The Halloween Dino Trip: The Mystery Adventures Of Jillian Waylan, #1 o433g

The Halloween Dino Trip

Book One in

The Mystery Adventures of Jillian Waylan

Jillian is planning her first big Halloween party and hopes the weather holds out. Well, the weather does...but after Jillian, in her witch's outfit playfully chants the following from a prop witch's spell book:

“Changes are due… Not many but a few To meet your history And see it’s not misery Ghosts will abound Trekking all around For you will now travel In a land full of marvel”

everyone is in for the surprise of their life. Her backyard is gone. In its place greenery filled with tall trees, a variety of bushes, and...DINOSAURS? The Mystery Adventures of Jillian Waylan will be a series of books for grades 4 - 6 where a witch's spell book ends up in Jillian's hands all the time, no matter how much she tries to get rid of that book. Exciting adventures to other times and interesting historical figures are in store for all of her friends. But the mystery is...who keeps placing that book in Jillian's hands? A clue is placed in each book for the readers to try and figure it out.

The Halloween Dino Trip ©2021 by Lea Schizas

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Art © 2021 by TWJ Design eBook ISBN: 978-1-77392-080-1 Print ISBN: 978-1-77392-081-8

The Halloween Dino Trip

Lea Schizas

www.thewritingjungle.com

Dedication

To my family because without their mommy would never have time to write.

Chapter One

The Halloween Party

Jillian opened the bedroom window, poked her head outside, and peered at the sky. The sun warmed her face. Clear, clear, clear. Better stay like this until my Halloween party. October brought cooler temperatures, rumbling thunder, and dark gray clouds, earlier this year than others. Today’s blue sky, however, gave Jillian hope. She shut her window but not before one last glance up. Jillian walked around the white-bleached canopy bed, her bare feet sinking into the matching plush area rug. She opened her closet and stared at last year’s costume hanging in the far corner, a witch’s long-sleeved dress and matching hat. A smile flittered across her lips before turning into a pout. Only thing needed is a new robe, she thought, poking her fingers through torn slits on the right sleeve. “Jillian, Barbara’s here,” called her mother from downstairs. She pulled on a pair of socks and dashed out the door. “Hey,” Barbara said, a smile pasted on her face. Jillian jumped the last couple of stairs, landing right in front of her lanky friend. “Where’s your costume?” Jillian stared at Barbara’s empty hands. “I always get a sneak preview of what you’re wearing before Halloween.” “Mom’s not finished sewing it yet. But it’ll be ready before Friday’s party.” Barbara’s hazel eyes sparkled with amusement. “It’s not ready, or you don’t want me to see it yet?” Jillian planted her hands on her hips waiting for a response.

Barbara giggled and shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s just say it’s not ready to be unwrapped.” “Hmm.” Jillian was definitely intrigued now. Daisy appeared out of nowhere, barking loudly, and startling the girls. She jumped from one to the other, sniffed, and pawed the girls for their attention. “Daisy, quiet.” Jillian reached down and grabbed the rambunctious Shi Tzu, scooping her in her arms. “You’re lucky she’s not a Chihuahua. My aunt’s dog barks nonstop.” Barbara leaned over and patted Daisy on the head. “You dressing her up?” She giggled when the pup licked her hand like a Popsicle. “Yep, a witch needs a ghost dog.” Daisy’s black and white face shook as she looked around, eying both girls. She wiggled to get free, flapping her puffy pom-pom tail in Jillian’s face. “Okay, okay, hold on.” Jillian placed the puppy on the floor and then rummaged through her back pocket taking out a scrunchie. She tied her long hair in a ponytail. “Why don’t you ever wear a black wig to cover up your tomato hair?” Barbara asked. “And be the same like every other witch?” The pup rolled over, exposing her pink belly. Barbara laughed, petting her softly. Within seconds, Daisy scurried across the hallway straight into the kitchen. The scent of cinnamon with a hint of honey tickled the air around them. “Smells good whatever your mom’s cooking.” “Goodies for the party, but that’s just the beginning. Want to see the decorations in the backyard?” Nodding, Barbara followed Jillian through the country-style kitchen. Copper pots hung over the wood beam ceiling. Along the wall beside the patio doors,

wooden shelves housed decorative plates with artists’ signatures. As they ed the philodendron, Jillian reached out to slide the door when… “Jillian! Put on shoes, please. I don’t want you dragging leaves all over the house with your socks when you come back in!” “Busted,” Barbara whispered. She smiled and pointed down to her shoes to show Mrs. Waylan. Jillian ran from the room, and within seconds, she returned sporting running shoes. “Happy?” “Don’t be cheeky,” Mrs. Waylan answered. The girls giggled and scooted out the backdoor. A huge black tent covered half the yard on the right side. Gaming booths in different sizes were set up on the other side. “Wow.” Barbara’s gaze flitted back and forth taking it all in, her stringy blond hair bouncing with every head turn. “Dad’s going to blow up the balloons Thursday night. And I told him we’d set up the garland.” “Neat.” Barbara gave two thumbs up. Suddenly, a bright flash lit the inside of the tent. A wind moaned and breezed past them, shaking the big Maple tree branches. “Oh no!” Jillian rushed inside the tent followed by Barbara. Catching her breath, she turned on the light, and inched forward, inspecting all around. Everything appeared in perfect working order. When her jangled nerves relaxed, she let out a deep sigh. “Looked like lightning.” “Probably a malfunction. I’ll tell my dad to check the wiring again. But I sure

didn’t like that sudden wind.” “They’re calling for warm weather this week.” “I hope so. All we need is a storm, and everything will be ruined.” Jillian pouted. As she was about to leave, Jillian noticed something at the far end of the tent. She walked to the front of a stand with an old and tattered black book resting on it. “Cool. Look, Barb. My parents must have placed this prop here.” Gently touching the gold-etched lettering on the front cover, she read, ‘Witch’s Spell Book.’ “Now this is Halloween—a witch and her magical spell book.” “This is going to be one spooky party, Jillian.” The girls left the tent and headed back inside the house. The wind picked up once again. The branches swayed. And a glowing orange halo slithered inside the tent.

