Well I'm not internet grounded anymore, but I don't have much to say that I didn't already say in my LJ. Except I'm still scared. I had a dream last night that I was somebody else and I was walking down a street and I saw MYSELF lying by the side of the road really beaten up and I woke up in a cold sweat, I still don't know if I was dead or alive but I don't want to have it again and find out.
So Dr Wocket caught me. At town hall. In dad's office. I was actually doing it- going through his stuff. I heard somebody knock on the door. "Yipe!" I jumped off his chair and dove behind the desk. Not a very smart idea, if you ask me, cause if it had been Dad...
"JoJo, what are you doing behind my desk?" "Uhhh... nothing. Just... hiding... from... you... in your office where I didn't need to be in the first place..."
But it wasn't Dad, it was the Doctor. "Mr. Mayor? Anyone here? Did someone say yipe?" I stood up and hit my head on the desk. Ouch. That will leave a bump. "Oh it's you." I said. "JoJo? I'm glad to find you here. What... well, never mind. I have a plan. My plan is for you to actually write notes to me. Yes, this could be more dangerous, but it could also be safer. You will write letters addressed to an uncle. And sign them with a different name and mail them to me with the who-post box on first street." "What if somebody finds one and regognizes my handwriting?" Now for the first time I regret my one-of-a-kind handwriting. Yes, it's very distinctive. And if somebody who knew it saw it that's it for me. "Hmmm... that could be a problem. My only other theoretically possible option requires an in-between. Hmmm... I suppose we may yet have to involve Dr. LaRue. I do not wish to do this, though. I will speak with her again and I will catch you again. Wait... I have it! JoJo!" I was feeling the bump on my head... maybe Mom wouldn't see it if I keep my hair over my forhead all the time... "What?" "Your observatory! It's the perfect spot! Noone notices you going there, and if someone DID notice me I could make up an excuse for beig there easily! It's perfect, nobody but you ever goes there!" He was very eager, but I still mostly like it to be secret. "Well... I guess so." I siad reluctantly. "Let's see.. how do you get up there?" I described how I do it in as little detail as I could manage. And really, it was kinda hard, it's so natural for me I just do it without thinking. "I'll... do something so you know I'm up there. Like a note or something. It wouldn't be too weird, I guess." "Yes, it's settled then! Thank you very much, young man. I have always wanted to see this invention of yours." He was really eager. "Yeah sure." He said then "I came to see your father, do you know where he is?" "Uhhh... no I don't. I just came over here to... look through his stuff. Miss Yelp wasn't here either." "She's here now." "Oh drat. Do you think she'll notice that I just came out of Dad's office from nowhere?" He laughed. "Maybe." then I took one last look at the desk and saw it. "Yes!" I didn't see it all along, but this was a whoprint of the gym, with some things crossed out and others written in black that aren't there now. It was signed, too. "Hmmm..." he looked at it, then back to me. "This is what they want?" "Yeah. Look, you didn't just see me take it. Oh wait... this might be bad on you... I will..." I grabbed a pen and started copying it onto another sheet of paper, and I had it mostly done when I heard the rush of air that meant somebody was coming. They copy wasn't done, but I stuck it in my pocket anyway. I heard Dad ask Miss Yelp if anyone was here to see him, "A Doctor Wocket" she replied. "He's been in there a while for being alone." I looked at him with an expression that tried to convey that Uh-oh this might be bad for him. He nodded. Then my mind flew fast to a reason why I might be there... aha! I had it, then Dad came in. "Hello Doctor... JoJo? What are you doing here, and why are you standing on my desk?" "I came to get my WCD. I left it here last time." Yes, at least I did leave it last time. "Oh, okay. I may have put it in my desk." I jumped off and dug through the drawer while Dad greeted Dr Wocket. "I'm so sorry to hear about the break-in, and believe me, we're doing the best we can to find out who did it..." Got it. "I got it, Dad. See you at home." "Let me see your eye." I rolled my eyes. "Okay then, see you at home bud."
