Pugsley Binks: Dragon Sleuth

By Lynne Leatham

About the Book
Puglsey has the adventure of his life spiraling through dark alleys, dank underground corridors and scary passageways, and meeting questionable characters from otherworldly portals in none other than New York City.
On his first day in his new school, he is assigned a science project with the school nerd who insists it be on dragons.
“There’s no such thing as dragons…but maybe, could dragons really exist?”
This story contains excitement, danger, a riddle to solve, and even a little romance. Its twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat.

About the Author
Lynne Leatham is a talented writer with a unique way of weaving a creative and fun story with lots of plot twists, turns, and colorful characters. She grew up in Othello, Washington and went to Ricks College, meeting, and marrying her husband in her sophomore year. She has raised six children and now resides in Wellsville, Utah. She has been a professional cake decorator for twenty-five years and now is retired, giving her lots of time to pursue her real passion—writing.
Leatham says, “Writing gets into your blood and you can’t leave it alone.” She has other talents, but family and friends are always her highest, the real loves of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RoseDog Books
• Release date: Aug 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889257455

Book preview

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Chapter 1

Skinny Johnny Becker

It was clear to me that I was about a half ‘snicker’ away from being the new official joke of the eighth-grade science class. Nobody actually voted on it; it was more like an unspoken tallying of snickers and whispers. I rolled my eyes. Not everyone has the privilege of being recognized with such high regard on his first day of school. I dropped my head and stood in front of the class like a big bonafide dork, listening to their teeters and wishing I could be anywhere but here. I noticed a boy at the back, sitting alone like he was a fixture or something, who didn’t participate in the snickering. Then at that moment, all heck broke loose. He must have swallowed a bug or something because he coughed and spit all over the girl in front of him like a dog choking on a chicken bone. She was pretty, with long dark hair that framed a perfect face that was now scrunched in horror.

I’ll never sit by that jerk again! she screamed. Obviously, the dramatic move to another desk took the attention away from me. Amidst the muffled teeters, Mr. Hanson sent me to sit next to the weird kid in the back. A big kid at the front jeered, Skinny Johnny Becker, how’s it hanging with your doofus twin brother?

My name is Pugsley Binks. With a name like that, it doesn’t help the nerd image. My mom moved us here from the South Bronx. The schools there are the worst. My mom says it’s hard to learn when the kids come home to no mom, no food, and no power. The passing grades in the schools aren’t the highest, so my mom decided to move me to another district where she thinks the schools are better. But my first day of school here isn’t cool; it’s a disaster. I’m branded as a nerd and twin to the weirdest kid in school. Heck, I’ve lost the war before it started.

I took a deep breath, sat down and glanced at the kid next to me. He smiled. I was hoping he would stay hidden somewhere inside that plastic shell of bone and sinew, but he didn’t. He spoke to me like I was his long lost friend. I could hear the class laughing at us. I wanted to throw my backpack at the whole lot of them, bowl them over like old man Ollie does with his garbage cans every Monday morning.

I looked over at the kid they called Skinny Johnny Becker, and he was staring at me. I wanted to scream, What are you staring at? Because of you, I am now considered a weirdo. Of course, my glasses and freckles don’t help my case. I’ll never live this down.

Class settle down. Mr. Hanson’s fog-horn voice boomed. This is Pugsley Binks. He has transferred here from the South Bronx. This is his first day, so everybody make him feel welcome.

A rumble of snickers wafted through the room that sounded like the gong of the ‘Bell of Lost Souls.’ I pulled my face inside my hoodie like a turtle and sunk in my chair.

I never thought the class would end. Mr. Hanson gave us an assignment to work together on a science project of our choosing. And my assigned partner? You guessed it, Skinny Johnny Becker. We had four weeks to work on the project and then we had to give an oral report with visual aids in front of the class.

I was shaken up, to say the least. I wouldn’t look at the kid next to me or discuss ideas for the project. The bell rang. I grabbed my backpack and ran for the door before the kid could catch up with me. I wanted to get as far away from that weirdo and school as possible. I hurried to the bus. I found a seat in the back, slid down and hid my face under my hoodie again, hoping no one would notice me. Then I heard a whiney voice. I opened my eyes and saw a pair of red sneakers that looked like they belonged to ‘Bigfoot.’ I followed the legs up. They were attached to none other than Skinny Johnny Becker and he was smiling at me again. He asked if he could sit in the seat next to me. I groaned and said, Why not? My life is over.

