The Monster In The House

Chapter 2: DJ and Chowder

The two boys smiled and waved. "Hello!" they said.

The tall boy held out his hand. "Hi. I'm DJ," he said.

Astro shook DJ's hand. "I'm Toby. But my friends call me Astro," Astro replied.

DJ pointed at the chubby boy. "This is my friend Chowder," said DJ.

Astro giggled a little at the name.

DJ dribbled the basketball. "Hey, Astro! You want to shoot some hoops with us?" DJ asked.

He tossed the ball to Astro, and Astro caught it with both hands.

Astro smiled as he looked at the basketball. "Okay. What do I do?" he asked.

DJ crossed his arms. "Try to get the basketball in the hoop," DJ explained.

The robot boy took a deep breath. "Okay. Get ready for an in-your-face disgrace!" Astro said.

He jumped and threw the ball upwards. Suddenly, the ball hit the hoop but then it bounced back and hit Chowder in the face.

Chowder got knocked to the ground.

"OW!" Chowder shouted, covering his nose.

Astro gasped. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Astro shouted.

DJ got down next to Chowder.

Chowder sat up and groaned. He removed his hand from his nose.

DJ let out a fake horrified gasp. "Oh, my gosh!" he yelled.

"WHAT?! WHAT?!!" Chowder shouted.

DJ gave him a playful shove. "You're a dork!" DJ told him.

Astro and DJ helped Chowder get back on his feet.

Astro rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Chowder. That basketball was meant to get in the hoop. Not in your face!" Astro said.

Chowder smiled. "It's okay," he said.

He looked around for the basketball, but it was no where to be seen.

"Hey. Where's my basketball?" Chowder asked.

They spotted the basketball in the yard across the street.

The house was run-down and eerie. It looked like something from a ghost story. A very wrong ghost story.

Astro decided to go and get the basketball. He was about to go cross the road, but DJ stopped him.

DJ put his hand on Astro's shoulder. "Astro, the ball just landed on Nebbercracker's lawn! It doesn't exist anymore!" DJ said, with a 'as a matter of fact' tone in his voice.

Astro raised an eyebrow at him. "Who?" he asked.

Chowder had a terrified look on his face. "Nebbercracker. He's the old dude who lives in that house. He confiscates anything that ends up in his lawn!" said Chowder.

The three kids stared at the house.

Suddenly, Astro took off running towards the house.

"ASTRO!" DJ and Chowder both shouted.

Astro got to the basketball. He bent down to reach for it, but before he could pick it up, the door to the house slowly opened.

Astro turned his head and saw someone standing in the doorway.