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“I write for the kid in me. . . . Often when I’m working on a story, I’ll find myself laughing at something my characters have done, or even being surprised at where they’ve taken the story. It’s as if they have a life all their own. What I do is create them and then let them go on to entertain me. . . .”
―
―
“Q and I did our history report together on George Washington,” he told them. “So if you have any questions, we can probably answer them, since we did so much research.”
“You only read one library book for that report,” Tony objected. “You can’t call one book ‘so much research.’”
“You didn’t see the size of that book, Tony,” Matt told him. “It was big. I mean really big.”
“Look, Tony, we’re not saying that we know everything about the Revolutionary War, but we did do a report on it and we do know more than you do,” Q said smugly.
“Okay, guys, let’s not waste any more time trying to decide who knows more about the Revolutionary War.”
― George Washington's Socks
“You only read one library book for that report,” Tony objected. “You can’t call one book ‘so much research.’”
“You didn’t see the size of that book, Tony,” Matt told him. “It was big. I mean really big.”
“Look, Tony, we’re not saying that we know everything about the Revolutionary War, but we did do a report on it and we do know more than you do,” Q said smugly.
“Okay, guys, let’s not waste any more time trying to decide who knows more about the Revolutionary War.”
― George Washington's Socks
“I don’t know how this happened, how we ended up here. I never knew it would be like this. I’m not from here, Israel, you have to believe me. I’m from another--”
“It’s all right,” Israel interrupted him, leaning over and putting his arm around him. “I’ll look after you. We two goats, we’ll get through this together, you’ll see, and when my enlistment is up well find your Katie and you and she can come and visit me and Abby and the boys. Don’t worry, Matthew Carlton, you’ve got a friend in Israel Gates. You can depend on it.”
― George Washington's Socks
“It’s all right,” Israel interrupted him, leaning over and putting his arm around him. “I’ll look after you. We two goats, we’ll get through this together, you’ll see, and when my enlistment is up well find your Katie and you and she can come and visit me and Abby and the boys. Don’t worry, Matthew Carlton, you’ve got a friend in Israel Gates. You can depend on it.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Did that sound like a bird to you?” But Blackjack didn’t answer as he carefully made his way along the trail, taking them further and further into the darkness of the lush forest.
Matt flinched at the sound of another call. “Some strange birds in these woods, huh, Blackjack?” he croaked. “Or maybe it was a rabbit. My friend Hooter had a rabbit once that got its foot caught in a lawn mower. Kind of sounded like that. But I guess you don’t have any lawn mowers around here, do you?” Matt whispered.
Blackjack wasn’t thinking about lawn mowers or rabbits or birds, though. Blackjack, as Mr. Hornbee had said, was one smart mule and he knew what Indians sounded like when he heard them!”
― George Washington's Socks
Matt flinched at the sound of another call. “Some strange birds in these woods, huh, Blackjack?” he croaked. “Or maybe it was a rabbit. My friend Hooter had a rabbit once that got its foot caught in a lawn mower. Kind of sounded like that. But I guess you don’t have any lawn mowers around here, do you?” Matt whispered.
Blackjack wasn’t thinking about lawn mowers or rabbits or birds, though. Blackjack, as Mr. Hornbee had said, was one smart mule and he knew what Indians sounded like when he heard them!”
― George Washington's Socks
“Matt thought camping in Tony’s yard was okay, but he wished it were a little more wild and dangerous. If Tony’s father had let them make camp along the lake like they had wanted to do, it would have been perfect. As it was, Tony’s parents kept coming to the kitchen door and peeking out to check on them every ten minutes.
“Sometimes they treat me like I was in second grade or something,” Tony groaned, waving his mother away from the door.
“It’s probably because you’re so small,” Q pointed out.
“Yeah, Tony, you know, I’ve seen some second-graders that are a whole lot bigger than you,” Hooter added. Tony shrugged his shoulders. He was used to people pointing out his height or lack of it. He was the shortest boy in the fifth grade.
