Hi, this is Gramps. The author of The Hemlock Aperture asked me to interview Scout (Leighton), because Scout is so busy that the author thought Scout wouldn’t hold still long enough to write out a description of his personality. And if he did, he’d take apart the computer or type writer to see how it works.

So, about Scout: Scout is my oldest grandchild. I know him well. He and his sister, Bug (Averie), live closer than the other grandchildren, so Gram and I see them more often, even during the “off season” (seasons other than the summer when all the grandkids come to stay at Cedar Heights).

Scout is two years younger than Bolt (the red-headed daredevil on crutches who lives next door and leads the Mad River Magic gang), and they have have been companions ever since Bolt and his mom moved to our neighborhood. And, wow, can the two of them find trouble. And if they don’t find it, they make it.

Here’s Scout. Let me try to catch him before he takes off.

Gramps: Scout, let’s sit down and talk.

Scout: What are we talking about, Gramps? I need to get back down to the tractor shed. Bolt and I are working on some mini-turbo-levitators so our barrel carts can do stunts.

Gramps: And what kind of stunts are you talking about?

Scout: You know, those neat tricks where the plane flies upside down, or—

Gramps: We’ll talk about that later. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

Scout: I told Bolt you wouldn’t let us do that, because it’s dangerous stuff. I just think it would be awesome to be able to design an aerobatic cart that actually works.

Gramps: Don’t you think your carts can do enough stunts already?

Scout: Huh? (He looks out the window toward the tractor shed.) Gramps, I need to get back to Bolt.

Gramps: I think you can take a few minutes to tell us about yourself. The author of the first book (The Hemlock Aperture – the story about your adventures in the Strata), wants you to tell readers about you, what you’re like. Okay?

Scout: Why do I need to do that? And what’s there to tell? Okay, okay. Let’s get this over with. I like to explore here in the enchanted forest. I like to take things apart and see how they work. I like to go on adventures with Bolt, and invent solutions to trouble we get into. What else? Now, can I go? (Scout stands to leave.)

Gramps: Hold on a second. (Gramps pulls Scout back into his seat.) Tell us about your family.

Scout: (sighs) I have a younger sister and a dog. Mom and Dad work long hours. There’s always excitement and lots of activity at our house. It gets kind of noisy sometimes, with the dog running through the house and me and Bug chasing him.

Gramps: So you like noise and chaos.

Scout: (looks at Gamps with a contemplative look and pushes his dark glasses back up his nose) No, I actually like it better here with peace and quiet in the woods, and lots of things to take apart or build, and a shop with tools to work on stuff.

Gramps: Like that gizmo you have in your pocket?

Scout: (quickly shoves something deeper into his pocket) What gizmo?

Gramps: (laughs) What are you hiding?

Scout: Nothing. It’s just a tool we’re using to work on the turbos.

Gramps: Something tells me I need to know what you’re inventing. Show it to me.

Scout: (reluctantly pulls a device out of his pocket and hands it over to Gramps) It’s nothing.

Gramps: This looks suspicious for a remote control. I thought you said you were working on the turbos.

Scout: We are.

Gramps: (rubs his chin) Are you rigging the turbos to fly the carts with the remote?

Scout: (A loud buzz passes over the council house. Scout grabs the remote control from Gramps and runs for the front door.) We already have. I need to get that cart landed safely before it crashes. (He slams the door.)

Gramps: (runs after Scout and looks back as he exits the front door) I think this interview is over.