Chapter Two

Giggling Poster

Jillian fidgeted, rocking back and forth gently on the school chair. The floor groaned, and the chair squealed. It was Thursday, one day before the big Halloween party. The weatherman had been right every day so far, and she prayed Friday’s warm forecast would hold up. She glanced outside the classroom window, making sure the teacher didn’t see her. Blue skies, blue skies…please blue skies on Friday, too. She tried to focus on Mr. Thompson’s lesson. History simply bored her to death. “Today we’re discussing climate changes in history.” A great disappointment came over her when she found out the class topic was not about dinosaurs as he had promised. A roar of ‘ugh’s’ echoed from the students. Jillian immediately tuned out. An impulse to roll over and fall down popped into her head. Then again, she was never good at pretending to faint. With my luck, I’ll probably get a detention. Dinosaurs fascinated her, but hearing about how warm or how cold the temperatures were in other time periods…boring! Besides, who cares how cold it was way back then, she thought. It never went below thirty or forty degrees in Grandville, and that was cold enough for her. “Before we get to our lesson, I’m quizzing you on last week’s topic, dinosaurs.” This immediately caught Jillian’s attention. Saddling her behind from a slumped position, she stopped knocking her knees together, and glared at the teacher, waiting for the first question. “Where did Triceratops get its name?” Jillian raised her hand before anyone else. Mr. Thompson nodded for her to answer.

“They got their name from the three horns on their heads.” “That’s right. Okay, who re what ‘saurus’ means and in what language?” Again Jillian eagerly waved her hand in the air. She looked around and realized no one else did. Some slid farther down in their seats, an old trick she used before to avoid the teacher’s attention. “Jillian?” “It comes from the Greek word meaning ‘lizard’.” “Correct.” Mr. Thompson glanced at the class. “I think we’ll forego the Jillian Waylan Dinosaur Quiz today—” The class erupted in laughter. “Let’s move on to our climate lesson.” Jillian smiled, sank back in her chair, and let her thoughts drift to her Halloween party once more. For the rest of class, Jillian automatically reached for the papers Mr. Thompson handed out. She bundled them in a neat pile, not once glancing at them. Her thoughts were occupied with images on how to decorate her house, inside and outside. As soon as the bell rang, she gathered her books and caught up with Barbara. They headed for the cafeteria. Several students stopped her along the way. “Jillian, can’t wait until tomorrow.” “Jillian, thanks for inviting me.” “Jillian, heard your place is all decked out in spookiness.” The whole school buzzed over the party. Everyone in the cafeteria thanked her. She spent most of the lunch period staring at her bologna sandwich, unable to eat. Her frazzled nerves took away any hunger she originally had. “Um, I don’t think my parents will be too happy.” Jillian kept her voice low so she wasn’t overheard. A soft groan escaped her throat, and a gloomy mood shadowed her enthusiasm for Friday night.

“About what?” Barbara asked, furrowing her brows together quizzically. She licked the remaining traces of ketchup off her fingers and munched the last French fry. “They’re expecting our classroom, Barbara, not the whole school.” She imagined her parents’ reaction seeing their backyard and the entire house overrun by children. I’m so grounded. Barbara giggled, wiped her hands on her jeans, and grabbed Jillian’s arm. They walked over to the bulletin board right outside the cafeteria. “I thought something was wrong,” Barbara said, pointing to Jillian’s Halloween poster she drew for their sixth grade classroom. Jillian’s jaw dropped.

Jillian Waylan invites one and all to the Halloween Bash of the Year. Friday at 6:00 p.m. Her house.

“Barbara, I swear I didn’t write this.” Oh yeah, I’m in big trouble now... “Well, someone did, and Grand Elementary…” Barbara paused for dramatic effect, extending her arms and pointing around the school, “is showing up at your doorstep tomorrow night.” A nauseous feeling overcame Jillian, and then she cheered up. “Wait a minute. Don’t know why I’m so worried. What are the chances of the younger grades coming?” As they walked away from the bulletin board, a giggle startled them. Both girls whirled around to face the culprit. No one stood anywhere near them.

Jillian noticed something strange on the poster. She grabbed Barbara’s sleeve and dragged her back. “Barb, was this drawing on the poster before?” Jillian pointed to a glittery pumpkin sketch right after ‘Her house,’ with the biggest smile on its face and a black dog resting on top of it. Barbara shrugged her shoulders. “You drew it, ? Why? You think we got ghosts?” She chuckled. Jillian didn’t find it funny. Leaning forward to inspect the drawing, there was something odd about her poster. She was almost certain that pumpkin and dog drawing were not there earlier. Or at least, she didn’t drawing them. Something weird is going on!

