Guys Read: The Snake Mafia: A Short Story from Guys Read: Thriller

By Gennifer Choldenko

River and Niko find their dad is missing, and they have no choice but to track him down. But when they discover the clues lead to a shady reptile dealer, they start to think they might have gotten in over their heads. A short story from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9780062112132

Gennifer Choldenko

GENNIFER CHOLDENKO is the author of Newbery Honor book Al Capone Does My Shirts, which was on the New York Times Bestseller list for six months, an ALA BBYA, an ALA Notable book, and received the Sid Fleischman Humor, in addition to other kudos. She graduated from Brandeis University and attended the Rhode Island School of Design. She previously worked at an advertising agency, and has written picture books as well. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and two children. www.choldenko.com

Book preview

GUYS READ

The Snake Mafia

Gennifer Choldenko

A Short Story from

Guys Read: Thriller

Edited and with an Introduction by Jon Scieszka

With Illustration by Brett Helquist

Contents

Cover

Title Page

The Snake Mafia by Gennifer Choldenko

Guys E-Read

Biographies

Back Ad

Copyright

About the Publisher

The Snake Mafia

by Gennifer Choldenko

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In my dream, it was a tiny snake, green—the color of new leaves—no thicker around than a thumb and glowing iridescent like it was lit from within. Slithering so assuredly, it was almost as if it could walk on its coils. It slipped from chair to chair until it reached the door.

No one saw it but me.

It is hot and hot and hot in the blistering heat of the valley, where just walking across the pavement makes your feet burn like dough in frying fat, and the dust covers everything in a dull brown film.

I pour a quart bottle of water over my head, which makes me feel better for the three or four seconds it takes to empty, but by second five the sun sucks the water right off me like a giant drier in the big hot sky.

I’m headed for Homework Club to pick up my little brother, Niko, who is right this second standing on top of the play structure. Oh man, I hope he doesn’t jump again. I don’t feel like spending the rest of the day in the emergency room. Niko has broken his arm twice, fractured his tibia, sprained both ankles, and lost three teeth. Kind of amazing given the kid is only seven. I think the Red Cross has him on their danger-watch list. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is probably interested too. He takes after my dad. My dad is an investigative journalist. He asks the questions people don’t want to answer. We see him on TV, when someone’s slamming the door