Return of Mr. Badpenny

By Brian Bakos

Middle school wannabe baseball hero, Tommy Velasco, gets more help than he expects from a mysterious two-headed coin. He discovers that bad pennies keep coming back, however much you want to get rid of them. When he passes the problem on to the class queen bee, things get even more out of control, with possibly lethal consequences.

Book 5, "Time Before Color TV" series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brian Bakos
• Release date: Apr 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301591053

Brian Bakos

I like to write and travel. I'm from the Detroit area originally and try to see other places as often as possible. My most recent travels have been to China, Ecuador, and Belize. Am thinking of my next destination. It's wonderful how travel inspires the writing process. Attended Michigan State University and Alma College.Not much more than that. Anything else I have to say comes out in my books. If you really want to know more, please contact me through my website, https://www.theb2.net/. May life bring you many blessings!

Book preview

RETURN OF MR. BADPENNY

Book 5, Time Before Color TV series

by Brian Bakos

Copyright 2013 Brian Bakos / revised 07-2020

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to anyone else. If you want to share this book, please buy an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to Smashwords.com and obtain your own copy. Thanks for respecting the author’s hard work.

Table of Contents

Prelude: What Happened Before

Part 1: Enter the Badpenny

Part 2: Temptation in Various Flavors

Part 3: Matters of Conscience

Part 4: Melissa’s Story

Part 5: Showdown

Brian’s Other Books

Prelude: What Happened Before

The previous books in this series: The Time Before Color TV give interesting background info that can help you to enjoy this story more. Please click the link to obtain copies.

If you’d rather just dive in and read, that’s okay, too.

Part 1: Enter the Badpenny

1. At the Belcho Burger Restaurant

This strange girl is watching me and Quentin as we eat hamburgers and talk about our baseball game. She pretends to be clearing the next table, but she’s actually spying on us.

I look directly at her. Hey, what’s up?

Uh… nothing.

She scurries off, clutching the burger wrappers and empty French fry cartons as if they’re an armload of precious jewels.

Weird.

I turn back to the Player of the Week trophy. How can I help it? The shiny cup graces our table like a royal crown, hogging up half the area. A deep ache grips my stomach, and it isn’t just because of the greasy burgers.

Maybe you’ll win the trophy some week, Quentin says with that upbeat style he has.

Fat chance. I push back my cap and sigh. Everybody knows I’m the worst hitter on the team.

Quentin shakes his head. You’re too nervous at bat, Tommy. The power can flow better if you relax. Besides, you’re the only guy on the team who can switch hit.

Yeah, I can strike out on both sides.

You’re one of our best fielders, Quentin says. We’d have lost some close games without you at second.

Maybe, but it’s the big hitters who get the glory. And the girls.

Quentin shrugs and goes back to his fries. Yeah, whatever.

Guess he’s tired of hearing me gripe. Can’t say as I blame him; I’m getting tired of it, too. Man, am I in a downer mood! A chocolate fix is in order.

I’m going to get a shake, I say. Want anything?

Yeah, I’ll take strawberry. Quentin reaches in his pocket.

That’s okay, I’ve got it.

Thanks.

I head toward the counter, glad to get away from the blazing bright trophy at our table. If only I really could win it some week. Quentin—our captain, pitcher, top hitter—says the team needs me at second base, and I’ll admit to doing my part in some double plays. But he doesn’t know what it’s like hearing the other guys groan whenever I pick up a bat.

Behind the counter, the girl who was spying on us is busy with the cash register drawer. She wears an intense expression as she jerks the coins around with her fingers, mumbling. Her face is puffy with dark circles under the eyes, like she hasn’t slept in a while.

Excuse me, I say.

She flinches, as if I’ve set off a firecracker in her ear.

Could I have two large shakes, please? A chocolate and a strawberry.

Okay! she almost shouts.

She scurries to the big silvery machine and pours our shakes, glancing over her shoulder at me like she expects to be attacked any second.

Did I frighten her or something? Do I have outrageous B.O.? She returns with the order and takes my bill. Then she counts out the change, very carefully, and puts it on the tray. A creepy little smile moves across her face.

Enjoy that, she says.

Sure, thanks.

I take the tray and escape from her. As I’m walking, I glimpse something unusually shiny among the change. It catches light coming through the windows and bounces it into by eyeball. I can’t pay it much attention as I maneuver through the crowd, though. One wrong step and I could be wearing my shake instead of drinking it.

We have company when I return, or at least Quentin does. Melissa Jordanek is standing beside him, one hand resting on his chair back and the other stroking the trophy.

You won this at the ball game today, Quentin? she’s saying. "You were the top player on the whole team?"

Yeah.

I approach her carrying my plastic tray as if I’m bearing some unworthy offering to a goddess.

Hi, Melissa, I say.

She looks up and her smile fades. Oh, hi Tommy.

I sit down, feeling about as important as a squashed cockroach. Some people crowd by with trays, and Melissa moves in close, supposedly to make way for them. But after the group has gone, she remains pressed up against Quentin.

When’s your next game? she asks.

Next Saturday, 12:30, Quentin says.

Maybe I’ll watch you play.

Sure.

Can’t he think of anything more to say? Melissa is falling all over him, and he doesn’t even notice. Look at her fabulous blonde hair—the real thing, right down to the roots. Melissa and I were sort of friends at one time. At least we hung out with some of the same kids. Even then she was stuck up, but now that she’s become the queen bee of South Junior High, she’s unbearable.

Amanda Searles walks up, and the atmosphere improves. She flashes me a pleasant smile. Hi, Tommy.

Hi, Amanda.

I start feeling human again. Amanda’s really cute, and smart, too. A genuinely nice person. So, why does she hang out with a snob like Melissa? She always has, ever since we were little.

Congratulations, Quentin, Amanda says. That’s a beautiful trophy.

Thanks.

Melissa moves even closer to Quentin and shoots Amanda a dagger-like glance. Amanda doesn’t seem to notice. She holds up a bag with the grinning Belcho Burger logo.

I’ve got our order.

Melissa unsticks herself from Quentin and smooths her hair. We have to go. There’s a special dance rehearsal this afternoon.

Yeah, Amanda says, the recital is only three weeks off, and they’re working us pretty hard. See you guys later.

Good luck at the next game, Quentin, Melissa says.

Thanks.

They leave. As she’s going through the door, Amanda looks back toward me and waves good-bye. I wave back.

I think Amanda likes you, Quentin says.

"Well… great! Couldn’t you have asked them to join