THE SPARKLE RIOT CREW AND THE KID FROM STAR QUAD 9

By Tephra Miriam

Don't miss this early reader adventure with a sci-fi twist! The Sparkle Riot Crew consists of the twins Virginia and Shaquille Sparkle and Ginger and Barnaby Riot. As kids of Chicago police detectives Bernadette Sparkle and Bruce Riot, this crew is truly about having

• Language: English
• Publisher: TEPHRA MIRIAM Publishing
• Release date: Sep 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9780999641545

Tephra Miriam

Tephra Miriam is an avid thought leader, author, graphic artist, photographer, musician, activist and entrepreneur with a passion for change. Tephra grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was 18 years old, where she currently resides. Her search for adventure took her far and wide at a young age and she continues to mentor, learn, work and speak all over the US.Tephra is a firm believer of redefining the way we think and live. She is a wellness advocate and often blogs on organizational development, challenging the status quo and creating a holistic work environment. Tephra believes that creating space in your life to play, imagine and dream is vital in problem solving, stress management and innovation.As a product of 12 years of homeschooling, Tephra started out at Harold Washington College in Chicago, Illinois before transferring to DePaul University and receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Communications and a Master of Arts degree in Applied Professional Studies with a concentration in Authorship and Entrepreneurialism.

Book preview

1

Today is Gonna be Nutty

Monday Morning

7:15 AM

Home Base 

Chicago, Illinois 

I made that sound in my throat that you make when you don't want to get out of bed in the morning. You know, it sounds like a frog saying 'ughhhhhhh.' Want to know why I made this frog sound in my throat? I did it because I knew that it was going to be one of those days. You know, one of those days where everything goes nutty. 

When I couldn't find my favorite folder this morning, I knew I would run into nutty things all day. I had to borrow one of my twin brother's ugly, boring blue folders. I could barely even touch it and put it in my bag. I grabbed a shirt from the floor to hold it like mom does when she takes stuff out of the oven.

Ew, ew, ew! I said.

I missed my glittery gold one already. 

Mom! Mom! Where are my purple flip-flops? I shouted. 

What purple flip-flops, Virginia? Can you come and eat your breakfast, please?

My face got really hot. I knew that the 'please' my mom threw in was just a nice way of telling me to come here right now. I dragged all of the sheets off my bed, but it was nowhere. I had one. I just needed to find the other one. 

The ones I got for my birthday! I yelled. 

What, honey? What are you looking for? Virginia, you're gonna be late! Come and eat, PLEASE.

I turned around and saw my twin brother Shaquille, (everyone calls him Shaq), standing at my door.

Shaq, help me look for my shoe, plllleeeeaasseee!

We're gonna be late. Just find something else to wear, Ginny, Shaq said. 

I glared at him and watched his stupid spiderman backpack bounce up and down as he walked down the stairs to the kitchen with his shoes on. The ugly shoes that I'm sure he wanted to wear. I growled while I grabbed my old grubby, dirty pink sneakers and ran to the kitchen with my ugly blue folder. I plopped down in a chair, and I could feel my mom giving me the eye, but I didn't look at her. I just pushed eggs onto my plate and grabbed at the johnny cakes on the table.    

Virginia, stop kicking the table, please, Mom said while sipping on her coffee and reading the news on her tablet. 

I'm not!

Virginia!

I stopped, but I stared at my mom real angry afterward. I saw Shaq finishing his last johnny cake and eyeballing the last one on the plate. I grabbed it just before he started reaching for it.  

That's mine! You saw me reaching for it! Shaq yelled. 

You snooze, you lose, Shaq! Better luck next time, I guess.

I smiled as I shoved the last johnny cake into my mouth.

What's with you today, Virginia? I hope that you decide to have a better attitude from now on. All of this because you couldn't find your shoes? Some kids don't even have shoes or breakfast, for that matter. So you have a lot to be thankful for.

Mom sipped her coffee again calmly, and I rolled my eyes and stuffed eggs into my mouth. 

Alright, my little ducklings, let's go, go, go! Mom said, jumping up from her chair and taking one last huge chug of coffee. 

Mom, I said quietly.

Yes, my love. She said as she smoothed my hair.

You look nice today.

Mom just smiled at me and kissed me on the forehead. I thought she did look nice, though. She had a blue suit on today. Mom looked nice in blue. 

The doorbell rang. It was like a hurricane blew through our house, and then we were all out the door in less than a minute. 

You all are gonna make us late! Barnaby Riot said. 

Sorry, Barnaby. Running a little behind today. Mom said with a smile. We all piled into Bruce Riot's minivan. Bruce was mom's partner, and they all lived real close to us. Bruce, and Barnaby, and Ginger. Barnaby and Ginger are the kids. 

