Return To The Previous Story - A Book Of A Scary Adventure
Let’s go back 10 years to when John and Mr. Trim were first getting started. It all started when John looked out the window of the bicycle store.
“I sure wish I had enough money to afford it,” thought John.
So the next day John went to Mr. Griffin’s lab. (Mr. Trim’s lab started the day he got married.) to try for a job.
“We have 46 kids and only one job,” began Mr. Griffin. “Those of you who are not here for a job come back in 15 minutes.”
5 people left, those remaining got closer together. Mr. Trim walked in.
“Hi,” explained Mr. Trim, “You’re going to be working for me if you just want to mix up fomulas drop out.”
11 more people left leaving just 36.
“Age limits 8 – 14.”
11 1st graders and 5 year olds went out the door.
“Now will the remaining 25 fill out this test.”
At the word ‘test’ most of them left leaving John and 3 others. The test had questions like : Have you ever lost anything valuable?
Kenny, one of the other 3, had already got a job at Mr. Smith’s lab. Mission to be a double agent. He filled out the questions exactly the way Mr. Trim and Mr. Griffin wanted them answered (though not all true).
The next day Mr. Trim handed each of them a yellow container with the words Do Not Open on each of them.
“Now,” began Mr. Trim, “each of you have a copy of an important picture. In case each of you loose it I have an extra one. Here’s what you do, you take it to computer #33 2 blocks away. When you get there, only then do you open it and take the picture out and put it in the computer. Then when it has the picture in its memory bank, it will give you the picture back. You put it back in the container and bring it back to me. O.K.. Get ready. Get set. Go!”
Kenny watched the others. Just then one of them stopped. He quickly took the picture from the container. He saw another one stopped. He took that picture. He ran up to John waiting for him to stop, but John wasn’t thinking of stopping. He went straight in the building.
Meanwhile Kenny sent the pictures he stole to Mr. Smith’s lab and went back to put his in the computer. As he came out he saw the break he needed. John bought a bicycle catalog book. He put the container down to look at it. Kenny opened the container, took the picture out, and left it open so John would know that it was gone.
Back at Mr. Trim’s office, one of the other two explained that he had stopped to buy a hot dog and when he got the container it was empty.
“I’m sorry,” said Mr. Trim. “You shouldn’t have stopped in the first place.”
The other boy said about the same thing only he stopped for a drink.
“Sorry,” Mr. Trim said again.
They both left. A little bit later John and Kenny came in.
“I got it in the computer,” declared John. “but on my way back I stopped to buy a book on bicycles when somebody stole the picture.”
“I did it. Here’s the picture,” bragged Kenny.
“O.K. leave now,” said Mr. Trim.
They both left. He told Mr. Griffin and said he’d hire John.
“No!” yelled Mr. Griffin. “hire Kenny. You said John lost the picture.”
“At least he made it to the computer,” added Mr. Trim.
“So did Kenny!” yelled Mr. Griffin. “And he had a perfect record!”
“That’s why I disagree,” stated Mr. Trim. “everyone except Kenny stopped so Kenny should have been here before John. Instead they both got here about the same time. And besides a perfect record is almost impossible.”
“He may have walked slow!” disagreed Mr. Griffin. “I’ll tell you what. On the day of your wedding coming up, I’ll give you half the lab. You take John, I’ll take Kenny and we’ll see who does best!”
The next day Mr. Trim gave John another picture and told him if he lost it there would be no way to replace it, so he must get it to the computer if not back here. Just as he stepped out of the door a car drove up. Inside was Kenny and someone he didn’t know (Mr. Smith). He thought it was Kenny’s father.
“John,” said Kenny. “I’ve been picking at you too long. And to undo what I did I’m going to give you a ride to #33.”
“I’m not going to ride with strangers,” stated John.
“I’m not a stranger,” said Kenny.
Slowly he sat down in the car and shut the car door.
Meanwhile at the lab Mr. Griffin was having 2nd thoughts about letting John take it there.
