The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place

by Bill Doyle

  So that was why the Wylots had chosen costumes with bandanas that hid their faces. They were wearing headsets to communicate with each other. They must have grabbed them in the Fun and Games Circle.

  Bug tugged Cal’s arm and pointed to the TV that showed the Pet Circle, which looked quite pleasant. Fake tree branches tangled over the Circle, creating a home for the Butterfly of Savings. But their dad was there—and he was in big trouble. At the bottom of the screen, Cal could see Mr. Wylot opening animal cages in the Pet Circle. He was releasing all the snakes, including the giant boa constrictor.

  The families weren’t allowed to talk, but that didn’t mean Cal couldn’t communicate. A store microphone was glued to a display case of remote controls. For years, people had been saying Cal wanted to be a puppet master. Now was his chance to see if he had what it took.

  Cal picked up the mike and tapped it with his palm.

  BANG! The sound echoed through the overhead speakers all around the store. On the screens, the Wylots and Talaskas looked up.

  Cal signaled for Butler to drop the Friendly Farmer in his mouth. Butler cocked his head as if saying, Why? But he did it.

  Cal flipped the toy over and lifted a flap to reveal the touch screen. He pressed START and held the farmer up to the microphone.

  “The sheep says…,” the Friendly Farmer announced. The toy paused, waiting for Cal to type in what a sheep said. Cal hit a series of letters on the touch screen.

  “Moo?” the farmer said. “No, no, NO! That’s just SILLY!”

  There was a reason these toys were on sale. The farmer sounded like an annoying know-it-all with a singsongy voice.

  Cal typed more letters. “The cow says…Fitness!” the farmer blathered. “No, no, NO! That’s just SILLY!”

  Bug covered his ears. And Cal nearly did, too. The voice was getting on his nerves. But it was working. In the Fitness Circle, his mom looked up at the camera. Her face said, What the Swiss is going on?

  “The chicken says…Sign!” Before the farmer could say “No, no, NO!” Cal pulled it away from the microphone. He watched as his mom thought about the message. She pointed at the sign that said THIS WAY CLOSED!, and Cal pushed buttons again. This time, the farmer proclaimed, “The goose says…Wrong!”

  His mom touched the fake sign and it came loose, revealing the real sign underneath.

  Cal’s fingers pressed the toy again. “The rooster says…Yes!”

  His mom gave a thumbs-up. She got it. She was heading the right way now.

  Bug tapped the timer on the cart.

  The numbers 10:23 blinked at them. Just over ten minutes left!

  Cal didn’t have time to go through the same thing with Imo and his dad. It would be faster if Cal, Bug, and Butler went to them.

  —

  With Bug pulling the cart behind them, Cal and Butler raced down the aisle. Cal imagined the map. He knew they had to run through the Sporting Goods Circle to reach the Hardware Circle, where Imo was stuck.

  The aisle suddenly opened up into the Sporting Goods Circle—and WHAP! Something flew out of nowhere and struck Cal’s shoulder. The force spun him back into the aisle next to Bug and Butler, but he kept his balance.

  What the heck was that?

  Bug picked up the foam dart that someone had fired at Cal. It was the size of a loaf of bread. Butler grabbed it in his mouth and started tearing it up.

  Cal poked his head around the edge of the aisle. In the center of the Sporting Goods Circle, a display of three tennis ball–serving machines sat on a steel table. A sign read: THE ENDLESS SERVER—RETURNS TENNIS BALLS FOR HOURS!

  He could just barely make out her face, but Cal could see Emma Wylot crouched on the table between two of the serving machines. She must have snagged a foam-dart gun from the Fun and Games Circle. She aimed it at Cal and fired again.

  Cal ducked back into the aisle. He and Bug were safe where they were, but they couldn’t get across the Circle. Cal couldn’t risk Bug’s getting pegged by a dart. His parents would never forgive him. They would have to go back and hope they could find a different route to the rest of the family. They could get the ribbon from this Circle later.

  Even as he thought this, Cal knew they’d never have enough time.

  Before they left the Circle, he couldn’t resist giving Emma a piece of his mind. He poked his head out again and pointed his eyes at her. I see you! This isn’t fair!

  Emma didn’t even bother to give a nasty wave, as Leslie usually did. She just shrugged.

  Cal turned to pull Bug along with him when he spotted Imo on the other side of the Circle. She had freed herself from the glue pool and was jumping up and down to get his attention. Then she kicked the ground. It reminded Cal of a little kid pouting.

  I know it stinks that we can’t get through! Cal said by shaking his head and throwing up his hands.

  No! That’s not it! Imo pointed again at her kicking foot. Frustrated that Cal still wasn’t getting what she meant, she turned away.

