Walking through the streets of Ship's Cove, a visitor would meet other people besides the the Secret Agents of THE FREAKY JOE CLUB. No neighborhood is occupied by only three boys and a dog. Though that might be a very cool place to live. Or a very interesting place to write about.

But in the neighborhood of Ship’s Cove, and in the pages of THE FREAKY JOE CLUB books, I think any reader would be pleased to meet:

NAME: BUBBA BUTOWSKI, ACE SECURITY GUARD

DESCRIPTION: Daily he drives the streets of Ship’s Cove, his uniform pressed, his truck brightly polished. His mission: keeping Ship’s Cove a safe and happy place for all the neighborhood dogs. Of course, it would be good if all the owners were happy too.

Bubba also has a curious ability to always be on the scene when a mysterious crime is solved. And a curious ability to be given the credit for solving the mystery. Even when THE FREAKY JOE CLUB was on the job.

Is this mere coincidence? Or is Bubba secretly a secret agent for another secret organization? You’ll have to keep reading the FREAKY JOE Books. And keep an open mind. And your wits about you.

NAME: BELLA

NICKNAME: The Queen of China

How did this nickname come about? It could be due to the fact that Conor’s mom, the many colored artist, adopted Bella in China. Or it could be because Bella thinks she can figure things out better than anyone else.

Or it could have started on the day Conor asked Bella “Do you want to run the world?"

And Bella answered- “Can I?”

DESCRIPTION: She has a most important job being Conor’s younger sister.

FAVORITE COLOR: Pink

FAVORITE CLOTHING: Tutu

FAVORITE BOOK: Bitsy Ballerina in Space

FAVORITE UNICORN: Stella Starbright

FAVORITE FOOD: Cotton Candy

NAME: MUGSY

DESCRIPTION: This curly haired, sweet smiling, almost ready for kindergarten little girl is the only five year old who may be invited to join the Evil Genius Club.

Mugsy can be generally found doing something which is:

    a) probably dangerous and
    b) likely illegal in some countries and also
    c) scary to everyone involved except Mugsy and
    d) lots of fun.

She has a older sister Murphy and a younger brother Mikey and a green turtle named Muldoon (you can read something about Muldoon in SECRET FILE NUMBER ONE).

FAVORITE COLOR: Camouflage

FAVORITE MOVIE: ANNABETH, THE GIRL PARATROOPER

FAVORITE FOOD: Bubble gum

FAVORITE BOOK: THE TERRIBLE WOMEN OF HISTORY

FAVORITE BRANCH OF ARMED FORCES: The Marines

NAME: MIKEY

DESCRIPTION: This big pre-school kind of guy, is most often know to the world as Mugsy’s little brother. And sometimes Mikey does what Mugsy tells him to do, even when Mikey knows this is a bad idea. Or an idea which is going to get him in a lot of trouble.

But sometimes Mikey can think for himself.

Remember, one day, when Mikey wanted to know: what does a turtle taste like?

Did Mikey ask Mugsy?
Did Mikey ask Murphy?
Did Mikey ask Bella?
Did Mikey ask Dwayne?

No, Mikey did not. He acted on his own. And when Mikey found out what a turtle tasted like, he knew what to do next.

Which, of course, is recorded in the pages of FREAKY JOE, SECRET FILE NUMBER ONE.

NAME: DWAYNE

DESCRIPTION: This big guy is Mikey’s best friend. And fellow victim of the nefarious plans of that world famous big sister, Mugsy. By the way, look up nefarious in the dictionary. It’s a good word, and then you can use it too.

NICKNAME: The Silver Streak
Yes, we are talking about the boy who swam the third leg of that famous six and under mixed relay team. Swam it during the famous swim meet between the Ship’s Cove Octopi and the Sylvan Glen Sharks.

You remember that, don’t you? Sure you do.

Unless you have not read SECRET FILE NUMBER TWO: THE CASE OF THE SMILING SHARK.

Now that would be terrible. If you have not read it, you better rush right out, to the library or the bookstore. Get that book, and get reading. You will not believe who did what.

Don’t trip on Smidgen on the way out.

You don’t know who Smidgen is? You will.

NAME: MURPHY

DESCRIPTION: She is sometimes known as Mugsy’s big sister. But most times, when someone refers to The Girl Who Can Swim and The Girl Who Can Skate, they are talking about Murphy.

‘Cause, yes, Murphy can. Swim, and oh boy, skate.

As a swimmer she had an important part to play in the famous match-up between the Sharks and the Octopi. But we just talked about that. Enough already.
As exciting as that swim meet was, and we are all agreed, it was. Exciting. Some will say, most actually, that it was still not as thrilling as the famed Roller Hockey game when THE FREAKY JOE CLUB and friends played the Sharks.
But you don’t know about that yet. I forgot. SECRET FILE NUMBER THREE: THEY MYSTERY OF THE MORPHING HOCKEY STICK has not yet been revealed to the world.

But it will be.

Soon.

This summer. You’ll just have to wait.

I know. It is hard. Put a star on your calendar, then think of kumquats. That always works.