Copyright 2018 by Paige Florand, Esa Lerario, Marissa Saba, and Gita Upendram

Cover Page by: Paige Florand, Esa Lerario, Marissa Saba, and Gita Upendram

Back Cover Page by:https://www.thefactsite.com/2009/06/extreme-ironing-sport.html

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the written consent of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2018

The edition first published by www.storyjumper.com

StoryJumper, Inc. 850 E Greenwich Pl Palo Alto CA 94303

The Ironing World

By Paige Florand, Esa Lerario, Marissa saba, and Gita upendram

On a balmy August morning, a girl named Skylar Matthews was heading to her anatomy class at a new dark grey cinder block school that was morose as could be. She had just moved from Mississippi to New Jersey and was not very happy about it. Mr. Wales, Skylar’s anatomy teacher, was a popular, sprightly teacher, based on the comments she overheard. He liked teaching because it helped him understand how his students thought. After having an extremely long day, Skylar didn’t bother waiting for Mr. Wales to introduce her to the class. 

“Hi, my name is Skylar Matthews, I am 16, and I just moved here from Mississippi.” 

 “Nice to meet you, Skylar.” Mr. Wales responded. “What are your hobbies or what do you like to do?” 

“Uh...” Skylar hesitated. She didn’t want to tell Mr. Wales and the rest of her anatomy class about her extreme ironing hobby. 

“What’s the matter, Skylar?” 

“Nothing. I like to explore and do pretty much anything outdoors. I love nature,” she said quickly. 

“I love nature as well, Skylar. Looks like we share some interests,” he said. “Alright...how about you sit over there,” said Mr. Wales, waving at a table next to the window at the back of the class, “and the class can fill you in on what we’ve been up to.” 

After some students at her table caught her up on what they’d been doing this past week, the bell finally rang. Skylar practically ran from the class, tired of meandering around school all day searching for her classes.  

She finally reached home. 

“Hey, mom,” Skylar said as she bounces through the door, as her long brown ponytail swished back and forth. 

“Hi, honey. How was your first day?” Matilda, Skylar’s mom, asked. 

“I guess I would say it was mediocre. It wasn’t bad, but I would rather be at my old school.” 

“Hey, you know I didn’t want to move you away from your friends. Oh, I almost forgot.” Matilda called as Skylar was running up the stairs. “Something came for you in the mail today!” 

 “Cool. Who is it from?” asked Skylar. 

“It looks like some sort of an invitation.” 

“Somebody inviting me? Sounds unlikely,” Skylar said, as she tore open the envelope anxiously, keen to see what was inside of it. 

“Welcome,” read the letter, “You have been invited to join the Extreme Ironing Club.” 

As Skylar read, she became excited that she may not be the only one with the odd leisure pursuit of extreme ironing. 

“Look, Mom, look!” Skylar showed her mother with passion. This was because Matilda met her husband, Bradley, at an extreme ironing competition. They both got tied for the crown. If they wanted anything for their daughter, it would be to win that crown, to help her realize her spot of royalty in the family. 

“You have been invited to join the...” Matilda trailed off. This is it, she thought. “Bradley! Come here!” she called for her husband, who was dozing off upstairs. 

Bradley, a short man with sweats and mire hair, stumbled down the stairs, tired and groggy. 

“You better have called for a good reason, Matilda,” He joked. 

“If you count Skylar being invited to the Extreme Ironing club being a good reason.” 

“Wow, that’s great!” Bradley responded, suddenly in a rejuvenated good mood from the news. “When’s the first meeting scheduled for?” 

Skylar searched through the letter, and finally responded. “6:30 PM sharp tomorrow. Dress with proper apparel.” 

Skylar yawned. “It’s getting late,” she said. “Good night. I need good sleep for tomorrow.” 

“Amen,” Bradley responded, still half asleep from his previous nap. 

The next morning Skylar woke up and got ready quickly, because she was so excited to go to the Extreme Ironing Club after school. 

“Good morning, mom,” said a comely Skylar. 

“Good morning, sweetie. Are you excited for the Ironing Club after school today?” 

“Yes!” exclaimed Skylar.  

“Oh no! Look at the time.” 

“Bye mom. Got to go,” Skylar as she rushed out the door. 

“Bye sweetie!” 

Skylar luckily made it to her first period right on time. 

“Hi Mrs. Pumpernickel!" exclaimed Skylar as she walked into her first class. 

“Hello, Skylar.” 

“The announcement system is broken so I will be reading the announcements to you today. First, we have some clubs meeting after school today. The VFP club is meeting after school today as well as the extreme ironing club.” 

"The Extreme Ironing Club is for nerds!" Lexi, an obstreperous popular girl, from the back of the room. 

“Moving on,” grumbled Mrs. Pumpernickel. 

Skylar began to get an uneasy feeling. What if Lexi or one of the other popular kids found out that she was going to the extreme ironing club? She would be made fun of and outcasted by the other kids at her school. Lexi’s comment sullied her good mood. She decided that maybe it would be a bad idea to go to the extreme ironing club in the first place.