And I gave Miss Yelp a fright when I came out of the office- she didn't see me go in so it was like I just materialized out of nowhere. I was tempted to play it up and get back at her for those WhoSpace videos, but I didn't. "My word, sweetie, don't DO that again!" "Sorry Miss Yelp." I smirked.
But phew, that was close. Hope Dr Wocket doesn't get in big trouble for that. And I don't even like this WCD anymore. I listened to it and now I wish I'd left it at his office!
Oh, and Mom did notice the bump on my head. "What happened there?" She said. "I hit it on Dad's desk." She shook her head and sighed. "That desk is out to get all theMcDodds." She smiled. "It's already going after you!" I just shrugged.
Showing posts with label Dr Wocket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr Wocket. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
If you were me what could you have done?
Meet Whoville’s newest gangster. Yep, I, JoJo McDodd, have turned ruffian. Not really, of course, but in order to infiltrate the gang that’s been messing around with Whoville. At least, the High School part.
Yesterday, Dr Wocket came over, again. I got called again, but this time it was Dad calling me, and I didn’t have to wonder if he really meant it. I came in and it was Dr Wocket. “Ahh, JoJo. Could I have a minute with you?” “Sure.” We went into the living room, and he said, “Is there somewhere more private we can talk?” “Well, my room is good…” He stood up. “Good.” I was a little worried, why was this such a big secret? Anyway, we went to my room and he looked around and blinked a few times before speaking again. “It’s dark in here.” He said, although he looked a little like he was stalling. “That’s how I like it.” “Well you may wish to… never mind, enough stalling. I have a proposal for you, and all I would like you to do right now is to let me talk. Without interruption. Now, the point is, I would like you to do some work for me. What I’m asking you to do is to join a gang.” My jaw dropped, but he kept talking. “We need an insider, perhaps to tell us more about the gang so the authorities can arrest all the members at once. And YOU were the most likely canadate for the position. Hear me out. Your… I mean to say your parents’ social standing is rather high. Do you know what a gang like that might give to have the son of the mayor in their midst? They would likely bend over backwards to get you into their ranks, and with you in them, you could tell me about the structure and inner workings of the gang. However, it’s only fair to tell you of the risks involved. Gang structures such as this one are not the… kindly type. If you were caught, or even suspected, I cannot say what they would do to you, but I assure you it would not be pleasant. But think of what you could give the city! You would perhaps give us the knowledge we need to incapacitate these hoodlums, and perhaps, once again, save our city.” I tried to speak, but no sound came out. “I will not pressure you into doing ANYTHING you will regret. But this is very, very important, and right now I cannot tell you everything, but I assure you, it will all be very much worth your while, and although the risks involved will not be minor, they could pale in comparison to what you could do for Whoville. I will not ask you now for a decision. It is only fair to tell you that this could be something you would regret for the rest of your life. Either way, in fact. I’m sorry to put so much on your shoulders. I know the gravity of what I am asking you, and I assure you, I would not ask you to do any such thing unless I was sure it was of the utmost importance.” I stuttered a minute. “What… what about my parents?” “Ahh, yes. They could not know or find out about this. I think they would react unfavorably, but the choice MUST be yours.” I looked around, looking for answers… finding none in the red-painted walls of my room. “I’m not trying to get an answer now… think about it, JoJo.” I looked up, I was thinking but I asked a stupid question. “What… what would they do to me?” I knew in the back of my mind that he’d said he didn’t know, but that was the first thing I thought of. “I just honestly don’t know. But I think at best… if it was a very, very friendly gang, which I don’t think this one is, you could only be severely beaten and perhaps left at the side of the road…” I didn’t listen to what he said next. What I was thinking then, I can’t exactly remember. But what I said then, I’ll NEVER forget. “I’ll do it.” Maybe one of the stupidest things I’ll ever say, I don’t know right now. “JoJo, I don’t want you