Story Time

by Edward Bloor

  A half dozen people wearing JUDGE badges sat between the exhibits. The dozing Walter Barnes was one of them; so were Susan Singer-Wright, Bud Wright, Dr. Cavendar, and two men in Technon Industries windbreakers.

  Kate looked at the judges and thought, It's all over. But George was still game to try, so she did her best to look enthusiastic. George helped Kate attach the Velcro bodice, as they had done many times before. Then he tied the rope around his own waist.

  Suddenly, an earsplitting whoop sounded across the cavernous lobby and echoed around the bookcases. Kate and George turned to face the source of the noise.

  Ma and Pa Melvil were standing together by the lobby office. They were dressed alike, in purple pants and work shirts with WHITTAKER MAGNET SCHOOL stitched in yellow on the pockets. Ma was carrying a long-handled mop, while Pa pushed a tall metal bucket filled with soapy water.

  "You go get 'em, Georgie!" Ma shouted.

  Pa began, "Yeah, Georgie—" but he never got any further.

  Cornelia bolted out from the office and confronted them. "That does it! You two. Get in here. Now!"

  Ma and Pa looked at the floor. Then they shuffled into the office and out of sight.

  George and Kate exchanged one quick, anguished look. But then they refocused and prepared again to demonstrate the flying machine.

  Kate stepped back to gain some takeoff room. While she did, George took a quick look around for June. He spotted her cowering behind a nearby bookcase. He gave her a thumbs-up sign, which she could not return. He gave the same sign to Kate, who did return it. Then he took a giant step toward the judges, causing Kate to rise, magically, six feet into the air.

  Kate struck a pose, like Mary Martin in Peter Pan. George coughed and cleared his throat, but none of the judges looked his way.

  Suddenly, Kate felt a tickling sensation on her thigh. She looked down, expecting to see a fly or a mosquito. Instead, she saw Whit directly below. He had just touched her, and he was preparing to touch her again. She snarled, "Get your hand off me!"

  Whit smiled slyly. He moved his hand upward again as if he hadn't heard her.

  Kate twisted herself and looked around. She spotted June, standing only ten feet away. June was watching the whole thing. Her mouth was moving slightly, like she was trying to speak, but the rest of her body was paralyzed with fear.

  Whit's hand gripped Kate's knee and started to rub its way upward, but it didn't get very far. With one great heave, June pushed her body forward, like a hiker in a snowstorm, staggering in an unsteady line, forcing one foot in front of the other across ten feet of lobby carpeting, until she crashed headfirst into Whit, striking him with enough force to drive him backward.

  Whit looked astonished. He stared at June, open-mouthed. He continued to back away, in the direction in which she had knocked him, until he disappeared among the bookcases.

  Kate twisted again to get a better view. She saw June beneath her now, apparently frozen in the place where she had struck Whit.

  Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pogo dart into the picture. Pogo bounced up and down in front of June, just inches from her face. Then she spoke:

  "A diller, a dollar,

  A ten o'clock scholar."

  June managed to move slightly, and unnervingly, like a museum statue coming to life. Pogo seemed delighted. She added:

  "Mademoiselle

  Went down to the well,

  Combed her hair,

  And brushed it well.

  Then picked up her basket and

  Vanished!"

  June and Pogo remained in their positions for another moment. Then June turned and retraced her steps into the stacks.

  George had been so determined to show his invention that he was oblivious to all of this. He finally got Susan Singer-Wright's attention. She looked at the rope around his waist, the pulleys, and the girl hanging over his head, and asked, "Did you want something, sweetie?"

  "Yes! I want the judges to look at my exhibit."

  "Your exhibit for what?"

  "The science fair!"

  "Oh, sweetie, the judging is all over for that."

  "It is? Who won?"

  Susan wagged a finger at him like he was being naughty. "Now, now. You'll just have to wait until fourth period to find that out like everybody else."

