CHAPTER EIGHT

Midnight Surprise

I’d been lying in bed for hours, but I couldn’t sleep. Too much stuff was on my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about my big mess of lies. Did I really think that giving my teacher a forged note would solve my problem? I sure as heck didn’t have any answers.

What I really needed was a good night’s rest. Instead I was sleeping on the floor of my grandpa’s room. He wasn’t a sleepwalker, but he sure was a sleepfarter.

And it was really hot in his room. It appeared that Mom had raised the temperature in the whole house to accommodate our Lizardian houseguests. What I needed was a tall glass of milk. That always made me sleepy.

I quietly went to the kitchen. As I approached, I heard strange noises. Two figures in the darkness were hissing at each other. It was Lonnie and Bob! They were carrying large bags from the backyard, through the kitchen, and into the basement. Part of me wanted to wake Dad up and tell him what was happening. But if it was a false alarm, I’d get in trouble. What would a hero do? I wondered. The League of Lizards were our new friends, so it wasn’t as if they were up to something bad. Or were they? I had to make sure, so I flipped on the lights.

“Hey there!” I said as Lonnie and Bob stopped dead in their tracks. They were so surprised that they almost dropped their cargo. “What’s going on here?”

Bob looked me up and down. “None of your business, kid,” he scoffed. Lonnie and Bob went back to work, but I wasn’t done with them just yet.

“It kind of is my business,” I said, “since it’s my house and all. So tell me what you’re doing—please.” I was surprised at how good I was becoming at laying down the tough talk. Mom would’ve been proud, especially since I said please.

“Wanna bet?” Bob said, punching his fists together. He definitely didn’t look like a kid to me now. He looked like an angry, short lizard adult.

“Well, hey there, Peter!” Lenn said, appearing at the basement door. He stepped in front of Bob, giving him a dirty look. But then he smiled for me. “It sure is late for a li’l boy to be awake. What’re you doin’ up?”

“I needed a glass of milk. What are you two doing moving heavy bags through the house in the middle of the night?” I asked.

Lenn smiled a big smile and made sure to look me square in the eyes. “Well, we’re just so gosh-darn thankful to your folks for putting us up that we decided to plan a fun surprise for tomorrow. It’d be a tootin’ shame if it got spoiled. You won’t tell yer pappy about this, will ya, Peter?”

Now I felt bad for giving them the third degree. Sure, Bob was a little rough around the edges, but Lenn was as nice as could be. Plus, I loved surprises! Who doesn’t love surprises? But I had to keep my cool.

“Surprises! I love surprises!” I said. My mouth sure had a mind of its own. “I won’t tell anyone, Lenn. Don’t you worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Aw, thanks, Peter,” Lenn said. “Now, you run on back to bed and rest up! It’s going to be a big day tomorrow. Remember—SHHHHHH! Don’t tell.”

At first I had been skeptical of Lenn and the League of Lizards. I thought they were up to no good just because they looked different. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was being unfair. Lenn and his family were planning a cool surprise for my family. What a nice thing to do!

“Night, Lenn!” I said, heading back to bed.

I never did get that glass of milk, but I didn’t care. Yet as I drifted off to sleep, trying to think of tomorrow’s big surprise, I found my brain wandering back to what Gavin had said about how to lie well. But why was I thinking of that? Who cares? I thought, then drifted off to sleep.