Stomper! No Stomping!: Beanie Books, #3

By Matt Wiedeman

Ben and his friends are back in a new adventure with Beanie, a retired genie who now owns an ice cream parlor. 

 

One day, Beanie received a wood sculpture of Kwan Yin as a gift. The kids quickly learn that the Kwan Yin is the goddess of fortune and destiny and may grant them a wish. When the statue goes missing, Ben and his friends suspect foul play and look all over town to find it. Their search leads them to a magnificent horse named Stomper. Stomper has an annoying habit of stomping things on the ground to bits!

 

Will the kids find the statue before it falls into the wrong hands?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matt Wiedeman
• Release date: Jan 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201008048

Matt Wiedeman

Hi everyone, I live in Cincinnati, OH with my family. I started writing Beanie in the Bottle as a fun side project. It ended up becoming a series. Someday I hope to meet a genie.

Book preview

Kwan Yin

B eanie, we're fresh out of Butter Pecan! shouted my twin sister Beth from the front counter at the Ice Cream Parlor.

Beanie emerged from the back. Wow, we're on fire lately!

Beth disagreed. I don't know about that. Yesterday, we were just twiddling our thumbs.

Well, my poor back is in agony from all the scooping, Beanie moaned.

At least it beats living in that grimy old hut in the middle of the woods, right? she teased, referring to Beanie's former home. Beanie is a retired genie. I released him from his bottle, and he granted me some wishes. That's how we became pals! Now, he's the mastermind behind the ice cream parlor. It's hands down the best ice cream in Ohio.

Ever thought about throwing in the towel? she joked.

He winced and straightened his posture. And miss out on all the fun of ice cream scooping?

Well, you've still got a few good years in you.

Beth, I've been concocting a top-secret ice cream flavor guaranteed to make us the talk of the town, Beanie declared.

Oh really? What's the name?

I'm naming it ‘Beanie Batch.’

I'm already excited to try it, she quipped.

Beanie's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he spotted me sitting with my buddy Cole at the table. Well, well, well, what do we have here, gentlemen?

We've been sitting here for a while, Cole replied.

Hope you didn't catch us gossiping about you, Beth teased.

As if you'd ever badmouth your favorite bro, I shot back.

Don't be too sure about that!

Nice one, but seriously, I'm beat. I've already lugged golf clubs through three rounds today. I'm in desperate need of ice cream refreshment, I announced.

Cole and I work at the BushGrass golf course. I am a caddy while Cole works in the shop fixing golf carts.

Caddying is basically just an excuse to cruise around and guzzle soda, isn't it? inquired Beth.

Well, yeah, but there's a whole art to it, I retorted.

Fixing golf carts is much worse, added Cole.

I mean, come on, Cole. I've collected more bug bites than golf balls at this rate! It's like the bugs are winning the game out there!

Beth, clearly feeling the pain, empathized, Ouch, that sounds like a true adventure.

Well, I’m happy to be done with caddying duties for the day.

Turkeys are done, announced Beanie. People are finished.

Oh, I'll be sure to keep that in mind, I chuckled in response.

I noticed Beth wearing Mom's pearl bracelet again.

Beth, if you mess up that bracelet, Mom's going to give you ten new chores!

Chill out, Ben.

My friend Gloppy came in. Gloppy’s real name is Boris Gloppenstein, but he prefers Gloppy. He was with his dad, who is Big Gloppy. It can get a tad confusing with all these Gloppys, you know. Big Gloppy was lugging around this hefty box.

Hey there, Gloppys, I quipped. What's the deal with the box?

Ben, you've gotta see this statue my dad chiseled out. It's an ancient Chinese goddess named Kwan Yin.

Big Gloppy is a whiz at carving wood. He's been at it since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. The two of them plopped down at a table and cracked open the box. Lo and behold, they whipped out the fanciest wood carving I've ever laid eyes on. It stood about three feet tall, with a square base and even a teeny drawer.

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Big Gloppy, are you for real? This is insane! I blurted out.

Ha, I aim to please. Just thought Beanie might like it for the store, he chuckled.

Beanie ambled over, eyeing the sculpture with a mix of amazement and concern.

Big Gloppy, I can't just take this. How many years did it take to carve this thing? he asked incredulously.

Oh, you know, just a decade or so. But hey, forget about that. I owe you big time, Beanie. It's my honor for you to have it, Big Gloppy replied earnestly.

I know just the spot for it, right behind the counter. Beth, please get Big Gloppy whatever he wants, on the house, Beanie declared.

Wait, just one scoop? I interjected, trying to lighten the mood.

Hey now, this is top-notch work, but let's not go overboard, Beanie joked.

The Gloppys ordered more ice cream. We sat around and talked for a bit longer. After they left, the store was empty except for Beth, Cole, Beanie, and me. The ice cream business may not have been booming after all.

The conversation took an unexpected turn towards Kwan Yin. Beanie made a dramatic exit to his office at the back of the store, only to reappear wielding a massive tome on ancient Asian culture. Flipping through it like a seasoned detective, he dove into researching the enigmatic statue.

So according to this ancient relic of a book, Kwan Yin is the goddess of fortune and destiny. I sense her eyes on me, and I've gotta say, it's giving me the heebie-jeebies, Beanie declared, wide-eyed.

I got up close to the statue. It's pretty cool, I guess. Does the book say anything else?

Yup, legend has it that at exactly 9:00 PM on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the goddess will open her eyes and heart to three lucky folks and grant their wishes.

That's a pretty random time, I blurted out.

Yep, apparently in Asian culture, the number nine is like the Chinese dragon's favorite, symbolizing magic and power.

But guys, the statue's made of wood. How on earth is she gonna crack open those peepers? Cole pointed out.

Maybe you just gotta have faith, Beth suggested.

I'll believe it when I see it, retorted Cole.

Wait, why only three people? I pondered.

"Well, in ancient China, the number three was a symbol