Chapter Three

Preparations

The weather warmed up on Friday much to Jillian’s delight. Mysterious winds whipped around town but ceased by mid-afternoon. Right after school, Jillian helped her dad secure all the balloons and other odds and ends before the guests arrived for the party. Impatiently, she pulled, pushed, and quickly rolled the rented popcorn machine into the backyard, bumping it lightly against the patio table. “Watch it, sweetie. I need to bring that back in one piece. Let me do it.” He took a step toward her, but she waved him away. “No, I can do it.” Carefully, she backed up, rolled it around the table, and settled it into the far corner of the yard near the gaming booths. She walked up to her father as he tied more balloons along their green link fence. “Dad, I’m really sorry about that poster. I promise you it wasn’t me.” She chewed her lower lip, placing her right hand over her heart. “Don’t worry, sweetie. If everyone in Grand Elementary shows up, I’m sure we’ll fit them in here somewhere…well, somewhere outside, otherwise your mom will be one unhappy camper.” Jillian nodded, but deep down she wished she knew who the jokester was who switched her original poster. That was rude! She turned to walk away and then stopped. “Oh, thank you for that prop in the tent.” Jillian tugged at a loose strand of hair tickling her right ear. Her dad, tying the last black balloon, looked over his shoulder at her. “What prop?” “The witch’s spell book. It’s a perfect match to go with my party theme.” “It wasn’t me, sweetie. Maybe Mom?”

“Probably. I’ll thank her later.” “By the way, forgot to tell you. Mom asked me to mention your costume has no more tears on the sleeve now.” “Cool. I’ll thank her for that, too.” She put her arm around his neck, gave him a hug and then rushed off to finish her decorations. Jillian raked the front and back lawns, spreading the leaves in piles so they would crunch as the kids walked around. This would add to the whole ambiance of spooky sounds she planned for tonight. The orange and black balloons swung in place to greet her guests as they walked up the pathway and along the side fence. Orange webs covered the birdfeeder, extending to the bushes lining the front of the living room window. The night before, Barbara helped her hang the garland and spider webs in the front and back yards. The big witch and scarecrow were propped to ornament the walkway. The gaming booths in the backyard were set up and the prizes gift-wrapped ready to be handed out to the winners. Jillian glanced at the sky as she guzzled the last of her soda. The sun was setting and an orange-gray mist rose in the sky. All her breath rushed out of her with excitement as she released a long and satisfying sigh. “Yep, this will be one heck of a Halloween,” she said as she marched right behind her dad and back inside the house to get dressed. Inside the tent, a light flickered on and off. * * * * Jillian fluttered her cape, swooshing it about as though flying in the air. Daisy sniffed and nibbled the robe. The pup chased Jillian in a circle, jumping to grab the edge of the witch’s outfit. “Watch out, girl, no biting.” Daisy sniffed some more.

“Stop that.” Jillian bent down, patting Daisy on the head. “Time to get you dressed.” She placed the doll-like Shi Tzu on her bed. “Stay right there.” She sauntered over to the closet. Gliding the door to the side, she removed Daisy’s costume from the hanger and smiled. Humming the cheerful, “Creeping behind the corner, Older than the night, It’ll jump out and scare you, Be ready for a fright,” tune her music teacher sang all week long, she sat on the bed and set Daisy on her lap. “Stop moving, girl, you’re driving me bonkers.” Jillian’s mood turned to frustration as she jiggled and maneuvered the pup. Drawing her eyebrows together, she puffed a long, exasperated breath. Daisy continued to wiggle, trying to free her paws from Jillian’s firm hold. “I’ll give you a cookie.” Daisy stopped fussing. Quickly, Jillian slipped on the white sheet with slits for Daisy’s paws. The dog’s head poked through the sheet, and she shook her whole body. On the back, in bold, black lettering was the word ‘BOO!’ “You’re such a scary ghost.” Jillian giggled as Daisy jumped off the bed. Daisy turned her tiny face to stare at her owner. Is she glowering at me? Her right paw knocked Jillian’s ankle several times. “Okay, okay,” she said, reaching into her pocket. “Here’s a cookie.” Within no time at all, Daisy jumped up, grabbed the cookie, and immediately chewed her treat. “Jillian, you ready to see my costume?” Barbara’s voice from the hallway startled her. “I can’t wait. Come on, let me see you.” Jillian bolted upright and faced the door. All week she anticipated how Barbara’s mom would outdo last year’s vampire costume. Besides the fake teeth and long black wig, Barbara’s mom had sewn

long realistic fingernails on a skin-colored glove that squirted a red food coloring liquid. It was so cool! Barbara jumped into sight, her body wrapped from head to toe in glittery white bandages. Fake scars with gooey blood splattered all over her chalky gray face, neck, and hands. Jillian clamped her hand over her mouth. “So? What do you think?” asked Barbara. “Now that’s scary,” Jillian said, faking a shiver and taking a step backward. “Zombies are supposed to be scary.” Barbara walked forward like Frankenstein with her arms stretched out in front of her. She growled—sporting fake fangs— her mouth opening and closing as though she was eager to bite Jillian. Daisy barked up a storm. “Looks more like a mummy costume.” Jillian stood in front of Barbara, twirling her around like a ballerina, inspecting her outfit closely. When her friend almost tripped, she stopped spinning her like a toy. Barbara spit out the fake teeth into her hand. “Yeah, I know. Didn’t have the heart to tell my mom she goofed this year.” Both girls laughed just as the doorbell rang, signaling the start of the party. They ran downstairs followed by ghost dog, Daisy, to greet the guests.

