Read Incredible Shrinking Kid! for Free Online Page B

got here.”
    Holly laughed. “Welcome to The Weird Zone.”
    A dreadful cry suddenly ripped through the smoky air. “I’m shrinking! I’M SHRINKING!”
    â€œThat wasn’t me, was it?” Sean gasped.
    The voice was coming from inside the smoldering ruins of the toy shop. It squeaked and squealed like a balloon losing air.
    The voice belonged to Dr. Gruker!
    Sean, Holly, Jeff, and Mike ran into the shop, fanning away the smoke.
    Finally, they spotted a tiny figure running across the floor. It had a streak of white in its black hair. It was getting smaller and smaller.
    WOOO-EEE-OOO-EEE!
    Sirens wailed from outside. The kids ran out to see trucks and ambulances and tanks and jeeps come roaring in from the secret army base north of town.
    THONKA-THONKA-THONKA!
    A giant helicopter swept over Main Street. Jeff Ryan’s mother jumped out of the swirling tornado of wind and dust. She was dressed in a military uniform. She motioned, and special troops in black uniforms swarmed into the toy shop.
    A few minutes later a bunch of soldiers came out of the smoky shop holding a little box.
    Mrs. Ryan patted Sean and Mike on their backs. “I see the good doctor got a taste of his own bitter medicine.” She examined the box. Inside was a mini Dr. Gruker. He shook a tiny fist at Sean. “I vill get you for zis!” he whined.
    â€œStrange,” Mrs. Ryan said, as the soldiers took the doctor away. “All this time we’ve been searching for a man named Gruker. So clever of him to change his name to Kruger! The ultimate disguise!”
    The kids nodded.
    Beep-beep! Mrs. Ryan reached for a little device on her belt and put it up to her ear. She listened for a moment then snapped the device back on her belt. “Sorry, kids. I can’t stay. There’s a report of an enormous white cat over at Lake Lake. Cats that big don’t exist, of course, but we have to check it out.”
    She turned to one of the special troops. “Giant mew-mew at Lake Lake!”
    THONKA! THONKA!
    A moment later she was gone.
    As Sean looked out his own living room window, the orangey-brown desert spread away as far as the eye could see. “Nice to be big again.”
    He turned to his family gathered with him. “It’s amazing what we’ve just been through. Like one of your movies, Dad.”
    â€œYes,” agreed Mr. Vickers. “I’m only disappointed I didn’t get any of your little adventure on film. Ah, well. Perhaps next time.”
    Sean made a face. “Next time?”
    â€œTruly we’re delighted you’re normal size again, honey,” Mrs. Vickers said, walking in from the kitchen with a plate of little sandwiches and other party treats. “Although having a tiny son could be quite handy for getting into those hard-to-clean spots!”
    Sean made another face.
    â€œHey, shrimp!” said a voice behind him.
    Sean went icy cold. “Not again!” A drop of sweat dripped down his neck as he whirled around.
    There was Holly, smiling up at him. In her hands was a plate of little pink shrimps and dipping sauce. “Shrimp, big brother. Have one.”
    Sean laughed. “What? No anchovies?”
    â€œYou kids get snug for the video,” said Sean’s mother. “I’ll get my special dip.” She laughed and hummed a jazzy tune on her way to the kitchen. Mr. Vickers twisted the ends of a mustache that wasn’t there and swept after her.
    â€œIt’s amazing being normal again,” Sean murmured. “And it was your mirror that did the trick. It reversed the shrinking ray. Mike’s house is back by the lake. Jeff’s garage is where it’s supposed to be. And I got big.”
    â€œBut not too big,” Holly added. “Just somewhere between incredible and amazing.”
    â€œHey, I like that.” Sean smiled and sat next to Holly on the couch as the TV lit up. A news report was in progress. A