I glanced up, hoping nobody saw Johnny Becker sit next to me but then I noticed the pretty dark-haired girl at the front watching us. She covered her mouth and whispered to her friend when Johnny sat down.

Ugh, I said and slid down in the seat.

Hey, I got an idea for our science project, Johnny said. You hurried away so fast I didn’t get a chance to talk to you about it.

Uh, yeah. I guess I did. I glanced at the dark-haired girl in the front hoping she didn’t notice us, but she was whispering to her friend with one eye on us.

Yeah, it’s on dragons.

Dragons? That’s not very scientific. That’s fantasy, not science. Are you trying to flunk us already?

What if I were to tell you there really are dragons in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities like humans. They’re interesting beings, more complex than humans and sophisticated enough to care about what they wear to the governor’s ball.

You’re a freaking goon. There’s no such thing as dragons, and there’s definitely no sophisticated ones. I think you’ve lost it, man.

What if I were to tell you I know a dragon, personally?

I’d say you’re a lunatic.

What if I show you one?

Then I’d be insane for listening to you. Go away!

Come to my apartment at seven o’clock tonight, and I’ll show you. Here’s my address.

Are you kidding? I’m not going to your apartment to see an imaginary dragon. I have homework.

Then I’ll come to yours.

And bring your imaginary dragon? I snickered. How are you going to get it in the front door? I rolled my eyes.

Well, first I have to make a believer out of you. I’m not going to bring a dragon, but I’ll bring something better.

Heck, what could be better than an imaginary dragon? I turned to look out the window. Not only did I have a bad day but my new friend wants to introduce me to a wacked up figment of his imagination.

•••

Our two bedroom apartment is on the second floor of the Bruckner Apartment building. My bedroom is cool; it’s in the back with a window facing the alley. When I look out, I can only see another red brick wall, oh yeah and a clothesline with dingy diapers on it. It’s the best! It’s like a cave, and nobody can see in or bother me.

When I got home, my mom was getting ready for work like she’s done every day for the past four years. My mom has to work the night shift at Emilio’s Italian Restaurant. She’s pretty, with dark hair and dark eyes, she looks Italian so I guess that’s why she got the job. I usually see her for five minutes after school, but she always leaves me something to eat, usually a sandwich, cookies and a glass of milk.

How was your first day at your new school? Mom asked as she outlined her lips with bright red lipstick.

Don’t ask.

That doesn’t sound good. It couldn’t have been that bad, did you make any new friends?

Well, not exactly. Maybe a kid in my science class. He wants to come over tonight and talk about homework.

That’s nice, Mom said already lost in thought. Don’t stay up too late.

Mom kissed the top of my head and said, Love you, and was out the door before I could tell her anything about my assignment.

I sat down at the kitchen table, to sum up, my life, it sucks! I hope Skinny Johnny Becker doesn’t come over, I mumbled. And if he does, I hope nobody sees him, and I hope he doesn’t think I like him and we’re going to hang out. I feel sorry for the kid; it sucks to have everybody think you’re a nerd but it’s my first day of school and to be branded a reject isn’t the best way to start in a new school.

That isn’t even science … dragons? Maybe I can talk him into doing a report on electricity, or the activity of a volcano, or a tsunami.

I ate my sandwich and cookies then pulled out my math homework and forgot about Skinny Johnny Becker and his stupid idea for a science project. When I finished my homework, I turned the TV on to watch a 1940’s Halloween movie, The Mummy. I popped a bag of popcorn and got a root beer from the fridge. I was engrossed in the mummy trying to find its mate when I noticed the time. Half-past seven. I smiled, Yeah! No Skinny Johnny Becker! Maybe he forgot, or he was jiving me. I looked out the window to see if he was coming down the sidewalk. Nobody! I breathed a sigh of relief and went back to my movie. I turned the lights off to make it scarier. Then I heard something at the door. I ignored it. I didn’t want to open the door to a stranger, besides I was spooked enough watching a mummy crash through town. I heard a voice, then scratching at the door. The hair on my neck stood up. It’s a killer mummy, and he’s out to get me!