Chapter Four

The Fun Begins

The kids ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ when they stepped into the backyard. Several of them jumped back, startled by the sudden ‘boo’ screeching from hidden ghosts within the web-covered tree branches. Others opened their eyes wide, looking around, waiting for scary things to pop out and frighten them. Jillian’s parents greeted everyone dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, causing many to burst out in laughter. The mixture of ghosts and witches with Christmas tickled them silly. The spooky echoes of howls, boos, and screams mixed perfectly with the Halloween songs playing in the black tent. The full moon’s bluish tinge lit the backyard adding an extra touch for a ghastly setting. The tiny orange lanterns placed sporadically around the yard gave the final spine-tingling effect to the decor. The song Monster Mash had everyone rocking and rolling in his or her costume. Even Daisy had a blast running from one ghoul to the next. The laughter ringing out from seeing the ghost dog with ‘Boo!’ written on her back, dashing amuck, put them in a festive mood. Jillian exhaled deeply and relaxed when only the students from her class showed up. Visions of broken chairs and windows finally ebbed from her mind. She secured the latch on the gate before ing her guests. A few of the boys gathered at the ‘Dunk Your Head for an Apple’ booth while others participated in the ‘Guess What the Ooze Is’ booth. Tons of ‘yuck’ screams came out from there. Green goo dripped down one kid’s forehead to his nose as he lifted his head from the big barrel. Jillian made a mental note to thank her dad for setting it up. Jillian stood back for a minute, listening to the giggles and laughter from her guests, pleased with herself. She watched her friends enjoying every single corner in the backyard, involved in one gaming activity or the other. Her gaze landed on Daisy barking as she zigzagged around the yard and through most of

the kids’ legs. “Great party, Jillian.” “Thanks for inviting me, Jillian.” “Love your outfit, Jillian.” Jillian smiled, inhaled a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. Fun time. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach with anticipation. It was time for the hostess to take over now and for a few scare tactics to begin. “Attention, everyone,” Jillian called out, clapping her hands and climbing carefully onto the picnic table to use as her podium. “As the Queen of Witches, I invite you to come inside my home.” She pointed to the tent. “For some magical fun.” Her keen gaze absorbed the interested and curious stares watching her. This is going to be awesome. She jumped off the table, marched to the tent, and lifted the flap. In a very witchy-like tone she said, “Enter…if you dare.” Then she let out a sinister laugh. The kids cheered, and one by one disappeared inside the tent. Jillian leaned close to her friend’s ear, and whispered, “You know what to do, right?” Barbara giggled and nodded. She winked at Jillian, grabbed Daisy, and walked inside. Jillian was about to enter when a cackle from somewhere high above stopped her in her tracks. She looked all around making sure no one remained behind. Her parents were nowhere to be seen. The yard was empty. Well, except for the goblins and ghouls hanging on the trees. Curiosity kept her outside for another minute, waiting and listening. Silence. Nothing stirred. Moonlight streamed down casting shadows around the yard. She parted the tent flaps and stepped inside, and made her way to the Witch’s Spell Book.

Chapter Five

The Chant

An eerie silence followed Jillian as she walked to the stand holding the witch’s spell book. From the corner of her eye, she watched as everyone huddled close together, quiet as can be. She spotted a few friends chewing on their lower lips. Several in front stepped aside, allowing her to walk through the crowd. She purposely stomped on several leaves along the way breaking the hush in the tent. Jillian smiled, content with the party atmosphere so far, but she couldn’t wait for the scare tactics to begin. She whirled around when she reached the stand, making sure her cape fluttered. For several seconds, she stared at everyone, giving them her most wicked look: one cocked eyebrow, and her head tilted slightly to the side. This is way too much fun! In the far corner, she noticed Daisy sitting quietly as though she, too, was curious about what would happen next. “Have no fear,” Jillian began, all eyes set on her. She gave her hair a dramatic flip to the side. The small red-haired girl in the front row bit her Little Red Riding Hood cape. The boy in a vampire costume flicked his tongue over his fake teeth. The short clown with rainbow hair suckled on a strand of his clown wig. The pirate pulled on his eye patch until he accidentally let it go. It snapped back, and he let out a soft whimper. Jillian suppressed a giggle. A few faint whisperings broke the silence. Jillian slowly bowed her head and looked down at the book. Dramatically, she flayed her hands above it, humming, before slamming her right hand down on it. Several guests jumped back. Nodding her head as a cue to Barbara, the lights flickered on and off.

No one spotted Barbara cracking up in the corner. A smile tugged on her lips; her emerald green eyes lit up with excitement as she looked around and then back to Jillian. Some of the kids giggled nervously. Jillian opened the book. Just then, a breeze moved through the tent flaps, flipping several of the pages. Jillian glanced down at the opened page, tracing her right finger over the words. She looked up, scanning the crowd first left then right, before saying, “I want to thank everyone for coming to the party. This is one night you will never forget.” A grin spread across her face. Clearing her throat, she recited the words on the page:

Changes are due… (She quickly looked up to catch their expressions, and then focused on the page again.) Not many but a few, To meet your history And see it’s not misery, Ghosts will abound (She spoke louder with each sentence.) Trekking all around, For you will now travel In a land full of marvel.”

