CHAPTER SIX

Houseguests

I wanted only one thing in life—to be a superhero. I thought about it every single day. But being a hero is about more than just having superpowers. It’s about standing up for justice and truth. I seemed to be having trouble remembering that part. How could I possibly be a hero after lying to my teacher so many times? What was I going to do?

The whole situation bummed me out. I came home that afternoon, ready to focus on rewriting my report, but Mom threw a wrench into my plans the minute I walked into the house.

“Peter, you remember Lenn, don’t you?” Mom said, sitting at the kitchen table with the leader of the Lizard League and his family.

“Uh… I… um… yes?” I stuttered. Lizard people were in my house. Calm down, Peter, I thought. They’re probably very nice.

“This is his wife, Lana, and their twin boys, Lonnie and Bob. The mayor asked a handful of local families to host our new friends until they can find places to live. Lenn, Lana, Lonnie, and Bob will be staying with us for a few weeks.”

At first, I thought my parents must be crazy for taking in Lenn and his family, but then I thought about what Dad said. We had to make our guests feel welcome and accepted. Once we got to know one another, we might even find out we’re not so different. That’s what being a hero is all about. I decided it was time to embrace the lizard people.

“HELLO, DEAR FRIENDS!” I exclaimed, hugging Lenn, then Lana, then Lonnie, and finally Bob. Bob seemed annoyed. He also didn’t look like a little boy. But what did I know about Lizardians? “Welcome to the Powers family! Make yourselves right at home. Does anyone need a refreshment? The bathroom is down the hall on the right, and there are bugs all over the backyard if you’re hungry. Mi casa es su casa! That’s Spanish for ‘My house is your house.’”

Mom smiled. I could tell she was proud of me. “I’m glad you feel that way, Peter,” she said.

“Of course!” I replied cheerfully. “Being nice is its own reward. And friends really are the best presents. I read that on a pillow once. I’m not sure I understand what it means, but I just love it, don’t you?”

The lizard people shook their heads.

“Speaking of pillows, hope you don’t mind lizard slobber on yours,” Gavin said to me. “’Cause Lenn’s family is staying in your room.”

“Yeah, right.” I laughed nervously. But when I saw Mom’s face, I realized Gavin wasn’t kidding. “Wait, seriously?”

Mom didn’t miss a beat. She grabbed Gavin and me by the shoulders and squeezed, which meant, Don’t freak out. “Yes, seriously. Lenn and Lana will stay in your room.”

Gavin pointed at me and laughed.

Then Mom added, “And Lonnie and Bob will stay in Gavin’s room. He’ll bunk with Felicia.”

Gavin’s eyes widened with anger and his face turned red. “WHAT?! UGH! THIS IS NO FAIR!” he whined, stomping off in a huff.

“So, um, where am I sleeping?” I asked.

“You’ll be sleeping in Grandpa’s room. I already made him promise to light a scented candle so it doesn’t smell like broccoli soup,” Mom said.

“Gee, Mrs. Powers, y’all are so nice to us lizard folk,” Lenn said, flicking his lizard tongue all around. “We couldn’t ask for a nicer host family.”

“We’re happy to do it, aren’t we, Peter?” Mom said. She squeezed my shoulder again.

“Yup. Soooo happy,” I said, forcing myself to smile.

After I gathered some clothes and a sleeping bag, I went to Grandpa’s room. Grandpa was my best friend in the whole world—but staying in the same room with him? That was another story. Sometimes he farted without knowing it. And it smelled like something died. (Probably from eating bugs and who knows what else.) I knocked on Grandpa’s door and poked my head inside.

“Come in quickly, Peter!” Grandpa said in a loud whisper. “Close the door behind you real tight. It’s hot out there. Your mom turned off the air-conditioning for those lizards.”

“They seem nice,” I said, sitting down at the end of Grandpa’s bed and letting out a lengthy sigh.

“Exactly. They seem nice,” Grandpa said. “Doesn’t mean I trust ’em.”

SNIFF. SNIFF.

The room smelled like a fart. Grandpa’s were often silent, but deadly.