“What if he looses that 2000 dollar picture!” he yelled.
“If he looses it I’ll pay for it,” promised Mr. Trim.
“O.K.!” he yelled again. Meanwhile Mr. Smith bought John a soft drink at 1:00. (That’s important because the lab closes at 5:00.)
“Thank you,” said John.
“Don’t mention it,” said Mr. Smith.
Later when he finished his drink, Kenny asked to hold the container he put the picture in. John let him. Just then they came to the building. John got out of the car. It was 1:17.
“Can I have my picture back?” he asked.
Kenny and Mr. Smith closed the door and drove away.
John thought, “Who would want my picture? … Mr. Smith.”
He snapped his fingers. He knew how to get there. He got there at 1:45. He cracked the door open just a little. They just put it down to have lunch. At that moment John ran, grabbed the container, and headed for the door.
“Block the door!” yelled Mr. Smith.
Kenny was right at the door. John managed to open the door just enough to throw the container out the door. The next thing he knew they were running after it as fast as they could. Kenny got it first and threw it just over John’s reach into the waiting hands of Mr. Smith. It looked like John lost his job and Mr. Trim would pay $2,000 for the picture.
Mr. Smith went inside. John started to follow, but Kenny grabbed him and he was their prisoner.
“We did it!” shouted Mr. Smith. “Victory at last.”
“Yeah,” said Kenny. “And we got John to play with.”
As they finished lunch John slowly began to loosen the ropes until he freed his hands and was untieing his feet. At that time Mr. Smith got up. He started to walk to John when he slipped over the gravy he had spilt.
John memorized the location of the container and in a split second he turned the light off and ran toward the container. The only light they saw was from the door. (He ran out leaving it open.) By the time they noticed the pictures were gone he was long gone.
He was back at the building. It was 2:30. He saw Mr. Smith’s car pull up.
“He must be here!” yelled Mr. Smith. “There he is! Get him!”
John ran back to Mr. Griffin’s lab.
“Stay away from here!” yelled Mr. Griffin.
Unwillingly he did so. If he had seen Kenny he would have told him to take John’s place. He knew John came in without the #33 having the picture in its memory bank.
John decided to go home and take a quick rest, but instead he woke up at 4:30. He quickly put his shoes on. He looked all over for the container, but couldn’t find it. He remembered he left it at the lab. He ran in the lab, got the container, and ran to the building with computer #33 in it.
When he got there it was 4:58 and there was a man right at the door with lots of keys.
“Can I come in?” John asked.
“No, we’re closing,” the man said.
John’s heart sank. Just then the man snapped his fingers.
“Rats! I forgot my wallet!” he yelled.
When he went back to get it John quickly hid behind some boxes. He saw the man pass by and close the door behind him. John quickly ran to the computer and put the picture in. He had just got the picture back when the computer went off, followed by the lights. He was locked in there.
He turned off the burglar alarm (all he needed now was the cops after him) and ran to the door. Of course it was locked. He looked outside and saw the bank clock. It was 5:02. He was 2 minutes late. He also looked at all the people rushing home. He pounded on the door, but no one came to help him.
Meanwhile Mr. Trim and Miss Clay to be Mrs. Trim were talking about John.
“I should have never taken full credit for John but I knew Kenny. He works at Mr. Smith’s lab. So John was the only one responsible. John came here at 4:50 so even if he ran the man there doesn’t let kids in when it’s about to close,” Mr. Trim told her.
“Relax,” commanded Miss Clay. “You only did what was right … and you won’t be sorry.”
She’s right for you’ll see why at the end of this book.
Meanwhile John was getting hungry. He knew it would be supper time soon. The room began to grow silent. John felt the heaviness of the silence and darkness and his mind began to wander.
“What if Kenny and Mr. Smith would come in to take #33,” John thought. “And what if they found me in there. I’d be killed or captured.”
Just then John thought of an idea. He’d turn on #33 and let it figure a way out. He turned it on.