Right on cue, Barbara flicked the lights once again, this time startling everyone. For an extra effect, Jillian took out a flashlight hidden in her robe. She turned her back, lit it under her chin, jumped to face them, and yelled out, “BOO!” Giggles, gasps, and cheers erupted. Jillian carefully studied the enthusiastic glee on their faces and knew, at that moment, her party was a hit. All of her tension and worry finally slipped away. “Okay, guys, let’s go outside for some more fun.” Jillian said, putting the flashlight back in her cape pocket and closing the book. Everyone stepped outside and huddled near the entrance. No one moved any farther. They gazed around the yard. Jillian noticed the peculiar expressions on their faces. She pushed her way through to see why they huddled. She grabbed the tent flaps, opened the entrance wider and looked outside. The Halloween decorations were gone. Night had turned to day. The whole backyard had disappeared.

Chapter Six

What’s Going On?

In the distance, a tumbling waterfall nestled between two mountains. Gray birds of different sizes soared through the clear blue skies. Others squawked loudly as they landed on the green grass. “Pretty neat effect, Jillian,” said the boy in the vampire outfit. “Um…” Jillian was at a loss for words, clamping a hand over her mouth. She walked toward the falls, making sure this wasn’t one of her parents’ famous projections they used every Halloween. Her heart pounded when she realized the truth. This isn’t a projected image!”Jillian, what’s going on?” Barbara asked, twirling a lock of her brown curls around her index finger. She unrolled bandages off her head and placed them on the ground. Jillian gaped at the view before them. One by one, the kids grasped they were not in Jillian’s backyard anymore. The fourteen friends huddled together, awestruck by their surroundings. Jillian glanced back at everyone. Her heart sank even further when she saw a few tears in the girls’ eyes and heard gasps from the boys. She realized she had a huge problem on her hands. She needed to find their way home and get everyone back safely. “Okay, we’re not in my backyard, that’s obvious. But let’s keep our cool, okay?” She examined her friend’s expressions; some looked worried, and some were not even paying attention to her. “Let’s stay close together. No one wanders off until we can figure this mystery out.” She moved forward taking in the scenery again. They explored this paradise of sunshine, greenery, and… Suddenly, one of the kids screamed, pointing up ahead. A gasp escaped Jillian’s lips.

No more than a few yards in the distance was a family of Brachiosaurus eating ferns. Most of the kids scattered, jumping into nearby bushes for cover. Others stood still, too frightened to move. Jillian stepped closer, and Barbara grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?” Barbara’s voice came out in a high-pitched squeal. “Barb, look, they’re harmless. They’re vegetarians.” “Did they tell you this? Look at the size of their feet! King Kong has nothing on these guys.” Barbara’s eyes opened wide forming perfect circles. “They’re Brachiosaurus, not Tyrannosaurus Rex.” Jillian removed her friend’s grip and faced everyone. “Look at their long necks, guys. Mr. Thompson’s history class when he brought in toy dinosaurs and described each one? They were…um…are the tallest dinosaurs around. And they’re not meat eaters.” The kids ventured out of their hiding spots and surrounded Jillian. She led the way up the path and around the big boulders until they were within a few feet of the dinosaurs. “They’re gorgeous.” “They’re huge.” “Yuck, they’re slimy,” one said as a big glob of spit escaped the tallest dinosaur, landing smack dab on the boy’s head. Cries of astonishment echoed in this valley of greenery when Jillian inched closer, trying to touch the smallest Brachiosaurus. “Looks like this one is the baby,” Jillian said, touching one of its legs. “It feels like elephant skin. And look…it has five toes. That’s so cool.” Everyone bravely moved a bit closer and surrounded the smallest Brachiosaurus. It looked down at them lazily and then continued munching the leaves on the

trees. “Yikes,” called one of the kids as an adult dinosaur stepped toward them. “Does he think we’re going to harm the baby?” “Does it think we’re food? I’m not part of the food chain.” “Maybe we’re scaring it with our costumes.” Before anyone could answer, the dinosaur leaned down, took a long whiff, and sneezed on them. “Yuck! I got dinosaur goop all over me,” cried one student. Everyone laughed. They followed the dinosaur family as they made their way toward the waterfall. Leafy plants with bright green foliage stretched on either side as the children zigzagged along the path. Right over the ridge, the wide blue ocean came into view. The sunlight sparkled in the still waters, shimmering its reflection. Way below the cliff, several more dinosaurs munched on leaves. “What a sight.” “Wish I had a camera.” “No one’s going to believe us.” “That’s for sure,” Jillian added. Not only were there Brachiosaurus, there was a Euoplocephalus, Triceratops, and a Stegosaurus right before their eyes. None of the dinosaurs paid any attention to them. They chewed away at the leaves on the full-grown trees. Just then, Jillian realized someone was missing. “Has anyone seen Daisy?” The kids spread out, calling for her. No response. Jillian felt a lump in her throat. She stared at the ground heartbroken. “Maybe she’s still in the tent,” Barbara said, putting her arm around Jillian’s

shoulder. “I hope.” Jillian prayed this was true. Another thought sprang in her head, and she looked around. Where’s the tent? Without the tent, Jillian felt their quest for a way back home would never materialize, but she kept this worry to herself. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves under the unusual circumstances. Not exactly the spookiness I was hoping for... Some of the kids braved dipping their feet in the water with the dinosaurs. Others sat near the boulders enjoying the view. Jillian worried about how they would get back home. Her mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. As she focused straight ahead, a light flickered on and off behind the waterfalls. Calling everyone to follow her, she swiftly led them through a steep and rocky trail, hidden behind the falls, which led to a cave. They stood high above the place they came from. They took one last view of the panoramic scene and the dinosaurs below before following Jillian again. Once inside, the waterfall disappeared, and the cave lit up in a glimmer of icicles, glittering like diamonds. The farther they walked, however, the darker it got. Almost completely blinded by the lack of light, Jillian ed she had a flashlight. The kids were speechless. They bumped into each other walking too close together, and a flood of apologies rushed through the place. As soon as Jillian lit the cave with her flashlight, a loud cheer erupted, immediately followed by, “Shh! We don’t know what’s in this cave,” from a few of the kids. “Might be a bear’s den.” “Well, it could be a cave man’s home. After all, dinosaur and caveman go together,” Barbara said. “Great! Getting caveman clobbered is not on my list of things to do today.”

