On Friday May 11, 2012, Charlie and I returned to Bovenschen School in Warren, Michigan. To those in the know, the school is nicknamed “the Bove.” That’s pretty cool. Much better than “homework central,” “indoor recess,” or “principal’s office.”

Because we visited the Bove just last year, we decided to tweak our program. You know, keep it fresh. So Charlie dusted off his guitar, tuned up the strings, and rocked the house. Awesome! We hadn’t played music at a school in years. Too many kids were thinking of us as musicians, not authors. And that’s a problem when you make a living by selling books. But the Bove is special to us, so we broke the rules this one time.

Thanks to our hosts Melanie Wittner, Assistant Principal Gary Sasek (pictured below), and Principal Denise Jackson for the invitation!

On Friday April 20, 2012, Charlie and I visited Graham Elementary in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The school is located very close to the Pontiac Silverdome where the Detroit Lions played football for so many years. In honor of that, we gave 110% (what kind of math is that?!) for four quarters. Actually, make that four shows–one with the morning kindergarten, one with the 1st and 2nd graders, one with the afternoon K, and one with third through fifth graders. With the expert coaching of Media Specialist Linda Lindemann, we kept the fans (students) on their feet (seats) whether they were wide-eyed rookies (kindergarten) or crafty veterans (fifth grade). Thank you Graham for being reading champions and for making our visit a blow-out victory!

Super school visit today, April 17, 2012! Costello Elementary in Troy, Michigan has it all. As soon as we arrived this morning, we were greeted by two super fans holding a Real Heroes Read poster (pictured above). Nice way to start the day. Next Media Specialist Wendy Gustin served as the perfect hostess. She planned a flexible schedule, provided a delicious lunch (Fritos for the win!), and even found Charlie some juggling balls. That’s what we get for giving them all away! Best of all, the students and teachers seemed to really enjoy our presentations (all FOUR of them–whew!). One teacher, who will remain anonymous (because her name sounds like a ferocious critter that lives in the woods), watched our show THREE TIMES! I think we made a reader out of her. Of course that’s no surprise at Costello. The school is filled with reading heroes!

To commemorate this ominous occasion, Charlie and I present our latest writing adventure, Mystery Underground.

Now be warned and beware! Mystery Underground should not be read alone or in the dark. In fact, read at your own risk. This creepy collection of spooky short stories is designed to scare. The endings will shock, startle, and surprise.

In other words, read a scare … if you dare.

Walled Lake, Michigan
November 26, 6:47 pm

Cody Wolf peered doubtfully into the trees. He saw little in the darkness but heard plenty. Branches twitched like restless spirits. Leaves rustled, whispering in dry voices.

He knew instantly that the trees were nowhere he wanted to go. Not today, not on his thirteenth birthday. The woods always freaked him out in the dark, but a party waited for him on the other side.

If he could only get there.

“What are we waiting for?” his fourteen-year-old brother Brendan asked with a toothy grin. “You missed my thirteenth birthday party. Don’t miss your own. Let’s go, chicken.”

Cody ignored his brother and squinted harder into the trees. Darkness stared back, and his mind shouted silent warnings for him to be careful. Beware, Cody. Stay out. Don’t even think about going in there.

He knew he should listen, too, but the lure of his party was too much. Cutting through the woods was the fastest route home. It was the fastest way to cake and ice cream, presents, and cards stuffed with cash. As a bonus, it would also shut up his brother.

Finally Cody straightened his shoulders. He had made up his mind.

“I’m not chicken,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go through the woods.” And with that he started to walk toward the trees.

Brendan clapped his hands together, impressed. “You’re a big dog now, bro. No more little pup.”

“Whatever,” Cody grunted. “I just want to open presents before my next birthday. Now hurry up.”

With Cody in the lead, the boys shuffled into the woods. Dry leaves crunched under their feet. Shadows melted together, blending into solid darkness.

The full moon overhead was a rude, pale eye, staring without blinking. Its eerie light peeked through the branches like a nosey neighbor who watched but never helped. Cody couldn’t imagine a creepier setting.

