Stealing the Weasleys

The Shoe Prank

Travis Stoll

The moment Conner stepped into the infirmary with a grin on his face, I knew something had happened. Around here, it was one of two things: a prank had been played or...

"A quest was given!" My brother smiled, skipping up to my bed.

"And I'm guessing it was Percy who is going?"

Conner's smile faltered slightly. "Uh, no. Clarisse is going."

"Why do you seem so happy then?"

"Oh, it totally doesn't have to do with the fact that I sent a message to Dad asking that he help Percy do the quest anyway."

Oh gosh. My brother really is something else. "And how did you manage that?"

"The shoes, Travis! The shoes!"

After making sure Will wasn't around, I pushed myself up, staring at him. "You send a message with shoes?"

His eyes glittered as he nodded. "Mmh! I just dumped candy in the shoe and attached the note before throwing it in the air!"

"And how did you know that would work?"

"I didn't know. It was just a guess."

"And do you know if it worked?"

Conner smiled. "Well, if the fact that the shoe disappeared and I saw Dad talking to Percy on the beach before coming here doesn't say that it worked, I don't know what would."

He really was something else. I know Conner doesn't let it show all that often, but he is much smarter than he lets on. "Conner, you are a genius."

"No I'm not. It was just luck."

"Whatever. Why are you here though?"

"Can I not see my big brother?"

"I mean, you could," I trail off, watching his smirk grow. "But most of the time it's because you want something."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I had an idea for a prank."

I raised an eyebrow. "What does this prank involve?"

"Dad, shoes, and a note to the other side of the world."

Now I was intrigued. "Get me out of here and we will talk more."

He glanced at Will, who was tending to another patient before looking at the bandage wrapped around my leg. "Will you be strong enough to walk?"

"Of course, my dear brother. Distract the Apollo kid and I can sneak out through the window."

Conner bit his lip but nodded. "Alright."

Swinging my leg over the bed, I carefully got to my feet as Conner started talking to the doctor. I winced slightly as pressure was shifted onto my leg, but that didn't stop me as I swung myself through the open window.

My leg crumpled out from under me as soon as it hit the ground. I fell but was able to hold back from making any sound. Getting to my feet was harder than I thought but once I was steady I started to make my way towards Cabin 11. Not long after did Conner fall into step beside me.

"Will is going to kill us."

"Probably."

I sat down on my bed. "Now, what exactly is this prank of yours?"

He pulled out another one of the flying shoes, tossing it to me. "Why keep our pranks here in camp when we have the ability to go elsewhere?"

"Go on."

"So it's both a prank but also it should help someone if it works correctly."

"Helps? What do you mean by that?"

"I want to send a message to Dad asking if he would find someone on the other side of the world and deliver the shoe and another message to a person who needs a laugh in their life."

"Where is the prank to this?"

"Well, what if we ask Dad to make the shoe teleport any of the people in the room, only when something special is done of course, and teleport them here."

"Do you think Dad would do that?" I flipped the shoe over in my hands, frowning slightly.

"It never hurts to try, right Travis?"

A smile slowly crept onto my face. "Yeah. Why not try?"

"Great! I'll write the note for Dad if you will write the note for the receiver. Just explain to them that they need to lace the shoes and something will happen to everyone in the room."

We spent the next hour or so trying to perfect the letters. It was only as the bell for dinner was ringing did we finish. My brother smiled, pulling out a pack on M&M's and sticking them inside. He turned to me.

"To Dad." He threw the shoe in the air, the shoe disappearing in a flash of gold light.

I smiled, staring at where the shoe was moments before. "To the one who needs our help." I whispered. 

I finally finished it! Yay! Are you proud of me?