“Maybe it’s the way back home.” At that last comment, the kids hushed up and followed Jillian farther and farther into the dank cave. Where they would end up, no one knew.

Chapter Seven

Dinosaur Bones

The kids walked on, packed together like a can of sardines, following Jillian and her flashlight. “It smells in here,” someone griped. “Yeah, like something’s burning.” “No, more like my older brother’s stinking socks.” There were a few nervous giggles as they continued walking. Some held their noses and agreed with the stinking socks statement. Jillian detected a spot of light up ahead. “Hey guys, I think I see an opening.” A roar of triumph echoed in the tunnel. A chill and a heavy gulp went through Jillian as she stepped out of the cave. A strew of dinosaur carcasses lay before her…all around her. There was no doubt something was wrong with this picture. The clear blue skies were now painted a smoky gray with a hint of a red hue. Thick clouds hid any presence of a sun or a moon. A few ravens flew away as everyone stepped into the new area. “Oh, my!” Barbara said. She took a step forward, and suddenly reached for Jillian’s arm. “Oh no,” is all she managed to say before falling several feet, tumbling into a large pit. “You okay?” Jillian called out, scanning the embankment for a way down to help her friend. She motioned for everyone to walk around her. “Be careful where you step.” “This isn’t like the other place.” “Looks like one of my nightmares.”

“Where are we?” Jillian wanted to find out, too, but Barbara’s predicament called for her immediate attention. Searching for a path, Jillian noticed something very familiar about this scenery. She backed up, climbed up a rock hanging over the cave, and glanced about. “I think I know where, or when, we’re at,” she said, solemnly, as she climbed down. How do I tell them? “Look at the sky, what do you see?” she asked everyone. “Nothing but clouds…dark clouds.” “It looks…scary.” “It’s real spooky and quiet.” “Now look at the trees,” Jillian ordered, pointing to the few visible around them without leaves. The bare branches resembled large, bony fingers. “They’re dead.” “They look like skeletons.” “And who do these bones belong to?” Jillian frowned. “We entered right after the dinosaurs became extinct. And that…” Jillian pointed toward where her best friend stumbled into the hole. “Looks like a big crater where Barbara fell in.” “You mean those nice dinosaurs we swam with and petted…they’re dead?” Sniffles, tears, and more sniffles overcame the children. They glanced around and saw the carcasses they missed earlier. Some of the students glared intently at Jillian as though hoping her guess was wrong. Jillian ed the baby dinosaur she touched and held back tears herself. Its remains probably lay somewhere in this vast land of nothingness. She was completely speechless until…

“Um, hello,” called out Barbara. “Can you guys help me before I turn into a mummy carcass?” Jillian stared down at Barbara, trying to think of a way to help her. An idea popped in her head. She removed her robe and motioned to her friends. “Everybody who has an extra piece of clothing they can remove, give it to me.” Everyone jumped into action, understanding the emergency. Most of the kids handed Jillian their extra clothing. It became clear what Jillian hoped to accomplish when they noticed her slowly tying one piece of clothing to another. By the end, she had a long clothes rope to toss to Barbara. “I want everyone to line up behind me,” Jillian said. The kids immediately rushed to follow her instructions. “Barbara.” Jillian threw the clothes rope down. “Grab this and slowly climb up.” She watched her friend grimace before she got a firm hold. Barbara climbed up the steep crater edge until she safely stood with everyone else. With one easy swoop, Jillian pulled the free end of the clothes rope toward her and asked each of them to hold it. Looking like a kindergarten class on a field trip, the kids made their way around the crater, and down some rocky cliffs. Jillian thought she saw another opening not too far off. Hope it’s the way out of here. “I don’t like this place.” “Feels like a cemetery.” “Those poor dinosaurs.” “You okay?” Jillian asked Barbara, noticing her struggling to walk in her outfit. “I’m fine, just upset like everyone else. You know this sucks royally.” I know. Everyone followed the leader until they reached the tunnel that dipped into the ground like a huge pipe.

They each took one last look at the vast half-ashen surroundings speckled with dinosaur bones before they followed Jillian into the next, and hopefully last, tunnel back home.

Chapter Eight

Icing Along

Everyone dropped on their hands and knees to crawl through the low tunnel, crouching close together once again. A few of their costumes made it very hard to maneuver as quickly as others. Some ‘Hey, watch it,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ comments echoed in the rock-encrusted tunnel. “Oh great!” called out Barbara. “My mom’s going to have a cow.” “What’s wrong?” Jillian asked from up front. She ignored the harsh rough ground brushing on her knees. Fear pumped through her veins causing her to move forward as fast as she could crawl. The more time spent in this enclosed space, the more she had fearful thoughts of rocks tumbling on them all. “My bandages are unraveling.” “Guess they’re just as scared as we are and trying to escape,” someone yelled from the back. This broke the tension in their mood for a bit. Within a few minutes, silence ensued once more. Jillian strained to see ahead. Although it was not as dark as the cave, plodding along on her hands and knees made it impossible for her to carry her flashlight. Her fingers and knees dug into the rocky soil as she crawled forward. The rough and jagged gravel stabbed her palms. She pushed many stones out of her way but stopped doing that when she uncovered a slimy wormlike thingy weaving in and out and slithering back into the earth. The tunnel walls oozed with mud and rotting vines. The spooky and eerie setting made her feel as though she was trapped in a coffin. Not exactly fun, Halloween spooky and eerie, but it certainly was the really scared spooky and eerie type. Jillian noticed the warm moist earth getting harder and colder the farther they traveled. Having trekked a great distance, her fingertips numbed. She stopped several times, shaking each hand to wake them up.

