Read Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet for Free Online Page B

him the most.  The “dad” thing was the first one he had learned
to cope with.  It was true. Jack’s father had left when he was five, with no
explanation as to why.  All that remained was a hand-written note saying he was
gone and would not be coming back.  Jack could remember his mother coming to
pick him up one day after he had gotten into a fight in third grade when
another kid had mocked him for not having a father.  Jack’s mother had told him
that as long as he knew, deep in his heart, that his dad was still out there
and still loved him, nothing anyone could say would change that.
    “I may not have a dad,” said Jack, nodding.  “But I do have
something you don’t.”
    “Yeah?” smirked J.C.  “What?”
    “An IQ?” replied Jack.  “Breath that doesn’t stink?  No
reason to be ashamed in the shower?  The list goes on…”
    “Enough!” cried Anna.  Jack and J.C. both turned to her, and
she was looking at them with the same look a mother gives her children when
they are acting up.  “Both of you.  This is getting ridiculous.”
    “No,” said J.C. “What’s ridiculous is you not wanting to go
to the dance with me.”
    “C’mon, J.C.,” said Jack.  “You can’t hold having good taste
against her.”
    Jack could almost feel J.C.’s anger smoldering as the boy
stepped toward him, inches from his face.
    “You are about two steps away from the beat-down of your
life, dumb-nuts,” said J.C.
    “Actually, I’m three steps away,” Jack shot back.  “But
since I know you can’t count that high, I’ll let it slide.”
    With that, J.C. grabbed Jack by the collar of his shirt,
cocking his fist back to strike.  Jack heard Anna squeal.  Thinking quickly,
Jack decided to go with his patented strategy number four of avoiding a beat
down – threaten legal action.
    “Do it!” cried Jack.  “Go ahead!  Hit me in front of
everyone!  I want you to.  With any luck, I’ll find a great lawyer and own you
for assault.”
    That was enough to give J.C. pause.  Jack had no idea what
it would take to sue someone, or even if he could, but then again, most people
didn’t either.  However, J.C. didn’t let go of Jack’s shirt, and the look on
his face went from a sneer to a smirk.
    “Yeah, you’re right,” said J.C.  “I’ll wait until after school and then mess you up where no one can see.  Right guys?”
    Moose, Kev, and Jimbo all chuckled.
    All of a sudden, Jack became aware of the four extremely
tall, mean, and beefed-up dudes surrounding him.  Apparently, when J.C. had
grabbed him, they had taken that as their cue to get off their fat rear-ends
and join their fearless leader.
    What am I doing? Jack thought.  I’m totally going
to get my butt kicked!  
    Sure enough, the odds of a massive butt-kicking were
definitely in Jack’s favor.  But he knew if he were to back down now, in front
of Anna, he’d be marked as a loser for the rest of his life.  So he did the
only thing he could think of – acting the exact opposite of what he was
feeling, and hoping to God it worked.
    “Seriously, dude,” said Jack.  “You may not know this, but
in my spare time, I practice the deadly art of karate.  You can come after me
if you want, but I swear on all that is holy that I will get ninja on
you.”
    Moose snarled.  Jack pointed a finger at his big dumb face. 
“And you,” he said.  “You best back up.  Don’t make me drop-kick you.”
    “C’mon, Finger-licker,” said J.C.  “We know you’re not gonna
do anything.  So why don’t you take that big wussy mouth of yours, march your
big wussy butt out of here, and maybe I’ll rethink giving you an atomic wedgie
and leaving your head shoved in the nearest toilet.”
    “You know, you’re right,” said Jack, taking the opening and
jerking away from J.C.’s grasp.  “I think I will be going now.  C’mon, Anna.”
    Jack reached out and grabbed Anna’s hand.  For a moment, he
was worried Anna might not follow his