The voice came again but louder this time. Pugsley, please open the door. It’s me, Johnny.

My heart sank. The dweeb did show up. Now, what am I going to do? How can I get rid of him and his pet dragon? Ha, Ha. I turned the sound down on the TV and tried to pretend nobody was home.

Please Pugsley, let me in, they’re after me.

Oh brother, who’s after him? Not a pretty girl, I’m sure.

"Ok, who’s after you? I rolled my eyes and went the door to look through the peephole. I heard a loud thump. I looked in the peephole but couldn’t see anything. I unlatched the locks and opened the door slowly. Johnny Becker fell toward me.

Johnny, what happened? What’s wrong?

Johnny’s face was all beat up, his shoulder was bleeding, and he had a bloody bump on his head.

When I tried to save her, they came. They killed her.

Who? Did you report it to the police?

She told me she has an heir just before they broke in. She told me she hid her and gave me this piece of paper with direction to find her baby.

You’re not making any sense Johnny, who was killed?

My dragon, my beautiful Milasandra, I didn’t know she was going to have a baby. Johnny handed me a piece of paper with an address on it. Find her, save her from the Ravanas.

There’s no such …

He thrust a weird-looking medallion at me. Then Johnny closed his eyes, turned into a blue hairy creature, and vanished in a puff of blue smoke.

My eyes were bigger than flying saucers, and my mouth dropped to my knees. I sat there for what seemed like forever trying to make sense of what just happened, "There are no such things as dragons, or a boy turning into a creature and vanishing in a puff of smoke, and now there was no Skinny Johnny Becker. I looked at the medallion and the slip of paper in my hand. I turned the medallion over and on the back was a flat black stone with a symbol with a fancy twist composed of a series of circles. And under it were letters and numbers. Then I looked at the paper with the address on it, East 139th Street I sat staring at both items when I heard heavy footsteps in the hall. I turned the light off, checked to make sure the door was locked and listened. I heard a low nasally voice speak with a series of grunts and clicks in a language I’d never heard before like they were from Mars or Jupiter or some weird place like that. They stopped by my door. I hope there isn’t any sign of Johnny in the hall, like blood or vomit. I held my breath and prayed they would go away. I heard the heavy thud of their footsteps lessen. I slid up to the peephole again and caught a glimpse of their backs as they moved down the hall. They looked like two black teenagers by the style of their hair and clothes. One of them had curly locks with a black baseball cap sitting backward on his head, and the other had an afro. They both wore black, leather biker’s jackets with some strange insignia on the back, jeans, and tennis shoes. I slumped down and waited.

I wonder who they are and what they are doing here. Are the two teenagers looking for Johnny? Were they the ones who beat him up? When I was sure they were gone, I opened the door a crack, peeked out and stepped into the hall. I checked the carpet and floor, no blood or marks on the door, not even a dirty footprint. Johnny Becker did a good job erasing any sign he was here. I looked down the hall and ran over to the stairs. I saw the two men on the last step. They nodded to the ‘super’ as they left. I went back inside the apartment and turned on the light. I noticed a skiff of blue dust where Johnny had disappeared and a brass ring on top of it. I picked it up and turned it over in my hand. There were more lettering and numbers on it, like the medallion. I slid it on and, in an instant, it shrunk to my finger. I tried to pull it off but couldn’t. I’ve got a ring, a medallion, an address and a pile of dust. Man, I thought you were weird in school, but that can’t hold a candle to the weird you brought here tonight," I said looking at the pile of blue dust and feeling freaked-out.

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Chapter 2

East 139th Street

The next day in science class, the desk beside me was vacant. The kids were whispering, Did you hear about Skinny Johnny Becker? I heard he was on the missing person’s report last night. Others said his parents sent him to live with his grandparents because they couldn’t handle that much weird.

And other’s said aliens abducted him or he was killed by a serial killer.