“It’s just because of his size that Tony is such an important member of the club,” Matt said with authority, sitting back down in front of the fire.
“It is?” Tony squeaked, sitting beside him.
“Sure, since you’re the smallest man, you’ll be our scout. You can do all the tracking, traveling ahead of us to check things out without being seen. And since you’re so small you weigh less than any of us. Do you remember those Indian scouts in the Davy Crockett book we read? Remember how they could walk through the woods without making a sound? Well, you don’t think they weighed three hundred pounds, do you?”
“No, I guess not.” Tony grinned, throwing his shoulders back and sitting up straight like an Indian scout.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Sometimes they treat me like I was in second grade or something,” Tony groaned, waving his mother away from the door.
“It’s probably because you’re so small,” Q pointed out.
“Yeah, Tony, you know, I’ve seen some second-graders that are a whole lot bigger than you,” Hooter added. Tony shrugged his shoulders. He was used to people pointing out his height or lack of it. He was the shortest boy in the fifth grade.
“It’s just because of his size that Tony is such an important member of the club,” Matt said with authority, sitting back down in front of the fire.
“It is?” Tony squeaked, sitting beside him.
“Sure, since you’re the smallest man, you’ll be our scout. You can do all the tracking, traveling ahead of us to check things out without being seen. And since you’re so small you weigh less than any of us. Do you remember those Indian scouts in the Davy Crockett book we read? Remember how they could walk through the woods without making a sound? Well, you don’t think they weighed three hundred pounds, do you?”
“No, I guess not.” Tony grinned, throwing his shoulders back and sitting up straight like an Indian scout.”
― George Washington's Socks
“A young soldier stepped into the old rowboat and reached for Matt and Q first, grabbing them by the arms and directing them over to the general’s vessel. He then tried to separate Hooter and Tony, but Hooter had pulled Tony to him and wouldn’t let go. He was holding him to his chest as if Tony were his teddy bear. Actually Hooter still slept with a teddy bear but it was a secret he had kept from his friends. Tony wasn’t furry or cuddly like his bear but Hooter wasn’t about to be choosy. He was so scared he just needed something to hold on to.
“Hooter, let go! You’re squeezing me so hard I can’t breathe,” Tony cried as they were lifted together onto the general’s boat.
“Sorry,” Hooter mumbled, without loosening his grip.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Hooter, let go! You’re squeezing me so hard I can’t breathe,” Tony cried as they were lifted together onto the general’s boat.
“Sorry,” Hooter mumbled, without loosening his grip.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Come along then, and we’ll saddle up Blackjack,” Mr. Hornbee said, reaching for his hat.
“Blackjack?” Matt asked, following him outside to the barn.
“My mule,” Mr. Hornbee replied. “He’ll follow the trail through the woods and take you right to the river. He’s smarter than any horse you’ve ever been on, I’ll wager.”
Matt watched uneasily as the long-eared, sleepy-looking Blackjack was led from the barn. Matt wanted to tell the old man that he had never been on a horse before, much less a mule. A skateboard, Mr. Hornbee. That’s the last thing I rode on, Matt was thinking as he watched Blackjack open his mouth in a big-toothed yawn.
“You can take care of your business yonder, son,” Mr. Hornbee told him, nodding toward a little shed behind the house.
“My business?” Matt asked with a blank look.
The old man shook his head and sighed heavily. “Surely that head wound has left you confused,” he said, gently leading Matt to the shed. “Come along, now.” And he opened the door and gave Matt a little push inside.
“Oh, that business!” Matt smiled, on discovering that the shed was an outhouse.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Blackjack?” Matt asked, following him outside to the barn.
“My mule,” Mr. Hornbee replied. “He’ll follow the trail through the woods and take you right to the river. He’s smarter than any horse you’ve ever been on, I’ll wager.”
