Storm Squad Rising

By Rene Averett

Nerds. Dweebs. Squints. 

It doesn't matter what names the school bully and his friends call the more studious four kids who prefer reading, science, and fantasy to the silly games and jock interests of the "cool" crew. Bryan, Orlando, Eddie, and Li have plans of their own and won't be deterred.

To celebrate Bryan's eleventh birthday, his parents are taking the party to a science fiction, fantasy, and comic convention in their town, and Bryan's friends are invited. When Li sees that the event has a costume contest, she lights up with excitement. They can make their own costumes and enter it. At first dubious, the boys are soon on board and the Storm Squad is christened.

"Storm Squad Rising" follows the journey of discovery as the four friends make their own costumes, avoid the jabs of the school bully, and bond even closer together. A story for mid-grade kids, it will introduce them to the world of science fiction and fantasy conventions as well as giving a backstage peek at how a costume contest might be run and what the judges might consider when they see the entries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pynhavyn Press
• Release date: Sep 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386298489

Rene Averett

Rene Averett blogs regularly on her Skinny Girl Bistro site where she shares information about low carb foods, living a low carb lifestyle and many recipes. She lost 150 pounds in 2010 using the Atkins Diet and is sharing her weight loss recipes via her low carb cookbooks.  Rene hails from El Paso, Texas a good many years ago. She has lived in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and has made her home in Reno, Nevada since 1977. The latter part of her career centered on doing technical writing for a large gaming manufacturer and she enjoyed it right up until her retirement. She is now pursuing a career as an author and e-book publisher under Pynhavyn Press. She is a proud member of the Fiction Writers Group and the High Sierra Writers. She is inspired by the view of both the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Virginia City Foothills from her house in South Reno that she shares with her long time companion, a dog, and three cats. In addition to cooking, she attempts a bit of gardening, plays the guitar and sings, and loves to read. She writes fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal suspense novels as Lillian I. Wolfe and suspense romance under Riona Kelly. Feedback is welcome. You can contact her via her website at: http://reneaverett.me/skinnygirl/ or at [e-mail] You can also connect at her Facebook page, Skinny Girl Bistro at: https://www.facebook.com/sgbistro Follow Rene on her Low Carb Pinterest page at: https://www.pinterest.com/reneaverett/low-carb-ideas/

Book preview

20_contents.jpg

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN 

CHAPTER EIGHT 

CHAPTER NINE 

CHAPTER TEN 

CHAPTER ELEVEN 

CHAPTER TWELVE   

CHAPTER THIRTEEN  

CHAPTER FOURTEEN  

— 

CHAPTER ONE —

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Look at this, Bryan Millar said as his friends set their food trays down at the table tucked into the back corner of the school cafeteria.  This is so cool.  We've got to go.

He held up his tablet so the other three could see a web page display with colorful, cartoon images and a wide yellow banner that read, River City Comic Fantasy Convention.

What?! Orlando Jones said as he peered at the screen. Here?  In our city? 

That is so amazing, Li Wong, the only girl in their little group, said with a grin and her dark eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.  Do you think we can go?

Eddie Ramosas simply stared in fascination at the artwork on the page, nodding his head as he studied it.

Bryan laughed.  "Yeah, I think so.  I have a surprise.  You know, my birthday is on the Sunday of the convention, and I already talked to my parents about a party to celebrate it.  They agreed that the party can be at the convention, and ̶̶ he stressed the word and paused dramatically, ̶̶ they're getting tickets for all of us to go!"

No way! Orlando sprang up from the table and spun around on one foot as he punched the air in excitement.

Are you serious? Eddie asked, dragging his eyes away from the page.

Meanwhile, Li had pulled out her tablet and called up the same page to learn more.  She spotted something in the left sidebar and bounced in joy on her seat.  Hey, guys... there's a costume contest on Saturday night. She clicked on the link to that page, and her eyes scanned down the page.  And there's a competition for kids up to twelve on Sunday.  We could enter it.

Orlando leaned over her shoulder to look at the details. It says the costumes 'must be individually crafted, no purchased commercial costumes allowed, although parts of the costume may be commercially made.'  What does that mean?

It means that you can use items like buttons, zippers, rhinestones, lightsabers, and other items that enhance the costume, but the basic costume needs to be handmade, Li answered.

How do you know that? Bryan asked. I'm not sure if we could make anything that would be good enough to enter.

Of course, we can, she said. I can sew, and I like to design clothes, you know.  We can do  ̶̶

About that time, a trio of classmates passed their table and the tallest one, Winston Kramer stepped toward them.  Well, well.  If it isn't the nerd crew plotting their next scientific discovery.  What's it gonna be, dweebs? A trip to the science museum to find an alternative to electricity?

Popular in school, Winston dominated the playground games and played on an after school soccer team.  Most of the cool kids followed his lead.  Unlike Bryan's little group, he had no interest in science, fantasy games, or comics, so he'd dubbed them the nerd crew and found amusement in teasing them.

Ha, ha... Bryan answered, flatly.

What are you looking at, Squint? Winston asked Li.  He considered it a double insult to the Asian girl, one because of her heritage and the other because she liked science and scientists squinted through microscopes. 

The smile vanished from Li's face, and she glared at Winston. Bryan fumed at the remark.  He knew Winston only knew the slang term because he'd seen a couple of episodes of Bones.

Unfazed, Winston snatched the tablet from her hands and danced back from the table to look at the page, although Li sprang from the table and followed her device, trying to grab it back.  Winston held her off with an outstretched arm while he held it up to view the displayed information. 

A convention in town in a month? That's what has your interest?  You guys are so lame. Before he said anything else, Orlando tugged the tablet away from him. 

As he passed it to Li, Orlando brought his hands up in a boxing pose, daring Winston to take a jab at him.  He might be smaller than the bully, but he knew how to defend himself.

Winston took a step back. You're kidding, right?

Try me, Orlando growled, and Bryan moved to stand behind his friend as Eddie tried to pull Li back out of the way.  Tablet tucked under her arms across her chest, Li took three determined steps to face Winston, then stomped on his left foot as hard as she could, a satisfied scowl of defiance making her look fierce.

Hey! the bigger boy shouted and bounced backward. You think you're so smart. He motioned to his buddies to join him.

Oh, great, Eddie muttered as he grabbed Li's arm again and yanked her away from the potential fight.

What's going on here, boys? Mr. Halverson, the physical education teacher, asked as he came over to the table.  Is there a problem?

Winston dropped his threatening pose and shrugged.  No, nothing here, sir.  Just talking with the dweebs.  He waved a hand at his pals and turned away, shooting one last warning look at Orlando and Bryan.

The teacher watched the boys retreat, then turned to Orlando and Bryan, who had dropped their defensive poses and now crossed their arms casually and tried to look like