two cans of black paint. They
pried the cans open with their thick fingers.
Giggling, the two gnomes swung back the open cans, then hurled the black
paint at the side of my house. The black paint spattered the fresh white paint,
then dripped down in long, thick streaks.
I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming.
I knew it. I’d know it all along. But no one would believe me. The gnomes
were behind all the trouble around here.
The gnomes returned to the pile for more paint. “We’ve got to stop them,” I
whispered to Moose. “But how?”
“Let’s just tackle them,” Moose suggested. “Tackle them from behind and pin
them down.”
It sounded simple enough. They were little, after all. Smaller than us.
“Okay,” I whispered, my stomach fluttering. “Then we’ll drag them into the house
and show my parents.”
I took a deep breath and held it. Moose and I started to inch forward.
Closer. Closer.
If only my legs weren’t wobbling like rubber bands!
Closer.
And then I saw Moose go down.
He toppled forward—and hit the ground hard, letting out a loud “Oooof!”
It took me a second to see that he had tripped over Buster’s rope.
He struggled to get to his feet. But the rope had tangled around his ankle.
He reached down with both hands. Gave it a hard tug.
And woke up Buster!
“Rrrrrrowwwwwf! Rrrrrrowwwwwf!” Buster must have seen the gnomes because he
started barking his head off.
The gnomes spun around.
And fixed their eyes on us. In the bright moonlight, their faces turned hard
and angry.
“Get them!” Chip growled. “Don’t let them escape!”
20
“Run!” I screamed.
Moose and I bolted toward the front of the house.
Buster was still barking his head off.
And over the barking, I heard shrill giggles. The gnomes giggled as they
chased after us.
Their feet slapped sharply on the grass. I glanced back, saw their stubby
legs moving fast, a blur of motion.
I pumped my legs, gasping for breath, and rounded the side of the house.
I could hear the high-pitched giggles of the two gnomes close behind us.
“Help!” Moose cried. “Somebody—help us!”
My mouth hung open. I struggled to breathe. They were gaining on us.
I knew I had to run faster. But my legs suddenly felt as heavy as bricks.
“Hellllp!” Moose called.
I glanced at the house. Why wasn’t anyone waking up in there?
We ran around the house and kept running.
Why were Hap and Chip giggling like that?
Because they knew they were going to catch us?
I felt a stab of pain in my side. “Oh, no!” A cramp.
I felt Moose tugging me. “Don’t slow down, Joe. Keep going!”
The pain sharpened, like a knife in my side. “Can’t run…” I choked out.
“Joe—keep going! Don’t stop!” Moose cried, frantically pulling my arm.
But I doubled over, holding my side.
It’s all over, I thought. They’ve got me.
And then the front door swung open. The porch light flashed on.
“What’s going on out here?” a familiar voice called.
Mindy!
She stepped out, pulling at the belt of her pink bathrobe. I saw her squint
into the darkness.
“Mindy!” I called. “Mindy—watch out!”
Too late.
The gnomes grabbed her.
Giggling loudly, they pinned her arms back. Dragged her down the porch steps.
Carried her to the street.
21
Mindy thrashed her arms and kicked her legs. But the giggling gnomes had
surprising strength.
“Help me!” Mindy called back to Moose and me. “Don’t just stand there—help
me!”
I swallowed hard. The pain in my side faded.
Moose and I didn’t say a word. We just started chasing after them.
They had already carried Mindy to the street. Their feet slapped on the
pavement. In the light from the street lamp, I saw Mindy struggling to free
herself.
Moose and I hurtled down the driveway. “Put her down!” I shouted
breathlessly. “Put my sister down—now!”
More giggles. They scurried past the McCalls’ house. Past the next
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