It was almost the end of school now and Skylar was planning on just going home and skipping the extreme ironing club. But something she saw outside changed her. When she walked outside, she saw a group of kids all laughing and talking, they were all wearing T-shirts with irons on them. She concluded that they must be some of the kids in the extreme ironing club.

Even though she had already decided that she wasn’t going to the extreme ironing club she thought she would at least introduce herself to some of the kids in the club who might share similar interests as her. So, she walked over and introduced herself. One person emerged from the group, so she started with her.“Hi, my name is Skylar. What’s your name?” 

“Hi, I’m Camila Kershmuggle, but at the extreme ironing club I’m known as the press. I lead the club. Are you going to the extreme ironing club meeting later, Skylar?” a 35-year approached Skylar. 

Skylar hesitated “Um.... yeah! Wouldn't miss it.” 

“Cool!” Camila said. “I’ll see you there!” 

Skylar realized that the extreme ironing club would be a great way to make friends. 

She reprimanded herself for being daunted by the popular kids’ comments about the extreme ironing club. It didn’t matter what the popular kids thought about her. 

Skylar drove to the extreme ironing club and when she arrived, she was astonished at how many kids from her school were there. 

“Wow, I'm really not the only one...” Skylar pondered, entranced by the main room of the extreme ironing club. 

As she was looking around the room, something caught her eye. It was a giant crown that stood towards the back of the room in a giant glass case that said Extreme Ironing Crown. 

That is the crown my parents want me to win to show my place of royalty in the family! 

“I see you like the extreme ironing championship crown” said Riley, a girl part of the club. 

“Um... Yeah” responded Skylar, a little embarrassed. 

“Don’t worry. It will come right back here after the Extreme Ironing Championship. Every year, the extreme ironing national championship takes place. Teams of extreme ironers compete to win the extreme ironing crown. Maybe someday you could be a part of winning the crown.” 

“Well, you do have to pass the initiation....” Camila said as she approached where Skylar and Riley were talking. 

“What initiation!?” said a now anxious Skylar who was skeptical about how good her ironing skills were. 

“We all passed one a couple years back. You have to extreme iron in remote locations, which are based on your fears,” Riley said. 

“Wait, so if I was afraid of heights, I would iron on top of a precipice?”  

“You got it,” Riley responded. 

“Uh oh” said Skylar, in a nervous voice.” 

“Don’t be scared. I know you’ll do great! I’ll help you get ready for the initiation.” 

“Thanks!” said Skylar. “Well, see you tomorrow Riley.” 

“Bye, Skylar.” 

The next day Riley and Skylar sat together a lunch. Riley was helping Skylar prepare for the initiation to the ironing club in secret, which proved to be quite difficult with a giant, cumbersome ironing board and fake mountain. 

“Just hold the iron and smoothly drag across the shirt left and right,” Riley instructed. 

Skylar tried this but kept burning the shirt, again and again. 

“I can’t do it!” Skylar exclaimed, feeling confused and surly. 

“Just try again. Not everything happens the way you want it.” Riley said. 

Skylar understood. She began again. At her 11th try, she burnt the shirt completely. She used a different shirt, using a different attitude. She finally got it on her 27th try. 

“Thank you, Riley. I think I’m ready!” 

“Don’t thank me, thank yourself.”  

Later in the day, Skylar started talking to Mrs. Kershmuggle about her initiation. 

“Hi, Mrs. Kershmuggle,” said Skylar. 

“Hey, hon. Are you ready?” 

“I think so.” 

“Let’s go.” 

Camila led Skylar to a cliff. They drove for about 30 minutes, and then they finally reached it. 

“All right,” Camila said as she unpacked the iron and iron board. “Time for you to go through the initiation exam. “ 

“Okay,” Skylar said. She took a deep breath and began ironing. She used Riley’s tips to pass the initiation, or the ultimate boon. Skylar used the crown as a way of motivation to push herself forward. Camila was taking notes as she closely observed Skylar. Eventually, Camila told her to stop ironing. 

“Based on my observations, I have concluded that you, Skylar Matthews, have been ....rejected.”

Skylar was inanimate. She couldn’t move. How had she done so good, yet rejected? 

“How, Mrs. Kershmuggle? I did everything you asked!” 

“Oh, my gosh! I’m just kidding with you, sweetie. You got in! Congrats!” 

Skylar was so relieved to be part of something that she had always wanted to be part of. “You’re quite the joker, Mrs. Kershmuggle. I’m so happy I’m in the club.” Now, Skylar thought to herself, I could actually win the crown. 

The next day, Skylar was so excited to retell the moment to Riley. However, Riley was not to be seen in her math class, though. Turns out, Riley was absent, which was not convenient at all, since today was the meeting. 

“Where is she?” Skylar muttered to herself. Skylar was nervous and hesitant to go to the meeting without Riley.