There would be challenges, lots of them.
Things would break.
Ms. Sparks might try to come back.
Someone else would probably try to buy the hotel in order to build a skyscraper on the land.
But Leo had his dad and a peaceful memory of his mother. There would be Pilar and Mr. Phipps, Captain Rickenbacker, Theodore Bump, LillyAnn Pompadore, and Betty. And there would be Remi. Leo wouldn’t be doing this alone. He’d have plenty of help.
Looking up at the Whippet Hotel, he decided what he would do first.
He would take his dad, Pilar, Mr. Phipps, and Remi to the roof. And there, in the light of the morning sun, they would wave good-bye to Merganzer D. Whippet.
A duck quacked off in the distance and Leo took chase, the Whippet Hotel rising to meet him, larger and closer, as Merganzer’s green jacket trailed on the grass.
“Do you think he’ll be all right?” asked Merganzer. He, too, was looking at the Whippet Hotel. It was getting smaller and smaller as they went.
“I do,” said George. “I do indeed.”
“Maybe I should have mentioned the other floors.”
“I think he probably knows enough for now.”
Merganzer nodded and a wide smile filled his face.
“He’s a good boy.”
“They both are,” George agreed.
The Whippet Hotel was almost out of sight, and Merganzer began to feel free. He put his head out the window and let his wild hair blow in the wind.
“A good day to be outside with the rabbits,” he yelled.
“Indeed it is,” said George.
They drove on, out of the city.
And the Whippet Hotel disappeared from view.
About the Author
Patrick Carman is the author of many acclaimed bestselling series for children and young adults, including The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Skeleton Creek, and Trackers. He lives with his family in Walla Walla, Washington.
Copyright
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Copyright © 2011 by Patrick Carman
Illustrations by Chris Turnham
Cover art by Chris Turnham
Cover design by Christopher Stengel
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
First edition, September 2011
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eISBN 978-0-545-38840-5
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