Triple Trouble
Page 18
“Indeed,” Edwina said, “and I believe I know the perfect new location.”
“Do you have a location in mind?” Ganatel asked.
“Havensburg.”
Ganatel raised a fuzzy orange eyebrow. “Havensburg? That’s a hub.”
“I know,” Edwina said. “It’ll be good to have her available. Just in case.”
“Even though she’ll be different? Even though she won’t remember any of this?”
“She won’t need to,” Edwina said. “She’ll be different, but at heart she’ll be the same. And when the time comes, she’ll be ready.”
“I believe you’re right,” Ganatel said. Then she sighed. “I suppose it’s time.”
“Yes,” Edwina agreed. “But don’t use the bunny. She knows that one.”
“Understood.”
Ganatel walked out of the room, only to return a few moments later with something cradled in her arms.
“Everyone, you won’t believe what one of the waiters found outside. A stray kitten!”
Every creature in the room got to its feet to see it. The tiny gray tabby sat cuddled in Ganatel’s fuzzy arms. It mewed adorably and everyone said “Awwww” in such complete unison that they had to laugh.
“Can I hold it?” said an otter-man with horns.
“Aw, I’d like to hold it.” This from a globule with feet.
“I wanna hold it!” said Petey, and when his dad raised an eyebrow, he added, “What? I’m strong. I helped save the universe!”
“Gabby should hold it first,” Ralph said. “She helped save the universe, too.”
“Aw. Thanks, Ralph,” Gabby said.
Ganatel walked to her, and Gabby melted as she took the kitten into her hands. It was small enough to fit into her palm and looked up at her with big, blue, mesmerizing eyes. If it were really a stray, maybe Alice would let her and Carmen keep it.
“It’s so sweet,” Gabby said.
“Go ahead, Gabby,” Ganatel said gently. “Pet the kitten.”
Gabby did, and Edwina looked on. The old woman took a deep breath and swallowed a lump in her throat.
“Until we meet again, Gabby Duran,” she said. “Until we meet again.”
First, thank you a million times over to everyone who has read and enjoyed Gabby’s dossiers. We appreciate you, we love hearing from you, and we’re so honored you’ve embraced Gabby and her adventures. Thanks for joining us on this fourth outing; the series wouldn’t exist without you.
Kieran Viola, there truly aren’t enough words for us to properly sing your praises. We love working with you, we love your passion for Gabby, and we love your notes. You are an editor par excellence, and we’re lucky to have you. We’re also eager to plug you, so, readers, please enjoy Kieran’s author side at www.kieranscott.net.
Huge thanks also to everyone else at Hyperion who helped us on this book: Emily Meehan, Mary Mudd, and Vanessa Moody in editorial; Marci Senders for her cover art; Sara Liebling and Guy Cunningham in managing editorial/copyediting; Elke Villa and Seale Ballenger in marketing/publicity.
In addition, we’re incredibly excited that Gabby Duran and the Unsittables will soon be airing on Disney Channel, and we’re monumentally thankful for everyone who helped make that happen. The list is long, but we’d especially like to give a grateful shout-out to Nancy Kanter for believing in the project. We cannot thank you enough, nor can we imagine putting Gabby into better hands. Kudos also to Mike Alber and Gabe Snyder for so expertly making the leap from Gabby’s book world to her television world, and thanks to the entire team of people involved with the show—we’ve loved what we’ve seen and can’t wait for the rest of the world to see it too. Special thanks to Pat Van Note and Miriam Ogawa, who were instrumental in helping us bridge those two worlds—it was a true pleasure.
Jane Startz, as always, we owe you everything. You brought us together and started it all. We are so grateful to have you in our lives. Thanks also to Mayde Alpi for all your help along the way. To Matthew Saver, our attorney, thank you for all your gracious wisdom and work on our behalf.
On a personal note, Elise wants to thank her husband Randy, daughter Maddie, and dog Jack-Jack. Everything good in my life starts with you. I raise a glass to those I miss terribly: Mom-Mom Eva, Pop-Pop Irv, and Pop-Pop Nate; and I raise a glass even higher to Mom-Mom Sylvia, who just turned ONE HUNDRED AND THREE. I am beyond lucky to have you in my life, and can’t wait until I see you again.
Daryle profusely thanks Liz Lehmans, Jeannie Hayden, and Jessica Mooney for all of their support and encouragement, and Jack Brummet and Keelin Curran for their help in making Gabby Duran happen. Thanks, too, to Dan Elenbaas for the opportunity to create Gabby in the first place, and Farai Chideya for putting it in Jane Startz’s able hands.
Emmy-nominated writer and New York Times best-selling author ELISE ALLEN made a name for herself with her acclaimed young adult novel Populazzi. She also cowrote Hilary Duff’s best-selling Elixir series, as well as Bella Thorne’s series, Autumn Falls. She is a longtime television writer, with credits including The Lion Guard, Rainbow Rangers, and Abby Hatcher. Most excitingly, her middle grade series Twinchantment has been optioned for film development by Disney Channel. You can find Elise on Twitter @EliseLAllen.
DARYLE CONNERS is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and video game designer. She writes joke and riddle books and has designed many game titles for the PC and iPhone/iPad, including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Scene It? Harry Potter, Hot Wheels: Slot Car Racers, and Scene It? Twilight Saga. Her nonfiction books include Lunchtime LOLZ, Nintendo DS Hot Tips, ROFLs, Video Game Secrets, and Monster High Howlers. Daryle lives in Seattle, where she still babysits from time to time. You can follow her on Twitter @Darylec.