“Why have we stopped?” “Is it me, or is it getting colder?” “I’m cold.” “I’m tired and freezing.” Jillian wondered where this new path would lead. She estimated they crept like mice on their hands and knees for about an hour. The moans behind her let her know everyone was exhausted just like her. Now she understood the grunts of pain when her grandma tried to get up from a sitting position. She vowed never to make fun of her again…if they made it home. The height of the tunnel changed often. Sometimes they had room to walk upright. Other times, they needed to crawl and wiggle like worms. Jillian’s body felt stiff and sore. It was much colder now. A short squeal escaped her lips when her frozen fingers banged against the extremely hard ground. She bit back a groan and pushed forward. “I liked the first place we visited.” “The sun felt really warm.” “Are we in a freezer?” The children tried to inch forward quickly, but the cold surface made it hard. They stopped several times to rub their hands together before continuing. Jillian noticed the musky smell of the tunnel disappeared. The now cooler air made their breath look like faint smoke signals. Jillian picked up her head hoping to see some sign of the end of the tunnel, and she did. Finally, the distinct glimmer of sunlight shone up ahead. “Think we’re near the end,” she cried out for all to hear. Everyone scurried forward. Some of them had their heads stooped so they

slammed into the thighs of those in front of them. Jillian stumbled out of the tunnel first to see their new surroundings. Oh no!

Chapter Nine

Cold As Ice

Jillian folded her arms across her chest and tucked her hands underneath her armpits. The cold stung her face even though the sun broke through the white puffy clouds. One by one the kids emerged from the dank tunnel. They hugged their bodies for warmth. Many ogled their new surroundings, eyes wide open and mouths slightly ajar. It was white as far as Jillian could see. Ridges of mountains, topped with what looked like vanilla ice cream, and huge blocks of glaciers welcomed them. In the distance, adding a gray color to the monotone scenery, were grand mammoths, walking away from the children. One of the girls screamed, startling everyone. “What is that?” “It’s a bear!” “It’s looking at us!” Jillian inspected the animal from afar. “That’s not a bear,” she said. “That’s a ground sloth.” “Looks like my hamster, Jinx, only way bigger,” Barbara said. The children’s odd-looking costumes must have frightened the animal, and it took off in the opposite direction. “Jillian, any idea where we are?” Barbara asked, leaning against the icy rock, wrapping torn bandages around her exposed hands. “Well, I think it’s obvious. We were transported to a time when dinosaurs lived and then to a time after their extinction. This time, I think we’re in one of the ice ages we learned about in history class.”

“But it’s cold here.” “My Halloween costume is ripped.” “I’m getting hungry.” Jillian didn’t know what to do or say to her friends. She felt awful. If she didn’t read from that silly spell book none of this would have happened. But why would her mother give her a spell book knowing what might happen? The farther they traveled in this cold icy place, the more everything appeared the same; nothing changed. It was one iceberg after another iceberg, one snow mountain after another snow mountain. The kids shivered from the lack of proper clothing. Icicles formed around their eyelashes, and their noses looked redder than Rudolph the Reindeer’s glowing nose. They took baby steps so they wouldn’t fall on the slippery ground. Many laced their arms together for , while others untied the clothes rope and wrapped some garments around their hands, necks, and heads to keep warm. Jillian’s hands and feet were numb. She stuck both hands in the openings of her sleeves to keep frostbite away. A knot tightened in her stomach, and she felt tears threatening to fall. She was about to give up hope of ever getting back when a glimmer from below the mountain caught her attention. From what she made out, it looked like a gigantic icicle slide. “Th-there’s s-s-something below,” she stuttered, too cold to speak. “A f-fire?” “A-a house?” “I wa-want t-to go home.” Jillian thought of her pink comforter. How she wished she was snuggled safe and warm in her bed right now. She knew her friends thought the same thing. Rosy cheeks, icicled eyebrows, and intense stares glared at her. Several did a little jig, hopping back and forth to keep warm.

Suddenly, a soft cackle vibrated the cool air, followed by a flash of light off in the distance.

Chapter Ten

The Icicle Slide

The kids paraded down the snowy mountainside, some sliding while others clung to a friend in front of them. Jillian told them to wiggle their toes and hug their bodies for warmth. They tugged their costumes close around them. One of the students offered his cape to the girl in the ballerina outfit. “Oh, I’ll ne-never complain about it be-being too hot again.” “I pr-promise to tidy my-my room.” “I wa-want t-to go home!” The flash of lightning reminded Jillian of the first time she saw it, the week before the party coming from within the tent. Could it be we’re almost there? Are we going to be transported some place else? Who put that spell book in the tent? These questions popped into Jillian’s mind as the kids moved toward the glittering icicle slide. She desperately hoped they neared the end of their journey. She didn’t think they would last much longer in these terrible wintry conditions. The closer they got, the more the slide looked like it dipped into the ground. When they were within a few feet, she noticed its smooth formation, winding left and right, disappearing into a black hole. Off in the distance, a billowing cloud of smoke blew toward them. “What is that?” “A tornado?” “A sand storm?”

