Blake “The Snake” Sloan and Friends: Making It Through Middle School!

By Delbert “Delby” Pape

Five boys from Napa, California, are doing their best to make it through middle school. This group of Grape Field Middle School misfits includes Blake the Snake Sloan, Jeff the Nose McCoy, Billy the Mackster Mack, Sy Slo-Mo Wilcox, and Wesley Tex Strait. Together, they get in and out of trouble, dealing with both school and romance.

Blake develops a crush on Rose, but he doesnt know how to talk to a girl. Shes not like his buddies, and its going to take an awful lot of work to charm her. Meanwhile, the boys get caught up in adventures, including a scary overnighter to Texs parents ranch and some dangerous neighborhood shenanigans.

Blake realizes over the course of his relationship with Rose that his friends can both help him and hinder him. Even so, girls may come and go, but true friends are forever. Middle school might not be big enough for Blake and his buds, but the boys arent big enough for the real worldnot yet, but they will be someday!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475998924

Delbert “Delby” Pape

Delbert “Delby” Pape is a retired US Air Force officer with over twenty-two years of service experience. Post-military, he taught special education for twelve years. He entered full retirement in June of 2012 and is also the author of Rocking Chair Confessions, a collection of short stories. Delby and his wife, Linda, live in Texas and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Book preview

Blake The Snake

Sloan and Friends…

Making it Through Middle School!

Delbert Delby Pape

iUniverse LLC

Bloomington

BLAKE THE SNAKE SLOAN AND FRIENDS…

MAKING IT THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Copyright © 2013 Delbert Delby Pape.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9894-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9893-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9892-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013912541

iUniverse rev. date: 7/22/2013

Contents

I ntroduction

V ocabulary Exercise For Each Selection

F irst Day of School

A ll aboard the Great RV Tour

T hose Big, White, Furry Things

T he Night My Mom Got Arrested … Almost

G raduating to the Sixth Grade

B arbeque—Washers—Auctioneer

T he Campout

T he Ghost in the Dark that Wanders

H ow High Is the Moon?

A lan … the Car Guy

L ibrary Day—Yeah!

C hoosing Bob

S how and Tell

S nowy Weather for Skylar

T hanksgiving Day

D ancing Ants!

M ay I Introduce Mr. Kilgore … Your Sub

F ieldtrip

I t’s Snow Time

I s that Really a Six-Foot Dog?

S hy Girl

R estroom Mix-Up

F riends

C lass Leader

V isit to the Mackster’s Grandparents

M y Name Is Not Dennis

B ikes and the Race

M ovie Night

U nderstanding Girls … or Not!

T he Dance

M istake or Mistaken

W hat’s Happening?

L et’s Shake Things Up

I ’m Sorry? No, I’m Happy!

A bout the Author

36_a_ggg.pdf

To my elementary school buddies.

I don’t know where they all are now, but I have fond memories of them to this day.

Rusty—Are you still as fast as you were in the fourth and fifth grade at Travis Elementary School in San Angelo, Texas? I never could beat you in the fifty-yard dash—nobody ever did—but I came close a time or two! Do you remember Ms. Newhouse and Principal Lark? Did you ever grow over five feet tall?

Larry—We had a fight once after school, and when Principal Lark heard about it, he and Coach Little got us out of class the next day. They put boxing gloves on us and had us go after each other. The one not getting it on got wacked on the behind with a spat board. This went on until finally our hands were drooped from holding the boxing gloves up. We were extremely tired, but not so much from hitting each other with the gloves. Wow, my butt hurt for a long time afterward. That incident made us come to a different point of thinking, and we became friends after that. I’m glad we did!

Nancy—Was there ever a day you weren’t pretty? Wow, what a gal!

Bev—Sorry we lost you in the seventh grade to a car accident. I have fond memories of the Travis Raiders boys playing on the playground.

Billy—A fun guy but moved to California in the sixth grade. Where are you now?

Johnny—Had lots of good times playing baseball at the local park with you and the neighborhood kids.

Mark—Side-street football in front of your house was the best. We got in a lot of trouble from your dad when we knocked the not ready to pick apricots off his tree.

Wanda—As pretty as Nancy, and some said you liked me. I should have followed up on that.

Emory—Are you still bullying others? I hope not.

Jerry—You were always so smart. I bet you’re a millionaire by now.

Bob—You were the biggest and baddest cowboy I ever knew. You were our hero when you moved in from Oklahoma and put Emory in his place. Thanks from all of us.

Introduction

Name: Blake Sloan

Nickname: The Snake

School Name: Grape Field Middle School

School Mascot: Surfer Joe

Best Friends:

•   Jeff McCoy (Nickname: The Nose)

•   Billy Mack (Nickname: The Mackster)

•   Sy Wilcox (Nickname: Slo-Mo)

•   Wesley Strait (Nickname: Tex)

Favorite Food: PPJ sandwiches

Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber

Favorite Dessert: Ice cream dripping with chocolate syrup and lots of nuts

Favorite Saying: You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Vocabulary Exercise For Each Selection

Choose three words that you would like to better understand the meaning.

