I Owe You One by Natalie Hyde

go flying in every direction, twenty, maybe thirty, feet. Do you want one flying through the kitchen window or knocking out one of Mr. Elliot’s cows over there?” He jerked his head in the direction of the cow pasture not fifteen feet away. Esmeralda looked up at the sound of his voice. She backed away from the fence.
    Daryl bent back down, shaking his head and muttering under his breath.
    â€œDaryl’s right,” Zach said. “Those rocks could go anywhere.”
    My head started to ache. I hadn’t even thought about stuff getting damaged. I just wanted those rocks loose so we could pile them up. It was time to call this off. Mr. Elliot was due home any minute.
    When we turned around, Daryl wasn’t by the wall anymore. He waved to us from behind Mr. Elliot’s shed. There was a little black box in his hand and a happy smile on his face. We raced over to him.
    â€œForget this, Daryl!” I panted. “Just take it all back and I’ll make this up to you.”
    Daryl looked confused and hurt. “But it’s all ready. One press of this button and we’re done.”
    I opened my mouth to say “No!” and then everything warped into slow motion again as disaster loomed. I tried to wave Daryl off as he smiled and moved his hand to the button. I heard the crunch of tires on gravel and the slam of a truck door. And then BOOM!

Chapter 12
    It took me a couple of minutes to realize that I was flat on my back looking up at the sky. The puffy clouds looked so peaceful drifting along, you wouldn’t have thought that a world war was about to erupt.
    â€œWhat in the world have you done now!?” I had never heard Mr. Elliot at full volume before, and I have to admit, even with my ears ringing a little from the blast, it was impressive. I could feel the ground shake as he stormed over to us. I figured for safety’s sake, I should get up.
    I was still a little woozy, but a quick check convinced me that all I had was a small bump on my head. The shed had protected us from the worst of the blast. Zach was struggling to get up beside me. I couldn’t see Daryl.
    Mr. Elliot reached us in what seemed like two strides. A huge vein throbbed in his neck, and his eyes bulged. I was so terrified, I couldn’t even speak.
    Mrs. Elliot came up behind him. “Now, Jack,” she said calmly, “I’m sure the boys are fine.”
    The look in Mr. Elliot’s eyes told me that he wasn’t as relieved as she was that we were both okay. I think he was from the old school, where young boys who had crazy ideas got what they deserved. I was never so grateful to see Mrs. Elliot in all my life.
    Mr. Elliot’s teeth were clamped together so tightly that the words could barely escape his mouth. “What. Happened?”
    It would have taken one of Daryl’s sticks of dynamite to get me to open my mouth right then.
    Luckily Zach found his voice. “We were just trying to find a way to speed the job up. So we called in some help.” His eyes were wide and pleading for mercy from Mrs. Elliot.
    â€œOh no.” A look of horror spread over Mr. Elliot’s face as he realized what Zach meant by “help.” “Daryl,” he whispered.
    Right on cue, Daryl’s head popped up from the spot where the foundation had been.
    Mr. Elliot walked over to him very slowly. It was actually scarier than if he had run. Daryl didn’t move.
    â€œIt was perfect,” Daryl said with a quiver in his voice. “See?” He pointed to the area behind him. Zach, Mrs. Elliot and I ran over.
    The foundation was gone. The stones and mortar had all collapsed inward, leaving a neat pile of rubble. None of the stones had scattered, and nothing was damaged. It was amazing.
    â€œYou,” was all Mr. Elliot managed to say.
    â€œWell, look at that, Jack,” Mrs. Elliot said, smiling. “What a neat and tidy job Daryl made of this. Why didn’t you think of