No Grown-ups Allowed by Beverly Lewis

ONE
    Jason Birchall stared at the valentine box on the kitchen table. He could almost taste the juicy chocolates. Cherry-filled, jelly-filled, coconut . . .
    â€œJason,” his mother called. “Come here, please.”
    He backed away from the heart-shaped box. He didn’t want his mother to know what he was thinking. Snitching thoughts!
    â€œComing,” Jason answered.
    His mother sat on the sofa in the livingroom. “Let’s talk,” she said.
    But Jason’s mind was on something else. He was thinking about ooey gooey chocolates.
    â€œWe’re going out of town for Valentine’s Day,” his mother began. “And Grandma Birchall will stay with you from Friday until Sunday.”
    Jason whined, “Oh, Mom. A whole weekend with Grandma?”
    His mother frowned. “Now, Jason, you know better than that. Your grandma will take good care of you.”
    Jason quickly changed the subject. “Can’t I stay up late on Friday night?”
    His mother shook her head. “You must get your rest, Jason. It’s important.”
    â€œBut, Mom!”
    â€œJason,” she said firmly. “You will go to bed at your regular time. I don’t want you to be sick.”
    Jason nodded, but he didn’t mean it. He was tired of taking pills. He was tiredof being an Attention Deficit kid. No junk food and early bedtimes were boring. It was time for a change—a big change.
    Jason tiptoed to the kitchen. He glanced over his shoulder. Was his mother watching? Could she hear him lift the candy box lid?
    The glorious smell greeted his nose. Ah, yes! Jason’s taste buds started to jig. They danced the chocolate twist, followed by the ooey gooey chocolate boogie.
    The fantastic smell floating out of the valentine box grabbed Jason. It made him pick out the juiciest mound of chocolate. It made him plop that mound into his mouth.
    â€œJason Birchall!”
    He jumped half out of his skin. Slowly, he turned around. There stood his mother. She glared at him, her hands on her hips.
    Jason gulped.

TWO
    Jason nearly choked. She must have come in during the chocolate boogie, he thought.
    He tried to speak. “Yesh?” The heavenly ball of chocolate crowded his mouth.
    His mother scolded, “I can’t turn my back for one second!”
    Jason swallowed. The sweet mound of heaven slid down his throat. Five seconds was too short to enjoy a chocolate valentine.
    â€œWell, Jason?” his mother asked.
    â€œI’m sorry.” But Jason was only sorry about one thing—the short time the chocolate stayed in his mouth.
    Mrs. Birchall opened the lid. The smells leaped out of the box. She counted the chocolates. “How many did you eat?”
    â€œJust one.”
    She stared at the heart-shaped candy box, then at Jason. “Are you sure?”
    Jason nodded.
    â€œYou know what sweets do to you, Jason.”
    But Jason didn’t care about being wound up and hyper. He could think of only one thing. Dark, rich chocolate.
    His mother snatched up the pink vaientine box. “I’ll put this away.” And she carried it out of the kitchen.
    Jason peeked around the corner. He watched her turn into the master bedroom. He heard the closet door squeak open.
    Good! Jason could almost see the hidingplace. It was the same spot his parents hid Christmas candy. And caramel corn. And Dad’s M&M’s.
    Just then, the garage door opened. Jason ran to meet his dad.
    â€œHere’s an early Valentine’s Day gift,” his dad said. He handed the gift to Jason.
    Jason tore the wrapping off and looked at the present. It was a tiny marker board with a green marker.
    â€œLike it?” his dad asked, smiling.
    â€œUh, sure, thanks.” Jason stared at the gift. Just what I always wanted, he thought.
    â€œYou can write important things on it,” Dad explained. “It will help you remember to take your pills while we’re gone.”
    Jason pulled