Nicholas Bing, The Popcorn King

Faint traces of frost covered the driveway as Nicholas backed the fire truck out of the barn into the gray sunlight of early morning. "Looks like summer’s finally gone. It’s a perfect popcorn day," he squinted at the sky. By noon I should have the quake sensor lines attached to the popper and all will be ready for the big experiment, he thought. Nicholas slowly drove the shiny red fire truck onto the lawn and parked it by the wide front sidewalk.

That morning, Sara woke early. She reached for the telescope. Even though nearly a year had passed since her ankle cast had been removed, Sara still slept in the tower room. So many good things had occurred since she first spotted Nicholas Bing that she felt, somehow, the room had made it all happen. Even her mother and dad now called it Sara’s tower.

Focusing in on Mr. Bing’s front yard, Sara gasped, "Why he’s painted the fire truck," she whispered. "I bet the whole town will get to ride on it today."

At twelve o’clock sharp, Nicholas began popping the giant corn. The monster sized kernels made loud explosive noises as they popped within the copper water tank. People began poking their heads out of windows in the neighboring houses. Children skated over to the big house and gathered on the sidewalk beyond the picket fence.

"It sounds like the Fourth of July," laughed Carrie.

"Inside a copper pot," finished Sara.

"Boy oh boy, what’s making all that racket?" Kenny slid up to the girls on his skateboard.

"Ohhh," the crowd roared. "Look!"

The top of the water tank lifted and the giant corn began popping out of the popper. Huge fluffy cream colored popcorn sailed high into the bright blue sky and floated dreamily down into the crowd.

"Why, it’s popcorn," someone shouted, "hey, this stuff is good. Catch one and try it!"

Soon Nicholas Bing’s lawn was covered with people of all ages, scurrying around, catching the enormous popcorn and munching happily.

Finally the firecracker noises subsided and the billowing popcorn settled onto the grass beside the truck. Nicholas started the soda pop fountain to quench his guest’s thirst. When all the corn was gone he loaded the fire truck popper with more giant kernels. The loud staccato noise slowly began again.

This time he kept time on his stopwatch and, at the height of the furious popping, he pressed a switch at the side of the popper. Immediately the ground began to tremble. People’s happy shouts turned into frightened warnings as they realized that another quake was starting. Precisely three and one half seconds later, Nicholas pressed another hidden switch which activated the popping force against the swaying earth. Immediately, the ground stood still.

"Whew, glad that’s over. I wish these quakes would stop." Officer Davis looked troubled. "None of the scientists can figure out what’s causing it."

"Well, I think someone here knows what’s causing this." Sara Jennings stood, hands on hips, glaring toward Nicholas Bing, who now sat calmly in a big wicker chair on his porch, a satisfied look on his face.