Chase Tinker & The House of Magic Read Online Free Page B

worry about it, Andy," said
Grandfather. "We'll work on it later. I remember your Great-Uncle
Thomas when we were boys. He had all manner of problems with his
power. For the longest time, whenever he sneezed, he teleported
himself to the oddest places. One day, I had to climb to the
rooftop and pry him out of the chimney." He chuckled softly. "Those
were the days."
    "Does Great-Uncle Thomas live with you?"
asked Andy.
    "No. I'm sorry to say, he's no longer with
us," said Grandfather. "He hated wearing his spectacles, you see,
and he had terrible vision. One day he teleported himself squarely
in front of a locomotive. Never saw it coming." He sniffed and
pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe a tear. "Ah well,
enough melancholy prattle, boys. It happened long ago. Don't worry,
your powers will improve."
    Andy pulled his glasses from his pocket and
slipped them on. "Poor Great-Uncle Thomas," he murmured.
    "Why didn't Dad tell us any of this stuff?"
asked Chase as he stomped around gathering feathers. "It sure
would've been nice to know something!" He waved a fistful of
feathers at Grandfather. "And come to think of it! What about you?
Where the heck have you been? Why are you just showing up now?"
    "After he chose to leave, I never wanted to
interfere in my son's life," said Grandfather gravely, tucking his
handkerchief away. "One of my many mistakes, I must admit. Thank
goodness his sister, your Aunt Clair, kept me informed of any big
events in Benjamin's life."
    "We've never met Aunt Clair," said Andy.
    Grandfather shook his head and sighed. "It
appears your father decided not to expose you to any of our magic.
Well, it's time we had enough of that nonsense. I realize you boys
have a right to be angry, but we need to put the past behind us so
you can begin to learn all you need to know. Even more so since
Clair told me Benjamin had been captured."
    "Captured!" said Chase, dropping onto the
couch and forgetting about the feathers splattered everywhere.
" That's what happened to him? But—but why ? And who
would want to take our dad, anyway? We don't have any money to pay
a ransom, which no one even asked for!"
    "The world has some—people who would do
anything to gain our magic," said Grandfather.
    "Who are these people?" said Andy, shivering
and glancing around as if he expected someone to suddenly pop out
from behind the curtains. "Would they want to take Chase and
me?"
    "Don't you worry about any of that," said
Grandfather sternly. "I won't let anything happen to either of
you."
    "So what about our dad?" exclaimed Chase. "Is
he okay?"
    "I truly hope so," said Grandfather.
    "Have you been trying to find him?"
    "Clair wanted to do it."
    "By herself ?"
    "She's perfectly capable," said Grandfather.
"And she knew her brother would not want to be rescued by me."
    "How come?"
    Folding his hands behind his back,
Grandfather wandered around the living room and looked at the
pictures on the walls of Chase and Andy from when they were
younger. "From the beginning, your father hated being magical."
Chase glanced at Andy, who just picked at a scab on his knee. "He
never wanted the responsibility it entailed. Benjamin wanted to
live a normal life and forget all about the world of magic. We had
a dreadful falling out and, sadly, we parted and he never returned
home."
    "Why didn't you make things up later?" asked
Chase.
    Grandfather paused to consider this. "My son
is a stubborn man. And so am I. Neither of us wants to admit when
we're wrong. An annoying trait." He sounded as though this was one
quality he wished he didn't have.
    "He let us believe you were dead!" said
Chase.
    "I'm sorry our appalling feud has caused
these problems," said Grandfather, shaking his head.
    "Why do we have these powers anyway?" cried
Andy. "I liked being normal!"
    "Normal! Why be normal when you can be
magical?" Grandfather raised his arms and twirled. Bright, red and
orange sparks shot from his fingertips, followed by dozens of
purple and