Matt watched uneasily as the long-eared, sleepy-looking Blackjack was led from the barn. Matt wanted to tell the old man that he had never been on a horse before, much less a mule. A skateboard, Mr. Hornbee. That’s the last thing I rode on, Matt was thinking as he watched Blackjack open his mouth in a big-toothed yawn.
“You can take care of your business yonder, son,” Mr. Hornbee told him, nodding toward a little shed behind the house.
“My business?” Matt asked with a blank look.
The old man shook his head and sighed heavily. “Surely that head wound has left you confused,” he said, gently leading Matt to the shed. “Come along, now.” And he opened the door and gave Matt a little push inside.
“Oh, that business!” Matt smiled, on discovering that the shed was an outhouse.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Thanks, Dad,” he muttered under his breath, for his mother had always said that he got his big feet from his father’s side of the family. Matt suddenly thought of his father and mother and tears came to his eyes, as he wondered if he would ever see them again.
“What did you say?” Israel asked.
“Oh, I was just thinking how glad I was for once that I have such big feet for a kid,” Matt said, wiping a tear from his cheek.
“A goat?” Israel frowned.
“No, where I come form we call boys ‘kids.’ Like I would be a regular kid and you’re older so you would be a big kid,” Matt tried to explain.
Israel cocked his head and smiled slowly. “Where I come from they’d be calling you a sight dim for telling a man with a musket that he’s an old goat!”
Matt was about to explain further when he saw that Israel was laughing. “I guess it does sound funny.”
― George Washington's Socks
“What did you say?” Israel asked.
“Oh, I was just thinking how glad I was for once that I have such big feet for a kid,” Matt said, wiping a tear from his cheek.
“A goat?” Israel frowned.
“No, where I come form we call boys ‘kids.’ Like I would be a regular kid and you’re older so you would be a big kid,” Matt tried to explain.
Israel cocked his head and smiled slowly. “Where I come from they’d be calling you a sight dim for telling a man with a musket that he’s an old goat!”
Matt was about to explain further when he saw that Israel was laughing. “I guess it does sound funny.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Where do you make your homes?” he asked.
“Rumson,” Matt called back. “Rumson, Nebraska.”
“Nebraska? Where is this place, Nebraska?” The general and his men looked perplexed, but the state of their confusion was nowhere near that of Matt and his friends.
“I never met anyone who didn’t know where Nebraska was,” Hooter mumbled through chattering teeth.
“Where…where do you think they’re from?” Tony stammered.
“I don’t know,” matt whispered, staring at the soldiers and their muskets. “But I have this strange feeling, like…like…”
“Like we’ve seen them someplace before,” Q concluded.
“Where?” Hooter wanted to know. “Where have we seen them?”
“In our history book,” Q whispered. “We’ve gone back in time!”
“You mean before TV and stuff?” Hooter asked, looking at the old-fashioned muskets that were pointed at them.
“Before TV?” Q squeaked. His voice always turned into a series of squeaks when he was excited. “Try before electricity and flashlights. Try 1776--the Revolutionary War!”
― George Washington's Socks
“Rumson,” Matt called back. “Rumson, Nebraska.”
“Nebraska? Where is this place, Nebraska?” The general and his men looked perplexed, but the state of their confusion was nowhere near that of Matt and his friends.
“I never met anyone who didn’t know where Nebraska was,” Hooter mumbled through chattering teeth.
“Where…where do you think they’re from?” Tony stammered.
“I don’t know,” matt whispered, staring at the soldiers and their muskets. “But I have this strange feeling, like…like…”
“Like we’ve seen them someplace before,” Q concluded.
“Where?” Hooter wanted to know. “Where have we seen them?”
“In our history book,” Q whispered. “We’ve gone back in time!”
“You mean before TV and stuff?” Hooter asked, looking at the old-fashioned muskets that were pointed at them.
