فصل پنجاه و پنجم

chapter-55

Saturday night, there was a second gala at the library.

This one was hosted by Mr. Lemoncello.

The place was, once again, packed.

“Welcome, one and all, to this most wondermous celebration of truth, justice, and the American way!” cried Mr. Lemoncello, who was decked out in a Superman costume for the occasion. Instead of an “S” on his chest, he had a “T” for “truth.” “I’m glad that, thanks to my splendiferous board of trustees, we are all here tonight, laughing at my nightmare!” The Krinkle brothers had long since fled Alexandria-ville, and they were facing several lawsuits filed by Max Khatchadourian, chief corporate counsel at the Imagination Factory, as well as federal charges of corporate espionage.

The Chiltington family had left Ohio on an extended ski vacation to Switzerland.

The food at Mr. Lemoncello’s gala was, of course, out of this world. So were the beverages, including ice-cold Lemonberry Fizz. Balloons were festooned everywhere. Haley Daley flew in from Hollywood and sang her number one hit single “Stop Playin’ Games, Baby.” Kyle’s whole family was there celebrating with him. His brainiac brother Curtis even got Haley’s autograph.

Kyle stood back and beamed, soaking it all in.

After about thirty minutes of laughter, food, music, and video magic from the Wonder Dome, it was finally time to reveal the new holographic attractions.

Thomas Edison told the truth.

Michael Jordan showed off his amazing moves.

Emily Dickinson poetically recited the theme song to Gilligan’s Island while the Wright brothers swooped around the rotunda with their arms stretched wide.

For the grand finale, Abraham Lincoln finally revealed the fun fact nobody had found in the Fabulous Fact-Finding Frenzy: “I was an animal lover and would neither hunt nor fish.” Seated in a monumental marble chair, he had a cat purring in his lap.

When all the new exhibits were up and running and interacting with the crowds, Kyle and Abia finally gave Mr. Lemoncello the answer to the last question in the Fabulous Fact-Finding Frenzy.

“The inspiration for your game Family Frenzy was your big crazy family,” said Kyle.

“Your nine brothers and sisters: Alberto, Arianna, Fabio, Francesca, Lucrezia, Mary, Massimo, Sofia, and Tomasso,” said Abia.

“Your mother and father, Angelica and Angelo. Your dog, Fusilli, and your cat, Stromboli,” added Kyle.

“Congratulicitations, Kyle and Abia! You are the first team to give me the correct answer. Therefore, you officially win the Fabulous Fact-Finding Frenzy. You will be going on tour with the new exhibits and receive…” Mr. Lemoncello pulled back a black velvet cloth to reveal two shiny, shrink-wrapped game boxes.

“…the first copies, hot off the presses, of my brand-new Fantabulous Floating Emoji game!” Kyle’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

His mouth hung open. A little drool might’ve dribbled out, too.

And he couldn’t believe he was about to say what he was about to say.

“Thanks,” he squeaked. “But, uh, we’d officially like to give all of our prizes to Akimi and Angus.” Mr. Lemoncello looked flabbergasted. “My gast has been flabbered. Why would you two give away your prizes?” “We promised we would,” said Abia, because Kyle was too busy staring sadly at the two shiny game boxes.

“That’s okay,” said Angus, stepping forward. “You guys can keep the games.” “Yeah,” said Akimi. “Kyle would just come over to my house and beat me at it anyway.” “Plus,” said Angus, “I liked how you stuck it to those Krinkle brothers last night. You saved the library, dude.” “Not by myself,” said Kyle. “I had a ton of help. Everyone played a part.” “Very well, then.” Mr. Lemoncello turned to face the crowd. “Dr. Zinchenko?” “She’s back?” asked Kyle.

“Oh, yes,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “Arrived early this morning after changing planes in New York City, where she dropped by the Imagination Factory to pick up a few gift items for me.” Dr. Zinchenko—who was very hard to miss with her red dress, red heels, red eyeglasses, and red hair—wheeled a library cart across the rotunda floor.

It was loaded down with ten more copies of Fantabulous Floating Emoji!

