Nicholas Mickelby

Crawling low, Nicholas made it to his friends. Behind the old skiff, they hid. Nicholas knelt at the bow, two feet back from its the narrow tip. He shook his head in despair at his lost pack, house keys, and warm clothes. He felt a tap on his right shoulder.

“Look, Nic,” whispered Jason. “There she is!”

Nicholas couldn’t believe his eyes. An old, jet-black boat of a car rolled in. The windows were tinted so dark that Nicholas couldn’t see inside. He could tell that there was only one driver. It was huge, wearing a wide-brimmed summer hat. And it had huge, hunched shoulders. The boys ducked lower as it passed by. It veered right, onto the narrow slope of grass next to the work shed. Nicholas, a good fifty yards away, wanted to get closer. He had to see more . . . maybe he might get his pack back as the keeper locked up. That is, if it walked the tower. It would be all the time Nicholas would need.

“What are you doing, Nic?” asked Jason, holding him back.

“I need to get closer,” Nicholas replied.

“Huh? Are you crazy?” Isaak asked.

“No,” Nicholas answered, “I forgot my backpack.”

Jason burst into a short laugh. “Figures.”

“Hey, where are you guys going?” Nicholas asked as his friends edged away.

“You kidding? I’m not staying here,” said Jason.

Isaak nodded, walking ahead of Jason along the tree line.

“Thanks a lot!” Nicholas whispered loudly. But there had to be a chance! Wouldn’t the keeper need to go up the tower? Nicholas thought so. That’s when Nicholas would move and sneak up to the door, grab his backpack, and run!

Just as Nicholas edged closer, the car door creaked open. It was a huge door, one that sagged. But what stepped out was bigger.

A humungous, fat leg swung out, then another. Nicholas couldn’t see its face, but he knew it was an old woman, not a man. Smooth legs, orangey nylons, and a drooping, white and pink-flowered dress that drooped like a shower curtain. She stood and pulled a shiny metal cane with her. She leaned to the left as she walked. A white, rubber stop on her cane was loose; it squeaked with every step. Her huge hat covered her entire face down to her chin. Her face was well hidden.