“See the TV news?” Wyatt texted Asher.

“OMG!” Asher’s response was immediate.

Wyatt pushed the call button. “We’re in trouble. My dad’s going to kill me when he finds out.”

“We should run away. I have a cousin in Montana,” Asher whispered.

“Where’s Montana?” Wyatt looked around as if someone were listening.

“On the other side of Pennsylvania. You can’t drive there.”

“I don’t know how to fly.” Wyatt’s voice trembled.

“Did they mention us?”

“No. All the mayor said was Monday is officially National Parents Do Homework Day.” Wyatt leaned over and absent-mindedly scratched Hijinks, who rubbed and purred against his ankle.  

“He didn’t say it was a joke?”

“No.” Wyatt looked around again. His parents were out back having coffee.

“Maybe, since it was your dad’s computer, they think it’s real.”

Wyatt’s father stepped into the house shaking his head. Wyatt gulped. “Gotta go.” He popped up, the cat bolted, and he shoved his phone into his pocket.

“Wyatt,” his dad said with a frown. “What homework do you have due on Monday?”

“An algebra worksheet and a report on  Lord of the Flies.” His voice was tight.

“Mom can help you with the report. Give me your algebra worksheet.” His dad walked past.

“Uh, OK.”

On Monday morning, Wyatt carried two homework assignments into school. Both were perfect. In fact, every student in his class handed in homework, a first.

After school, Asher ran to catch up. “Wy! Wy! Wait up.”

“Can you believe it? Everybody’s parents did their homework!” Wyatt was wide-eyed.

“I know, what do we do next?” Asher grinned a wicked smile.

“Next? Nothing. If my dad ever finds out that I used his computer to make up National Parents Do Homework Day, I’ll be grounded for life.”

“But what if next Monday was Free Ice Cream for Eighth Graders Day?”

“No, they’d figure that out.”

“OK,” Asher said, “how about Free Ice Cream for All Kids Under Sixteen Day?”

“Why sixteen?”

“My brother’s a jerk.”

The two boys walked home discussing ice cream and holidays. When Wyatt got home, there was a note on the fridge from his mother telling him she’d be late and to do his homework. Wyatt immediately texted Asher. “Alone. Bring your iPad.”

“OMW.” Moments later, Asher’s bike skidded to a stop. He ran in and up to Wyatt’s room, but the room was empty.

“Wy?”

“Down here.”

Asher raced down the stairs and into Wyatt’s dad’s office. “What are we doing?”

“Mom’s out until dinner. We have an hour to play Fortnight.” Wyatt opened his father’s laptop. The seal of the United States of America lit the screen but was suddenly hidden by the cat who jumped onto the keyboard.
“Hijinks, get down.” Wyatt shooed the cat off the laptop and then placed his index finger on the touch-button.

“How did you get your fingerprint to work?”

“Cool – right? My dad was showing me how it worked and let me scan my finger, but then he got a call and forgot to delete it.”

The computer came to life, displaying “Parents Do Homework Day” still highlighted in red.

“Dude, you didn’t close the program.” Asher pointed.

“I just shut the lid after Hijinks jumped on the keyboard and sent the notice. I have to delete that.” Wyatt deleted the email to the Rehoboth mayor.

“I was thinking.” Asher leaned in. “They can’t have a free ice cream day, but …”  He held up his index finger. “They could have a free second scoop day.”

Wyatt stared at his best friend. Slowly, as he worked it out in his mind, his grin grew and grew. He turned, clicked on the following Monday on the government computer’s calendar, and typed in “Free Second Scoop of Ice Cream Day.” He clicked OK, and a window popped up. He slid down the row until he found Mayor Schorr’s email and hesitated only a second, then hit send. He deleted the record of the email, launched Fortnight, and began battling his way through the catacombs of Mars.

Wyatt hit command-Q and slammed the computer closed as soon as the back door opened. The two boys raced out of Wyatt’s father’s office and into the kitchen, giggling.

***

That Sunday night, Wyatt’s dad sat up quickly when WRDE, the local news station, broke into a Sixty Minutes interview of Tom Cruise with a Special Report.

“We will return to regular programming after this special announcement from Rehoboth Beach Mayor Cecil Schorr.”