“Before TV?” Q squeaked. His voice always turned into a series of squeaks when he was excited. “Try before electricity and flashlights. Try 1776--the Revolutionary War!”
― George Washington's Socks
“Uh…excuse me, sir,” he said loudly. “But would you like a Band-Aid?” He waved it in the air in front of the soldier. “Band-Aid, Band-Aid,” he said. He waited to see the soldier’s response and, when the Hessian beckoned him forward, Hooter stood up. He went up to the soldier and opened the Band-Aid and carefully placed it over the bloodiest part of the wound. The leg was pretty badly scratched, but the Band-Aid was able to stop the severest bleeding.
The soldier stared at the Band-Aid for a long time and pulled at the edges, feeling the sticky underside. Then he looked at Hooter.
“Ban…Bandad. Ho…Hoot!” He smiled at Hooter and then tapped himself on the chest. “Ich bin Gustav.”
“Gustav, that’s great!” Hooter grinned. “Hi, Gustav, nice to meet you.”
“Ya, ya, Hoot!” The soldier grinned back. Then he stood up and had them form into a line again.
“Hooter, we aren’t at a tea party,” Matt said sternly as they began to make their way through the woods. “We’re not supposed to be making friends with them. That’s the enemy.”
― George Washington's Socks
The soldier stared at the Band-Aid for a long time and pulled at the edges, feeling the sticky underside. Then he looked at Hooter.
“Ban…Bandad. Ho…Hoot!” He smiled at Hooter and then tapped himself on the chest. “Ich bin Gustav.”
“Gustav, that’s great!” Hooter grinned. “Hi, Gustav, nice to meet you.”
“Ya, ya, Hoot!” The soldier grinned back. Then he stood up and had them form into a line again.
“Hooter, we aren’t at a tea party,” Matt said sternly as they began to make their way through the woods. “We’re not supposed to be making friends with them. That’s the enemy.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Then out of the darkness a deep voice commanded, “Halt, in the name of the Continental Army!”
“Halt?” Tony whispered. “Is he kidding?”
― George Washington's Socks
“Halt?” Tony whispered. “Is he kidding?”
― George Washington's Socks
“At the sound of their footsteps, the Hessians swung around and drew their swords. Katie screamed, Q yelled, and Matt did the one thing that he had so hoped he wouldn’t. He closed his eyes and didn’t move!”
― George Washington's Socks
― George Washington's Socks
“Six dollars,” Matt muttered as a sharp stone cut into his linen-bound foot. I could spend that much in six minutes at the mall! Not that there is a mall anywhere near here, he thought gloomily, looking into the darkened woods. What I wouldn’t give to see a mall right now, with heat and electric lights and restaurants and shoe stores! But that’s all two hundred years away.”
― George Washington's Socks
― George Washington's Socks
“Why can’t we make her a visiting member, just for tonight?”
“Technically speaking, the club’s charter dictates that no females are allowed in the club, visiting or otherwise,” Q told him.
“Okay, okay. But it’s like Katie said, she’s not just a girl. She’s a relative. That should count for something,” Hooter pointed out.
“None of you guys have a little sister, and believe me you don’t know what pains they can be,” Matt tried to explain.
“I sort of know how she feels,” Tony said. “It’s not much fun always being the littlest and the one that always gets left out.”
“Come on, Matt, just for tonight. She can’t be that bad.” Hooter laughed, opening the tent.
“Okay.” Matt sighed. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” As Hooter held open the tent flap, the newest temporary member of the Adventure Club stumbled out. In the light of the campfire her head was a blaze of red curls. Over her shoulder was a toy bow, with the arrows in a pouch on her back. She held a water gun in one hand and a plastic Heroic Hero sword in the other. She took a step toward the group and shot Hooter in the nose with her squirt gun.
“I’m ready for the adventure, Chief,” she said with a dimpled grin.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Technically speaking, the club’s charter dictates that no females are allowed in the club, visiting or otherwise,” Q told him.
