Chapter 1
“TAG! YOU’RE IT!” a boy in a red hat cries out, poking the shoulder of another boy.
“JAMIE!” the other boy yells, throwing down a piece of parchment he was painting on, “YOU MADE ME RUIN MY ART!”
“Well, come get me!” Jamie taunts, sticking his tongue out playfully.
“OH, I WILL!” the other boy yells.
In a matter of moments, the two boys are zipping around a small house, crashing into everything in sight. Down goes the vase, the clock, and even the trash can, causing trash to spill everywhere. The second boy leaps clear over the table in an attempt to capture Jamie. This causes Jamie to squeal loudly and turn around the other way.
“GOTCHA!” the other boy yells, pouncing on Jamie.
“AH! AHHHHHH!” Jamie screams, squirming to get free.
“NOW YOU WILL PAY FOR RUINING MY ART!” the other boy yells, raising a fist to punch Jamie.
“Malcolm,” another boy calls, appearing behind them.
Malcolm turns his head to the side to see the third boy. This third boy crosses his arms, looking disappointed.
“Do you mind explaining what in Mycono you have done to the house?” the third boy asks.
“Why’s it matter?! Maybe you should mind your own business, Pàl!” Malcolm yells.
“C-can you get off of me...? I’m having trouble breathing,” Jamie squeaks.
“Get off,” Pàl commands, “Now.”
“You’re not the boss of me!” Malcolm says with a sneer.
“Oh yeah? Well, I ought to be. I am the only one around here with common sense,” Pàl says.
“I HAVE COMMON SENSE!” Malcolm yells and gets off of Jamie to threaten Pàl.
“Oh yeah? Then how about you get this placed cleaned up?” Pàl suggests, motioning a hand at the mess.
This is the way things always are at the McNeill house. It has become their way of life and they don’t seem willing to change. Sometimes, it is difficult for the four McNeill boys to get along.
“Where’s Fraizer?” Jamie asks.
“I ate him,” Malcolm says with a smirk.
“NOOOOO!” Jamie wails.
Pàl does a facepalm.
“Jamie... Do you not realize how physically impossible that is...? Fraizer is the exact same size as Malcolm. There is no way Malcolm could consume anything the size of himself. Obviously, this is merely a crude joke,” Pàl says, rolling his eyes.
For added effect, Malcolm burps in Pàl’s face. Pàl glares and shoves Malcolm, causing him to fall over.
“HEY! YOU HURT ME!” Malcolm wails.
“Hey, you didn’t seem to have a problem with hurting Jamie,” Pàl says, casually looking at his fingernails.
“Well, because Jamie isn’t me!” Malcolm says, pulling himself off of the ground.
“WHAT IN THE HECK, GUYS!” another voice calls from the front door.
Malcom, Jamie, and Pàl all glances at the front door. Standing at the front door is a fourth boy, Fraizer. He has a look of disbelief on his face as he examines all the damages.
“I was only gone for a few minutes, and you completely trashed the house!” Fraizer complains.
“It wasn’t me, of course, Fraizer. You know I wouldn’t. I was just getting after these two for messing things up,” Pàl says.
“Hey! I’m not the one who decided it was a good place to play tag!” Malcolm argues.
Jamie looks down at the ground.
“I’m sorry, Fraizer... It’s all my fault...” Jamie apologizes, “And I’m sorry, Malcolm, for making you ruin your art...”
“You BETTER be sorry!” Malcolm yells.
“Come on, let’s get this place cleaned up. We’re humans, not animals,” Fraizer says.
“Right, I agree with Fraizer,” Pàl states.
“You have to work too, Pàl...” Fraizer says.
“...I know...” Pàl says, though he looks shocked at this news.
With a bit of team work, the house gets put back to order again. Malcolm plops down on the sofa with a loud groan.
“I’m going to sleep...” Malcolm says.
“Then I guess you’ll miss out on my announcement...” Fraizer says.
“Announcement?” Malcolm asks, sitting back upright.
Jamie and Pàl join Malcolm on the sofa. Fraizer holds up four tickets of some sort with a grin.
“The real reason I was away was because I was getting us tickets,” Fraizer says.
“YAAAAAY!!!! Umm... What are they for...?” Jamie asks.
“These tickets are for the Mycono Museum!” Fraizer announces.
“Oh yes!” Pàl exclaims, his eyes twinkling.
“Ugh... No way! I’d rather sleep!” Malcolm complains.
“Hey, Malcolm, you don’t know. The museum could be fun!” Jamie says.
“Nah, not a chance! History is lame!” Malcolm yells.
“Ouch, that hurts...” Pàl says, “I absolutely adore history. There is so much we can learn from it... Why, if I could just turn back the clock...”
“NO!” Malcolm yells.
“Well, I’m sure it wouldn’t be as fun to live through history as it is to look at it from the present...” Pàl admits, “Just look at Scotty. He’s lived through it all and has gone mad!”
“Ew! I hate Scotty!” Malcolm yells.
“Our family has been documented in the museum... We are descendants of something great! I... I don’t know what exactly our ancestors did, that’s why I wanted to see the museum myself,” Fraizer explains.
“We aren’t just descendants of something great... We ARE great! Well, I am, anyhow,” Malcolm boasts.
“I’ve read a lot of history books! I bet I could guide you guys through the museum!” Pàl comments.
“Alright, well, we better get going!” Fraizer says with a chuckle.
“Alright,” Pàl says.
As the four boys are heading towards the front door, Malcolm picks up his ruined artwork and sets it back on the table. He smiles at it sadly before running to catch up with his brothers.
“We’re off again! Hopefully somewhere great! Just around the bend... To our adventurous fate!” Jamie sings happily as he skips along behind Fraizer and Pàl.
“SHUT UP, JAMIE! YOUR SINGING SUCKS!” Malcolm yells.
“Aw, well, how about you try singing?” Jamie suggests.
“Never! I hate singing!” Malcolm argues.
“Sing me a songgggggg, Malcolmmmmm!” Jamie begs.
“No,” Malcolm says.
“Then maybe you aren’t as great as you claim to be...” Jamie says with a little smirk on his face.
“WHAT?! NO!” Malcolm yells.
“Then siiiiiing!” Jamie begs.
“For many years, in the present ahead, there will be joyful tears, for our enemies will be dead!” Malcolm sings.
“...BAH HAH HAH HAH!!” Jamie laughs in response, “Thanks!”
“Ugh... I’ll get you for that later...” Malcolm grumbles.
