The story so far: Marky Meadows has launched a neighbourhood newspaper to bring something new – success – into his life.

"We're a hit, Marky!" Sizemore said as he rushed into his friend's family room. "Man, you must've stayed up all night writing those stories."

Marky peered over his glasses at a computer screen. "And I even got injured," he said, smiling. "I got a paper cut and it bled like crazy. I messed up everything I touched."

He turned to face Sizemore. "Thanks for editing, Si. And making copies. And deliveries. You say they're selling?"

"Like earplugs at a tractor pull," Sizemore grinned. "The story about Mrs. Blair's stolen electronics is the reason. You scooped the Sentinel."

Marky held up a copy of their Northside News, thinking it looked almost professional, even though it was more like a newsletter than a newspaper. "I'm glad you went back and took a picture of Mrs. Blair," he said, examining the photo.

"Yeah, I cut off the top of her head, though," Sizemore said, looking over Marky's shoulder. "So when's our next issue?"

"Next week, I guess," Marky said. "How many have we sold?"

"The first hundred sold by lunch time, and the second hundred are nearly gone," Sizemore reported. "It helps that the stores with ads are selling the paper. That Carla is something."

"Yeah, she sold five ads for $15 each," Marky said, sitting up straighter. "And we'll sell 200 papers for 25 cents apiece …"

"Don't forget our expenses," Sizemore reminded him.

"Well, two-sided copies for four pages are 32 cents per newspaper, so that means we made … uh … hey, look at the time! I've got a soccer game in 45 minutes," Marky said, logging off the computer.

Sizemore looked puzzled. "I thought you hated soccer."

Marky stood up and began doing leg stretches. "I'm a Gator, Si. It's all about the team."

——————————

By 3:15, the Gators and the Dragons were loosening up for the game. Marky waved at Carla – just before a ball hit him in the face, knocking his glasses 20 feet away. Five minutes after kick-off, the game was mostly over. The Dragons scored four goals – three by their newest player, Carla Velasquez.

Marky didn't play until the second half, when the score was 14 to 0. He was afraid Carla would steal the ball from him and make him look bad, but he always managed to lose it on his own.

With the game finally over, Marky slumped into the back seat of the car. "Coach Stephens wouldn't even let us have our snack," he told his family.

"That girl made your whole team look bad," Jared said to Marky. "But you were the master of disaster."

"Speaking of disasters," Lily Meadows said to her husband, "Sharon Threckle said someone stole her family's laptop, their wide-screen TV and James' GameOn. That's the sixth house hit by the Techno Thief."

The Meadows turned onto Main Street. "Let me off here, Dad," Marky said. "I want to check out the stuff in Webb Site."

"Thirty minutes, son," Mr. Meadows said as he pulled over. "Be home in time for supper."

Inside, Marky walked the aisles, strolling past laptop computers and wide-screen televisions before getting to the games. He paused to look at a GameOn.

Heyyyy, he thought. James Threckle had a lime green GameOn just like this, exactly like - .

"Hello, Marky," Iggy Webb said suddenly, nearly causing Marky to drop the game. "I can give you a good deal on that GameOn."

I bet you can. "Oh, hey, Mr. Webb. Where do you get your merchandise?" Marky asked.

Mr. Webb ran a hand over his slicked-back hair. "Everything is shipped from a supplier in Westroot, Texas."

"You don't say," Marky said as he left. The first thing he did when he got home was call the Skiprock City police. He gave his name, address, phone number and the identity of the Techno Thief: Iggy Webb.

A full day passed before Marky's mom came to his bedroom. "A policeman is here, Marky, and he wants to talk to you."

It's about time, Marky thought, as he bounded down the steps to the front door. "Here to give me an award, officer?" he asked.

The policeman, Sgt. Warren, spoke in a deep, stern voice. "I'm here to arrest you, Marky Meadows, for filing a false report."

&Copy; RP Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 4 Questions for consideration

1. Marky has trouble calculating the money they made or lost on the first issue of their newspaper. Can you figure it out? Subtract the expenses from the income.

2. Marky is not a good athlete, and he knows it. Would you be tempted to make fun of him? Would that hurt his feelings? Discuss the difference between laughing with somebody and laughing at them.

3. This story is half over. Predict what will happen at the end, thinking about the newspaper, the stolen stuff and Marky.

4. Sizemore said their newspaper was selling "like earplugs at a tractor pull." That's called a simile. (Make sure you can pronounce that word.) A simile likens one thing to something dissimilar using the words "like" or "as." Can you make up a simile about your favourite food?

5. At the end of the soccer game, Coach Stephens did not hand out snacks, as usual, when his team lost. What is your favourite healthy snack?

Youngsters who submit written answers to the first three questions will be eligible for a weekly draw for a gift voucher. Send your answers via email to jhind@royalgazette.bm, or fax 295-2766 or drop off at The Royal Gazette, 2 Par la Ville Road, Hamilton. Remember to include all your contact information.