“How do I get out of here?” he asked.
Nothing happened.
John figured out that #33 wanted it written and place on the space INPUT, so John looked in one of the desk drawers and got out a piece of paper and wrote his message on it. He put it in and waited for #33’s answer. Finally something came out of the slot marked OUTPUT.
“What do you mean it does not compute!” John yelled in despair.
Sadly John turned the computer off. (#33 only excepts messages written in ink.) He thought he’d never get out until that man got back. Then he’d be yelled at.
Unknown to him at that time Mr. Trim got a phone call from John’s parents. They said that John had not come home and it was time for supper. Mr. Trim quickly figured out what had happened.
“Come on,” commanded Mr. Trim.
“Where are we going?” asked Miss Clay.
“To the lab they have a spare key,” answered Mr. Trim.
“Spare key to what?” she asked.
She never got the answer. In a few seconds they were in the car and driving off.
Meanwhile John wondered how long it would be before the doors would unlock (That’s the spare key Mr. Trim was talking about.) and if the man would find him and be fined a large amount of money.
“Will I ever get that bicycle?” he asked himself.
At the same time Mr. Trim got the key and was driving to where John was. A few minutes later John heard the door opening.
“Oh, no,” thought John. “They know I’m here and I’m going to get it now.”
He quickly hid where he hid last time. When he saw it was Mr. Trim he quickly came out.
“Boy!” exclaimed John. “Am I glad to see you!”
“No time for thanking,” commanded Mr. Trim. “We got to get you home. Your folks are waiting.”
The next day John came to Mr. Griffin’s lab expecting to get just $10, not enough to get the bicycle at $30 ($110 now). But instead he found the lab empty and the doors unlocked. He went inside. The only light was coming from Mr. Trim’s office. He slowly went inside. There he found the bicycle he wanted. (One of the questions was : What will you do with the money?) On the bike there was a note. He started to read it.
“Dear John,” he read. “I promised you 50 cents an hour plus enough to buy the bike because you were captured by Mr. Smith and locked inside the building just to keep me from paying $2000. I want you to ride that bike to my wedding tomorrow. P.S. Take the day off. I paid as if you worked today and tomorrow.”
He put down the note and yelled, “TAKE THE DAY OFF! All right!”
He quickly got on the bike and rode all around Jesterville. He won every bike race with his friends. The bike was the same one he saw in the window. It was yellow and had 5 speeds. It even had the same fancy handle bars.
The next day he got his good suit on and rode to the wedding. (I could stop here if I wanted to but there’s still more.) It seemed like everyone was there. There was everyone at the office, all Mr. (and to be) Mrs. Trim’s relatives, and even Kenny was sitting next to him. (I’ll skip that part of the wedding it’s up to you to fill that in.)
“Whoever does not want this wedding to take place speak now or forever hold your peace,” said the priminister.
John quickly put his hand over Kenny’s mouth not knowing Kenny wanted the wedding to take place for his evil plans.
The part John liked best was when he got some of the wedding cake. (He didn’t know Mrs. Trim made the cake herself and he’d eat lots more in 10 years.)
While the Trims were on their honeymoon John and Kenny both worked for Mr. Griffin. (You remember what Kenny was to do and Mr. Griffin told Kenny what he told Mr. Trim about dividing the lab.) John did a good job keeping Kenny away from Mr. Trim’s part of the lab.
When the Trims came back, Mr. Griffin kept his promise and gave Mr. Trim half the lab. John was to follow Kenny with a camera. So John followed Kenny all the way to Mr. Smith’s lab. John took a picture. He quickly ran back to the lab. He quickly ran back to the lab. He thought he’d never get to the dark room, but when he got there he saw Mr. Griffin in there.
“What’s the big idea taking pictures of friends!” yelled Mr. Griffin. “Why can’t you be more like Kenny …”
“If I was like Kenny I’d shoot him,” thought John.
And worst of all he tore up the picture. When Kenny found out he went and told Mr. Smith.