I wonder how they know he is missing. He only disappeared last night. I never told anyone. I later learned one of the kids in class heard a police report that someone had reported him missing.

I pulled the medallion and the slip of paper with Johnny’s address out. After school, I’ll look up his address, but this weekend I’ll look into the rest when I have more time. I’ll visit his home address first. I wonder if his parents know what happened to him yet. What will I tell them? That their son is a pile of blue dust? The dragon egg story is far out there, but what about last night’s strange episode? I received a medallion, an address and a ring I can’t get off my finger, so I have to make this trip into the unknown. I guess Pugsley Binks—Dragon Sleuth is my name. That ought to be a trick."

•••

Tiny shafts of light streamed through the half-open blinds, waking me before the obnoxious buzzing of the alarm clock. I felt sluggish as my thoughts drifted in and out of the colorful world of dreams. I didn’t want to get up; then I remembered today’s adventure. I jumped out of bed suddenly anxious to investigate the hokiest tale of the century.

It was eight o’clock when I gathered my stuff, a few bags of cookies, pop, and of course the medallion. I scrawled a message for my mom and left it on the kitchen table. Mom, I went in search of information for my science project. Be home later, maybe afternoonish. Love you, Pugs, and headed out the door.

It was a clear, cool, October morning, a perfect day for an excursion. The sun warmed my back as I headed down the street. Fillmore Street was a couple of blocks from where I live. When I arrived at the address, I saw a large cement condo. I shoved the paper in my pocket stepped up to the door and gulped as if I was about to step in front of an execution squad. I knocked on the first door. I bounced nervously from one foot to the other— that I had to face Skinny Johnny Becker’s parents. I hope they know about him. I heard shuffling, and then a senior man answered the door.

Is this where Skinny … I mean Johnny Becker lives?

No son, nobody lives here by that name.

Maybe you’ve seen him. He’s about my age, wears black-rimmed glasses, and has blond hair. He is a friend of mine from school. I’d like to talk to his parents if I could.

No son, nobody lives here by that name.

But this is the address he gave me. He told me to come over to work on our science project.

Doesn’t ring a bell, maybe he wrote the address down wrong. I’ve been here for twenty years, and nobody by that name has ever lived here. Maybe you’d better try the next street up.

Uh, thanks, mister. I pulled the paper out and looked at the address again but it was blank and the other side too. I crumpled the blank paper and put it in my back pocket then I pulled out the other paper that Skinny Johnny had given me last night and turned back. Hey mister, do you know where East 139th Street is?

Yeah, about two miles that way in Mott Haven, I wouldn’t go there if I were you, they don’t like outsiders.

Thanks, mister. I walked down the street; put a piece of bubblegum in my mouth and the hoody over my head. I shoved my hands in my pocket and headed south. After twenty minutes, I saw five teenage boys playing basketball. They were exciting to watch. They’d pass the ball so fast I couldn’t keep my eye on it. One boy stole it, passed it to another, and shot a hoop just in a few seconds. The shortest kid saw me and hollered, Hey, ‘white boy,’ do you want to play ball? The rest of them laughed. One boy turned his back to me, and I noticed the same strange lettering on his jacket that I had seen on the two teenager’s jackets in the hall last night. I shook my head ‘no’ and ran down the street. They called me a few names, but I didn’t care just as long as they didn’t follow me. I soon came to the intersection in Mott Haven to East 139th street between Willis and Brook Avenue. The large apartment complex faced east. It was a two level, row house made of red brick. Six sets of stairs that went up to each apartment. Two statues of gargoyles sat on each end on the roof.

When I climbed the steps to 136, I noticed an older man in his late forty’s man sitting on the steps next to apartment 136, reading a newspaper. I thought he looked a bit conspicuous peeking over his newspaper at me and pretending he hadn’t seen me.

The doorbell looked like a skull and should have been a warning to stay out, but I pushed it anyway.

Nobody lives there, the old man said folding his newspaper.

I wasn’t expecting him to say anything and he caught me off guard. I peeked through a window in the door and asked, Are you sure?

Yeah nobody has ever lived in that apartment that I am aware of, although I swear I have heard strange sounds coming from it.

What kind of sounds? I wondered but thought it was best not to ask.