to rush into this. I’ll let you have until tomorrow…” “No, I’ll do it.” And all of a sudden I had a whodrenaline rush. “What do I do, where do I start?” His face did light up, even though he tried not to let me see it. “JoJo, think about it. If you are not very, very careful in covering your tracks, it will go very badly with you.” “I know, I know, I think I can do it. I am sure I can. It’s for Whoville, right now I’d do anything for my town.” “Good for you. But I don’t as of yet know everything. And I can’t reveal all that I DO know right now, but I swear I would never ask this of you if it was not of the utmost importance. I am repeating myself again…” “What do I do first?” “Well, act like you wish to join… perhaps you think you have been mistreated, or something unfair has happened. Not to offend you, but I have noticed you already… sometimes carry yourself as a gang member would.” I was a little surprised. “Whaddaya mean?” “My advice so that you look more convincing would be just to… slouch. It is extremely hard on the posture, and bad for the back, but it would be how a gangster would carry himself.” I straightened up almost unconsciously. He laughed a little. “Well, what if they ask me to do something bad, like vandalize something? What would I do then?” He thought a moment. “I do not think that they would be asking you to do anything like that. Owing to your size, and the fact that you are a McDodd and have access to the counsel’s deeds, I should think they would put you down as part of the brains of the operation, and not have you doing anything they would need more… physical power for.” “I can do almost as much as a normal-sized Who my age.” I said, a little annoyed. “I’m sure you could, but I am not so sure the gang would be inclined to think that way. No offense meant. But if they do ask you to do such a thing… do it. For the greater good of Whoville. Then come straight to me and tell me what you have done.” “Okay… then what?” “I will be telling you exactly what to do tomorrow. If you wish to back out then, tell me THEN. Later may be too late. You understand what a huge risk you are taking on yourself, JoJo McDodd? I cannot promise you that you will come out of this… whole.” “I understand, sir. But this is my town, I gotta do what I can for it even now.” “Oh, JoJo. I need you to do this terribly, but I want you to be sure you know that this is a very big thing. Think about it, please do it, but I have to tell you that if you do this you are running a risk of ruining your life for the future.” “I KNOW! I understand completely, but I also know that if I don’t do this this gang could be the death of Whoville as we know it!” And I was starting to sound like Dad, psyched over a town. But it’s not the town, it’s the people in it that matter so much. Even if it’s not my life, nobody has a right to take it away from them. Especially not a lot of overgrown jerks who just want to have fun or something. I think something like that might have been going through the doctor’s head. “JoJo, this is not going to be fun and games. This is life, and a hard life it is sometimes. I never thought I’d live to see the day I’d be asking a thirteen year old to…” “FOURTEEN” “fourteen year old to perhaps give up his life for Whoville.” And I had a weird thought then, and it came out. “Dad does that every day.” I don’t know why I said it, and I think it was a stupid thing to say, but Dr Wocket agreed with me. “Yes, he does. As will you someday.” I nodded. I think back over it. I still hate the idea, but it’s what I gotta do, no matter how hard it is for me. And I can’t fight it, so I gave up on that almost a year ago with that word… a nonsense word. Yopp? What’s yopp supposed to mean? Oh well. All that was said and done. And I realized a strange thing… “Why am I always the one saving Whoville?” I asked nobody in particular. Dr Wocket laughed. “I don’t know. It just falls to you every time. You are just the right man for the job.” He stood up. “JoJo, think seriously about this decision. After tomorrow, there’s no backing down.” “I don’t give up.” “No, from what I’ve heard you are a very stubborn lad.” I didn’t know exactly how to reply to THAT statement, but he didn’t expect a reply. He left. I didn’t sleep very well. And today I stopped by for his instructions, but he’s not here. He left a note on his desk and said he was expecting I could use this computer if I wanted to while I was waiting. So I’m waiting at Who-U for Dr Wocket. I will tell him “There’s no backing out now”. Maybe I’ll go see Dr LaRue while I wait… but I can’t tell her about this.
