“The third prize winner of ten dollars is Taryn Chung. Is she here?”
Philip heard a shriek in front of him, and a girl with long, black pigtails climbed onto the stage.
“Here is Taryn’s poster.”
Philip didn’t bother to look. There were only two prizes left. Would he be one of those two, or one of the other one hundred forty-seven people who won nothing?
Philip looked back to the stage as Mr. Sherwood Bobson waited for Taryn to return to her place so he could continue.
“And for second place we are happy to award the fifteen dollar prize to . . . Philip Felton.”
Philip looked up at his father at the same time his father looked down at him.
Philip Felton! His name! He’d won something!
“Go get your prize, Flipper,” his father said with a smile as big at his son’s.
Philip made his way through the crowd to the stage. When he climbed onto the stage, the manager held his poster high for everyone to see, and everyone applauded.
“Philip,” said the manager, “used an idea from The Wizard of Oz. Can everyone see it?”
Philip’s poster had a picture of the Scarecrow of Oz saying, “If you had a brain, you’d be wearing Walk-Mor shoes.” Behind the Scarecrow was a picture of the Wizard of Oz handing pairs of Walk-Mor shoes to Dorothy, the Tin Man, and two pairs to the Lion, all of whom smiled and looked grateful.
“Great job, Philip,” said the manager, and he handed Philip three five-dollar bills.
Philip took the money and found his way back to his father, who said, “Did you hear the applause when he showed everyone your poster?”
Philip nodded and couldn’t stop smiling. Only one thing could go wrong. Suppose Jeanne got the one prize left. First prize.
Philip crossed his fingers and listened.
“And the grand prize winner is . . .” The manager looked out over the crowd and smiled teasingly. “. . . Emery Wyatt! Come on up here, Emery.”
“Emery!” Philip cried. He turned to see Emery pushing to get through the crowd to the stage. “Emery,” said Philip when Emery drew even with him, “you didn’t tell me you entered the contest.”
“I thought I’d lose. You gave me my poster idea,” Emery called over his shoulder as he continued toward the stage.
“And here is Emery’s poster.” The manager pulled out a poster showing The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. A big Walk-Mor shoe. Lots of little kids were climbing on the shoe and running around it. All of them were wearing Walk-Mor shoes. A short poem was written on the top.
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, but she knew what to do.
Dress them all in Walk-Mor shoes.
Shouldn’t you?
Philip watched in amazement as the store manager gave Emery five five-dollar bills. “Dad,” said Philip. “Did you hear? Emery said I gave him the idea for his poster.”
“Don’t let Jeanne know you were responsible for first and second prize.”
“Ha!” Philip cried.
The crowd began to break apart as parents took their disappointed children out of the store and back into the mall. Philip and his father walked to the car. As they climbed into the front seat, Philip said, “Jeanne didn’t say anything when she passed us.”
“Her father didn’t look any too happy, either,” said Mr. Felton. “But we’re happy, aren’t we?”
“We sure are, Dad.”
“You did a great job, and I’m proud of you. You beat the girl who couldn’t be beaten.”
“Thanks for helping me, Dad. Here, you can have one of the five-dollar bills.” Philip took a bill from his pocket and handed it over to his father as his father stopped the car in front of their house.
“I don’t want it, Flipper. You keep it, and we’ll go buy something special with your winnings. Your thank you is enough for me.”
As Philip followed his father into the house to let his mother know the good news, he thought of Jeanne. She said she couldn’t lose. He’d beaten the girl who couldn’t lose! He turned his mind to something equally as pleasant. He had to decide what kind of candy bars to tell Jeanne to buy for him. He couldn’t wait to get to school tomorrow!
The End
About the Author
John Paulits is a former teacher who lives in New York City and Brigantine, New Jersey. He has published numerous other novels both for adults (THE MYSTERY OF CHARLES DICKENS; HOBSON'S PLANET; LANYON FOR HIRE) and children. PHILIP AND THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T LOSE is John's seventh Philip novel for Gypsy Shadow. Information about all of John's books can be found at his website.
WEBSITE: http://www.johnpaulits.com/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/john.paulits
Philip and the Girl Who Couldn't Lose (9781619501072) Page 5
