The Masked Family

Chapter 4-2

Minutes later, after running through the patch of woods behind the firehouse and up the street on the other side, the Nuclear Family charged across the front yard of their headquarters (which was disguised as an ordinary

two-story white house).

"Look!" said Moon Girl, pointing to the dark blue Dodge Dart parked in the paved driveway. "Father Law's back from his mission!"

The four heroes pounded up the steps to the front porch. "Come on!" said Musclebot, opening the screen door and stepping inside. "We just had our toughest adventure, and we can finally relax."

Confidently, Musclebot led the others into the house, stomping over the mat and rectangle of brick-patterned linoleum on the other side of the door. As soon as he looked into the living room, however, Musclebot stopped in his tracks. The other three heroes bunched up behind him as he silently stared.

All four kids gazed into the room, none of them making a peep for a long moment. It was as if they knew, before a single word had been spoken, that their lives were about to change for the worse.

It was as if they knew that they were about to meet their arch-enemy.

"Hi, gang!" Father Law--whose name was E.Q.--smiled at them from the sofa. He still wore his short-sleeved blue button-down shirt and red-and-gold tie from work. His black-framed glasses perched on his head, stuck in his thick nest of curly brown hair. "Come on over here. There's someone I'd like you to meet."

The Nuclear Family hung back, suspiciously watching the new kid beside E.Q. on the sofa. Right away, they could see that he was older than any of them.

It was what they couldn't see, however, that kept them holding back. It was as if they instinctively sensed danger, though the new kid had done nothing and said nothing to suggest he was a threat. He certainly didn't look intimidating, either; he was skinny to the point of being scrawny, with a long, horsey face and wavy, blonde hair.

But there was something about him that set off alarms in the Nuclear Family. Maybe it was the strange glint in his eye, a glint that could have been mischievous or smart-alecky or just plain mean in contrast with the friendly smile on his face. Maybe it was his crooked teeth, more crooked than any of them had ever seen, with incisors that poked like fangs over his lower lip when he smiled.

"Kids, this is Grogan Salt," said E.Q.

"Hi," said Grogan, nodding and raising a bony arm to wave at them.

"Grogan's your cousin," said E.Q. "Maybe you remember him. He's Aunt Agnes's son. Your mother's sister's son."

None of the four heroes said a word.

"Grogan's going to live with us for a while." E.Q. stroked his neat mustache as he looked from kid to kid. "I want you all to make him feel at home."

The Nuclear Family kids stood stock still. It was as if a bomb had gone off in the middle of the room, and all they could do was stare at the damage from the explosion.

At that moment, Maxi-Mom walked down the stairs into the living room, carrying a yellow laundry basket full of sheets. She wore her cleaning clothes--bluejeans and a deep green sweatshirt with the Notre Dame "Fightin' Irish" logo on the front. Her glossy red hair, with bangs and sides feathered in the latest style, had fallen askew the way it sometimes did when she was running around doing housework. "All set." Green eyes sparkling, she smiled at Grogan. "Grogan, you'll use Cary's bed in his and Baron's room for the time being."

Finally, The Hurry was able to speak. "But where'll I sleep if he gets my bed?"

Maxi-Mom--whose name was Lydia--rubbed her chin on her shoulder. "We'll set up a cot in the girls' room. Just till we get another bed."

"But Mom!" said The Hurry. "I wanna sleep in my own bed!"

"Well, you'll just have to make do." Lydia narrowed her bright green eyes at Cary.

"I-I-I cansleeponthefloor," said Grogan. "Ihaveasleeping b-b-bag." When he spoke, he stuttered on some words and ran others together in a breakneck crush. He talked differently from anyone else the kids had ever known; they could barely understand him at first, though they would soon come to know his voice well...and dread it.

Lydia beamed at him. "That's very kind of you to offer, but I won't have you sleeping on the floor. Cary will manage."

"Come on, Grogan," said E.Q., getting up from the sofa. "I'll show you around."

"ThanksMister B-B-Beacon," said Grogan.

"You kids go clean up your rooms," said Lydia. "Baron and Cary, make room in your dresser drawers for Grogan's things."

With that, Lydia turned and headed into the kitchen on her way to the basement with the laundry basket. E.Q. followed.

On his way past the kids, Grogan Salt turned and gave them a look of pure disgust. He pointed an index finger at Musclebot and sneered...then curled the finger back into his fist and shook it.

Then, he curled out another finger--the middle one this time--and stuck it straight up.

It was at that moment that the Nuclear Family knew that they were truly facing their greatest enemy. He'd fooled their parents and infiltrated their secret headquarters.

He'd come to live among them, and they had a feeling that wasn't a good thing...though none of them knew at the time just how bad it would be.