Yesterday, Dr Wocket came over, again. I got called again, but this time it was Dad calling me, and I didn’t have to wonder if he really meant it. I came in and it was Dr Wocket. “Ahh, JoJo. Could I have a minute with you?” “Sure.” We went into the living room, and he said, “Is there somewhere more private we can talk?” “Well, my room is good…” He stood up. “Good.” I was a little worried, why was this such a big secret? Anyway, we went to my room and he looked around and blinked a few times before speaking again. “It’s dark in here.” He said, although he looked a little like he was stalling. “That’s how I like it.” “Well you may wish to… never mind, enough stalling. I have a proposal for you, and all I would like you to do right now is to let me talk. Without interruption. Now, the point is, I would like you to do some work for me. What I’m asking you to do is to join a gang.” My jaw dropped, but he kept talking. “We need an insider, perhaps to tell us more about the gang so the authorities can arrest all the members at once. And YOU were the most likely canadate for the position. Hear me out. Your… I mean to say your parents’ social standing is rather high. Do you know what a gang like that might give to have the son of the mayor in their midst? They would likely bend over backwards to get you into their ranks, and with you in them, you could tell me about the structure and inner workings of the gang. However, it’s only fair to tell you of the risks involved. Gang structures such as this one are not the… kindly type. If you were caught, or even suspected, I cannot say what they would do to you, but I assure you it would not be pleasant. But think of what you could give the city! You would perhaps give us the knowledge we need to incapacitate these hoodlums, and perhaps, once again, save our city.” I tried to speak, but no sound came out. “I will not pressure you into doing ANYTHING you will regret. But this is very, very important, and right now I cannot tell you everything, but I assure you, it will all be very much worth your while, and although the risks involved will not be minor, they could pale in comparison to what you could do for Whoville. I will not ask you now for a decision. It is only fair to tell you that this could be something you would regret for the rest of your life. Either way, in fact. I’m sorry to put so much on your shoulders. I know the gravity of what I am asking you, and I assure you, I would not ask you to do any such thing unless I was sure it was of the utmost importance.” I stuttered a minute. “What… what about my parents?” “Ahh, yes. They could not know or find out about this. I think they would react unfavorably, but the choice MUST be yours.” I looked around, looking for answers… finding none in the red-painted walls of my room. “I’m not trying to get an answer now… think about it, JoJo.” I looked up, I was thinking but I asked a stupid question. “What… what would they do to me?” I knew in the back of my mind that he’d said he didn’t know, but that was the first thing I thought of. “I just honestly don’t know. But I think at best… if it was a very, very friendly gang, which I don’t think this one is, you could only be severely beaten and perhaps left at the side of the road…” I didn’t listen to what he said next. What I was thinking then, I can’t exactly remember. But what I said then, I’ll NEVER forget. “I’ll do it.” Maybe one of the stupidest things I’ll ever say, I don’t know right now. “JoJo, I don’t want you to rush into this. I’ll let you have until tomorrow…” “No, I’ll do it.” And all of a sudden I had a whodrenaline rush. “What do I do, where do I start?” His face did light up, even though he tried not to let me see it. “JoJo, think about it. If you are not very, very careful in covering your tracks, it will go very badly with you.” “I know, I know, I think I can do it. I am sure I can. It’s for Whoville, right now I’d do anything for my town.” “Good for you. But I don’t as of yet know everything. And I can’t reveal all that I DO know right now, but I swear I would never ask this of you if it was not of the utmost importance. I am repeating myself again…” “What do I do first?” “Well, act like you wish to join… perhaps you think you have been mistreated, or something unfair has happened. Not to offend you, but I have noticed you already… sometimes carry yourself as a gang member would.” I was a little surprised. “Whaddaya mean?” “My advice so that you look more convincing would be just to… slouch. It is extremely hard on the posture, and bad for the back, but it would be how a gangster would carry himself.” I straightened up almost unconsciously. He laughed a little. “Well, what if they ask me to do something bad, like vandalize something? What would I do then?” He thought a moment. “I do not think that they would be asking you to do anything like