Cosmic Blackout!
Chapter 1
A Strange Dinner
Zack Nelson jumped into the elevator. It was dinnertime on Nebulon, but he was hungry for his favorite breakfast—cosmic cakes with boingoberry syrup. Ira, the Nelson family’s Indoor Robotic Assistant, made it for Zack almost every day.
The elevator doors opened and Zack’s twin sisters stepped inside.
“I want a galactic patty . . .”
“. . . a giant bowl of twisty noods . . .”
“. . . and cosmic cakes!” said Charlotte and Cathy.
The twins had finished each other’s sentences for as long as Zack had known
them. And he’d known them for his entire life.
When they reached the main floor, Zack moved toward the elevator door. “Last one to the table is a gorblesnoozer!” he yelled.
But the doors stayed closed. Zack stepped back and asked, “Ira, what’s going on? Let us out.”
The doors suddenly opened as the twins pushed in front and raced to the kitchen first.
“Zack is . . .”
“. . . a gorblesnoozer!” they cheered.
“Well then, he must be a starving gorblesnoozer,” said Zack’s dad.
“I sure am!” Zack said. “And I want breakfast for dinner!”
“That’s a great idea,” said his dad. “I’ll have bacon, eggs, and toast please, Ira.”
Four robot arms reached out with plates full of food for the family.
“Master . . . Just . . . Zack . . . ,” Ira said slowly. “Here are your cosmic cakes . . . with boingoberry syrup.”
Zack stuffed a big piece into his mouth. “Yuck!” He spit the food out.
“My cosmic cakes are covered in soy sauce!”
“My galactic patty . . .”
“. . . and twisty noods . . .”
“. . . aren’t even cooked!” added Charlotte and Cathy.
“Oh no, my mistake,” said Ira. “I will fix this right away.”