Write a definition for each word.

Use each word in a sentence you create.

Draw a picture of the image you get in your mind for each word.

First Day of School

What? The text books are gone! What will we do?

007_a_ggg.jpg

Hello. My name is Blake Sloan. My friends call me Blake the Snake. My dad is a grape farm manager. We just moved from Eugene, Oregon, and I’m a little concerned about my first day of school in this new place and meeting and making new friends. Well, off to school I go!

"Good morning, class. I am Ms. Rothchild, and I will be your fourth-grade learning facilitator this year. I welcome you all to Grape Grove Elementary School, the newest elementary school in the Napa Valley area of California. I have good news. This school is the most technologically advanced to date. Look around the room, and you will see that there are no books. All of the information from textbooks will be found online and accessed from your individual student computer.

"As you can see, each student desk cubicle area has a computer. The computer is located directly in front of you in the locked compartment. Each desk has an electric pencil sharpener and is mounted just to the right side of your desk. On the back left side of your desk, you will notice a small, mounted container that will be used for trash depositing. In front of that are two mounted, narrow containers that you will use to deposit completed assignments that are not computer related, as directed by yours truly … me.

"Further, hard-copy notes and letters will no longer be sent home to parents, as these will come directly to you through your e-mail, and you will be responsible to then forward them to your parents. If you will look directly behind and at the rear of the classroom, you will notice two very wide doors. Once these doors are opened, you will see a nicely furnished lounge. As each period ends, you will have a ten-minute break and access to this area for your enjoyment and relaxation.

This area is equipped with a surround-sound system that is connected to a 105-inch flat-screen television and entertainment center. The latest video games are available, as are light snack foods. This is the area where we will, beginning tomorrow, start our morning activities and obtain announcements from the main office. I’ll give you more information later, but for now I’d like us all to introduce ourselves to each other. Let’s begin with Georgia.

Good morning, Ms. Rothchild. My name is Georgia Jean Hathaway. I was born and still live here in Napa. My daddy came from a banking background, and we live in the old Willford mansion on Cotton Wood Drive just south of here. As I look out the window, I can see the top of our home in the distance. It’s the one on the top of the hillside. That’s all I have to say.

I’m Sy Wilcox, but my friends call me Slo-Mo. You can call me almost anything, but please don’t call me too late to eat. I love to eat. My parents started the Hensley Steakhouse back in 1973. We now operate three others as well. We enjoy skiing for family fun. We go skiing every December at Cloud Croft, New Mexico, for our winter vacation. I’m especially looking forward to this year’s vacation so I can get better at my skiing skills, as I get to go on the big-hill ski jump this time.

Hello, my name is Pricilla Kay Keaton. My grandmother is Mary Kay, and she does cosmetics to help pretty girls look prettier. My parents own and operate the distribution center for my grandmother’s cosmetics. I won my first beauty contest pageant this past summer and expect to win many more.

Hi! I’m Billy Mack, the Mackster, and I like to run and play football. I’m already the quarterback for the Pee Wee Giants. Coach Watkins says our team is going to go undefeated this year as long as I’m the quarterback. See ya at the game.

Yo. What’s up! I’m Trevor Walker, and I play football with the Mackster. My dad is the coach of the Pee Wee Giants, and I’m the best football receiver there is. Coach told me we’re going to go undefeated this year as long as I’m the receiver. Coach says I’m the best receiver ever, and the Mackster told me that too, and he’s the best quarterback ever. So, come out and watch us this next week. We’ll be there … hope to see you there too!

My name is Angelina Faye Cash. My grandparents were famous country singers. My daddy is their son, and he and my mom operate the royalties from some of their enterprises. I hope to be a singer someday, as I’m taking voice lessons and can already play the piano and violin. When I get to middle school, I’ll be in the band. I can hardly wait for that to happen.

Aaron Cartwright. My parents operate the Drury Inn Suites here in Napa. I like to spend some of my Saturdays there with my dad. I get free food at breakfast and dinner. I also like to play hide and seek there with my older sister. Dad allows us to play if we don’t get too disruptive. Also, I would like to say I really like this new school. I like the way the lights automatically come on when I walk into the rooms and restrooms. That’s really cool!

Amy Colgate here. My dad runs the plant that makes everybody have a beautiful and healthy smile. I live across the street from Georgia Jean. Hello again, Georgia. I’m glad we’re in the same class together. This year is going to be the best! This weekend, our family will see some good ole 49er football. If Trevor and Billy realize that there’s no I in team, then maybe I’ll be able to see them play college ball someday. So when you do, I’ll be there to watch you guys play.

"Beau Beauregard is my name, and riding my go-cart is my game. I’m a descendent of a famous general of the great Confederate States. My dad is chief executive officer (CEO) of Beauregard Enterprises, which specializes in government contracts in the greater Napa area. My most favorite thing to do is to ride my go-cart with my neighborhood buds. There’s a track behind my house, and