that. Owing to your size, and the fact that you are a McDodd and have access to the counsel’s deeds, I should think they would put you down as part of the brains of the operation, and not have you doing anything they would need more… physical power for.” “I can do almost as much as a normal-sized Who my age.” I said, a little annoyed. “I’m sure you could, but I am not so sure the gang would be inclined to think that way. No offense meant. But if they do ask you to do such a thing… do it. For the greater good of Whoville. Then come straight to me and tell me what you have done.” “Okay… then what?” “I will be telling you exactly what to do tomorrow. If you wish to back out then, tell me THEN. Later may be too late. You understand what a huge risk you are taking on yourself, JoJo McDodd? I cannot promise you that you will come out of this… whole.” “I understand, sir. But this is my town, I gotta do what I can for it even now.” “Oh, JoJo. I need you to do this terribly, but I want you to be sure you know that this is a very big thing. Think about it, please do it, but I have to tell you that if you do this you are running a risk of ruining your life for the future.” “I KNOW! I understand completely, but I also know that if I don’t do this this gang could be the death of Whoville as we know it!” And I was starting to sound like Dad, psyched over a town. But it’s not the town, it’s the people in it that matter so much. Even if it’s not my life, nobody has a right to take it away from them. Especially not a lot of overgrown jerks who just want to have fun or something. I think something like that might have been going through the doctor’s head. “JoJo, this is not going to be fun and games. This is life, and a hard life it is sometimes. I never thought I’d live to see the day I’d be asking a thirteen year old to…” “FOURTEEN” “fourteen year old to perhaps give up his life for Whoville.” And I had a weird thought then, and it came out. “Dad does that every day.” I don’t know why I said it, and I think it was a stupid thing to say, but Dr Wocket agreed with me. “Yes, he does. As will you someday.” I nodded. I think back over it. I still hate the idea, but it’s what I gotta do, no matter how hard it is for me. And I can’t fight it, so I gave up on that almost a year ago with that word… a nonsense word. Yopp? What’s yopp supposed to mean? Oh well. All that was said and done. And I realized a strange thing… “Why am I always the one saving Whoville?” I asked nobody in particular. Dr Wocket laughed. “I don’t know. It just falls to you every time. You are just the right man for the job.” He stood up. “JoJo, think seriously about this decision. After tomorrow, there’s no backing down.” “I don’t give up.” “No, from what I’ve heard you are a very stubborn lad.” I didn’t know exactly how to reply to THAT statement, but he didn’t expect a reply. He left. I didn’t sleep very well. And today I stopped by for his instructions, but he’s not here. He left a note on his desk and said he was expecting I could use this computer if I wanted to while I was waiting. So I’m waiting at Who-U for Dr Wocket. I will tell him “There’s no backing out now”. Maybe I’ll go see Dr LaRue while I wait… but I can’t tell her about this.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Dr Wocket
Well, I met Dr. Wocket yesterday. I mean, in person. I emailed him before, but never actually spoke with him. I was just in my room when one of my sisters called me- I think it was Hazel, not sure though. She said “Hey, JoJo, somebody’s here to see you!” and I knew Dr Wocket was probably coming over today, so I went right into the foyer- side note- I’m glad we didn’t do the normal “JOJO!” “What?” “Come here!” “I’m busy!” “COME ANYWAY!” “Ergh!” and I’d go out and it would be something important and I’d be embarrassed… but anyway, we didn’t go through that, so my first meeting with the Dr wasn’t as embarrassing as it could have been. I came into the room and he just kinda looked at me for a second. He was desperately trying not to say something awkward, and I could tell. “Yeah I’m JoJo, you didn’t think that I was the short kid.” I said. He laughed. “Well, I’m glad to finally meet you, young man. I presume you know the purpose of my visit?” I shrugged. “Yeah. Well, I don’t know how much help I can give you.” “Nonsense! You are a very intelligent young man, and as I now recall, a good musician?” I looked down, a little embarrassed. “Ummm… okay, you wanna sit down?” I asked, realizing I was making this conversation awkward. “In here.” I walked into the living room. I saw that “Hazel” was gaping at my rudeness, but I didn’t know what to do then. Except- and this was desperate- “I’m sorry, I’m being really awkward…” He laughed again. “Don’t worry about it! So I just was wondering if you could tell me anything else about what YOU think might be going on.”
