Touchdown Tony Crowne and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader (4 page)

“In a big, old house on Lake Breeze Drive, do ya know where that is? I hope I'm headin’ in the right direction.”

“You are. Lake Breeze is just a block away from my house. I live on Lake Shore.”

“Dang! Do all the streets have lake in their name. That’d be confusin’!”

“Hey, you live in a town that’s on a great, big lake. You’ll get used to it.” Tony smiled at Judd and Judd threw his head back, laughed and slapped Tony on the back.

Judd nearly knocked Tony into the next county with his friendly slap, but Judd caught him before he went completely down to the sidewalk and said, “Be careful, little buddy. What’d ya do trip on a blade of grass? Haw-har!”

Tony looked at Judd, shook his head, laughed and slapped Judd on his back. And those two slaps cemented a life-long friendship between Tony and Judd.

Chapter 5- The Thing

Tony turned to Judd and warned, “Judd! Whatever you do…Do… Not…Move…A… Muscle! I mean it. Be like a statue.”

Judd stopped in his tracks, became completely still, darted his gaze toward Tony and spoke out the side of his mouth in a semi-whisper, “What's wrong?”

Tony whispered back to him, “Do you see that girl in the distance walking this way?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Shh, do you see that huge thing walking next to her?”

“Yeah-h-h.” Judd peered intently down the street as the girl and that “thing” came closer and closer. “What is it? I’ve never seen anything like it!”

Tony lowered his voice, stood on his tip toes and whispered into Judd’s ear, “The townspeople say it’s a rare crossbreed between a dog and a lion.”

“A lion and a dog! Ain’t that purty little girl in danger, Tony?” Little beads of sweat were forming on Judd’s forehead.

“Nah, she’s not in any danger, that ‘thing’ protects her from any and all harm. Rumor has it that a circus stopped in Dersee several years ago and this animal was its main attraction. One night, the girl’s rich parents took her to the circus and when she saw the animal, she immediately wanted her parents to buy it for her. Naturally, since it was a wild animal, her parents said no. But, —”

“But what? But what, Tony? They’re getting closer!” The little beads of sweat were now big beads and were rolling down Judd’s face.

“But that ‘thing’ escaped from the circus that very night, tracked the little girl back to her house and—”

“What happened, Tony? What happened! I betcha that thing killed and ate her parents! Didn’t it? Aw, they’re almost here! It’s lookin’ at me, Tony. Lookin' and smackin’ it’s lips like I’m a big ol’ steak!” Judd’s whiny voice trailed off.

“And that ‘thing’ broke into the little girl’s house, laid down at the foot of her bed, growled and snapped at anyone who came close. The next morning this girl knew she couldn’t keep that ‘thing’ because her father lost a couple of fingers when he got too close to her, but the circus was already gone from town and they didn’t know what to do next.”

In the tiniest of whispers Judd said, “I know what to do, I gotta run! I gotta run hard and fast, Tony!” Judd’s perspiration turned into a downpour.

“No, no, that’s what the ‘thing’ wants you to do. It’s fast, Judd. As soon as you turn to run, it’ll jump on your back, wrap its big jaws around your neck and then, snap!” Tony snapped his fingers and Judd’s entire body jerked and a little peep sound echoed from the back of Judd’s throat.

Tony continued, “But you know what, Judd? That girl is desperately trying to find someone, anyone, who will adopt that ‘thing.’ That’s why they are always wandering around town searching for a person to take it.”

“Who…who would want it, Tony?” Judd said and wiped the sweat off his forehead, hoping the “thing” wouldn’t see him move.

“Ah, that’s the problem. It’s not up to the person, it’s up to the ‘thing.’ According to the girl, if it likes you and wants to adopt you, it will stand up on its hind legs, lean on your chest and lick your face. That’s how you know!”

As the girl and the “thing” approached them, Tony backed up a step so Judd would not see the finger-to-the-lips sign he made to Ashley Richardson to keep quiet. “Judd, keep real still, I think the ‘thing’ is eyeballing you. It’s sizing you up as a possible adoptee. Whatever you do, don’t move a muscle!”

Tony once again made a hand signal from behind Judd’s field of vision, raising his arms to his chest. Curly the Airedale took the cue, stood up, planted his paws on Judd’s chest and licked Judd’s sweaty face with gusto.

