CHAPTER 4
How Can I Save You?
The next day, Ellie peeked into the backyard shed. It was as spooky as a super-villain’s lair. The whole thing was filled with darkness and forked things and — gasp! — cobwebs.
“Spiders!” Ellie said, trembling. The thought of them gave her the creeps. Spiders were worse than a vampire bat.
Spiders or no spiders, I need supplies for the schoolyard habitat, she thought. Tomorrow is the first day of Earth Week. I have to get started on my project.
Blinking on her X-ray vision, Ellie scanned the shed for eight-legged foes. Her eyebeams crossed over a wheelbarrow, then snaked around shelves. They finally stopped on a rolled-up sow bug.
Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. “All clear.”
While Super Fluffy held the to-do list, Ellie gathered supplies. She grabbed seeds, potting soil, and tulip bulbs. Comet-quick, she collected everything but the garden sink.
“Uh-oh!” Ellie suddenly exclaimed. “I forgot a shovel.”
She shuffled toward the wall, a tower of tools swaying in her arms. Just then, a small spider crawled out of the handle. It skittered up the pole, moving closer and closer toward Ellie’s hand.
“SPIDER!” Ellie screeched. She tossed her arms into the air. Bags, bulbs, and the rest of the supplies flew everywhere.
CLUNK! CLUNK! CLUNK! They rained down as Ellie and Super Fluffy bolted out of the shed.
Racing past Dad’s anti-gravity tomato plants, Ellie escaped into the house. “Phew!” she said, sighing with relief. “Safe from that evil arachnid and its fearsome fangs of terror!”
Confused, Super Fluffy tilted his head. He didn’t seem to understand Ellie’s panic. He thought the spider had seemed rather ordinary.
“Okay, maybe the spider wasn’t totally evil,” Ellie admitted. But still, she didn’t want to be anywhere near it.
After smoothing her cape, Ellie read the to-do list carefully: Dig out a space. Make a brush pile. Plant all sorts of flowers.
While she read, each responsibility piled onto her super shoulders. It felt as heavy as a blue whale.
Ellie realized she couldn’t carry the whole project by herself. If she was going to save the world, she really did need help.
Super Fluffy cast a look at Ellie. “I know what you’re thinking, Fluffster,” Ellie said. “I should split the work with Hannah. She’s my partner, and it’s a team project. But this project is about rescuing Earth. A superhero can’t ask for help doing that. It’s cuckoo bananas!”
Ellie plopped down at the kitchen table to think. How could she do the project alone? It was too much work for one superhero. If only there were two of her.
Suddenly, an orange glow caught Ellie’s super eye. On the table was the Ultra Copy Button.
“If Dad can use the button to help finish a project, why can’t I do the same?” Ellie wondered aloud. “I can make another Ellie to share the work. Then I’d save the day all by myself, exactly like a superhero should!”
Ellie stuffed the invention into her pocket. She was extra proud of her brilliant brainstorm. The project was no match for Ellie Ultra — times two!
* * *
That night, Ellie video-chatted with Mom on the Ultra Face-to-Face Phone. She wanted to share her do-gooding deed for Earth Day.
“I’m making a schoolyard habitat,” Ellie told her mom. “It’s for our classroom’s Earth Day Showcase. Families can come see it. Will you get home in time?”
“I hope so,” Mom replied onscreen. “In the meantime, happy planting! Just don’t plant any cornflowers, okay? They’ll attract zombie groundhogs.”
“Okay,” Ellie agreed. She puckered up and blew Mom a kiss goodbye. Then she handed the phone to Dad and flew to her room.
After finishing homework, Ellie pulled out the Ultra Copy Button. It glowed brightly on her finger. She clapped her hands, pressing the button, and… FLASH! Ellie #2 appeared!
The copy stood before Ellie, ready for action. “Ellie Ultra at your super service!” she said excitedly. “How can I save you?”
Wow, I’m all set to help out, Ellie thought. How super of me!
Ellie stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Ellie,” she replied. “I’m the original Ellie. I got myself into a bit of a mess. That’s where you come in. With your help, I can clean up everything!”
“Everything?” Ellie #2 echoed. Her eyes darted from the floor to the bookshelf. “Consider it done!”
Like a firecracker, the copy exploded into the air and zoomed out of the room. Instantly she returned with a broom and a dust cloth. She swept Ellie’s floor. She dusted Ellie’s bookshelf.
Ellie watched in amazement as her clone put her entire comic book collection — from Astro Ant to the Zombie-Eating Pumpkin — in order.
Just then Super Fluffy bounded into the room. He had been playing outside, and his hair was a messy mop.
“Yikes! That dog needs a bath!” Ellie #2 said. Without waiting for a response, she whisked him off to the bathroom. Moments later, she brought back a sparkling clean Super Fluffy.
Ellie’s copy tied a pretty bow on his head. Super Fluffy just stared helplessly at his original owner.
“Whoa, Ellie!” Ellie exclaimed, coming to her pup’s rescue. “I didn’t mean for you to clean my room — or my dog. I need help with a team project at school.” She handed over the to-do list.
Ellie #2 scanned the list up and down. “Plant flowers? Make a brush pile? Sure! I can do that. No super sweat.”
Ellie smiled. “I bet you can do everything — single-handedly!” She high-fived Ellie #2, being careful not to erase her copy with the Ultra Copy Button. After all, the planet needed them!
“Go, Team Earth!” Ellie cheered.