Free The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow by Tim Kehoe

like that.”
    “Well then, maybe we should shoot our rappelling ropes around the chimney and swing through your bedroom window.”
    “Come on, Stella. I’m serious.”
    “I have an idea,” Stella said. “Why don’t we just knock on the door?”
    “Yeah, then what?”
    “I don’t know.” Stella started walking across the street. “I’m sure you’ll think of something—inventor boy.” Stella rang the
     doorbell.
    Mrs. Zimmerman opened the door. “Hello. Can I help you?”
    “Hi. I know this is going to sound a little strange, but my sister and I use to live here and we were—”
    “Oh my, you’re him, aren’t you? You’re the kid on TV with the kite. We saw you flying your kite in that airport. Amazing,”
     Mrs. Zimmerman said. “Oh, my son Timmy has some friends over for his birthday. I know they would love to meet you. Do you
     have time to come in?”
    Vincent looked at Stella. “Sure,” they said together.
    “You can set your bag down here. Timmy and the rest of the kids are in the kitchen.”
    A dozen children were huddled around a cake that read “HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY DANGER BOY.”

    Danger Boy, known to some as Timmy Zimmerman, had always wanted to be a stuntman. And that had always terrified his mother.
     At the tender age of two, little Timmy slid down an entire flight of stairs headfirst on his pillowcase. At the age of three,
     Timmy had jumped off the top bunk of his bed and landed—headfirst—in a pile of clothes. His mom bought him a helmet for his
     fourth birthday.
    By the time he turned five, Timmy was building makeshift ramps and performing death-defying stunts with his bike. The summer
     of his sixth birthday, he jumped his bike over Katelyn Meyers, Katelyn’s brother Nick, and their dog Buddy. He earned the
     nickname “Danger Boy” that summer.
    “Timmy, this is—oh, I didn’t get your name,” Mrs. Zimmerman said.
    “Vincent Shadow.”
    “This is Vincent. He’s that boy who invented that windless kite.”
    “Happy Birthday, Timmy—or should I say—Danger Boy.”
    “What are you doing at my birthday party?”
    “Well, I actually used to live here and—”
    “And we thought it would be fun to see who lives here now,” Stella interjected.
    “Did you bring the kite?” Danger Boy asked.
    “No. No kite. But,” Vincent was desperately trying to think of a way to get upstairs, “I bet we could invent something together.”
    “Oh, yeah? Like what?” Danger Boy challenged.
    “Well, I could show you how to build a crossbow out of an old shoe, clothes hangers, and a couple of pencils. I bet we could
     find that stuff up in your room,” Vincent said.
    “Sounds lame,” Danger Boy said.
    “Yeah. Lame, dude,” the other kids chimed in.
    “Aahhhh, okay.” Vincent looked around the kitchen. “What if I make fireballs shoot from your birthday cake?”
    The boy sitting next to Timmy started to say, “You can’t do—” but Timmy pushed his hand up against his friend’s chest to silence
     him.
    “Show me,” Danger Boy said.
    “Okay. I’m gonna need to cut a piece of your cake here.” Vincent cut a piece of birthday cake and put it on a paper plate.
     He stuck a birthday candle in the middle of the cake.
    “I need matches and a large glass bowl.”
    “Oh, are you sure this is safe?” Mrs. Zimmerman asked as she handed Vincent matches and a large bowl.
    “Good point. Remember, guys, not to try this at home without your—”
    “Get on with it,” Danger Boy demanded.
    Vincent set the timer for forty-five seconds, lit the candle, and placed the glass bowl over the cake with the lit candle.
     He closed the microwave door and pushed START.
    Danger Boy held his breath as he watched the cake spin around inside the microwave. Soon the candle flame flickered and then
     a fireball shot from the candle and seemed to stick to the top of the bowl… still glowing. Then another fireball, followed
     by another, and yet another. Soon there was a massive fireball