GoldieBlox Chapter Book #1

by Stacy McAnulty

  “Sorry.” Goldie patted her chest. “It got away from me.”

  “That was gross,” Ruby said, but she was laughing under her scowl.

  “I’ve heard better,” Val said, not looking up from her notes.

  “No way!” Goldie said. She was always up for a challenge. Any challenge. She searched through her backpack and pulled out a device the size of a deck of cards.

  “What is that?” Val asked.

  “A sound meter,” Goldie said. “Let’s see who has the best burp.”

  “Don’t you mean let’s hear?” Val smiled. She opened her bottle of fizzy water and guzzled half of it.

  Well, that’s not fair, Goldie thought.

  Val squeezed her eyes and mouth closed. She tilted her head. Goldie and Ruby watched. Seconds ticked off the clock. Val looked like she might explode.

  “Val, are you okay?” Ruby whispered.

  Then Val opened her mouth and burped. She aimed it right at the sound meter. The noise was impressive. She turned it around to show Goldie and Ruby the results.

  Sixty-five decibels.

  “Nice,” Goldie said. “My turn.”

  She drank. She ate. She belched into the machine.

  Sixty-seven decibels.

  “Yes!” Goldie cheered. Her first had probably been even louder, but still, she was the champion.

  Or so she thought. Val pulled the sound meter out of her hands and gave it to Ruby.

  “No way,” Ruby said. “We’re not in kindergarten.”

  “A kindergartner couldn’t burp that loud,” Goldie said.

  “Chicken,” Val said. That was all Ruby needed.

  Without even taking a drink, Ruby held the sound meter to her mouth and BUUUURRRRPed. Goldie and Val looked at each other, their ears ringing. They knew they’d been beaten.

  Seventy-nine decibels.

  “That has to be a world record,” Goldie said.

  “You think so?” Ruby looked it up on her minicomputer. It wasn’t a record. Not even close. The top burp was about one hundred and ten decibels. “People actually enter burping contests.”

  “You should do it,” Goldie said. “With some practice, you could be a champion. I could help you train.”

  When lunch was over, they walked to gym class together, still giggling. And when the teacher told them to form three-person teams to play basketball, the girls didn’t even need to ask each other. They were a team.

  “Just don’t call us Gearheads,” Val said.

  “Okay,” Goldie said. But she secretly believed they’d come around to the name.

  Ruby wasn’t as good at basketball as she was at burping. But luckily, Goldie had brought an extra pair of her floaty sneakers. Val dribbled the ball up the court like a pro, and Ruby and Goldie could slam-dunk, thanks to the sneakers.

  They scored and scored ten more times, winning the game.

  “That’s not fair,” Zeek complained. He was on the losing team. “It’s because of those sneakers.”

  “There are no rules about sneakers,” Ruby said as she high-fived Goldie.

  Zeek called out to his Butler Phone. “Order me a pair of those flying sneakers,” he demanded.

  “You can’t buy them, Zeek,” Goldie explained. “I invented them. I could make you a pair if you want.”

  Zeek stormed off the court. “I’m done. I have a cramp.” His Butler Phone followed him, apologizing for not being able to order the sneakers.

  “You guys should transfer to the Blox School,” Goldie said. “We’d have so much fun.”

  “It would be fun, but Val and I belong at Higgs Bozon. You understand, right?” Ruby asked.

  Goldie’s heart sank. “Yeah, I understand.”

  The ice cream dinner at the new Blox School had been Val’s idea. Three courses of ice cream, with milk shakes to drink. No way could the mayor be grumpy after all that ice cream. And they needed him to be in a good mood.

  Goldie and Nacho rode a skateboard to the Blox School. Goldie had fitted a cooler with souped-up wheels and a motor to tow the ice cream. They brought seven flavors, including gooey dog biscuit. Goldie also packed a suitcase filled with emergency supplies.

  “This is it, Nacho,” Goldie said. “Tonight will change my future forever.”

  Nacho barked in agreement.

  Val and Ruby arrived early to help set up. They’d never seen someone use an electric drill to mix milk shakes.

  “That’s genius,” Ruby said.

