The Escape: The Chronicles of PJ, #1

By Mikael Barstow

Every superhero has an origin story… this is PJ’s.

She’s not fast. She isn’t strong. She definitely can’t fly. She has no powers whatsoever. So why does the Director think five-year-old PJ is the perfect weapon for his Pervasive Justice program?

Oy, Dilea, and Rainbow Sherbit want to rescue PJ from the Director and his training school. Their biggest problem (besides the high-tech security, doors that won’t open, and unbreakable windows): they’re stuffed animals. Not your typical trio of saviors, but they’re PJ’s only hope. If they don’t get her out of there before “The Test”, PJ will cease to be a sweet, little girl. She’ll become something else entirely.

The Escape is the first adventure in The Chronicles of PJ middle grade fiction series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Literary Nerd Publishing
• Release date: Nov 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513094007

Book preview

THE CHRONICLES OF PJ

BOOK 1:

THE ESCAPE

by Mikael Barstow

WANT TO CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE FOR FREE?

Head on over to www.literarynerdpublishing.com to get your copy of The Director (The Chronicles of PJ Prequel) for free. You’ll also get Sketches: The Art of a Middle Grade Series as an added bonus.

CHAPTER ONE

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES

A swooshing sound broke the predawn silence. A tiny marmoset monkey and an ostrich pushed a cardboard box labeled Donations through the snow. The monkey, arms outstretched in front of him and hands placed above the wet snow line, put what little weight he had into the box. The ostrich shoved his head against the top. Every few minutes, they rested. They pushed, and then they rested. Pushed. Rested. This went on for a long time through the dark woods.

You sure this is the right way? Rainbow Sherbit asked.

It wasn’t the last question the multi-colored monkey would ask. He was a twenty questions kind of guy, which was unfortunate for Dilea because he was the one who had to listen to, and sometimes answer, the neverending barrage of queries.

Seems like we been walking for days. You wanna know what I think?

Not really. Dilea wished he hadn’t responded, but it was too late.

I reckon we’re lost. You wanna know how I know that? Rainbow Sherbit paused, but only for a brief moment before continuing, ’Cause we shoulda been there by now.

Dilea clenched his jaw. You don’t even know where we’re going, so how do you know how long it should take us to get there?

You know I’m just made that way. I got a good sense of whatchamacalit. Rainbow Sherbit stopped and scrunched up his face as he tried to come up with the right word.

Direction? Dilea said.

Nope. It’s on the tip of my tongue. Rainbow Sherbit banged his forehead with his tiny fist.

Dilea pushed the box away from Rainbow Sherbit. We don’t have time for this.

Rainbow Sherbit ran to catch up. I’ll keep thinking about it. He joined Dilea and helped push the box. I’ll let you know as soon as I got it.

I can hardly wait, Dilea said, laying the sarcasm on thick.

Their shadows grew as they approached a grouping of pine trees with a light shining through them.

It should be right through these trees, Dilea said.

Direction! Rainbow Sherbit shouted.

Dilea jumped when the monkey screamed. He waved a wing at him. First off, don’t yell at me like that. Second, I already said direction.

Nuh-uh. Rainbow Sherbit punctuated each syllable with a head shake back and forth.

Yes, I did.

Nope.

"Yes, I did," Dilea repeated, bobbing his head up and down with his neck undulating underneath.

I woulda remembered that, so I’m pretty sure you didn’t.

Forget it, Dilea said. He put one of his wings up to push the pine branches aside. Let’s just see what we’re dealing with through these trees.

Dilea walked through the pine trees. He held a branch back until the moment Rainbow Sherbit went through, and then he let go. The branch smacked Rainbow Sherbit hard, knocking him backward into a pile of snow.

Hey! Rainbow Sherbit rubbed his fuzzy face and stood up from the snow. You coulda blinded me, you know.

You’re fine.

Why you always gotta be like that? Rainbow Sherbit brush snow off his fluorescent fur. Ever since we were kids, you been treating me all mean, and whatnot.

You’re fine, Dilea said, indifferent to the complaint.

"You’re fine."

Good comeback.

"You’re a good comeback."

Dilea spun his head around and lowered it to the little monkey’s level. That doesn’t even make sense, he said, not hiding his confusion.

Rainbow Sherbit sidestepped Dilea’s head, passed his neck, and joined the ostrich’s body on the other side of the pine trees. He came out on a hill that overlooked a simple white farmhouse with black shutters and a wraparound porch.

That don’t look like the place we’re trying to find. Looks like Granny’s place.

Dilea stretched his neck to its limit as he surveyed the house below them. Oy said it wasn’t what it seemed. I’m positive this is the place.

Rainbow Sherbit said, What’s an Oy?

It’s not a what, it’s a who. You know, the guy who asked us to come here to help him.

