“S-s-s-s-o c-c-cold in-n-n-n there,” they said with chattering teeth and body shivers. “We g-g-g-give up!”

“Great plan!” Dad said. “Lizards hate the cold. Peter turned the house into one big fridge and drove them out. Brilliant idea, son.”

Getting a compliment from Dad was one of the best feelings in the world. But as soon as he slapped me on the back, I fainted. Yup, I was out cold.

I guess using my powers like that really took its toll on me. When I finally woke up, my parents (as their superhero alter egos) and the police had rounded up the rest of the Lizard League and were escorting them to police vans.

“We believed in you, Lenn. We trusted you,” Fireman said. “Why’d you do it?”

“I’m so ashamed about this here mess. We didn’t mean to do y’all any harm, sir,” Lenn said. “We just got so sick of living in those cold, dark caverns underground. And y’all have such nice warm houses up here. I guess we thought the League of Lizards could take ’em and y’all could find new places to live. Sounds silly now that I say it out loud.”

Flygirl shook her head. “But why lie once the people of Boulder City welcomed you into their homes?” she asked. “Why didn’t you just tell them the truth from the beginning?”

“I wish I knew,” Lenn said, shaking his head. “Lyin’ is what us Lizardians are good at, I reckon. Never trust anyone with a forked tongue, I always say.”

“TOLD YA!” Grandpa shouted.