“It’s a cloud of dried ice debris. This must be near the end of the Ice Age,” Jillian said. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but her answer seemed to calm her friends. Immediately she realized she should have paid more attention during Mr. Thomas’ climate lesson. Jillian wondered what to do as she stared long and hard at the black hole at the end of the ice slide. As if in response, that same cackling laughter with the brilliant display of lightning flashed from within the black hole. Jillian thought she caught a glimpse of… “Can it be?” she exclaimed. “What?” Barbara asked, nervously playing with a strand of hair with two fingers that had lost their bandages. “What are you guys ta-ta-talking about?” “Are we there ye-yet?” “I ca-can’t f-f-feel my toes.” Jillian knew exactly what they needed to do. She turned to face everyone giving them a big smile. “Okay, guys, let’s go on the b-best slide ride ever.” Several of them gave her a bewildered look, staring at the smooth structure winding into black nothingness. Without any hesitation, Jillian made the first move, plunking her behind on the ground. She panted for air and felt her heart beating fast. She glanced back at her pals. They each followed her… hopping onto the ice slide… gliding all the way down… slipping and sliding left and right… straight into and through that ominous black hole.

The opening suddenly closed as the last child descended into the dark.

Chapter Eleven

Today’s Lesson: Dinosaurs

“Daisy!!” Jillian’s first sight was her beloved Shi Tzu. “I thought I saw you.” She kneeled down. The full moon shone into the tent like a spotlight while she lavished in the puppy’s kisses. It appeared as though Daisy bowed before jumping to lick Jillian’s face again. Jillian was almost swept off balance with Daisy’s last leap. One by one everyone appeared in the tent, his or her costume completely undisturbed as though nothing had happened. Their faces were normal: no icicles in their hair, their hands and feet nice and warm. “Whoa! Now that was cool!” “This was the best Halloween party ever.” “No one’s going to believe us.” At that, Jillian stood, looked up, and then immediately to the right, where she left the witch’s spell book—gone. The stand, the book…they were both missing. “I don’t think we should say anything,” Jillian said, “to anyone.” “Oh, I wasn’t about to say anything,” Barbara said. “Can you just picture my parents when I say something like, ‘Hey Mom, Dad, I just met a few cool dinosaurs, fell in the crater that wiped them out, and finally slid down this really neat ice slide in the Ice Age.’” Everyone laughed. They made a pact not to mention their adventure to anyone. Jillian’s mom called to the kids from outside the tent. “Come on, everyone. Anyone want a slice of chocolate Halloween cake?” The kids ran out to feed their gurgling stomachs forgetting all about their

dinosaur trek. Barbara, Jillian, and Daisy remained in the tent. “Barbara, the Witch’s Spell Book is missing.” “Think your mom took it?” “Or whoever placed it here in the first place,” Jillian added. “Any clues as to who did put it here?” “Nope, not yet, but I’ll find out one day, that’s for sure.” The pearly glow of the moon lit the backyard as the three walked out of the tent. Jillian couldn’t help but stare and wonder how three different time zones each reflected different scenery in the majestic skies. She preferred her own moon, that’s for sure. * * * * Everyone settled in their classroom seats on Monday morning, waiting for Mr. Thompson to begin his history class. A few waved greetings as they took their seats. No one mentioned anything about the adventure they traveled through. Jillian wondered if the book put some sort of a spell on them to forget. Until… “Good morning, class. Today’s lesson will be all about dinosaurs.” The students stared at one another and erupted in laughter. **** Mr. Thompson’s next history lesson originates from Greece.

Interesting Dinosaur Facts

The Jurassic Period 200–145 Million Years Ago:

During the Jurassic period, the earth was full of green foliage like ferns, conifers, and ginkgo trees, and different creatures, such as:

Pterosaurs–flying reptiles with bodies covered in fur

Plant eaters (Herbivores):

Stegosaurus (STEG-o-SAWR-us): —tiny head —big tail with spikes to protect itself from predators —hind legs were twice as long as the front legs —almost 30 feet long and 9 feet tall —lived during the late Jurassic period

Brachiosaurus (BRAK-e-o-SAWR-us): —front legs were longer than the hind legs

—fed on leaves and fruit from trees —swallowed its food whole without chewing —long neck and a rather short, thick tail —grew to about 85 feet long and 50 feet tall (giraffes are about 17 feet tall, so you can imagine how tall the Brachiosaurus were) —one of the biggest land animals during this period. Nowadays, rabbits and grasshoppers are considered as herbivores. —lived in the middle to late Jurassic period

Meat-eaters (Carnivorous):

Allosaurus (AL-oh-SAWR-us) : —big, sharp teeth —short arms with three claws that would clamp onto its prey —around 38 feet long and 16 feet tall —great predator and may have teamed up in small groups to attack a larger prey —lived during the late Jurassic period

Ceratosaurus (se-rat-oh-SAWR-us): —great predator with sharp claws, powerful jaw with long, sharp teeth —large eyes —walked on two feet

—short horn on its snout —grew about 20 feet long —lived during the late Jurassic period

About the Author

Lea Schizas, a multi-published author writing for children, tweens, young adults, and adults, believes her computer is part of her anatomy, to the dismay of her family.

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