  Val and Ruby moved a table to the front classroom. Goldie covered it with a shimmery cloth that changed colors with the temperature.

  “Goldie, what’s in there?” Val asked, pointing to the suitcase by the door.

  “Please tell me it’s nothing that will blast off,” Ruby added.

  “I promise. No rockets.” Goldie didn’t want to tell anyone what she had brought.

  Li joined them. He rode his skateboard from room to room, making sure everything in the school was perfect.

  Crash!

  “I’m okay,” Li yelled.

  “Focus, people. Val, keep a lookout,” Ruby ordered. “Is everything ready?” She used her minicomputer to review the details and check off each item.

  “We’re golden!” Goldie smiled.

  “They’re here,” Val said a second later, and Nacho barked.

  They all huddled around the door. Goldie took a deep breath.

  A large black SUV came to a stop next to the school. The back doors automatically opened. Zeek got out first, and then Mayor Zander. The mayor was frowning. He looked grumpy.

  “We may need more ice cream,” Goldie whispered.

  Mayor Zander eyed the school like it was a trap. “What is this?” he yelled. Even from inside, they could hear him.

  “It’s the Blox School,” Zeek said. “You closed it a few weeks ago because of a hole in the roof. But now it’s fixed. It needs to be reopened.”

  “All this school needs is a few minutes with a wrecking ball,” the mayor said. He turned around to get back in the car.

  “Oh no! He’s not coming in,” Ruby said.

  Li pushed open the door. “Your Majesty Mayor, sir. Wait. We have ice cream.”

  The mayor ignored Li. “Zeek, get in the car. We’re leaving.”

  Ruby and Val ran outside, too.

  “Stop.” Val held up her hand.

  “You can’t go. We’ve worked so hard,” Ruby begged.

  The mayor ignored their pleas. Goldie knew what she had to do. She grabbed her suitcase and found what she needed. Less than a minute later, she had it set up in front of an open window.

  She aimed.

  She pulled the lever.

  Boom!

  The net cannon fired perfectly.

  “Hey, it worked,” she said to Nacho, slightly amazed.

  The net landed on the mayor.

  “I’m trapped!” he screamed. He fought against the ropes but only got more tangled.

  “Don’t struggle!” Goldie yelled to him. But it was too late. The mayor was completely wrapped up. He tripped and fell to the ground.

  “You killed the mayor!” Ruby screamed.

  Goldie ran over to Mayor Zander.

  “I’m not dead,” he grumbled.

  “See, he’s breathing.” Goldie gave Ruby two thumbs up.

  “And talking,” Val pointed out.

  “Untangle me!” the mayor ordered.

  Ruby pulled one way. Li pulled another. They weren’t getting anywhere.

  “Wait,” Goldie said. “I’ve got scissors to cut you free. But first, I need you to listen to us.”

  “I don’t want to be part of this.” Zeek crossed his arms and closed his eyes, as if not watching made it all go away.

  “Dude, you are already a part of this,” Li said.

  Ruby and Val helped the mayor sit up. He was still safely stuck in Goldie’s net. Ruby leaned in and whispered to Goldie, “I think this is kidnapping.”

  “This is not kidnapping,” Goldie said, not bo
thering to whisper. “He’s not a kid, and he’s not napping.”

  “It’s more like mayor fishing,” Val added.

  Ruby pulled out her minicomputer and tapped on the keyboard. “Do you want to know the prison sentence for kidnapping?”

  “I don’t want to know,” Val said.

  Ruby answered anyway. “Eight years. We could go to jail for eight years.”

  “No one is going to jail.” Goldie hoped she was right.

  “Enough!” the mayor growled. “What do you kids want?”

  “Hi, I guess we haven’t really met yet. I’m Goldie Blox. And I need to talk to you about reopening this fine school. The Blox School two-point-oh.” Goldie pointed her thumb at the school.

  “I know who you are. And I know what you did to this school. The entire second story was destroyed.” The mayor yanked on the net, trying to break free.

  “But we rebuilt it, and it’s better than ever,” Goldie said.

  “I’m not interested,” the mayor said. “Zeek, get me out of here. Now!”

