chapter 2
Which Is an Absolute Tragedy (Prepare Your Handkerchiefs!)
Jackson was furious.
It was not fair.
It was not his fault.
He seethed as he stomped outside, pounding his feet as hard as he could against the kitchen floor, then slammed the door shut.
He growled as he walked over to the pool and picked up the net.
“Not my fault … Why am I the one getting in trouble?” he muttered.
Jackson fumed as he remembered what had happened. He had run up the stairs to his room to grab his notebook because he had a great idea for a story. He opened his bedroom door and there was his little brother, giggling, sitting on the floor and clutching a magic marker. And Jackson’s heart fell into his stomach.
His brother had doodled all over his notebook.
Jackson snatched the book from his hands, ignoring his brother’s wails. “What are you doing?” he yelled.
Jackson opened the notebook.
Every single page was ruined.
Doodles and scribblings on every page. Cross-outs and thick lines, scratching out what Jackson had written.
“You. are. such. a. BRAT!” Jackson screamed.
His little brother’s bottom lip stuck out and his eyes filled with tears. His mouth opened wide as he inhaled loudly.
“Stop …” Jackson began. But he was interrupted by the siren that came rushing out of his little brother’s mouth. He turned and ran crying down the hallway to his mother’s room. Jackson followed angrily, his ruined notebook in hand.
“He’s only five. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing, Jackson,” his mom said gently, holding his little brother on her lap.
“He ruined my stories!” Jackson spluttered.
“I know he did, and I’m very sorry for that. But you should have put your notebook away, where he couldn’t find it. You need to keep things out of sight. You know how curious he is,” his mother said.
Jackson turned and whipped his notebook across the room. It hit the wall with a THWACK and then slid to the floor. Jackson felt better. For a moment.
“I think you need to cool off before we finish talking,” said Mrs. Jones. “You can cool off cleaning out the pool.”