heard a calm, quiet voice that I knew belonged to Phil. He was already twelve and sounds grown up when he talks. I couldn’t hear what Mr. and Mrs. Williams said other than something about when hell freezes over.

Nestor, are you still there?

Yeah.

It’s a no go. Sorry.

Bummer. My mom said I’ll have to go with my grandfather if I can’t get a friend to go with me.

What about Kwan Min?

You think he’ll be able to go? Won’t his parents be worried if he goes to a foreign country?

What foreign country?

Alaska.

Nestor, Alaska is part of the United States.

But it’s so far away.

It’s our 49th state.

That’s right. Forgot about that.

Listen, I have to go. Dinner’s ready. Give Kwan Min a shout out and let me know how it goes. ‘Bye.

Yeah. ‘Bye.

Kwan Min? I never would have thought of him on my own. He came to this country from South Korea last September. Remember I told you about giving up my evil ways? Well, I’m ashamed to admit it but I drove that kid nuts. All I did was tease him and give him a hard time. I admit I hated him because he was new to the country and new to the school and kids liked him more than they liked me. Even though he hardly knew any English, he was smart and tried hard. Our final battle was in science class when he siced his toad on my science project, little Hector the Cockroach. I learned my lesson the hard way. There was a happy ending and we’ve been friends ever since. Not best friends—because that’s Phil—but good friends.

It was worth a try.

I texted Kwan Min: Can I come over in a little while?

Everything good?

Yes. I have a question for you.

You need to come here to ask question?

Yeah.

Sounds like big deal question.

You have no idea.

Chapter 3

Who Would Have Thought?

I walked the few blocks from my apartment over to Kwan Min’s house. I made sure to pass by Holly’s house, hoping she’d be outside, but no luck. All girls should be like Holly. The problem is her best friend, Jasmine, my most bitter enemy since Kindergarten, lives on the same block, so they’re always together. I call them Beauty and the Beast. Guess which one’s the beast? To make matters worse, I’m in the same Science class with Holly, Jasmine, and Kwan Min. We’ve had some crazy situations, but that’s a story for another time.

I know where Kwan Min lives but I never went inside before. I wasn’t sure if his parents were at home, or how they would react to me. The whole neighborhood knows how I bothered Kwan Min and tripped Jasmine in science class and how they got me back. And, of course, my escapade with Phil in New Orleans was big neighborhood news. Everyone knew we weren’t allowed out, and to tell the truth, it was embarrassing. It’s one thing to be a jerk in school, but another thing to be a jerk in life. What if Kwan Min’s parents thought I was a bad influence? What if they knew about the old me and wouldn’t even allow me in? What if I just went home and took Grandpa with me?

Hey, Nestor. Come in. My parents looking forward to meeting you. Kwan Min was waiting for me at his front door.

Really?

They always want to meet my friends, especially you.

Why especially me?

When I tell my father what happened in science class, he thinks you funny guy.

Oh, no.

Then, when I tell him about you and Phil in New Orleans, he say, ‘These American boys not so much like Korean boys. Most Korean boys too busy obeying so not too much chance to have crazy adventure. Very funny but not so smart.’

See what I mean?

Come, please, but take sneakers off. I saw a bunch of shoes next to the door and placed mine in the lineup. I checked my socks to make sure I wasn’t wearing any weird superheroes or cartoon characters on my feet. Phew! Plain white ones today.

Mr. and Mrs. Park came to the door to say hello. Mr. Park bowed, Happy to meet you, Nestor. I didn’t know if I should bow back but I did some fast thinking.

I remembered a TV show I saw where this kid was trying to impress his friend’s parents. I bowed back, It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.

Then, I faced Mrs. Park and bowed, And I am also happy to meet you, Madame Park. Mrs. Park flashed such a big smile at me that I knew I did the right thing. I decided then and there to watch that show more often.

Kwan Min shot me a quick look. OK, so maybe I was laying it on a little thick but I had to live down my reputation. Mr. Park said, We leave you boys alone so you can talk.

Actually, Mr. and Mrs. Park, I would like for you both to stay. What I came to ask is something that needs your permission. Kwan Min is hearing this for the first time. Can Kwan Min come to Alaska with me to visit my father during spring break?

I’m not sure which one of them looked the most surprised. Kwan Min was the first to talk, Of all things that go through my brain when I try to guess what question you have, Alaska did not come into my head.

So, Nestor, we know you are boy with many stories. This must be long one. Let us sit in living room to hear. Mr. Park led the way.

Mrs. Park served hot tea with home made rice cakes. It was really good and helped to calm the butterflies in my stomach.

Please start at beginning, Mr. Park said.

That’s exactly where I started, not leaving out any details.

In which city does father live? asked Mrs. Park.

Anchor something. I don’t remember the full name.

Is it Anchorage? Mrs. Park asked.

Yes. That’s it. Do you know this place?

Yes, Mr. Park answered. My wife’s uncle live in Anchorage for many years. He has insurance company. Very smart man with no sons. Maybe he teach Kwan Min how to do good business. I talk with Mrs. Park. Later we call uncle.

Really?

Kwan Min was excited, Maybe I have adventure like American boys. I tell stories like you and Phil. I shine like bright star. I have much to learn.

We’ll both have stories to tell. I wanted to tell him he was already shining too much but I decided to keep my mouth shut. I was worried about losing my momentum but that was even before Kwan Min was in the mix. This popularity thing’s a lot of work. No slacking off or somebody else comes along and knocks