“Everybody gets a game!” announced Mr. Lemoncello. Then he started pointing at all the trustees in the crowd. “You get a game, and you get a game, and you get a game!” “Woo-hoo!” shouted Miguel.

“But wait!” declared Mr. Lemoncello. “There’s more. Time for another surprise: Instead of just one team going on a whirlwind tour, all twelve of you will travel to libraries across North America with our new exhibits.” “Yes!” said Andrew Peckleman. “I’ve always wanted to visit Vancouver!” “And that’s not all,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “In grati-tude for all that you twelve trustees have done in your unrelenting quest for the truth and your refusal to accept the first answer as the only answer, I hereby decree that a new set of statues fill the nooks of the Rotunda Reading Room for the coming week! Mr. Raymo, if you please?” One by one, five of the ten alcoves were illuminated with new holographic images: pairs of statues featuring the teams of the Fabulous Fact-Finding Frenzy: Elliott Schilpp and Katherine Kelly, Miguel Fernandez and Pranav Pillai, Sierra Russell and Jamal Davis, Andrew Peckleman and Diane Capriola, Akimi Hughes and Angus Harper.

“What about Kyle and Abia?” asked Akimi.

“Well,” said Mr. Lemoncello, “I knew those two would never be able to find a way to work together, to truly become a team, to forget what they thought they knew about each other and find out the truth. So we’re giving them each their own separate nooks.” A holographic Kyle popped up on the opposite side of the rotunda from the holographic Abia.

“Mr. Lemoncello?” said Kyle. “You’re wrong. We made a fantastic team.” Mr. Lemoncello arched an eyebrow. “Is that a fact? Can you prove it?” Abia grinned. “Definitely, sir. It’s true.”

“Well then, Abia, I’m glad I did this one-on-one interview with you.” “It is a time-honored investigatory technique, sir,” said Kyle.

“Indeed so! Mr. Raymo, if you please?”

Lights flickered.

The Kyle hologram faded away and then popped up in the nook alongside Abia.

“Congratulations, Kyle,” said Abia, extending her hand.

Kyle took it…but paused midshake.

“Wait a second. That’s the first time you didn’t use my last name. You didn’t call me Kyle Keeley.” “I know,” Abia said with a smile. “Because now we are more than teammates. We are friends.” The party continued. Haley Daley sang her other big hit, “Game On, Baby!” Some kids danced.

So did Mad Dog, the bookmobile driver, and Dr. Zinchenko.

Together.

Sierra Russell and Jamal Davis sat down to read their books. Elliott Schilpp ate six chili dogs. Michael Jordan taught Kyle’s brother Michael how to dribble a ball between his legs.

After the song ended, Kyle made his way over to the center desk, where Dr. Zinchenko was cutting a huge sheet cake with “Congratulicitations” scrolled across it in bright red frosting.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asked her.

“Of course.”

“Did your mother really make a birthday wish about turning Mr. Lemoncello into a hologram?” “Maybe. Maybe not.”

The holographic librarian, Ms. Waintraub, appeared beside Dr. Zinchenko. “I’m afraid you would need to do extensive research to find out the truth,” she said.

“And if you did,” said Dr. Zinchenko, “you might discover that this holographic reference librarian identified a threat to the library when the Krinkle brothers unexpectedly turned up here in Ohio.” “I did,” said Ms. Waintraub.

“You might also learn,” said Dr. Zinchenko, “that her software is programmed to automatically transmit perceived dangers directly to me, no matter where in the world I might be located. Furthermore, if, in your research, you were to interview me, Dr. Yanina Zinchenko, you might realize that if I could not be present to protect Mr. Lemoncello in a time of crisis, then there is only one other individual whom I would trust to do that job for me. Someone I needed to be in the library this week. Someone who would do whatever it took to defend Mr. Lemoncello.” Kyle gulped a little. “Me?”

Dr. Zinchenko grinned. “Ah. Very good, Mr. Keeley. In this instance, your first answer is the correct answer. And may I add one more thing?” “Sure.”

“Thank you for doing my job so well.”