Hi, all. Seatbelts, everyone–please and thank you! Hey Bern, Virginia giving you trouble this morning? I knew Bruce was looking at me through that mirror that shows you what people are doing in the back seat but I just pretended to look out the window. Mom just laughed.

Who, Virginia? Naw. She's as sweet as honey. Has her father's stubbornness. Mom said. 

She has your stubbornness, Bern, Bruce said. 

They both laughed, and I rolled my eyes.

Hey, dad, why can't we ever ride in your police car? Ginger yelled from the back seat. Her red hair was sticking up everywhere. I sighed and checked my backpack for a brush and my water bottle. I have to say I am getting better at taming her hair in the girl's bathroom every morning. 

Too many of you little hooligans. For the cop car. Bruce said with a snort. 

Gingy (I call her that sometimes), Barnaby, and Shaq started making siren noises and were pretending that Bruce and mom were in a fast car chase. Bruce and mom chatted and drank coffee as they usually do. They were blabbering about something about work. In my opinion, Bruce drove entirely too slow, but we finally made it to school, and I jumped out and immediately grabbed Gingy's arm and dragged her to the bathroom.  

Monday Morning

8:59 AM

Edgewater Glen Elementary, Mrs. Lucas' Class

Chicago, Illinois 

I think Lulu has finally lost it! Look, she's throwing everything all over the floor like she's gone crazy. I knew today was going to be completely nutty. I whispered to Ginger while trying to shove my huge backpack into my cubby. 

As I walked over to my desk, I saw Mrs. Lucas digging in her purse and pulling out a bunch of stuff.

Gingy, look! What do you think Lulu is looking for? I asked. 

If Mrs. Lucas hears that you call her Lulu behind her back, you'll all be outta here and sent home! Said Marni B. 

Marni B. sticks her nose into where it shouldn't be, I said to Ginger, Barnaby, and Shaq in a super loud voice even though Marni B. was standing right there. 

Annoying Marni B. just mad dogged me and turned around. I didn't care, though, 'cause she didn't say anything back to me. 

I heard a bunch of kids in the back of our classroom yelling, and it sounded like a chair fell over. When I looked around to see what happened, that's when I saw him. 

Hey, look. Who is that new kid? He looks suspicious with his hands in his pockets? 

Alright, class, quiet down, quiet down, please. Now we have a new student, and I want everyone to introduce themselves to him.

With his hands in his pockets, the shady kid stepped to the front of the classroom with his head down.

This is Fabiano Lucchini, and his family just moved here from...Albuquerque? Is that right, Fabiano? Mrs. Lucas asked. The shady kid bounced his head up and down, meaning yes. 

Great. Class, please say hi to your new classmate. Mrs. Lucas said in her teacher voice. 

Hi, Fabiano, the class all said at the same time. 

My hand shot into the air. Lulu sighed but nodded in my direction anyway.

Can we call you Fabi? I said.

The little boy looked up and bounced his head yes again.

Good because Fabiano is way too long, I said. Everyone laughed.

Alright now, Virginia. Since you seem like you have a lot to say, why don't you start off the introductions? Mrs. Lucas said. 

 I jumped up and ran my hand over my hair to make it smooth. 

Hi, Fabi! My name is Virginia Sparkle, and this is my crew. My twin brother Shaq and then that's Gingy, I mean Ginger. Only we call her Gingy and Barnaby Riot. 

 Fabi waved and looked at Gingy, then back at Barnaby.

 Are you two twins too? Fabi said. 

 No dummy. She's adopted. Duh! Shouted Marni B.

 No one asked you, Marni B., so shut your… Mrs. Lucas didn't let me finish what I was going to say. 

 That's quite enough, Virginia. I didn't ask you to introduce the Sparkle Riot Crew. Just yourself. Mrs. Lucas said. She was still looking around her desk like she was when we first walked into class. 

 But Mrs. Lucas, Marni B. is always making Gingy feel bad, and I'm sick of it! We're friends, and we protect each other like our parents do 'cause they're police partners, and they watch out for each other, and so we watch out for each other. That's what makes us the Sparkle Riot Crew! I said. 

Ginger whistled, and Mrs. Lucas looked like her head was about to explode, so I decided to take my seat and tried hard not to smile. Gingy kicked the back of my leg in approval. Mrs. Lucas sighed real loud and headed back to her desk. She started tearing up her purse again and then dumped out all of her drawers. I pretended to stretch so that I could turn to see Marni B.'s mad stupid face. I turned to look at her, and her face was red and real wrinkly like I guessed it was.

"Where are they? It's like they've simply vanished! Class! Has anyone seen the finger lights that we use for storytime?