THE FINKLEBEAN SPECIAL
Freddy and the gang jumped when the door closed behind them. Meese tried to yank it open. It wouldn’t budge, and he started bawling. “We’re going to die! The ghost of Silas Finklebean is coming to get us.”
Meanwhile, Freddy had been looking around at the room. “Wow,” he exclaimed. “This must be Silas Finklebean’s secret laboratory.”
The dusty place was filled with funny-shaped bottles containing lots of different-colored liquids. In one corner was a long table with electrical wires attached to it that looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie. In another corner was a car, but all its wheels were curved and pointed to the right.
“Freddy,” called out Theodore, who was examining a large, leather-bound book on one of the tables. “Come and look at this.”
They all crowded around the book. The handwriting and diagrams on the pages were neat and clear.
“This must be a log of Finklebean’s inventions,” said Freddy excitedly. “See, there’s his name right there.” He pointed to the inside cover of the book.
Wally picked up a bottle filled with a bright blue liquid off the table and sniffed it.
“Wally,” said Theodore sharply, “Don’t drink that You don’t know what it is.”
Wally sniffed it again. “Not so bad. A combination of mold, lice, and stale fish with just a pinch of body odor.” He took a sip and smacked his lips. “I’ve had worse.”
“Wally, that is gross!” Ziggy exclaimed, horrified.
“IthinkI’mgoingtobesick,” said Curly, who was indeed looking a little greener than usual.
Suddenly Wally grabbed his stomach.
“What’s the matter, Wally?” asked Ziggy. “You look like you’re gonna puke.”
Wally went from purple to green to blue and then back to purple. “No, I think I’m okay —”
But suddenly, fast as a purple wind, Wally shot to the ceiling, bounced off, blasted over to one wall, hit it, and then went zooming across the room to the other side. Everyone dropped to the floor as he rocketed by overhead.
“Wally, can’t you stop?” said Freddy.
“I’m trying, little dude,” Wally yelled back, “But it’s not working.”
Finally, after whizzing around the room for several minutes, Wally finally dropped out of the air and landed with a thud and didn’t move. They all raced over to him.
“Is he dead?” asked Ziggy. “I think he’s dead.”
“He’s not dead,” answered Freddy. “He’s just playing dead. Right, Wally?”
Thankfully, Wally slowly sat up.
“I wonder what that stuff was,” said Freddy, eyeing the bottle.
“I don’t know,” said Wally. “But could I have another little sip?”
“NO!!” Freddy and Ziggy shouted together.
“YEOW!!”
They all turned and saw Si and Meese in the car with the curved wheels. They had somehow started it and were now flying around in circles.
“Let me outta here,” screamed Meese.
Si was driving and looked extremely pleased. “Boy, this baby has some get-up-and-go even if we’re not actually going anywhere.”
Meese finally managed to hit a stop button. When they got out, they were so dizzy that they immediately fell over.
Theodore held up the logbook. “That particular device is listed in here as the ‘Spinner-Winner.’ Finklebean noted that it had no practical application because one couldn’t actually get anywhere in it.”
“Candy,” shouted Wally suddenly. He picked up a single candy bar that had been under another cover. He quickly devoured it in one bite, but one crumb of candy fell to the floor. This tiny piece instantly grew it into another candy bar.
Wally’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, and then he looked like he might cry from sheer joy. He ate the second bar, leaving a little crumb behind. It grew into another bar that he ate too. In the space often seconds, he did this a dozen times. “I’m so happy,” he said.
“The Hydra Chocolate Bar,” read Theodore from the logbook. “Billed as the only candy bar you’ll ever need. However, there wasn’t much profit in selling only one to each customer.”
“Geez,” said Freddy, “all I’ve seen are stupid inventions that couldn’t possibly make any money.”
“Well, there is this,” said Theodore, pointing to some complicated plans in the logbook. “I don’t see a corresponding invention here for these drawings.”
Freddy looked at them. “I wonder what it does?”
“It doesn’t say, which is curious, because all of the other plans are meticulously labeled,” replied Theodore.
Freddy snapped his fingers. “I know, we can ask my Dad. Maybe he’ll be able to tell what it is.”
“But, Freddy,” cried Si. “Remember, the door won’t open.”
“I’ll try the Wriggle-Jiggle.”
But, as they were standing there, the door opened all by itself.
Wally was the first through the door. The others dashed after him before the door shut again. As they disappeared down the hallway, something seemed to be watching them go.