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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.
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