فصل شانزدهم

chapter-16

“Okeydokey,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “Since Abia and Kyle solved the Galileo rebus first, they get to go first. The other five teams will follow at ten-second intervals, based on the order you answered the icebreaker.” “Who do you want to grab?” Kyle asked Abia as he shook out his arms and limbered up his legs on the lemon-shaped decal.

“I have a slight preference for Edison,” said Abia. “And you?” “I’m good either way. I’ll grab the Edison backpack and look inside it for a clue. You grab one of the bookmobiles.” “Why?”

“Because they wouldn’t be parked out there if we weren’t going to need them.” Abia nodded thoughtfully. “You make an excellent point, Kyle Keeley.” “Could you just call me Kyle?”

“Why?”

“Never mind.”

“On your mark,” said Mr. Lemoncello, “get set, Luigi, Lemon, cello, go!” Abia and Kyle raced out the door and down the front steps.

Kyle grabbed one of the lightbulb backpacks while Abia stuck two fingers into her mouth and whistled a shrill blast at the bookmobile parked at the front of the line. Kyle had forgotten: Abia Sulayman was a big-city girl from Boston. She definitely knew how to hail a ride.

Kyle unzipped pockets on the book bag until he found a bright yellow envelope. It had to be the clue. He clutched it in one hand and the backpack in the other and hopped into the first bookmobile, which already had its engine running.

“You ready to roll, kids?” asked the driver, a college-aged girl named Jessica, according to the embroidery on her polo shirt.

“Not yet,” said Kyle, tearing open the clue envelope.

“Why not?” asked Abia.

Kyle fumbled with the cello-shaped greeting card tucked inside the yellow envelope. “Because we won’t know where we’re supposed to go until we solve this riddle.” “Hurry, then!” said Abia, peering out the side window. “Akimi Hughes and Angus Harper have also picked up a lightbulb bag. Sierra Russell and Jamal Davis have gone for Michael Jordan. Andrew Peckleman and Diane Capriola are taking Edison, too! And, if I remember correctly, the girl from Georgia is much better at solving riddles than you.” Thanks for reminding me, thought Kyle.

Heart racing, Kyle opened up the card and read the clue.

This place is crowded and dark,

So you can see stars during the day.

I rhyme with “in a park.”

For popcorn and pop you’ll pay.

“What is this ‘in a park’?” asked Abia.

“Nothing. They’re just nonsense words for the rhyme.” “So how are we to make sense of this if we have nothing but nonsense to work with?” “It’s a riddle,” said Kyle.

“Oh,” said the driver. “Is this Mr. Lemoncello’s big new game for the holiday season? I heard he had something revolutionary coming down the pike.” “This is not it,” said Abia, crossing her arms over her chest. “This is simply meaningless….” “Not really,” said Kyle. “Where is it crowded and dark and you can see stars during the day?” “A planetarium,” said Abia.

“We don’t have one of those,” said Kyle. “But we have movie theaters!” “So?”

“So you can see movie stars in a crowded, dark movie theater where you can also pay a ton of money for popcorn and pop. Driver?” “Please, call me Jessica. ‘Driver’ sounds so chauffeurish.” “ ’Chauffeurish’ is not a word,” said Abia.

“Should be.”

“Fine,” said Kyle. “Jessica—take us to the Alexandriaville Cinemark movie theater.” The driver slipped the bookmobile into drive.

“Of course,” said Abia, finally catching on, “ ’Cine-mark’ rhymes with ‘in a park’! Now drive like you stole this vehicle, Jessica!” They zipped down Main Street and hung a sharp left turn on Maple.

Abia twisted around in her seat and looked out the rear window.

“The bookmobile ferrying Andrew Peckleman and Diane Capriola is following us. I told you Diane Capriola was a faster riddle solver than you, Kyle Keeley. We have lost our slight and insignificant lead.” Kyle sighed and slumped down in his seat.

Thanks for reminding me of that, too!