No Grown-ups Allowed by Beverly Lewis Page B

alien?”
    â€œLet’s mix him all up,” s-uggested Dunkum.
    â€œYes!” Shawn shouted. “We make snowman-monster-dino-alien.”
    â€œAnd let’s call him our February Snow Creature,” said Abby.
    â€œOur what?” Stacy asked.
    â€œYou know, like at the Winter Carnival in Minnesota,” Abby said. “My grandparents took us to see it once.”
    â€œYes!” said Shawn. “We make great snow creature.” He and Jimmy, his little brother, were grinning.
    Jason couldn’t remember seeingShawn and Jimmy so excited. Except for the day Abby and Carly’s parents adopted them. That was Thanksgiving—three months ago.
    Jason had an idea. “We could rope off the cul-de-sac and charge a fee to see our snow creature.”
    â€œFor how much?” Dunkum asked.
    â€œEnough for an ice cream party,” yelled Jason.
    â€œYou’re not supposed to have sweets,” Dee Dee reminded him. She wrinkled up her nose.
    Jason gritted his teeth. He’d have sweets if he wanted to. He was thinking of his mother’s valentine chocolates this very minute.
    Jason turned and looked toward his house. Good! Grandma had gone inside. She’s probably making supper, he thought. Now is a good time to sneak inside. Nothing can stop me now!

FOUR
    Jason crept onto the porch and tiptoed inside. Grandma was tinkering around in the kitchen. All clear!
    First, he sneaked down the hall. Then he dashed into his parents’ bedroom.
    Squeak! He slid open the closet.
    There were hatboxes and shoe boxes on his mother’s side of the closet. Color coded as always. Red was for dress up. Blue was for work at her beauty shop. Green was for around the house. Everything was in order.
    Now for the candy!
    Jason pushed his father’s shirts aside. Behind them was a shelf for belts and ties and things.
    Before he could see the box, Jason smelled the chocolates. His taste buds shivered. They quivered.
    Dark, rich chocolate balls! Waiting to melt into pools of sweet bliss in his mouth.
    He reached for the box and opened it. The fattest candy seemed to call his name. Jason placed it on the end of his tongue.
    â€œGotcha!”
    Jason whirled around. He stared into Abby Hunter’s face.
    â€œSpit it out!” she said.
    â€œYou cwavy?” Jason said, his mouth full.
    Abby shook her head. “Say what you want, but we need those outside.” She was giggling now as she grabbed the candy box. She held up two plump, juicy chocolates.“What bee-u-tee-ful eyes you have!”
    Jason stared at his friend. He couldn’t believe it. She was going to use his mother’s chocolates for snow creature eyeballs!
    Jason chewed up the gooey candy and swallowed.
    Abby waved her finger at him. “Does your grandma know what you just ate?”
    â€œDo I look that dumb?” Jason said.
    Abby raised her eyebrows. Then she turned and ran out of the house. But Jason was right behind her.
    â€œJason, is that you, dear?” It was his grandma calling from the kitchen.
    Oops! Jason froze in his tracks. “Uh, yes, Grandma, it is.”
    She came into the living room wearing an apron. It was tied in a bow around her trim waist. “Come here, dear. I need a hug.” She held out her arms.
    Jason hugged her, but held his breath so she wouldn’t smell the chocolate on his breath.
    â€œIt’s time for your medicine, young man.” She pulled a bottle of pills out of her pocket. Opening the lid, she put one in Jason’s hand.
    Jason spun around and hurried out the door.
    Grandma called after him, “Do you want a glass of water, dear?”
    â€œNot this time,” Jason yelled. And as soon as she wasn’t looking, he dropped the pill into the snow. Poof! It disappeared.
    There! Grown-ups can’t tell me what to do! Jason decided. He felt mighty good about taking charge of things. His way.

FIVE
    Jason helped Shawn and Jimmy pour water on the