“Okay, okay. But it’s like Katie said, she’s not just a girl. She’s a relative. That should count for something,” Hooter pointed out.
“None of you guys have a little sister, and believe me you don’t know what pains they can be,” Matt tried to explain.
“I sort of know how she feels,” Tony said. “It’s not much fun always being the littlest and the one that always gets left out.”
“Come on, Matt, just for tonight. She can’t be that bad.” Hooter laughed, opening the tent.
“Okay.” Matt sighed. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” As Hooter held open the tent flap, the newest temporary member of the Adventure Club stumbled out. In the light of the campfire her head was a blaze of red curls. Over her shoulder was a toy bow, with the arrows in a pouch on her back. She held a water gun in one hand and a plastic Heroic Hero sword in the other. She took a step toward the group and shot Hooter in the nose with her squirt gun.
“I’m ready for the adventure, Chief,” she said with a dimpled grin.”
― George Washington's Socks
“For the first time in his life Matt was glad he had done his homework. If he hadn’t done that history report, he probably wouldn’t even know where he was right now.”
― George Washington's Socks
― George Washington's Socks
“He closed his eyes now and imagined that he was talking to his mother on the phone.
“Oh, hi, Mom. How are you? Me? Oh, I’m great. I’m just hanging out in the eighteenth century. Behave myself? Don’t worry, Mom, George Washington and a few of his friends are here to see to that. Home? I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I will come back, I promise.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Oh, hi, Mom. How are you? Me? Oh, I’m great. I’m just hanging out in the eighteenth century. Behave myself? Don’t worry, Mom, George Washington and a few of his friends are here to see to that. Home? I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I will come back, I promise.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Katie Carlton, how many times do I have to tell you to stop twisting that hair?” Mrs. Carlton sighed as she got up and went to the refrigerator.
Timing, Matt was thinking. It’s all a matter of timing. Quickly he reached over and took the lid off the sugar bowl, then dropped in all the peas from his dish. He placed the lid back on a second before his mother returned to the table. Then he glanced back at Katie, whose mouth had dropped open as she stared at the sugar bowl.
“Oh, great,” Matt moaned to himself, giving her a hard cold stare, but Katie had begun to giggle. Mr. Carlton got off the phone and returned to the table. He picked up his glass of iced tea.
“Honey, did you want more sugar for that?” Mrs. Carlton asked, passing the sugar bowl to her husband. Mr. Carlton took the sugar bowl and placed it beside his plate. “Um, no, I think I’m fine,” he said.
Katie was unable to suppress herself, and before too long was doubled over in her seat, giggling. “And just what is all that about, Katherine?” Mrs. Carlton asked, looking over at Katie.
“Nothing, Mom,” Matt reassured her. “You know how silly she gets when she starts to play with her food. She was just making the noodles wiggle on her plate like worms. Weren’t you, Katie?” Matt pinched her arm from under the table. “Ow!” Katie said, lifting her arm and pointing to the sugar bowl.
“How would you like to come camping with our club tonight, Katie?” Matt blurted out. He was desperate. He couldn’t risk his parents handing out any punishments tonight. He could just imagine having to explain to the guys that their president couldn’t make the first adventure of their club because his parents were punishing him for filling the sugar bowl with peas!
Katie quickly put down her arm and beamed with delight. “Oh, boy, I’m going camping with Matt!”
“That’s good of you to include your sister.” Mr. Carlton smiled at Matt.
“Yes, it’s very nice of you.” Mrs. Carlton smiled. In fact everyone was smiling, everyone except Matt.
Great, he thought to himself. My first adventure with the club and I have to drag along a girl! A seven-year-old baby girl! He glared at Katie, who grinned back, giving one of her curls a twist.”
