Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12 Michael tossed his backpack on his desk and immediately headed back out the door. "Where are you going?" Pearl wondered. "Don't you have homework?" "Just a little reading," Michael answered over his shoulder. "I've got a plan. I'm going to play Super Squish Squids first and then read before bed!" Mysteriously, somewhere on his walk between school and home, two chapters of Treasure Island had turned into just a little reading. Some of the best-laid plans of 10-year-old boys can succeed only at the expense of reality. Michael took off toward the living room, forgetting to close his bedroom door behind him. "Merle, we need to close the door before the cat comes in," Pearl cautioned as Merle took the drone remote from her paws. "Hold on," Merle said. He scurried back to the bed, where the drone sat. "I have another idea." Merle climbed back into his bandanna seat and powered up the craft. "I wonder if the drone can handle my weight plus the weight of the remote?" Merle rose off the bed with ease and sailed out the door. "And the answer is yes!"

"Merle!" Pearl hollered, running after him. The buzzing of the drone in the hallway caught Mr. Nemesis's attention right away, and the chase was on! As Michael systematically squished squids, Merle had a ball tormenting the cat. Like a kitten trying to catch the light of a laser pointer, Mr. Nemesis was no match for Merle's fast- improving piloting skills.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" Merle taunted, hovering just above Mr. Nemesis's head. By the time the poor cat was able to react, Merle had zipped up into the corner of the living room, safely out of reach. "Haha!" Merle giggled with glee. "You'll be sorry if he catches you!" Pearl warned. "Maybe!" Merle said, doing a loop the loop. "But this is so much fun, I just can't help myself!" "Yes! Level 5!" Michael exclaimed as he jumped up from the sofa to do a victory dance. Pearl shook her head at the chaotic scene. "Not being able to help yourself seems to be a common theme at the moment."