Big Bad Beans Read online

  Big Bad Beans

  Copyright © 2000

  Beverly Lewis

  Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh

  Cover design by the Lookout Design, Inc.

  Text illustrations by Janet Huntington

  Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version’’ trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

  Ebook edition created 2012

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  www.bethanyhouse.com

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

  eISBN 978-1-4412-6087-1

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  For my son Jonathan,

  who agrees with Jason Birchall

  about the “big bad beans.”

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  About the Author

  Other Books by Author

  Back Cover

  ONE

  Jason Birchall pushed through his dresser drawer. He shoved his baseball cards and comic books aside.

  His hand bumped the old cardboard box in the corner. His money box! It was a top-secret place where he kept his life savings.

  “Jason!” his mother called. “Your after-school snack is ready.”

  “Super yuck,” Jason muttered.

  He was tired of his mother’s healthy diet. He was even starting to have carrot and celery nightmares. Last night, three giant carrots chased him to school!

  Jason emptied his jeans pockets. He placed seven dollar bills in a row on his dresser. Then he counted again.

  Doing yard work for Stacy Henry’s mom was super cool. Only ten more dollars to go. Soon, Eric Hagel’s mountain bike would belong to him.

  Ya-hoo! Jason could hardly wait.

  He folded the seven dollar bills. Then he stuffed them into his money box.

  Hiding the box was a smart thing to do. He pushed it way back, into the corner of the drawer.

  Suddenly, he spied a pack of bubble gum. His mouth began to water. He could almost taste the sweet, gooey gum.

  How long had it been since he’d chewed bubble gum?

  Weeks ago his mother had read a silly health-food book. “Time for some big changes,” she’d said.

  Maybe the diet was OK for her and Dad, but Jason wanted sweets. He wadded up four pieces of bubble gum and smashed them into his mouth.

  “Jason, dear,” Mother called again.

  Phooey!

  The bubble gum had to go. But Jason didn’t want to swallow it. That would be real dumb. He would save the sugary wad for later.

  Quickly, he stuck the gum on the wrapper. And—wham!—he closed the drawer.

  Safe!

  “I’m coming.” He hurried to his bedroom door.

  Mother was standing in the hallway, holding a tray of sliced carrots and celery sticks.

  “Double yuck,” Jason said. He stared at the orange and green vegetables. He wrinkled up his face at them.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” Mother said, inching the tray closer.

  “Not for this stuff,” he said.

  “Have you been snitching sweets?” Mother asked.

  Jason shook his head no. He had stuck to the diet. Anyway, gum didn’t count.

  His mother smiled. “This snack will do you good.”

  Jason shrugged. He took a handful of the orange and green health sticks.

  When his mother left, he pulled the junk drawer open again. There he found his wad of bubble gum. He sniffed the strawberry flavor.

  Yum-m-m! His favorite!

  Jason looked at the carrots and celery sticks in his hand. “Better stay out of my dreams tonight,” he warned.

  Then he took his first bite. He gobbled the raw vegetables down—to get it over with. He couldn’t wait to get the horrible taste out of his mouth.

  He reached for the wad of bubble gum and stuffed his face. Jason tiptoed to the bedroom door and peeked out. All clear! Mother was nowhere in sight.

  Fast as a super-spider, he tiptoed down the hall to the front door. Time to visit Eric Hagel next door. Time to check out the flashy mountain bike.

  Soon it’ll be mine! thought Jason.

  TWO

  Jason ran next door to Eric’s house. He nearly stumbled over Stacy Henry. She was sitting near the driveway, staring at some black ants.

  “Hey, Stacy,” he said. “What’re you doing?”

  “Nothing much.” She looked up. “What’re you doing?”

  “I have to talk to Eric,” he told her.

  “He’s busy cleaning out the garage.” She pointed toward the house. “In there.”

  Jason hurried up the driveway and leaned against the side of the garage door. “Looks like you’re working too hard,” he teased.

  Eric stopped sweeping. “What’s up?”

  Jason wandered in and looked around. “How clean does your garage have to be?”

  “Clean enough to earn my allowance,” Eric replied.

  “Looks good to me,” Jason said.

  Eric laughed. “Tell my mom that.”

  Jason spotted the mountain bike. It was parked in the corner of the garage. “When are you getting your new bike?” he asked.

  “Next week, if you come up with the money for my old one,” Eric explained.

  Jason danced around. “I only need ten more bucks,” he said.

  “That’s a lot,” Eric said. “Where are you gonna get it?”

  Jason shrugged. “Beats me, but I will!”

  He turned and watched Stacy. She was letting ants crawl over her fingers on the sunny cement. “Hey, Stacy,” he called. “Does your mom need any more help in her garden?”

  “Don’t think so,” Stacy replied.

  “Maybe Abby Hunter can give you some ideas,” Eric said. “The president of the Cul-de-sac Kids oughta be able to think of something, right?”

  Jason laughed. “Me, work with a girl?”

