Philip and the Boy Who Said, "Huh?"

By John Paulits

Philip’s new friend Eugene has some strange ways about him, especially the way he sometimes ignores people. Philip decides to investigate, and when he finally figures out Eugene’s secret, it upends not only Eugene’s life, but also Philip's own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Feb 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781619506411

Book preview

Contents

Copyright Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Bonus Short Stories

Philip Gets a Present

Philip Meets Mother Nature

Philip the Artist

About the Author

Philip and the Boy Who Said, Huh?

by

John Paulits

All rights reserved

Copyright © February 1, 2021, John Paulits

Cover Art Copyright © 2021, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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ISBN: 978-1-61950-641-1

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: February 12, 2021

Dedication

For Andrew from PS 124

Chapter One

Philip, what is wrong with you? Can’t you hear me? Come down here right now and clean up this mess you made.

Philip sat at the desk in his bedroom and clearly heard his mother downstairs calling for him. He’d heard her the first time. He’d heard her the second time. But now, the third time, he heard something different in her voice. He’d known this change was coming, and he knew it meant trouble. He also knew he’d better answer.

Did you call me, Mom? Philip shouted.

"Did I call you? Did I call you?" He heard his mother step briskly to the bottom of the stairs. I’ve been calling you for the past five minutes. Do you have your door closed?

Philip made a face. He didn’t have his door closed. He hadn’t thought of that. Next time he’d try it.

Come down here and clean up after yourself.

It was a rainy Saturday, and Philip had little to do. His best friend Emery, who lived down the street, was out with his family visiting an aunt. Mrs. Moriarty, his favorite neighbor, had a cold and told him he might catch it if he came over to visit her. She had lots of great movies she’d bought so he and his friends would come over and keep her company, and she always had a big dish filled with candy sitting on her coffee table. To Philip’s eyes, she looked very old, so he guessed that was why she didn’t go out much. Philip always felt he’d done a good deed when he visited her—the kind of good deed he didn’t mind doing—one filled with chocolate. He and his friend Emery were interested in video games and computer stuff, but what could ever take the place of chocolate? Nothing Philip could think of.

Anyway, it was a rainy Saturday, and Philip felt bored. His mother had made lunch for him—Chef Boyardee’s Ravioli, and he’d left his bowl on the kitchen table. His mother was trying hard to get him to clean up after himself. Philip, though, didn’t think much of the idea, and he’d left his bowl behind and went back upstairs, where he was in the middle of inventing a kind of baseball game using dice and his latest baseball cards.

Do you want me, Mom? Philip called innocently.

Whoops, he thought when he heard his mother’s feet pounding up the steps. He tossed