The sudden sound of John’s movement surprised Mortimer so fiercely that a shriek thundered forth from his gaping gullet and he flipped backward off his chair.
Brown plead boots were flung wildly into the air and, in a whirl of déjà vu, Mortimer Ascariot reeled backward and his immense frame careened toward the grassy patch of earth that made up the park outside the harbor.
Neville held Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Peabody back and allowed John to attend to his nephew. John stood next to Mortimer and glowered down at him.
“Where did you come from?” Mortimer demanded with indignation.
you
“I’ve been talking to you for a full ten minutes!” John shot back angrily.
“WHAT?”
Upon seeing tufts of white poking out of each furry ear, John reached out and yanked them out of Mortimer’s ears. “I’ve b