Rainbow Sherbit shook his head. Doesn’t ring a bell. I ain’t never heard of no Oy.

It’s just the name he uses here, Dilea said as he closed his eyes. He clenched his jaw, trying not to explode at his brother. Like me being called Dilea here, and you, Rainbow Sherbit.

Rainbow Sherbit? What kind of name is Rainbow Sherbit?

Dilea pointed a wing at Rainbow Sherbit’s colorful body. Have you looked at yourself?

I can only see a little bit of my feet. Rainbow Sherbit lifted a foot and almost lost his balance.

Let’s not worry about what we’re calling ourselves, and just focus on the mission. Dilea looked in the cardboard box they’d been pushing.

"Why are we here?"

Dilea’s head disappeared into the box. Oy asked us to help, so we’re here to help, he said, his voice muffled.

Yeah, but help with what? Rainbow Sherbit, always the curious one, scaled the box to see what Dilea was doing.

He said he’d fill us in when we get there. Dilea pulled his head out of the box.

Rainbow Sherbit jumped down. Why you always dropping everything to help him?

Dilea ignored the question. Do me a favor and get the binoculars out of the backpack.

Something wrong with your hands? Rainbow Sherbit said.

Dilea held up his wings.

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

Rainbow Sherbit climbed back up the side of the box and jumped in. He rummaged the binoculars out of the backpack and thrust them up toward Dilea, who just looked at them.

You serious? You want me to hold them for you, too?

Dilea nodded. If you wouldn’t mind.

Rainbow Sherbit put his hand on his hip. What if I do mind?

Just hold them up for me, Dilea said.

Rainbow Sherbit stood on his tiptoes and held the binoculars high above his head. Dilea stretched his long neck down and peered in.

Rainbow Sherbit sighed. You almost done looking?

I haven’t seen anything yet because you’re not holding them still enough.

I’m doing the best I can. Rainbow Sherbit gestured to the binoculars with his head. These dang things are super heavy in these tiny arms.

Dilea steadied the binoculars with his wings. The quicker you hold them still, the quicker I’ll be done looking. He looked through them for a bit. They’re out of focus. Adjust the center wheel for me.

Rainbow Sherbit took a hand off the binoculars, but when he did, they almost slipped out of his other hand. He quickly put his hand back.

I can’t. They’re gonna drop if I do.

Dilea exhaled. Fine. I’ll hold up the one side with my wing while you adjust.

Rainbow Sherbit pulled his hand away from the binoculars and they fell to the ground. What the heck, man. I thought you were gonna hold it with your wing?

And I thought you were going to use the same hand you used the first time. Dilea scowled. Why did you switch hands?

My other arm was tired. Rainbow Sherbit picked up the binoculars and brushed the snow off.

Let’s try it again, Dilea said. Okay, which hand do you want to use to focus?

Rainbow Sherbit held up his right hand. My left.

Dilea said, That’s your right, brainiac.

Rainbow Sherbit looked at his right hand, palm facing him with the thumb out to the right. But it makes an L when I hold it up.

Dilea grabbed Rainbow Sherbit’s hand and spun it so it faced the opposite direction.

Whoops. I mean left. Rainbow Sherbit chuckled.

Yep, ignorance is something to laugh about.

You are, Rainbow Sherbit retorted.

I am what?

Ignorance.

Dilea said. "I didn’t call you ignorance. I would have called you ignorant if I was going to call you anything. Ignorance is your state of mind."

"It’s your state of mind."

Another fantastic comeback. Dilea pressed on. You ready to adjust?

Rainbow Sherbit, having already forgotten they were fighting, said, Yep. Just give the word.

Ready … Set … Adjust.

Rainbow Sherbit moved his hand to the focusing wheel as Dilea put his wing up to steady the binoculars.

Keep going, Dilea said.

Rainbow Sherbit twisted the wheel.

Keep going.

Rainbow Sherbit adjusted again.

Too far. Too far. What’s the matter with you?

Rainbow Sherbit said, I can’t even see what I’m supposed to be focusing on.

Enough with the excuses. Just fix it.

Rainbow Sherbit moved the dial back a little.

Now we’re in business. Dilea moved the binoculars to view different parts of the house.

Can I let go yet? My arms are getting tired.

Just a bit longer, Dilea said as he directed them at the backyard. He saw two basketball backboards on long black poles protruding from the snow.

Rainbow Sherbit sighed loud enough for Dilea to hear him.

Fine, ya big baby. I’m done.

Phew. Rainbow Sherbit lowered his arms and handed the binoculars to Dilea. Take ’em so I can shake my arms out. Then I wanna have a look-see.

Rainbow Sherbit made a big production of shaking his arms out; he danced in circles and waved them wildly. "Why does it feel like my muscles are strained when I ain’t got any