The Great TV Turn-Off (4 page)

“Abby's pretty smart. She wrote all this stuff.” He pointed out the part about boxing up the TV. “But you shouldn't worry. That won't happen to you.”

“Never fear. I'll suffer through,” said Mr. T.

Eric grinned. “I'm glad you came over. And don't forget, you can have supper with us.”

“Better talk to your mother,” Mr. T said.

“She'll call you, OK?”

“Wonderful.” The old man seemed mighty thrilled.

“Table talk at our house is better than the news anytime.” Eric got Mr. Tressler's coat and hat.

“Tell your grandad hello for me,” said Mr. T.

“Sure will,” said Eric. “He's probably upstairs watching TV. Getting his last fix, you know?”

Mr. T waved his cane and gave a wink.

Eric watched the old man walk down the sidewalk.

Ya-hoo!

One hundred percent for Blossom Hill Lane!

He ran upstairs and watched TV with Grandpa. Last chance.

SEVEN

“It's Monday, the first day of TV Turn-Off Week,” Eric's teacher told the class. “I pulled the plug on my TV. How many of you did, too?”

Eric was proud to raise his hand. He looked around the room. All the kids had their hands up.

“That's really terrific,” said Miss Hershey.

Eric wanted to check out lots of books from the school library. Abby, Stacy, and Dunkum were going to meet him there. Shawn and Jason had other plans. They
were going to ice skate till their legs hurt.

Going without TV wouldn't be easy. Anybody knew that.

And it
wasn't
easy.

It was horrible.

After school, Eric kept staring at the black TV. It was turned off, of course. But he looked at it anyway. Even his stack of books didn't help.

“What a nightmare,” he muttered.

Eric went upstairs. On the way, he passed the guest room—Grandpa's. The small TV seemed to stare at
him.
He turned his head away.

“That you, Eric?” Grandpa called.

Eric peeked into the room. He held his head funny. That was so he couldn't see the dark TV. “Hi, Grandpa,” he said.

Grandpa tilted his head, too. “Something the matter?” He chuckled.

“Oh, nothing,” Eric said. But his eyes
were drawn to the silent tube. The one-eyed monster!

Suddenly, Grandpa reached for the TV remote.

“No! Don't do that!” Eric shouted.

Grandpa dropped the remote on his bed. “Gotcha!”

“Aw, don't scare me,” pleaded Eric. “I thought you forgot already.”

Grandpa shook his head. “I made a promise. I'll keep it.”

Eric eyed the remote. “Maybe you'd better put that away.”

“Good thinking,” he said. “Here.”

Eric put the remote high in the closet. “Don't forget where it is,” he said.

Grandpa reached for a bag of jelly beans. “Any ideas?”

“For what?”

“For keeping my brain busy,” said Grandpa.

“I've got a bunch of books,” Eric told him.

Grandpa was grinning. “Good choice. Let's read one together. Maybe we can discuss it later.”

It sounded OK to Eric. Almost like school, though. “What's your favorite?” he asked.

“Got a good mystery?” Grandpa asked.

“I'll check.” Eric went back downstairs. He found an adventure mystery. “We need some popcorn, too,” he said to himself.

His mother was chopping cabbage in the kitchen. “Hi, Eric. How's cold turkey going?”

He shook his head. “So far, it's horrible. I think Grandpa's fading fast,” he said. “What about you? Did you do your exercises?”

She nodded. “I ran around the cul-de-sac six times.”

“Really?”

“The neighbors must think I'm nuts,” she said.

“How come?” asked Eric.

“Well, Mr. Tressler came outside. He asked if I was all right.” She laughed.

“What did you tell him?” Eric asked.

“I said I was in withdrawal,” she replied.

Eric understood. “Then what?”

“Mr. Tressler stayed outside, too. He walked around his driveway,” she said. “And every time I came around the corner, he'd wave.”

“It's about time Mr. T got some fresh air.” Eric was glad. The Great TV Turn-Off was doing
somebody
some good.

“I invited him for supper tomorrow night,” his mother said.

“That'll be cool,” said Eric. “I like Mr. Tressler.” He almost forgot why he'd come to the kitchen.

Then his mother said, “Want some popcorn?”

“How'd you know?” he said.

“You have that look,” she said.

Eric grinned. “Thanks, Mom.”

Just then they heard thumps overhead.

“Sounds like Grandpa dropped a shoe,” Eric said.

“Probably on purpose,” his mother said. “Better get back upstairs. I'll bring the popcorn.”

Eric closed his eyes as he passed the living room. He felt his way to the stairs.

Why did the TV keep pulling him, anyway?

EIGHT

Tuesday was the second day of TV Turn-Off.

Pure misery.

All of Eric's favorite after-school specials were on. But he wouldn't watch them. He'd promised.

Everyone else was stuck, too. “All across America,” he reminded himself. “Everybody's bored. Just like me.”

Grandpa came downstairs for tea. First time in a long time. “Where's that mystery book of yours?” he asked.

Eric found it. “Here you go,” he said.

Grandpa settled into his favorite chair. “Now, where were we?” And he began to read.

Eric enjoyed hearing Grandpa. Sometimes he would change his voice around. It made the characters almost real.

By suppertime, Grandpa had to stop. “Help your mother set the table,” he said.

Eric wanted to know what happened. “Can we read after supper?”

“Only if you read to
me
,” Grandpa said.

“It's a deal!”

Mr. Tressler showed up on time for supper. He was dressed up. Nice coat and suspenders. The works.

“Welcome, neighbor,” Grandpa said.

Eric held the door open. He was glad to do it. Having their neighbor come for a meal was a great idea. It might keep Mr. T from sneaking TV.

“Whatcha been doing?” Eric asked him.

“I've got a lot of time on my hands,” Mr. Tressler answered. “Don't really know what to do with myself.”

“I know what you mean,” Eric agreed.

Grandpa waved them into the living room. “Let's chat by the fire,” he said.

Eric's mother offered some hot tea.

“Thank you, don't mind if I do,” said Mr. T.

Grandpa struck up a conversation. He and Mr. T talked about their birds. Doves, canaries, and parakeets. They laughed every so often. They all sipped tea.

Eric couldn't remember listening to two old men chatter. It was kinda fun. And for several minutes he forgot. He forgot that he missed TV!

After supper, his mother brought out some games. “Anybody interested in playing Monopoly?” she asked.

Mr. Tressler's eyes lit up. “I used to
play that game as a teenager. It's been a long, long time.”

Grandpa was ready to take on Mr. T. He seemed eager to shuffle the cards.

Eric got excited, too. “Are you gonna play?” he asked his mother.

She pulled out a chair. “Count me in!”

They played till Eric's bedtime. The mantel clock struck nine times.

“Wow, I can't believe it!” he said.

Mr. Tressler scooted his chair back. “Time flies when you're having fun.”

“You can say that again!” Grandpa answered.

Eric piped up. “Time flies when you're—”

“Enough!” his mother scolded.

“Sorry, Mom,” he said.

They were all grinning at him now.

“Thanks for a great evening,” Mr. T said.

“Any time,” Grandpa said.

“How about my place next time?” Mr. T offered.

Eric's mother smiled. “We'd love to come.”

“Can you cook?” Eric asked.

Mr. Tressler laughed out loud. “You'll have to judge that for yourself, young man.”

They said their good-byes.

Before Eric went to bed, he hugged his mom. “I didn't miss the TV all night,” he whispered.

She kissed his head. “Me neither.”

Eric could hardly wait to see the Cul-de-sac Kids. How were his friends doing without the tube?