“Well, Kenny!” exclaimed Mr. Smith. “All we have to do is kidnap John.”
They both laughed in an evil way.
The next day John followed Kenny, but as soon as he took some pictures Mr. Smith grabbed him from behind. Although he struggled it was no use. He was able to drop the film.
“Mr. Trim will find it,” he hoped.
He kept saying that to himself, “Mr. Trim will find it,” or will he.
He was brought to Mr. Smith’s lab. Kenny took the camera and a gun.
“Now look like you’re talking to Mr. Smith,” ordered Kenny holding the gun out.
Kenny took what he thought was a picture, but when he tried to take the film out he found there was no film in it. He quickly put film in the camera and was about to try again.
Unknown to even John Mr. Trim could see John, but was a good ways behind him. Mrs. Trim caught up with her husband to see what she was doing. He picked up the film and told his wife the whole story. They quickly ran to Mr. Smith’s lab and peaked in the window.
Just as Kenny was about to take the picture, Mr. Trim opened up the door and yelled, “Don’t you dare.”
“Oh, yeah!” yelled Kenny shooting at the ceiling. “Now get in here!”
They both came in.
“I bet you have bad aim,” said Mr. Trim holding up an empty soda can. “Can’t shoot this can.”
He threw it up in the air and Kenny shot twice. No holes. Mrs. Trim knew the idea.
“Try again!” she yelled.
Mrs. Trim tossed up the can. Kenny fired 5 times. Two holes were in the can.
“Come on!” yelled John tossing the can again.
Kenny fired 2 times. Two more holes were in the can.
“Now,” yelled Kenny. “Talk to Mr. Smith, both of you.”
He pointed at John and Mr. Trim.
“And as for you, Mrs. Trim,” yelled Kenny. “Get moving.”
Kenny shot again at the ceiling.
“Don’t you treat my wife like that,” yelled Mr. Trim charging at Kenny.
“Mr. Trim,” yelled Kenny. “You’re a dead man.”
“And you’re out of bullets,” stated Mr. Trim for he new the gun was a 12-shooter, fresh.
“Bye!” said Mr. Trim as he followed Mrs. Trim then John.
One week later Mr. Griffin was in trouble, his business was all going to Smith labs. Kenny stole Griffin’s secrets. (Fire burns brightest before going out.) But Mr. Trim’s were safe. Mr. Griffin sold the lab for $200,000. Two weeks later Mr. Smith went out of business. (The lab is now Jack, Bill, and Kenny’s secret hideout.)
Kenny still tried to sneak in and mess up Mr. Trim’s invention. He left to get an inventor in Dallas on July 5. (The day Dan was born.) Mr. Trim paid a huge chunk back to the bank when his travel machine was sold. It could take you anywhere you wanted to go. He later made it a time/travel machine. Next he made a rocket that could go 1/3 the speed of light.
Next he made #82 and a less important space computer (#85) to keep up with his unmanned rockets. He ordered lots of up-to-date books on chemistry. The moment he got it he rearranged some walls. Next came the shrink ray and a few others I will not mention. (If I did I’d run out of room.)
By this time John had finished high school and was promoted to 2nd in command at Mr. Trim’s place. When Kenny found out … he came back. John had just gotten through making his speech for 10 years at Trim labs when he came to Mr. Trim.
“You never did tell me how you know to pick me and not Kenny,” John told him.
“Well,” began Kenny. “When I tried out I didn’t get a perfect score. To do that you have to be perfect!”
He paused.
“No one is,” he said.
“Good thing for the test,” said John.
“Speaking of tests, here are the ones for your helper,” declared Mr. Trim.
“Bill got a perfect score,” said John. “but I know Bill. I’ll take Dan.”
“Good choice,” said Mr. Trim.
“Now Dan there are some things you need to know,” began John. “Like you must know how to work the safe for new inventions and …”
Copyright MCMLXXXI, MCMXCIX
Return To The Torry Series Page