Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace by Jonathan Friesen Read Free Book Online Page A

smile.
    Chloe bit her lip. “You’re not mad.”
    â€œI was. But then I listened again and, well … you’re kind of making it better. I thought maybe you could come over sometime, and we could work on it
together
.”
    Chloe nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that. I have some ideas for your good guy … Secholit? Is that how youpronounce that? And your bad guy — Darkness — I think we can frighten him up a bit —”
    â€œWhoa.” Nick stiffened. “Here are the rules. You don’t mess with Secholit. You don’t mess with Darkness. Here are the other things you may not change.” He handed Chloe a sheet.
    She sighed. “Wait. No. Like here. I have great ideas for the Safelands. It’s a desert, with sand, like the riverbank behind our place. Sand is always safe ‘cause it’s near water.”
    â€œNo! Sand is never safe. You know why?
It’s near water!
Try being blind and walking near a river. Not smart. Just like climbing trees. Not smart.”
    â€œThat’s always smart! Nobody can see you up in a tree. Nobody laughs at you. This Unknown Forest? That has to be a good place!”
    Nick stood. “This will never work. Chloe, here. Take the original. Make the changes you want, I’ll make the changes I want. Then we’ll get together tomorrow and fight about it. Fair?” He handed Chloe the dog-eared sheets she knew so well.
    â€œYeah. I mean, it is your play.”
    Midnight came, and Chloe was still hard at work. “A wind funnel. Like the tornado that came through last year. A tornado
inside
a mountain.” She scribbled in the margin. “How cool would that be?”
    Mom knocked and poked in her head. “To bed. I’m sorry, but, Chloe, I need you back at Aldo’s. Q tried — he’s a good boy without Grif — but he’s useless. He showed reel two first.”
    â€œHe didn’t … No, Mom! I really can help Nick. I think he does need me.”
    â€œYes, he does. Unfortunately, I do too. Turn off the light.”
    Chloe grabbed the papers, stuffed them in her backpack, and drifted off into the Unknown Forest.
    â€œNick, I can’t come tonight.” Chloe plunked down beside him in the lunchroom. “Mom needs me at Aldo’s.”
    His face fell. “Yeah, I get it.”
    â€œIt’s not like I have a choice.”
    â€œSure.”
    An awkward silence settled over them. “Here are the changes. There are a whole lot of them, some on every page. I’m telling you, this could be incredible!”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œHey, Nick!” A boy called from the table behind them — a voice Chloe did not know. “Did you get blinder? How come you need two guide dogs? A quick FYI, they gave you a scarred one!”
    Laughter, ugly and cruel, filled Chloe’s ears. “Here,” she whispered. “I’ll just leave my ideas in front of you.”
    â€œDon’t go,” Nick reached for Chloe’s arm, but she’d already stood.
    â€œI can’t stay.” She turned and walked quickly out of the lunchroom.
    There’s only one safe place for me
.

CHAPTER
9
    W HAT DID YOU DO TO MY SCREENPLAY ?”
    Chloe jumped, and the reel she held slipped from her fingers. She lunged for it but caught only the end of the film.
    Snap
.
    Reel one of
The Vapor
saucered to a clattery stop to the ground. At least the frame of it. She stared at the coil of film in her hands.
    â€œOh no. Nick, do you have any idea — Oh no. Do you think we keep these? Do you know how much this film cost us?” She dropped to her knees and gently hugged the reel.
    â€œWell, too bad for you. Now, maybe, we’re even. You ruined my movie, I ruined yours.”
    Chloe stared up. “You can’t keep coming up here — How did I ruin your movie?”
    â€œMom found your version when I got home from school, and while I was out with Dad, she typed