  “Hey, Dad.” Zeek stepped forward. “I need to say some things first. Like this wasn’t my idea. None of it.”

  Goldie rolled her eyes.

  “Zeek Zander, you do not—” began the mayor.

  “Just listen,” Zeek interrupted his dad. “We need another school in Bloxtown. Higgs Bozon Prep isn’t for everyone.”

  Goldie pointed to herself to make sure the mayor understood.

  “Higgs Bozon is a place of order and high achievement. We’re number one in the country for math and science and locker cleanliness. Goldie messes that all up. She’s a B student.”

  “B-plus,” Goldie corrected him.

  “And her locker is a disaster,” Zeek said. “I think she’s growing something in there.”

  “There may be some genetic engineering going on. I accidentally crossed a Venus flytrap with a cactus.” Goldie shrugged. “I wouldn’t open that locker if I were you.”

  “She’s never prepared for class,” Zeek continued. “Doesn’t have the right supplies. Always loses stuff. It slows down the rest of the class. She ruins everything.”

  “Hey! That’s not true,” Ruby interrupted. “Goldie doesn’t slow anything down. She keeps everyone, especially the teachers, on their toes. We did three extra experiments on gravity in Mr. Greg’s class.”

  “And one of those experiments led to an egg landing on Mr. Greg’s head,” Zeek explained. “How do you expect to keep good teachers if they get hit in the head with eggs?”

  Goldie laughed, remembering what her teacher looked like with egg on his bald head. Mr. Greg had not laughed, but his Teachatron 5000 had.

  “Goldie has also changed the menu in the cafeteria,” Zeek said.

  She’d only suggested they add a make-your-own-waffle bar. It had been a hit.

  “She broke the basketball hoop.”

  She’d merely bent it.

  “And those squirrels that invaded the music room. I bet they snuck in in her crazy hair.”

  “I’ve never had squirrels in my hair. Chipmunks…maybe.” Goldie ran a hand through her curls. She was currently critter-free.

  “Dad, this is just the start. What if she joins our clubs or runs for school president? She cannot represent Higgs Bozon Prep.” Zeek was breathing hard, like he’d lost at basketball again. “But don’t take it just from me.” He looked at Ruby and Val. “They all agree.”

  Ruby fidgeted. “Well…she’s not your average HiBo student, but I kind of hope she stays.”

  “You do?” Goldie asked, surprised.

  Ruby nodded. “This school is cool, too. I get it if you want to be a Blox School student. It’s your choice. But I’d miss you. Things would be boring. Less messy, but boring.”

  Goldie laughed.

  “One more thing, Mr. Mayor,” Ruby said. “I had nothing to do with catching you in this net. And if you don’t send us to jail, I’m sure my parents will vote for you in November.”

  “Every vote counts,” Mayor Zander said. He smiled, but it looked fake.

  Zeek stepped in front of Ruby and whispered, “That wasn’t very helpful.”

  Ruby shrugged.

  Zeek turned to Val and begged, “Say something. Tell my dad why Goldie needs to go. She embarrassed you.”

  “True,” Val said. “But not on purpose.”

  “She never has a plan,” Zeek continued.

  “True.” Val nodded.

  “She talks too much,” Zeek said.

  “I know someone else who talks too much.” Val raised her eyebrows.

  “She’s not like anyone else,” Zeek said.

  Val nodded again. “True.”

  “She needs to go to her own school. She doesn’t belong at Higgs Bozon.” Zeek smiled triumphantly.

  “Not true,” Val said.

  Zeek’s smile collapsed.

  Val shrugged. “Life would be ordinary without Hurricane Goldie.”

  “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Val.” Goldie beamed.

  “Li, buddy, help me out here.” Zeek put his arm around Li’s shoulder.

  Li shook his head. “You know, I’ve been Goldie’s best friend and neighbor since before she got her first power tool.”

  “Never mind.” Zeek pushed Li away. “Goldie, you tell him.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Goldie hesitated. “I loved my old school. And I love this school we rebuilt together. But I also—”

  “Buuuuzzzz.” Zeek cut her off. “Time’s up.”

  “Yes. Time is up,” Mayor Zander said. “I’ve made up my mind.”