― George Washington's Socks
Timing, Matt was thinking. It’s all a matter of timing. Quickly he reached over and took the lid off the sugar bowl, then dropped in all the peas from his dish. He placed the lid back on a second before his mother returned to the table. Then he glanced back at Katie, whose mouth had dropped open as she stared at the sugar bowl.
“Oh, great,” Matt moaned to himself, giving her a hard cold stare, but Katie had begun to giggle. Mr. Carlton got off the phone and returned to the table. He picked up his glass of iced tea.
“Honey, did you want more sugar for that?” Mrs. Carlton asked, passing the sugar bowl to her husband. Mr. Carlton took the sugar bowl and placed it beside his plate. “Um, no, I think I’m fine,” he said.
Katie was unable to suppress herself, and before too long was doubled over in her seat, giggling. “And just what is all that about, Katherine?” Mrs. Carlton asked, looking over at Katie.
“Nothing, Mom,” Matt reassured her. “You know how silly she gets when she starts to play with her food. She was just making the noodles wiggle on her plate like worms. Weren’t you, Katie?” Matt pinched her arm from under the table. “Ow!” Katie said, lifting her arm and pointing to the sugar bowl.
“How would you like to come camping with our club tonight, Katie?” Matt blurted out. He was desperate. He couldn’t risk his parents handing out any punishments tonight. He could just imagine having to explain to the guys that their president couldn’t make the first adventure of their club because his parents were punishing him for filling the sugar bowl with peas!
Katie quickly put down her arm and beamed with delight. “Oh, boy, I’m going camping with Matt!”
“That’s good of you to include your sister.” Mr. Carlton smiled at Matt.
“Yes, it’s very nice of you.” Mrs. Carlton smiled. In fact everyone was smiling, everyone except Matt.
Great, he thought to himself. My first adventure with the club and I have to drag along a girl! A seven-year-old baby girl! He glared at Katie, who grinned back, giving one of her curls a twist.”
― George Washington's Socks
“But, as discouraged as Washington was, he was not prepared to accept defeat, not yet. The American Army was on the verge of collapse, and in desperate need of a victory in order to turn the tide in their favor. The crossing of the Delaware and the taking of Trenton on December twenty-sixth proved to be just such a victory.’ Can you imagine what it must have been like?” Matt said suddenly, looking up from the book.
“Cold,” Q replied. “Really, really cold. They crossed the river at night, in the middle of rain and ice and snow. They must have been freezing.”
“Just like we’re going to be if we let this fire go out,” Tony said as he got up to get another log for the fire.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Cold,” Q replied. “Really, really cold. They crossed the river at night, in the middle of rain and ice and snow. They must have been freezing.”
“Just like we’re going to be if we let this fire go out,” Tony said as he got up to get another log for the fire.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Now, Q, you’ll be the club’s brain,” Matt told him. “Everyone here knows that you have the fastest brain in the fifth grade, maybe even the whole school.”
“Except for Carla Ponti,” Tony interrupted.
“Have you seen what Carla Ponti looks like lately?” Hooter said with a grin. “She had her hair permed or something and it looks like a brillo pad that’s been microwaved.”
“Not too smart. But then she’s a girl. What do you expect?” Matt shook his head. “Now, Q, we’re going to need some quick thinking if we get in some live-or-die situations. So be prepared to think.”
“I know,” Q said, taking off his glasses to wipe a mosquito from them. “I already thought of that and I have no intention of perming my hair.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Except for Carla Ponti,” Tony interrupted.
“Have you seen what Carla Ponti looks like lately?” Hooter said with a grin. “She had her hair permed or something and it looks like a brillo pad that’s been microwaved.”
“Not too smart. But then she’s a girl. What do you expect?” Matt shook his head. “Now, Q, we’re going to need some quick thinking if we get in some live-or-die situations. So be prepared to think.”
“I know,” Q said, taking off his glasses to wipe a mosquito from them. “I already thought of that and I have no intention of perming my hair.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Your courage is there, right alongside of your fear.”