The brothers walked without speaking for a time. They made it halfway through the woods. Then Brendan grabbed Cody’s arm.

“Freeze!” Brendan hissed. “Did you hear that?”

Cody stopped and frowned. “Hear what?” he asked. He listened but heard nothing more than he had earlier—the wind, his own breathing, other unidentifiable but normal sounds of the woods.

Was his brother trying to play a trick on him?

Brendan held a finger to his lips for silence. In the moonlight, his normally brown eyes looked yellow. Was that a trick too? Some kind of optical illusion in the dim light?

“Stay here,” Brendan said. “I’m going to check it out.”

Before Cody could stop him, Brendan turned and loped away back the way they’d come. He disappeared into the darkness as if swallowed.

Long, cold minutes passed as Cody waited. He shivered and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. He glanced up. Even the moon had abandoned him, hidden behind a cloud. Cody was as alone as he had ever been.

Alone in the dark of the woods.

Finally he couldn’t take the wait or the loneliness.

“Brendan!” he called, his voice louder than he expected and ending on a strange high pitch. What a surprise. Cody hadn’t known he could howl like a wolf at night.

Cody Wolf, get it?

Cody didn’t. Not yet.

When his brother didn’t respond, Cody sucked in another breath to call again. He opened his mouth and—

“You don’t need to yell,” his brother said behind him.

Cody turned sharply, his mouth ready with sharper words. How dare Brendan vanish and then sneak up on him. It was Cody’s birthday. His special day! Everything was supposed to go right. Everything was supposed to be fun.

What he saw killed the words on his lips.

Brendan wasn’t Brendan. Not anymore.

A dog-like creature stood in front of Cody on two legs. Shaggy brown fur covered its body. Fangs as thick as fingers jutted from its canine face.

“Happy birthday, bro,” it growled in a familiar voice.

Cody staggered in jaw-dropping shock. The voice was rough but unmistakable. It belonged to his brother.

His brother the monster.

His brother the werewolf.

Cody was too scared to scream. He shoved the Brendan-wolf in the chest and ran. Home was through the woods and past Glengary Elementary. Less than half a mile, but light years away when a werewolf was chasing you.

“What’s the matter, bro?” Brendan barked behind him, a kind of laugh. “You always wanted a surprise party for your birthday. Well … surprise!”

Cody ran harder.

He broke from the trees minutes later, heart pounding in his throat. He was covered in burrs and scratches. Welts reddened his skin. But Cody didn’t notice. He felt nothing. He was numb to everything except one fact.

His brother was a werewolf.

A glance over his shoulder told him that Brendan was close, maybe a hundred yards behind. He ran on four legs like an animal. His long pink tongue dangled from the side of his open mouth.

“This can’t be happening,” Cody panted in disbelief. Wait until their parents found out!

As he passed the school, he sprinted harder. He was on the home stretch now. He could see his long ranch-style house ahead. Cars filled the driveway. Lights shone in every window, revealing the people within. He spotted Uncle Rusty, cousins Jason and Heidi, Grandma Robinson. All of them were waiting to wish him a happy birthday.

Cody reached the front door and clawed at the handle. His lungs burned, yet he found the breath to scream.

“Mom! Dad!” he gasped as he burst into the house. “Brendan is a—!”

“Happy birthday!”

The people inside cheered as one, devouring his words. Like an organized pack, they pressed forward and surrounded Cody. Some of his relatives reached out to shake his hand or ruffle his hair. He received several hugs. Aunt Pam snuck in a kiss.

The crowd overwhelmed him, and his head spun. He couldn’t catch a breath. It was too much, too close.

“Wait! Stop!” he begged. “Give me a second. I have something to say!”

He pushed through the crowd and turned to face it. The confused yellow eyes of his family stared back. They looked disappointed. Some of their ears even seemed to droop like those of scolded dogs.

Cody shook his head angrily. No, no, no. Yellow eyes and drooping ears? Impossible!

Except for Brendan’s, that is. Cody had seen his brother’s yellow wolf-like eyes and tall pointed ears.

“Listen, everyone,” he said rapidly. “We’ve got a problem. A big problem. You probably won’t believe me, but it’s true. So I’m just going to say it.” He swallowed hard, still trying to believe it himself.