  George turned and walked back, lowering Kate to the ground in the process. Kate ripped off the bodice, cast it aside, and started looking around for Whit. "I'll punch his lights out. I'll kick his scrawny butt into next week. I swear to god I will!"

  George looked around with her. "Who?"

  "Whit!"

  "Did I miss something?"

  Kate shook her head furiously, long and hard, left and right, up and down. She finally calmed down enough to say, "Never mind. It's taken care of." She took a quick look around the stacks to find the person who had taken care of it, but June was nowhere to be seen.

  After stashing their equipment, Kate and George walked back toward the judges' chairs. Kate continued to look around for Whit. And for June.

  A large boy turned and whispered, "Hey, you guys, that flying machine looked awesome."

  Kate answered for both of them. "Thank you, William."

  Susan Singer-Wright stood before the judges, guests, and students. Her hand gestured and clanked at an assortment of past Technon Science Fair winners. Among them, Kate recognized the Holographic Scanner from the secret room.

  Susan Singer-Wright said, "Our visitors from Cal-tech have had the privilege today of seeing this library's historic collection of superweapons of mass destruction, beginning with Cornell Whittaker Number One's own inventions. These masterpieces of design, materials, and imagination raised combat casualty levels around the world to previously unrecorded heights.

  "Just before his death, Cornell Whittaker Number Two decided to add one invention to his father's collection. That invention, I am proud to say, was by our own little daughter, Ashley-Nicole Singer-Wright."

  Susan paused. The Technon Industries judges applauded, followed by the other judges and the guests from Caltech. Susan pointed out the Holographic Scanner.

  "Ashley-Nicole's idea for her sixth-grade science project was to expand the capacity of the holographic tape used on library books. Back then, the tape only had enough capacity to hold a book's tide, author, and ISBN number."

  George whispered to Kate, "That's redundant."

  Kate was not in the mood. "So what?"

  "So she said International Standard Book Number number."

  "Right. She did. And the roof did not fall in."

  Susan held up a small piece of tape. "By the time she had finished, Ashley-Nicole had expanded the tape's storage capacity by so much, that each one-inch strip could hold the entire contents of the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the OED dictionary."

  "That would be the Oxford English Dictionary dictionary," George muttered.

  "The science fair judges from Technon Industries were so impressed that they purchased the invention from her on the spot."

  Susan pointed to a long tubular invention. "In seventh grade, Ashley-Nicole turned her attention to infrared motion detection. The story has it that she wanted to know when her parents were hanging around spying on her." At this, Bud Wright guffawed from his folding chair. "So she invented a little old device called the BioSensor. It uses laser technology and infrared cells to detect when a warm-blooded human is trying to hide in an area."

  Susan moved to the next invention. "In eighth grade, she outdid herself. She combined a little history and a little science. She created a titanium model of Cornell Whittaker Number One's most successful cannon and affixed it to the most powerful laser yet invented, producing the Laser Cannon.

  "It superheated the molecules in targeted objects until they combusted and just exploded! She demonstrated it by aiming it at a book right here in the library and blasting it to kingdom come. This brought our little Ashley-Nicole to the attention of the big boys, the DoD Department in Was
hington."

  George's lips barely moved. "That's the Department of Defense department."

  Susan pointed her hand at the final invention. "The United States Armed Services have since invested heavily in the Laser Cannon."

  Susan kept on pointing until Kate, George, and everyone else could not help but see that Ashley-Nicole's Laser Cannon and Whit's current invention were exactly the same thing.

  Cornelia jumped up to explain. "Whit has continued the great tradition this year. He has taken all of these inventions a step further—and not a little old step, either—a big new step, by adding a sophisticated electronic tracker to the Laser Cannon. It can now detect an enemy on its own, focus in on it, and destroy it. Technon Industries is more excited about its prospects than anything they have ever seen."

  It was Kate's turn to mutter to George. "He doesn't even show up for science class. I bet he doesn't even know what laser stands for. But Science Eight is too scared to report him."

  "The judges will now do their work," Cornelia said. "They will decide between Whit's invention and the other invention, that one with the girl swinging from the rope. They did a nice job on that, didn't they? Let's give them a hand, too."