“Oh, I dunno. Is what I heard about a gang true? That those guys who broke into the school gym were trying to get initiated or something?”
He thought for a second. “Yes, that is true. Have you noticed any ‘groups’ lingering about, maybe with a motley assortment of Whos?”
“Not really, just at school and stuff. A lot of the guys there have ‘gangs’ they hang out with, but I haven’t seen many older Whos doing the same thing.”
“Hmmmm… the high school… do you ‘hang out’ with any of these gangs, JoJo?”
“No, not me. I don’t really do that much with the other guys.”
“I thought as much. Well, let’s see, what else can you tell me?”
I thought a minute. “Well somebody wrecked up my symph… you’d know it as the old observatory. I don’t think that has anything to do with it though. Probably just somebody trying to be mean to me for some reason.”
“Well, the gang initiates did not mention any such thing being their doing… when did this event occur?”
“Uhhhh… I don’t actually know just when… I noticed on… let’s see, the 30th of last month, 'cause it was the day Max was born.”
“Ah, yes, Maxted. How is he doing?”
“He’s good… he’s upstairs or maybe with mom, you wanna go see him?”
“Indeed I do. I have not spoken with your mother in a long time.”
And he went up with me and chatted with mom for a little while, then he said that he had to get going. At the door he turned to me and said, “Hmm… a high school chapter of the gang. I hadn’t thought of it…” then he looked at me like he was thinking. And he kept staring at me and I got really uncomfortable so I coughed a little and he shook his head and smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I have an idea formulating in my head, and I usually will look at something for long periods of time and think, and you weren’t moving… oh never mind. Good meeting you, JoJo. I will get back to you…” and he walked away still thinking.
Get back to me? About what? I don’t really like the sound of that. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to help… but something seemed kinda dangerous about the way he said that, and with the kids at school… it still seems like the guys are planning something… hmm… a motley assortment… maybe he was right about that.
“Oh, I dunno. Is what I heard about a gang true? That those guys who broke into the school gym were trying to get initiated or something?”
He thought for a second. “Yes, that is true. Have you noticed any ‘groups’ lingering about, maybe with a motley assortment of Whos?”
“Not really, just at school and stuff. A lot of the guys there have ‘gangs’ they hang out with, but I haven’t seen many older Whos doing the same thing.”
“Hmmmm… the high school… do you ‘hang out’ with any of these gangs, JoJo?”
“No, not me. I don’t really do that much with the other guys.”
“I thought as much. Well, let’s see, what else can you tell me?”
I thought a minute. “Well somebody wrecked up my symph… you’d know it as the old observatory. I don’t think that has anything to do with it though. Probably just somebody trying to be mean to me for some reason.”
“Well, the gang initiates did not mention any such thing being their doing… when did this event occur?”
“Uhhhh… I don’t actually know just when… I noticed on… let’s see, the 30th of last month, 'cause it was the day Max was born.”
“Ah, yes, Maxted. How is he doing?”
“He’s good… he’s upstairs or maybe with mom, you wanna go see him?”
“Indeed I do. I have not spoken with your mother in a long time.”
And he went up with me and chatted with mom for a little while, then he said that he had to get going. At the door he turned to me and said, “Hmm… a high school chapter of the gang. I hadn’t thought of it…” then he looked at me like he was thinking. And he kept staring at me and I got really uncomfortable so I coughed a little and he shook his head and smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I have an idea formulating in my head, and I usually will look at something for long periods of time and think, and you weren’t moving… oh never mind. Good meeting you, JoJo. I will get back to you…” and he walked away still thinking.
Get back to me? About what? I don’t really like the sound of that. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to help… but something seemed kinda dangerous about the way he said that, and with the kids at school… it still seems like the guys are planning something… hmm… a motley assortment… maybe he was right about that.
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