  “You helped my mom,” Stacy spoke up. “She’s a girl.”

  “That’s different,” Jason muttered. He eyed Eric’s bike and moved toward it.

  Just ten more bucks, he thought. He touched the shiny frame. The golden flecks shone through the royal blue. It was easy to imagine himself speeding down Blossom Hill Lane. His old bike was trash. “I have to have this bike,” he whispered. “Have to!”

  “It’s yours when you cough up the money,” Eric reminded him.

  Jason was startled. Eric had heard him.

  “Well, I’ll see you later,” Jason said.

  He crossed the street to Abby’s house. Her father was outside shooting baskets. Mr. Hunter tosse
d the ball to Jason.

  “Is Abby home?” Jason asked.

  “She’s shopping with her mother,” Mr. Hunter said.

  Jason turned and shot. He made a basket first try.

  Across the street, Eric hopped on his old bike. He flew past Abby’s house and down the street.

  Jason watched him go. “Where’s he headed?” he whispered.

  He aimed the ball and shot. It bounced off the rim.

  Just then Mr. Hunter’s pager beeped. With a smile, he waved to Jason and rushed inside.

  Jason stood holding the basketball. He didn’t like the idea of waiting around for Abby. Why couldn’t he think of a way to earn the extra money?

  At supper, Jason poked at the salad on his plate. He played with his lettuce and sprouts. He glared at the garbanzo beans. “Why must we eat these big, bad beans?” he whined.

  “They’re good for you,” his mother said. “That’s why.”

  “But they stick in my throat,” he argued.

  His father spoke up. “You might try chewing them, son.”

  Jason tried, but it was no use. The beans tasted horrible. And they were too big to swallow whole, like a pill.

  He waited till his parents weren’t looking. Then he sneaked some beans to Muffle. His new puppy would eat them. She loved people food. Any kind!

  Just then the doorbell rang.

  Jason leaped from the table.

  There stood Eric at the front door. “I’ve gotta tell you something,” Eric said. Then he flipped the kickstand down on the blue mountain bike.

  “What’s up?” Jason asked.

  Eric scratched his head. He was acting strange. “Someone else wants to buy my bike. He’ll give me five more bucks than you.”

  Jason felt his neck grow warm. “Is that where you zoomed off today? To sell your bike to someone else?”

  Eric’s wide eyes blinked three times. “Yeah, guess so,” he said.

  “But . . . we had a deal,” Jason urged. His breath was coming fast. “You can’t change your mind now!”

  Eric stared at Jason. “Well, can you match it?”

  “You want more money?” Jason asked.

  “Here’s the deal.” Eric rubbed his fingers together. “Whoever’s first with the bucks.”

  Jason stared at the bike. What a super-cool bike. “I’m already ten dollars short,” he muttered.

  “Too bad, then.” Eric turned to go.

  The lump in his throat made Jason cough. “There’s just no way,” he said.

  THREE

  Jason marched over to Abby’s the next day.

  He told her his plan to buy Eric’s mountain bike. And he told her about Eric’s deal—the rotten one.

  Abby shook her head. “Sounds like you need some quick money. I know just the thing—a recycling project.”

  “A what?” Jason asked.

  “You know, a recycling project. Care for the earth and pick up some extra cash at the same time. I’ll call the Cul-de-sac Kids to help,” she said.

  “Ya-hoo!” shouted Jason. “When do we start?”

  Abby sat on the porch step. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. Meet me in front of my house at eight.”

  “Gotcha.” Jason raced home to count the money in his box. One more time.

  Saturday morning, Jason met Abby in front of her house.

  Dee Dee Winters and Abby’s little sister, Carly, pulled wagons. Stacy Henry wore her mother’s garden gloves.

  Dunkum Mifflin showed up with armloads of trash bags. Abby and Carly’s Korean brothers, Shawn and Jimmy, helped carry the bags.

  Jason smiled. He felt good having so many friends. Cul-de-sac Kid friends!

  Only Eric was missing.

  But Jason didn’t care. He’d show Eric all about good deals. He’d have the money soon. Maybe even today!

  “If you buy Eric’s mountain bike, I’ll race you,” Dee Dee teased.

  “We sure will!” Carly piped up.

  Jason pushed up his glasses. He had more important things on his mind than bike races. At least for now.

  Dunkum whistled with his fingers. “We’ll stop at every house in the cul-de-sac. Then all the houses up the street from the school. Abby, Stacy, and I will gather newspapers. Carly and Dee Dee can pull the glass bottles in the wagons. Jason, you, Shawn, and Jimmy can collect aluminum cans.” Dunkum gave Jason a handful of heavy-duty trash bags. “We’ll split the money evenly,” he said.

  “Super good,” Jason said.

  Abby grinned. “Let’s go to Eric’s house first,” she suggested.

  “Hoo-ray!” the kids agreed.

  “This is a fun way to earn money,” Dee Dee said.

  Carly hurried to catch up with Dee Dee.