― The Orphan of Ellis Island: A Time-Travel Adventure
― The Orphan of Ellis Island: A Time-Travel Adventure
“We made our way into the woods, just above the river. I scouted ahead of everyone…”
“Yeah, about three inches ahead.” Hooter smirked.
“Well, ahead anyway.” Tony shot Hooter a smirk back.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Yeah, about three inches ahead.” Hooter smirked.
“Well, ahead anyway.” Tony shot Hooter a smirk back.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Matt wanted to tell the old man that he had never been on a horse before, much less a mule. A skateboard, Mr. Hornbee. That’s the last thing I rode on, Matt was thinking as he watched Blackjack open his mouth in a big-toothed yawn.”
― George Washington's Socks
― George Washington's Socks
“Where have we seen them?”
“In our history book,” Q whispered. “We’ve gone back in time!”
“You mean before TV and stuff?” Hooter asked, looking at the old-fashioned muskets that were pointed at them.
“Before TV?” Q squeaked. His voice always turned into a series of squeaks when he was excited. “Try before electricity and flashlights. Try 1776--the Revolutionary War!”
“That’s why they don’t know where Nebraska is,” Matt exclaimed. “In 1776 there was no such state as Nebraska! How did this happen? And if we really have gone back in time, how are we going to get home?” Everyone stood staring at the boat full of ragged soldiers before them.
Tony turned to Matt. “You thought my backyard was so boring. I hope you’re happy now.”
Matt was too stunned to reply. It was true, the Adventure Club had been his idea, but he never dreamed it would turn out like this. Matt closed his eyes tight, wishing they could go back, back to the safety of a few hours ago, when his life had been normal and safe, and his biggest problem had been to finish the peas on his dinner plate!”
― George Washington's Socks
“In our history book,” Q whispered. “We’ve gone back in time!”
“You mean before TV and stuff?” Hooter asked, looking at the old-fashioned muskets that were pointed at them.
“Before TV?” Q squeaked. His voice always turned into a series of squeaks when he was excited. “Try before electricity and flashlights. Try 1776--the Revolutionary War!”
“That’s why they don’t know where Nebraska is,” Matt exclaimed. “In 1776 there was no such state as Nebraska! How did this happen? And if we really have gone back in time, how are we going to get home?” Everyone stood staring at the boat full of ragged soldiers before them.
Tony turned to Matt. “You thought my backyard was so boring. I hope you’re happy now.”
Matt was too stunned to reply. It was true, the Adventure Club had been his idea, but he never dreamed it would turn out like this. Matt closed his eyes tight, wishing they could go back, back to the safety of a few hours ago, when his life had been normal and safe, and his biggest problem had been to finish the peas on his dinner plate!”
― George Washington's Socks
“Matt was glad that he had worn his old hooded blue sweatshirt rather than the new red one his mother had wanted him to wear. They would have thought I was a redcoat for sure, he thought, making his way through the groups of soldiers that were on the shore.”
― George Washington's Socks
― George Washington's Socks
“He felt that in a way he was taking part in the Revolution. He was returning the mighty general’s cape. He had been given the responsibility for keeping the father of our country from freezing! He climbed out of the boat feeling like a true rebel!”
― George Washington's Socks
― George Washington's Socks
“Those soldiers have guns and swords.”
“We have courage and sticks. Just pick up a big stick,” Matt ordered.
“A stick?” Tony whimpered. “Did he say a stick?”
― George Washington's Socks
“We have courage and sticks. Just pick up a big stick,” Matt ordered.
“A stick?” Tony whimpered. “Did he say a stick?”
― George Washington's Socks
“What did they put all that war paint on for, if they aren’t going to stay and fight?” Hooter whispered.
“I guess it wasn’t war paint,” Matt muttered.
“I hate to say it,” Hooter whispered. “But I think they have the right idea. We’re no match for these guys. Maybe we could catch up if we hurry,” he said, turning around in the direction of the Indians.
