فصل دهم

chapter-10

“Now this is what I call a party,” said Kyle’s mother as she helped herself to a bacon-wrapped shrimp from a tray being carried by a waiter in a tuxedo.

Kyle and his parents were in the crowded ballroom of the Parker House Hotel for the Lemoncello Library’s Gala Grand Opening Reception. The Parker House was located right across the street from the old Gold Leaf Bank building and the cluster of office buildings, craft shops, clothing stores, and restaurants called Old Town.

“I’m going to see if I can find Akimi,” Kyle said to his mom and dad.

“Give her our congratulations!” said his mom.

“We’re proud of her, too,” added his dad.

Kyle made his way through the glittering sea of dressed-up adults.

Even though his parents had put on fancy clothes for the reception, Kyle was wearing “something comfortable to go exploring in,” as instructed by the Lock-In Guide he’d received on Wednesday. He’d packed a sleeping bag and a small suitcase with a change of clothes, toiletries, and yes, as requested, an extra pair of underpants.

Kyle saw Sierra Russell all alone in a corner near a clump of curtains. It didn’t look like her mother had come to the party with her. Sierra, of course, had her nose buried in a book. Kyle shook his head. The girl was about to spend the night in a building filled with books and she was skipping all the free food and pop so she could read? That was just nutty.

Haley Daley, wearing a sparkly blouse, was posing for a wall of photographers who wanted to snap her picture. Her mother was at the party, too. While the cameras were focused on Haley’s smile, Mrs. Daley wrapped up a couple of chicken kebabs in a napkin and slipped them inside her purse.

Now Kyle saw Charles Chiltington. Poor guy must not have read the memo about comfortable clothes. He was still wearing his khakis and blazer, just like his dad. Kyle figured the Chiltington family must own like three hundred pairs of pleated tan pants.

“Hey, Kyle!” Akimi waved at him from near a fake shrub curled to look like a Silly Straw.

“Hey,” said Kyle.

“Did you remember to bring your library card?”

“Yep.” Kyle pulled it out of his pocket.

“Huh,” said Akimi. “I got different books on the back of mine. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss and Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger.” “Guess they’re like baseball cards,” said Kyle. “They’re all different.” “Hey, you guys!” Miguel Fernandez, more excited than usual (which was saying something), pushed through the mob to join them. “Did you try these puffy cheesy things?” “Nah,” said Kyle. “I’m sticking to food I recognize.”

“The ‘puffy cheesy things’ are called fromage tartlets,” said Andrew Peckleman, coming over to join the group.

“Huh,” said Kyle. “Good to know.”

A waiter passed by with a tray loaded down with small boxes of Mr. Lemoncello’s Anagraham Cracker cookies.

“Oh, I love these,” said Kyle, taking a box off the platter and opening it. “The cookies are in the shapes of letters. You have to see how many words you can spell.” “Cool,” said Miguel, snagging a fistful of cookies out of Kyle’s box. “Taste good, too!” “Yep,” said Kyle. “But the more you eat, the harder the game gets.” “Why?” asked Andrew Peckleman.

“Less letters,” said Akimi, snatching two “B’s” and a “Q” and wolfing them down. “Mmm. Barbecue-flavored.” Kyle spread out the remaining cookies in his palm: U N F E H A V. He grinned as he deciphered an easy anagram. “HAVE FUN. Sweet.” “Ladies and gentlemen? Boys and girls?” Dr. Zinchenko, dressed in a bright red suit, strode to the center of the ballroom. “May I have your attention, please? Mr. Lemoncello will be arriving shortly to say a few brief words. After that, I will escort the twelve essay contest winners across the street to the library. Therefore, children, might I suggest that you eat up? Food and drink are not permitted anywhere in the library except in the Book Nook Café, conveniently located on the first floor.” Miguel grabbed a few more puffy cheesy things.

When she thought no one was looking, Mrs. Daley shoved a napkined bundle of bacon-wrapped shrimp into her purse.

Akimi nibbled a couple of chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks.

“Aren’t you gonna grab some more grub?” she said to Kyle.

“No thanks. I only like food I can play with.”

“One last thing,” announced Dr. Zinchenko. “We, of course, want our winners to have fun tonight. However, I must insist that each of you respect my number one rule: Be gentle. With each other and, most especially, the library’s books and exhibits. Can you do that for me?” “Yes!” shouted all the winners except Charles Chiltington. He said, “Indubitably.” “Good thing the library has dictionaries,” muttered Akimi. “Half the time, it’s the only way to figure out what Chiltington’s saying.” Suddenly, all the adults in the ballroom started clapping. Mr. Lemoncello, looking like a beanpole wearing a tailcoat and a tiny birthday-party fireman’s hat, strode into the room through a side door.

“Thank you, thank you,” he said, stretching the elastic band to raise his kid-sized hat and tipping it toward the crowd. “You are too kind.” When he let go of the hat, it snapped back with a sharp THWACK!

“As Dr. Zinchenko informed you, I’d like to say a few brief words. Here they are: ‘short,’ ‘memorandum,’ and ‘underpants.’ And let us pause to remember the immortal words of Dr. Seuss: ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’ Children? …” Mr. Lemoncello flourished his arm toward the ballroom doors.

“It’s time to go across the street. Your amazingly spectacular new public library awaits!”