  Cornelia paused. A few Mushroom Children, led by William Anderson, applauded. "Now, some of you are scheduled to report to the County Commission Room. The rest of you should report to your regular classes. We will all meet back here at the end of fourth period to see a demonstration of the winning project. Whichever one that may be."

  George whispered, "Can you stand the suspense?" He pointed to Elevator #1. "I have to go up and watch democracy in action."

  "I'm going, too," Kate told him. "Molly's grandmother is speaking today. I want to hear her."

  "You're cutting class? What if you get caught?"

  "Are you kidding? Science Eight will be happy I'm not there. I bring his class average down."

  21. A Spirited Defense of a Local Landmark

  Kate crowded into the elevator with George's class, standing a foot taller than most of them. They all filed into the County Commission Room past a sign that read THIS WEEK'S ESSAY TOPIC: WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE REPURPOSING OF OBSOLETE BUILDINGS.

  George sat with his classmates, but Kate slipped into the visitors' section and waited. A big uniformed officer plopped down in the chair next to her. Kate tilted her head to look at his badge. It read SHERIFF WRIGHT.

  When Bud Wright entered, he took the seat on the other side of the officer and said, "Good morning there, Bubba."

  The sheriff replied, "Mornin', Bud."

  Mrs. Brennan entered the room and spotted Kate right away. She worked her way over and sat down just as Susan Singer-Wright banged the gavel.

  "This is a special session of the County Commission. Mr. Bud Wright has a very exciting new proposal for the county. Here is Mr. Wright."

  Bud rose and approached the dais. "Thank you, darlin'. As you know, I recently purchased the old Palace Theatre. That thing's been sitting empty on Main Street for ten months now. The last play they had in there was god-awful. I never took my family there; I bet most of you never did, either. If you did, I wouldn't have been able to pick it up so cheap in foreclosure."

  Bud paused to guffaw. "That's why I'm proposing County Bill 52986. It would grant me permission to repurpose this old building into a place that the families of King's County will love to visit."

  Bud reached into his plaid sports coat and pulled out what looked like a large handgun. "Don't worry now, Bubba. I know what you're thinkin'. 'Uh-oh. Old Bud's gone postal.' But that's not it at all."

  It was the sheriff's turn to guffaw.

  He held up the weapon for the commissioners to examine. "Now, on Ashley-Nicole's last trip back here from MIT, me and Susan and her decided to have us a family night out. Where did we go? A place I heard about up in Riverton called the Paintball Emporium.

  "Let me tell you, we had a wingding of a time. We put on helmets and slickers and shot wads of paint at each other, and at everybody else there, for an hour. It was pure, flat-out fun. It's high time we had something like that here. That's why I am proposing today to convert the useless old Palace Theatre into Bud Wright's Paintball Palace." Bud smiled at the commissioners and returned to his seat.

  "Thank you, Mr. Wright," Susan said. "That is an exciting idea." She scanned the crowd until she saw Mrs. Brennan. She announced, "Now we have another special treat, our old friend Mrs. Brennan."

  Mrs. Brennan walked to the center of the dais. "I am here as the official representative of the King's County Historical Society."

  "I didn't know we had one of them," Bud commented loudly.

  Mrs. Brennan answered without looking at him. "We do. It is a nonprofit organization concerned with preserving our heritage."

  Bud stage-whispered to his brother. "Concerned with protecting chipmunks, too, I bet."

  Mrs. Brennan collected her thoughts. Then she spoke, distinctly and eloquently. "Before you vote to 'repurpose' this wonderful building, please consider some moments from its history. Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech from the stage of what was then the new Palace Theatre, on the day that it was dedicated in eighteen forty-one. Stephen Douglas, Woodrow Wilson, and both Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt have spoken either from its stage or from its front steps.