“Tony, where’s your sense of loyalty?” Matt exclaimed, grabbing his sleeve. “That’s Katie and Q over there. They are fellow club members, part of our tribe, don’t you see? The Indians risked their lives to get us here. Now, it’s up to us to save our people.”
“But we don’t even have any weapons to save them with,” Tony moaned. “Those soldiers have guns and swords.”
“We have courage and sticks. Just pick up a big stick,” Matt ordered.
“A stick?” Tony whimpered. “Did he say a stick?”
― George Washington's Socks
“I guess it wasn’t war paint,” Matt muttered.
“I hate to say it,” Hooter whispered. “But I think they have the right idea. We’re no match for these guys. Maybe we could catch up if we hurry,” he said, turning around in the direction of the Indians.
“Tony, where’s your sense of loyalty?” Matt exclaimed, grabbing his sleeve. “That’s Katie and Q over there. They are fellow club members, part of our tribe, don’t you see? The Indians risked their lives to get us here. Now, it’s up to us to save our people.”
“But we don’t even have any weapons to save them with,” Tony moaned. “Those soldiers have guns and swords.”
“We have courage and sticks. Just pick up a big stick,” Matt ordered.
“A stick?” Tony whimpered. “Did he say a stick?”
― George Washington's Socks
“So which one of you was pretending to be George Washington?” she asked.
“Uh, well,” Matt hesitated.
“Honey, I don’t think Matt wants to divulge any more information.” Mr. Carlton turned to Matt and whispered, “Private club business, right, son?”
“Something like that,” Matt replied.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me, man-to-man.” Mr. Carlton nodded. “You did a fine job of looking out for your sister on this camp-out and I want you to know that I’m proud of you for including her. It shows that you’re becoming a mature, responsible person.”
“Uh, gee…thanks, Dad,” Matt mumbled.
“Don’t mention it.” Mr. Carlton smiled. “Pass me the sugar, will you, son?”
― George Washington's Socks
“Uh, well,” Matt hesitated.
“Honey, I don’t think Matt wants to divulge any more information.” Mr. Carlton turned to Matt and whispered, “Private club business, right, son?”
“Something like that,” Matt replied.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me, man-to-man.” Mr. Carlton nodded. “You did a fine job of looking out for your sister on this camp-out and I want you to know that I’m proud of you for including her. It shows that you’re becoming a mature, responsible person.”
“Uh, gee…thanks, Dad,” Matt mumbled.
“Don’t mention it.” Mr. Carlton smiled. “Pass me the sugar, will you, son?”
― George Washington's Socks
“At least we’re all together, finally.” Matt sighed when they had come to another stop.
“Yeah, great,” Tony whispered. “And now we can all die together.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Yeah, great,” Tony whispered. “And now we can all die together.”
― George Washington's Socks
“Katie, Q wants to know if you’ll let him have George Washington’s socks. You can’t wear them home, so you might as well let him have them,” Matt told her. Katie took a long look at the socks in Q’s hand, and then she looked up into his eyes.
“I’ll trade them,” she said, giving one of her curls a twist.
“Sure,” Q squeaked with delight. “Anything, anything you want.”
“You can have the socks if you buy me my own bag of marshmallows,” Katie demanded.
“You want to trade George Washington’s socks for a bag of marshmallows?” Q asked, his mouth dropping open in disbelief. Katie nodded, her red curls bouncing on her head in the early morning light.”
― George Washington's Socks
“I’ll trade them,” she said, giving one of her curls a twist.
“Sure,” Q squeaked with delight. “Anything, anything you want.”
“You can have the socks if you buy me my own bag of marshmallows,” Katie demanded.
“You want to trade George Washington’s socks for a bag of marshmallows?” Q asked, his mouth dropping open in disbelief. Katie nodded, her red curls bouncing on her head in the early morning light.”
― George Washington's Socks
