As few of you know, I am Neal Shusterman's biggest fan. Don't try to argue the point; I probably know more about his books than you. At least I like to believe that. The best part about Neal's book involves Ralphy. I love to know that all of Neal's books are somehow intertwined by this one character.
I love the suspense that Neal adds to his books through his characters. I know there will always be this suspense until Ralphy is found. From there I rely on the story alone to add suspense.
Take Everlost for example. I had suspicions that Lief was going to end up being Ralphy. Of course, I didn't stop to think that meant Ralphy was dead
. If I don't end up finding Ralphy, I willing read the book two or three times more just to spot his name (though I usually find him the second time around).
Let's get to the point though. Here's my Ralphy story:
PLEASE ADD THIS TO YOUR BOOK NEAL!!!!!!!
*ahem* Sorry for my sudden outburst.
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It was a Thursday afternoon. Ralphy watched the clock tick away. It was 2:54. Sixty more seconds and he would be out of school. Sixty more seconds and he would finally be free. Sixty more seconds and he could be in the comfort of the outside world. Wait, scratch that. I mean another twenty seconds were left.
Ralphy looked at his teacher. This was the stupidest class the school had to offer. They were teaching kids how to use a credit card and how not to overspend. He wouldn't need to worry about that. Ralphy knew everything. He was going to be rich, famous, and lovable. Life was going to be..........RIIIINNNGGG!
Finally, school was over for Ralphy. He was now free. He felt as if he was in one of those victory scenes where the hero of the story is cheering in slow motion because he won a million dollars or he stopped the clock with 1 second to spare. Ralphy then thought, something he rarely did. He wasn't free. It was more like he was on probation. He wasn't going to be truly free for years. Ralphy decided then and there how he would solve the problem.
Later that day Ralphy ran over to the convenient store. His grandma had given him fifty dollars for his birthday. He had lost the money two days after his birthday and hadn't found it until yesterday while snooping through the pile of dirty jeans beside his bed. It had been through the washing machine three times, yet it still survived. Ralphy had composed a list of everything he needed.
"How may I help you?" asked the store greeter as Ralphy just stood at the entrance to the door of the store too scared to enter.
"Where do you keep, um, the stuff that you advertise on television?" answered Ralphy. He was obviously being suspicious. He had to remind himself through the sticky notes he stuck on his arms to Stay Cool, Speak Like You Mean Business, and Don't Buy All Of The SuperStrong Putty™ At Once.
"We keep them in stock at the checkout isles. Sir, are you feeling alright?" questioned the store greeter obviously noticing the sticky notes on Ralphy's arms.
"Yeah, um, I'm great." replied Ralphy. He was going to need a disguise.
Ralphy went browsing the mask section of the store until he decided on one shaped like a horse's face. He tried it on. It was too small for him, but that didn't matter. It protected his face. More importantly it protected his identity.
Ralphy walked up to the cashier. He found the SuperStrong Putty™, but forgot to read the sticky notes on his arm. The cashier, though, didn't seem to care. She was busy texting on her cell phone to notice all the SuperStrong Putty™ Ralphy was purchasing.
At 2:00 A.M. in the morning, Ralphy snuck out of his home. It wasn't easy considering they had a security system attached to all the doors in his house. In the end, he decided to tie his bedsheets together and wrap it around his bedpost like he had seen in a movie once. He was pleasantly surprised the sheets did not tear considering he was slightly overweight. Finally, he disappeared into the darkness.
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Police dusted the door for fingerprints, but there were just too many. Knives, razors, and chainsaws couldn't cut through it. School had to be cancelled. Someone had sealed every door shut between the cracks with SuperStrong Putty™. Kicking the glass through the doors would just cause cuts and cost money. There was only one known way to destroy SuperStrong Putty™ immediately and it was by heat. It was also possible to rub it off with sandpaper, but that would take at least two days to complete.
When the school finally did get security camera's footage, they were furious to see what it held. A child no older than the age of thirteen wearing a horse mask as he sealed every door shut. They described Ralphy as a Caucasian male, about thirteen years old, black hair, and a bit overweight. There were at least twenty-five kids at school that fit a description like that.
The school and police questioned the various stores around town, but it did little good. The only security cameras where Ralphy bought the SuperStrong Putty™ were aimed at the doors. Cashiers were questioned, but that did little good. The cashier Ralphy bought the SuperStrong Putty™ didn't remember anyone from that day.
Rumors went around school Monday. Kids were questioned about the rumors, but all denied they were the culprits. Ralphy didn't care. He just stared at the clock. He waited.
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Yes, I'm sure there are flaws with my story, but you get the general idea. I hope you enjoyed it
.