Judd couldn’t help himself. Even though he was scared like he had never been scared before, he oddly was enjoying the animal’s attention and began to giggle in his typical haw-har fashion. Whatever fright he had before had now disappeared in a wet dog kiss. Tony also was enjoying the scene and had a huge grin on his face.

“Hey Judd, I think you’ve found a new friend!”

Judd glanced at Tony between licks and said, “Yeah! Another friend! This is cool! I’m gonna take him home and feed him before he tries to eat anybody!”

“Ahem, uh Judd, let me introduce you to my dog, Curly. He’s not bloodthirsty and he’s not a cross between a lion and a dog. He’s just a big ol’ dog who needs a haircut,” Tony confessed to Judd. “I just said that stuff to have a little fun. Here you can punch me in the shoulder for payback.” Tony turned and gave Judd a look at his shoulder, hoping Judd wouldn’t take his invitation. He might knock me senseless, Tony thought.

Curly, with a contented look on his face, plopped back down on all four legs, wagged his tail and rubbed against Judd’s legs as he leaned over and vigorously petted him. “He’s your dog? Actually, that’s kinda good ‘cause my Mom and Dad won’t let me have any pets. They say they can barely afford to feed me let alone any livestock!”

Judd didn’t show any inclination to peg him in the shoulder, so Tony let out a deep breath and said, “There is one kernel of truth in what I said to you.”

Curly was now on his backside, wriggling back and forth as Judd scratched his belly. “What’s that, Tony?”

“Since you and Curly are friends now, Curly will protect you from any and all harm.” Not that you need that much protection, thought Tony. “If you’re in danger, all you gotta do is yell for him and Curly will be right by your side, guaranteed!”

Curly woofed twice as if to agree with Tony, then he struck a classic play-bow pose, staring at Judd and inviting him to play. Judd mimicked Curly’s play bow and the two cavorted on the sidewalk as Judd laughed and said in baby talk, “Haw-har, haw-har, you’re a good ol’ dog, yes you are, you’re a good ol’ dog. I’m glad you’re my friend! Haw-har, haw-har!”

Chapter 6- The Trouble with Toads

Ashley Richardson couldn’t keep quiet any longer. She stood with her hands on her hips and with a quizzical expression asked, “Ant, what is this all about? I thought you guys were fighting at school today. Now you’re acting like old friends and pulling tricks on each other and…and what’s this about Curly being ‘bloodthirsty?’” Ash had known Tony practically all her life, her parents moved to Dersee when she was three and they live a few houses down from the Crowne’s. Their parents became close friends with each other and even took vacations together.

Tony stuck his hands into his front pockets, toed the ground in front of him and said, “Aw, it was just a big misunderstanding between us men. I thought he was making fun of my name, when actually he wasn’t; he was just being friendly in his own way. Anyhow, everything is cool now.”

Ash cringed and said, “O-o-h, I’m sorry; I forgot that you wanted to be called Tony from now on. I won’t call you Ant anymore.”

“No problem. I know it’ll take some time. Do you know Judd?” Tony leaned close to her, smiled and whispered in a cooing voice, “He said you were ‘purty’ when he saw you and Curly walking toward us. I think he’s in lo-o-o-ve with you.”

Ash, who knows when Tony is joking, also joked back, “Are you sure he was talking about me? Looks like Judd lo-o-o-ves Curly a lot more than me!” Curly and Judd were now half-way down the block, still prancing and playing with each other. “He’s in one of my classes, but I haven’t met him. Didn’t he just move here a couple of days ago? Hard to believe he’s our age, he’s big!”

“Yeah, he’s a big dude all right, but he’s really nice and friendly once you get to know him.” Tony turned and yelled down the street, “Hey Judd! Come here and meet Ash!”

Judd and Curly stopped playing and looked at Tony as if the referee in a football game had blown his whistle at the end of a play. Judd raced back to Tony and Ash with Curly at his heels.

Not one for bypassing a chance to play, Judd saw a patch of dirt and pebbles on the sidewalk that looked perfect for taking a standing slide. About ten feet away, Judd started his slide and slid perfectly to a stop in front of Ash and Tony, kicking up a little cloud of dust in his wake.