  Shawn and Jimmy Hunter chattered in Korean.

  Abby, Stacy and Dunkum told jokes.

  Jason jigged and jived.

  By lunchtime, the kids had gathered a mountain of recyclable items. Enough to fill Abby’s father’s van.

  Jason, Abby, and Dunkum rode along to the recycling center.

  On the way back, Jason counted his share of the money. Fifteen dollars and forty-eight cents worth of work.

  Yes! He ran across the street to Eric’s.

  No one was home.

  Phooey, he thought.

  Eager to buy the bike, Jason darted home. He went to his room and counted all his money. For the last time.

  Jason wanted to dance. There was plenty of money to buy Eric’s bike!

  At lunch, he ate fish and salad without fussing. But he nearly choked on the garbanzo beans. He excused himself every few minutes to see if Eric was home yet.

  His mom went to the kitchen for more herbal tea.

  His dad reached for the TV remote and turned on The Weather Channel.

  Quickly, Jason offered his last garbanzo bean to Muffle. The puppy chomped it right down.

  Ya-hoo!

  Jason didn’t bother to excuse himself from the table. He hurried off to his room.

  There he rooted through his junk drawer. Gotta have some strawberry bubble gum, he thought. Gotta, gotta!

  Just then he heard Eric’s grandpa drive up.

  “Yes!” He grabbed his money and slammed the drawer. The bubble gum would just have to wait. Again.

  Eric’s grandpa was pulling into the garage when Jason arrived. Jason waited for Eric and his grandpa to get out of the car.

  “I’ve got the money,” Jason shouted, waving it in Eric’s face. “Even the extra five bucks!”

  Eric made a smirky face. “Too late,” he said. “The bike’s not for sale.”

  Jason stared at Eric in the dimly lit garage. He was too stunned to speak.

  Eric dug his hand into his pocket. He waved a bunch of dollar bills. “Sorry, someone beat you to it,” he said.

  “No way!” Jason shouted. “That’s not fair!”

  “A deal’s a deal,” Eric said. Then he turned and trudged into the house.

  Jason wanted to holler and carry on.

  But it was no use.

  FOUR

  Jason slipped in through the back door. He tiptoed down the hall to his room. The floor squeaked on the way.

  “Jason, is that you?” his mother called from the living room.

  Rats! She’d want him to eat another healthy snack.

  What he wanted was to chew up three packs of bubble gum. He wished he had two hundred packs of gum. The healthy diet bugged him.

  “Jason?” came his mother’s voice again.

  He looked at the clock. “Time for the carrot and celery brigade,” he whispered.

  Sure enough. Here came his mother with a full tray.

  Jason picked out two skinny celery sticks and three short carrot sticks. He waited till his mother left the room. Then he lifted his mattress and stuffed the orange and green sticks underneath.

  “That’s where veggie sticks belong,” he muttered.

  Then he headed for his junk drawer. He could almost taste his yummy strawberry bubble gum!

/>   The next morning, Jason watched Abby Hunter’s family climb into their van. Every Sunday they attended church. Always together.

  Stacy Henry, Abby’s best friend, was going along. So was Dunkum Mifflin, the best hoop shooter around. And little Dee Dee Winters. Seven Cul-de-sac Kids, counting the Hunter kids.

  They could almost have a club meeting, thought Jason with a sigh.

  Abby often asked Jason to go with them. Dunkum did, too.

  But Jason gave her plenty of excuses. For one thing, he wasn’t used to going to church. For another, his dress-up clothes were too small.

  “None of that matters,” Abby always said.

  But Jason refused to go.

  After the van left, he wandered outside. He sat on the front step and stared at Eric’s house. The lousy double-crosser better stay inside all day, he thought.

  Hey! Now, Eric—there was a kid for Sunday school and church!

  The Hunters’ van arrived back around noon.

  Jason was still sitting on the step. Bored silly.

  Abby ran across the street. “Hi, Jason.”

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Plenty,” she said, out of breath. “Can you hide something for me?”

  Jason pushed up his glasses. “Maybe.”

  Abby opened her purse. She pulled out a sandwich bag full of dollar bills.

  “Wow,” said Jason. “That’s a bunch of money.”

  “Shh! It’s for Mother’s Day,” Abby whispered. “And it’s top secret.”

  “Really?”

  She handed the plastic money bag to him. “I can’t seem to hide this anymore. I think someone’s found my hiding place.”

  “Like who?”

  “I’m not sure,” Abby replied.

  Jason clutched her bag of bills. “Your bucks are safe with me!”

  “Double dabble good!” She turned to cross the street. “Thanks, Jason.”

  “How long should I hide the you-know-what?” Jason called to her.

  “I’ll need it next Saturday. Dad and I are going shopping for Mother’s Day,” Abby said. “But don’t tell anyone. OK?”

  Jason nodded. “It’s a double-done deal.”

  Abby smiled. “Thanks again.” She turned to go but stopped in the middle of the street. “How’s the bike deal coming?” she asked.