  Goldie braced herself for what was coming next.

  Mayor Zander took a giant breath before he started yelling at Goldie and her crew. “I’ve never been treated with such disrespect!”

  “Sorry. We just needed you to listen.” Goldie tried to talk over his yelling. “We didn’t really think that—”

  “You didn’t think at all!” Mayor Zander agreed. “That’s the problem. You, Miss Goldie Blox, are trouble. You are a disgrace to this town and to Higgs Bozon Prep. I’ve never met an unrulier troublemaker in my life. You’re a rotten apple, and I will not let you ruin the bushel.”

  “Enough of the name-calling,” Ruby said.

  “Dad.” Zeek stepped forward. “Are you going to reopen the Blox School or not?”

  The mayor glared at Goldie. “If reopening the school keeps you from tarnishing the reputation of Higgs Bozon Prep and interfering with the education of my son, then I will personally see it done.”

  Zeek broke out into an awkward dance. “Oh yeah! Here we go! Oh yeah!” he sang, and his Butler Phone provided a background beat. He even tried to do a cartwheel but accidentally kicked his dad in the nose. “Sorry about that,” he said, still dancing.

  “Just cut me free!” the mayor demanded.

  Nacho fetched a pair of scissors. No one else danced or sang as Zeek freed his dad.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Mayor Zander said.

  “Right behind you.” Zeek followed his dad to the SUV. Before they drove off, Zeek unrolled the window and yelled to Goldie, “It was not nice knowing you. And I hope to never see you again.”

  Li, Ruby, Val, and Goldie stood quietly.

  “I guess we won,” Goldie finally said with a shrug.

  “I guess,” Ruby said.

  “Should we celebrate?” Goldie asked. She didn’t feel like celebrating.

  “Let’s clean up,” Ruby answered.

  Goldie and her friends went into the school and packed up everything from the dinner party. Then they left. No one talked about what would happen next.

  When Goldie got home, she was starving. She went to the kitchen and heated up a plate of mac and cheese. She sprinkled bacon bits and garbanzo beans on top.

  Her mom walked into the kitchen with a pile of papers and joined Goldie at the table.

  “Lots of projects to grade,” her mom said.

  “Just put an A on every on
e of them. All the kids at HiBo get As,” Goldie said.

  “What’s wrong?” her mom asked. “How did your big dinner meeting go?”

  “Great. And not great.” She pushed her mac and cheese around on her plate but didn’t eat any.

  “That sounds complicated,” her mom said.

  “I got what I wanted. The mayor agreed to reopen the Blox School.” Goldie sighed.

  “Oh,” her mom said.

  “But I’m not sure if I want to go back.” Goldie sank lower in her chair. “I don’t exactly fit in at Higgs Bozon. But I kind of like it. And I definitely like Val, Ruby, and Li. They’re my Gearheads.”

  “Gearheads?” her mom asked.

  “Yeah, I named them. They’re cool with it.” Goldie wondered if they’d wear jackets with GEARHEADS written on them. She knew Ruby could design something pretty awesome.

  Her mom gave her a hug. “Goldie, it’s okay to change your mind.”

  “But what about you?” Goldie asked. “You don’t like Higgs Bozon. Do you? You want to go back to teaching at the Blox School. Right?”

  “Well…” Her mom played with a piece of hair hanging in her face. “To be honest, I like Higgs Bozon.”

  “You do?” Goldie asked.

  “Yeah, I do. I get to teach lots of kids. We get all the best equipment. And today we started growing a new species of carnivorous plant in the classroom. They say it can grow as big as a car!” Her mom smiled. “I’m doing what I love. It’s pretty nice.”

  “Better than the Blox School?”

  “Not better or worse,” her mom said. “But I’d be happy to stay at HiBo. I don’t exactly fit in either. But I’m making a difference.”

  Goldie nodded. “Yeah. That’s the best way to make a difference, by not fitting in.”

  “Does that mean we’re staying?” her mom asked.

  Goldie gave her mom a big smile. “Yes, it does.”

  The next day at school, Zeek walked right into his Butler Phone when he saw Goldie in the hallway.

  “You aren’t supposed to be here!” he yelled.