Curly, however, wasn’t tired of playing and kept jumping up on Judd as he attempted to speak. “Down, boy, down, I’ll play with ya in a sec. Hi, my name’s Ju—down, boy, down. I know, you’re all excited and everything.”

Tony took a half step toward Curly, lowered his voice and let out a commanding, but not too loud, “Hey!” At the same time, Tony lifted his right arm in an upward motion with his palm up. Curly immediately stopped jumping on Judd, sat down on his haunches and panted with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.

“Whoa! How did you do that? Will you teach me? Can I do that? Whoa!”

“Since you and Curly are best buds now, I guess I can teach you. He only obeys his friends, right Ash?”

Nodding, Ash glanced at Judd, looked at Curly, raising her right arm up and bringing it down in a smooth motion toward the ground. Curly stopped panting for a second and obediently laid down, his eyes intently focused on Ash. She bent over, gave Curly’s ears a quick rub and said, “Good boy!” Curly closed his eyes in satisfaction as Ash’s rub hit the sweet spot behind his ears.

“Neat-o!” Judd said in amazement as he watched Curly obeying Ash’s hand signal.

Judd, remembering what his father told him to do when meeting a new person, turned to her and held out his hand. He bowed stiffly and introduced himself to Ash, “Hello, my name is Judd Judson, I’m pleased ta meet’cha.”

Ash, taken aback by Judd’s good manners, smiled and curtsied. She clasped his hand and said, “Ashley Richardson and I’m pleased ta meet’cha, too. You can call me Ash. Everyone does.”

“Looks like you just made another friend, Judd. You’re on a roll!” Tony chuckled and playfully jabbed Judd in the shoulder.

“Aw, shucks, ‘twasn’t nuthin’.” Judd’s face turned a light shade of red as he looked down at the sidewalk, waved his hand and glanced over at Tony and Ash with a shy grin.

“Hey, Ash, we’re going home to grab some food before practice, but your house is closer. You got anything good to eat?” After what happened in the morning between his Mom, Judge and Curly, Tony would rather eat somewhere else until he knew for sure his Mom had simmered down.

“I don’t know. Stick your head in the fridge and take a look. I was just on my way to the cheerleader tryouts when I ran into Curly and then met you two. I hear there are going to be quite a few girls trying out so I wanted to get there early and warm up.”

“Aw, you’re the best cheerleader in town, Ash, everyone knows that. You won’t have any problem making the squad. Most of those other girls aren’t anywhere near as athletic as you are, plus, with your gymnastic background, you’re already way ahead of everyone else.”

“And you’re purty,” Judd added, his face reddening again as he found something interesting on the sidewalk to look at.

“Thanks, Tony and Judd, but there are a few other talented and ‘purty’ girls trying out, so it’s not going to be a slam dunk.”

“Yeah, but—oh, no! Look who just rounded the corner,
Furious
Felicity.” Tony’s jaw dropped open after he pronounced her name.

Ash picked up where Tony left off, pronouncing her last name in a terse manner, “Whittaker!”

Tony chuckled and said, “And her toadies, Mel and Josie, are right on her heels.”

“Toady? What's a toady?" Judd asked with one eyebrow arched higher than the other and scratching his head.

“A toady basically is a ‘yes man,’ someone who thinks another person can do no wrong. In this case, Mel and Josie idolize Felicity.” Tony shook his head and added, “For some strange reason.”

Felicity Whittaker wasn’t always furious at the world. Most of the kids in Dersee figured she became angry when her wealthy parents divorced a few years ago. Her mother and father were leading citizens of Dersee and details of their bitter divorce played out in the headlines of the local newspaper on an almost daily basis. Judge Anthony Crowne Sr. presided over the trial and ruled in favor of sole custody for Felicity’s father. Her mother, ashamed of all the publicity, moved to a much larger city and Felicity rarely sees her. Judge Crowne became the focal point of Felicity’s anger and, by extension, Tony Crowne and any of his friends or family.
Felicity made it a point to always be mean spirited toward Tony.

“Ugh!” complained Ash, scrunching her face in disbelief and clenching her fists. “I don’t believe this. Felicity is wearing the official cheerleading uniform. You’re not supposed to buy that uniform until
after
you’ve been chosen for the squad. The nerve! Grr!” Ash stomped her foot, crossed her arms and walked a few paces away. She circled and came back next to Tony and Judd.