  "Charles Dickens read from The Old Curiosity Shop at the Palace Theatre in eighteen forty-two. Oscar Wilde lectured there on aesthetics in eighteen eighty-two. The great actress Sarah Bernhardt graced its stage in Camille in eighteen eighty-nine.

  "The Palace Theatre is not just a part of King's County history; it is a part of American history. It has hosted the proudest and most significant events to occur here in King's County. Let us honor that history today and request that it be preserved as a national historical site."

  Susan banged the gavel. "All in favor of Comity Bill number 52986."

  The commissioners raised their hands as one and said, "Aye!"

  Susan banged the gavel again. "It is so passed."

  Mrs. Brennan turned and started back to her seat, but Cornelia Whittaker-Austin stopped her on the way. "There's only one historical building in this county," she informed her. "And you're in it."

  Mrs. Brennan had planned on sitting down again, but Kate met her in the aisle. "Come on, Mrs. Brennan. Let's get out of here. These people make me sick."

  Mrs. Brennan smiled. "I'll leave with you, Kate. But please promise me you won't let people like this make you sick. They're not to be empowered that way."

  The two ducked into a waiting elevator. "But they do make me sick. And they were so mean to you."

  "It's all right, dear. They don't know any better. Someone has to stand up to them, though, or they'll take over the world."

  Kate looked down as the elevator descended to the lobby. She spotted June walking with a pair of folding chairs. She felt her usual surge of anger and said, "Some people won't stand up for anything." But then she remembered June's confrontation with Whit and had a change of heart. She pointed through the glass and told Mrs. Brennan, "That's my mother down there. She works here now, to help pay for my herbal protein shakes."

  Mrs. Brennan seemed very surprised. "That's your mother?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "I guess I've never really gotten a good look at her. Her face looks familiar." Mrs. Brennan pursed her lips and thought for a moment. But when the elevator doors opened, all she said was, "Well, thank you for coming, Kate. I do appreciate it. And I hope to see you soon."

  22. Honorable Mention

  Kate spotted her fourth-period class walking up in single file from the basement. She slipped into line with them and helped fill in a large cluster of folding chairs.

  After a few moments of dead time, Susan Singer-Wright hurried in from the entranceway with cigarette smoke still seeping out of her nose. She began breathlessly, "Hello again, boys and girls. Now, I believe we are going to pick up where we left off with a demonstration of Whit Austin's
invention."

  Two men in Technon Industries windbreakers entered from the east stairwell carrying a book and a steel vise. Ma and Pa Melvil followed, carrying a wooden sawhorse between them. Ma and Pa set their burden down, bolted the vise to it, and took off. One of the Technon men then steadied the sawhorse while the other positioned the book, a small, thick children's book entitled Pat the Bunny, in the grip of the vise.

  The men joined Cornelia and Whit behind the Laser Cannon. Whit did not move. One of the men then flipped up a metal safety catch, exposing a thick red button. After a moment, he pointed at the button. Whit finally understood him and pressed it.

  The Laser Cannon hummed quietly to life. After ten seconds, a thin red ray emanated from its muzzle. The ray shot across the expanse of the lobby, struck its target, and burned a small, smoky hole into Pat the Bunny.

  Kate broke into short, sarcastic applause. The rest of the audience continued to stare silently.

  In harsh whispers, Cornelia conferred with the Technon Industries men, waving her arms and pointing her large finger from one to the other. Finally, she addressed the audience. "I am told by the professional weapons developers at Technon Industries that Whit's invention is far too destructive to demonstrate here today. But they want me to tell you that he is the winner, by unanimous vote, of the Technon Industries Science Fair."

  Cornelia gave the two-handed applause sign.

  "By the way," Susan then added, "little George Melvil gets the Honorable Mention ribbon, which was awarded to him a few minutes ago in his classroom."

  George caught Kate's eye across the lobby and dangled a small ribbon for her to see.

  Cornelia smiled proudly. "Now comes the moment we have been waiting for: your Technon Industries Science Fair winner, Whit Austin."

  Whit stepped forward and launched into another speech about his grandfather and his great-grandfather.