“Brendan is a werewolf.”

He expected rolling eyes and laughter. No one would believe him! But he got nothing, no response. The crowd didn’t flinch. It went quiet, dead silent. Two dozen yellow eyes watched him intensely like the full moon.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he snapped. “I said Brendan is a werewolf!”

Still more silence. Then—

“Did someone say ‘werewolf?’”

Cody spun on his toes, feeling hopeful. The voice belonged to Grandpa Wolf, his favorite relative.

Until now.

Cody’s hopes evaporated. Grandpa Wolf wasn’t himself. He wasn’t the man Cody knew. Grandpa Wolf’s voice came from a werewolf standing on two legs and covered in silver fur. He clutched a polished pewter tray in his padded front paws. On the tray sizzled a steaming t-bone steak, medium rare.

Complete with thirteen lit candles like a birthday cake.

“Happy birthday, Cody,” Grandpa Wolf growled. “Is everyone ready to sing?”

“Nooooo!” Cody howled in his best Luke Skywalker impression.

But as the crowd started to sing, it started for Cody. The change. His transformation from boy to wolf. First his fingers and toes stretched and thickened. Then his hands and feet sprouted hair. The muscles on his arms and legs bulged with the strength of a beast.

“What’s happening to me?” he cried.

But he knew. He knew. Cody was becoming a werewolf. Just like his brother, just like his grandfather. He was a werewolf like everyone else in his family.

The change happened to them all for the first time on their thirteenth birthday. That’s why he had missed his brother’s thirteenth birthday party. To protect the family secret until Cody was ready.

When the change was complete, Cody dropped to all fours. Energy pulsed through his new canine body and there was something he needed to do outside.

Quickly he bounded through the door and lifted his shaggy head. Then he howled at the full moon as if he owned the night.

Happy birthday, Cody Wolf.

Happy hairy birthday.

Copyright © 2012 David Anthony and Charles David Clasman. All rights reserved.

More Mystery Underground stories coming soon. Check realheroesread.com for announcements. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news.

Read a scare … if you dare.

Reading Month may have ended over a week ago, but libraries remain open all year long. To maintain the excitement for reading, Charlie and I visited Edgerton Elementary in Clio, Michigan on April 11, 2012. Our day there consisted of two programs in the morning, a yummy lunch of deli sandwiches and frosty fruit smoothies, and two more programs in the afternoon. Many of the students and teachers were familiar with our books and their enthusiasm showed. What a wonderful reception! Students often erupted with excitement when we showed them pictures from our books. Knightscares #3: Early Winter’s Orb was a clear favorite. We can’t disagree. When you hear the howl of snow beasts, RUN! Brr-roar! Thank you to everyone at Edgerton for a fun day, especially to Librarian Cindy Lupina and Principal Katie Mitchell. Real heroes read!

On the last school day of March is Reading Month (March 30, 2012), Charlie and I took the Real Heroes Read! book talk to Indiana. There we visited Jerry Ross Elementary in Crown Point. It was a quick trip with a 4-hour drive both ways. Totally worth it though. Librarian Linda Muir is an organizing wizard. She planned a speedy schedule, saw that every book ordered was signed and delivered before we left, and kept us entertained and hydrated. In fact, I even missed my queue to speak during our second program because I was having so much fun with Mrs. Muir. The students, of course, were also awesome. When we asked for quiet, they quieted. When we asked them to make noise, they ROARED with enthusiasm. They either practiced before we arrived or they’re just THAT good. Let’s go with the latter.

After a busy morning, Charlie and I zoomed over to Sterling Heights, Michigan to meet with Media Specialist Cheryl Boes and her reading heroes at Dresden Elementary. We had such a great time. One of our favorite teachers, Amanda Larsen, works at Dresden. In fact, she really got into our show when we read from our book Knightscares #1: Cauldron Cooker’s Night. Mrs. Larsen demonstrated her witch cackling ability. You can watch a video of her cackling below. Good fun! You can also see a bunch of pictures from our visit and some of several super reading heroes. Real heroes read!