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    The Maze
    The Maze
    The Maze
    Ebook73 pages1 hour

    The Maze

    By Peni Griffin

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    About this ebook

    Nearly nine-year-old Caroline isn't at all sure visiting her Dad, and his new wife and annoying stepson, is a good idea. She's even less convinced when Dad has to give a final exam, her stepmother is called away, and Hector's left in charge on her first day there!

    Hector warns the college student who drops off a late art project that Dad won't accept it. The student tells him to mind his own business and "just leave it alone till your dad gets home." Who does he think he is? Caroline can't do any harm by taking the cover off one corner and looking. The picture shows a mountain covered with twisting paths and a variety of fantastic creatures - including a mermaid. Caroline loves mermaids!

    And she can hear this one singing!

    Leaning closer to hear better, Caroline tumbles headlong into the picture. But mermaids aren't as nice in person as in theory. When Hector jumps in to rescue her, he is at best half-successful. They're trapped on a mountain full of brightly-colored threats, confusing paths, and monsters variously smart and stupid, treacherous and fair-minded, but all - from the courteous sphinx to the crabby Thigama Bob - set on keeping them from getting out alive. Hector is stronger and knows more about monsters than Caroline does; but Caroline is bolder and quicker-witted than Hector.

    And they'd better stick together, because the odds of either of them making it through alone are slim.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPeni Griffin
    Release dateAug 10, 2012
    ISBN9781476283234
    The Maze
    Author

    Peni Griffin

    I spent my childhood reading and taking long car trips. I sold her first book, to Margaret K. McElderry, in 1989. My twelve middle-grade and YA novels since then have included nominees for major awards for the mystery and western genres. The Ghost Sitter won the William Allan White Award for Best Book for 3-5th graders in 2004. Switching Well has been used in many Texas classrooms to support the 7th-grade Texas history curriculum. I live in San Antonio with my husband and two cats.

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      Book preview

      The Maze - Peni Griffin

      THE MAZE

      Peni R. Griffin

      Copyright 2012 by Peni R. Griffin

      Smashwords Edition

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to a legitimate vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Chapter 1. A Painting in the Rain

      Chapter 2. The Mermaid

      Chapter 3. No Way Back

      Chapter 4. The Minotaur

      Chapter 5. Thigama Bob

      Chapter 6. The Waterfall

      Chapter 7. The Sphinx

      Chapter 8. The Right Way Up

      Chapter 9. Hector Goes Dancing

      Chapter 10. Echo to the Rescue

      Chapter 11. The Peak

      Chapter 12. The Return

      Chapter 1. A Painting in the Rain

      It was raining, and Caroline was supposed to be glad.

      It hasn't rained all spring, said Daddy's new wife, Irma. We need it.

      "I don't need it, said Caroline. It's rained practically every day in Atlanta."

      Caroline had flown in all by herself to visit for a month. She hadn't been thrilled about coming. Daddy and Mommy had stopped being married before she could remember, and since he'd gotten his job teaching art in San Antonio when she was five, she'd hardly seen him. Now he had a whole new, separate family, which she wasn't sure she wanted anything to do with. However, Mommy and both sets of grandparrents and the aunts and uncles had all thought the visit was a good idea when Daddy invited her. They had spent a lot of time telling her how great it would be.

      Caroline hadn't paid much attention to all the stuff they'd talked about - how at eight and three-quarter years old she was big enough to go on a plane by herself, and how it was important to know her father and how she was bound to like her stepmother and stepbrother; but Mommy had told her Texas was always hot and sunny, so Daddy could take her swimming every day. Swimming was one of Caroline's favorite things, and she hadn't been able to do it once this year, because every time Mommy started to take her, rain started falling. Now here she was in sunny Texas, the rain was pouring down, and instead of getting to know her, Daddy was going to work!

      This is the last day, he said. I have to give my students their final exams, and then I'm free till August.

      I thought those projects that got turned in last week were their final exams, said Caroline's new brother, Hector.

      That was for the painting students, said Daddy. The design and graphics students have a test.

      Couldn't you have given them their tests last week, too? asked Caroline.

      I'm sorry, said Daddy. I hate to run off the first day you're here, but I don't get to pick when I give tests, and if we'd had you fly in tomorrow the tickets would've been more expensive. Maybe by the time I get back the rain will be over, and we can do something.

      Meantime, we can make cookies, suggested Irma. What kind do you like?

      Caroline hadn't made up her mind about Irma yet. Christmas cookies, she said, and waited for her to say that you couldn't make Christmas cookies in June.

      The kind with red and green sugar, or the kind you cut into shapes and paint with frosting? asked Irma.

      With frosting, said Caroline.

      So Daddy went to work, and Irma and Caroline mixed cookie batter. Hector turned on the TV

      The dough had to sit in the refrigerator for an hour before it could be rolled out, so Irma and Caroline sat at the kitchen table and played go fish until Irma's phone rang. Caroline dealt another hand while Irma walked off with the phone in her ear. When she came back to the table, Irma said, I'm awfully sorry, but I need to help a woman have a baby.

      Can I come, too? asked Caroline. I like babies.

      No, thank you, said Irma. I might be gone a long time, and your daddy's feelings would be hurt if you weren't here.

      Caroline dropped the cards and snorted. Of all the stupid grown-up excuses! You just don't want me to come! Nobody cares if my feelings get hurt and I don't have anybody to play with.

      We do care, but we have jobs, and we can't take kids to them. Having a baby is scary, and this woman's counting on me to be focused on her and making sure everything goes right. Hector'll play with you.

      Irma went into the living room and stood in front of the TV to get Hector's attention. You take care of Caroline while I'm gone. Y'all can make those cookies in about an hour, if you want, as long as you're the only one who touches the stove.

      Sure, Mom, said Hector, watching his wrestling program around her.

      Caroline watched Irma drive away, and then wandered around the house. Daddy and Irma had gotten coloring books

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