  Tugging her ear, she looked at the shelves around her, and Cal could almost feel her brain buzzing. Even Emma stood up a little to see what she had planned.

  In a blur of movement, Imo grabbed a ski helmet and put it on her head. She put four skateboards on the floor and laid a surfboard on top of them. She put one foot on the surfboard and pushed back and forth, back and forth, with the other. When she had enough momentum, she stood on the surfboard and shot across the Circle.

  Emma had been waiting for this. She stood all the way up and raised the foam-dart gun.

  The force of the dart would knock Imo off the board. And, helmet or no helmet, the fall would sting.

  Emma fired—

  But Imo must have been waiting for her opponent’s move, too. She dropped to her knees and then lay on her back on the rolling surfboard. The dart sailed over her. Imo reached up and snagged the Talaskas’ ribbon as she slid under the display table. Before Emma could reload, Imo had rolled past Cal and into the safety of his aisle.

  Grinning, Imo jumped off her surfboard “lawn luge” and handed Cal her ski helmet and the ribbon. Without hesitating, she walked back to the aisle opening.

  Cal reached out to pull Imo back. She shook her head and pointed at her kicking foot again and then behind Cal. He turned and finally got it. Oh!

  A display of kickball launchers lined the shelf. They were plugged in and loaded with red rubber balls, like the ones from gym class. They were facing the center of the Circle.

  Imo moved to switch them on. Once again, Emma knew what she was up to. Emma had turned the tennis ball–serving machines toward their aisle. She gave Imo a little salute. Imo returned the salute, and the two girls shared a look of grudging respect.

  Then they both started switching on the different machines. The tennis balls fired across the Circle at the Talaskas, and the kickballs shot toward the center of the Circle.

  As if her work here was done, Emma slung the strap of the dart gun over her shoulder and climbed off the display table. With one last look at the Talaskas, she quickly left the Circle.

  Cal saw they could get across the Circle now. Each time a tennis ball fired out of a machine toward them, a flying kickball was there to block it. Just in case, he put the ski helmet on Bug. Then, with Cal and Imo leading the way, Bug pulled the cart under the colliding balls to the other side. One tennis ball was knocked free and hit Cal square in the forehead. Smack! Right where he’d been slapping his forehead earlier. Cal wondered if he had a bull’s-eye painted there.

  We did it! he said silently, and the three kids shared a high five and a quick snuggle with Butler. In a flash, Imo shoved a box she’d grabbed onto the bottom of the shopping cart.

  Cal didn’t take time to see what it was. They took off sprinting toward the path that ran around the entire store. Up ahead, Mrs. T. was waiting.

  She was breathless, but she was standing like a relay racer ready to run a lap. She tossed her box into the cart and handed Cal the ribbon from the Fitness Ci
rcle.

  Cal pointed to the timer, then toward the Pet Circle. We don’t have much time to meet Dad!

  Even though she was wearing her sweatband, sweat poured down her face. But she nodded. Let’s go!

  The timer read 7:34.

  Unlike the other Circles, with their tons of aisles, the Pet Circle had only two ways in. Sliding glass doors opened and closed on their own as people entered and left. That kept the Butterfly of Savings and any of the slithery critters from escaping.

  The air in the Circle was heavy and humid, as in the birdhouse at the Grand Rapids zoo. The shelves were filled with dog food, cat litter, squeaky toys, and cages and tanks of animals and bugs.

  To keep from distracting shoppers, Wish Shoppe sold only creatures that didn’t make much noise. There were plenty of fish, silent insects, and, of course…snakes.

  Butler’s mouth had popped open, and he was looking around as if he were in heaven. Mrs. T. looked intently at Bug and put her hands on his shoulders. Stay with Butler, she mouthed.

  The wide trunk of a fake tree rose out of the center, sprouting branches and leaves that wove across the ceiling. Cal knew from a security camera that his dad was stuck against the wall on the other side. They found Mr. T. there, holding a huge object wrapped in what looked like a dog blanket. Cal could see the Pet Circle’s ribbon poking out of his pants pocket.

  Mr. T.’s face lit up when he saw them, but he stayed frozen. Why wasn’t he moving?

  Mrs. T. made her What the cheddar is going on? face.

  Mr. T.’s eyes darted around the room, as if telling his family to follow where he was looking. Cal did and discovered that the Talaskas were not alone.

  All four Wylots were in the Pet Circle, too. Emma was actually on the ceiling, swinging from branch to branch, the foam-dart gun in her belt. Mr. and Mrs. Wylot were looking under crates. Leslie had the net on a pole, and she was also scouring the room for something.

  What are they looking for with a net? Cal wondered. Then it hit him.

  The butterfly! The Wylots were going to grab King Wonder’s butterfly!

  It was worth the world to King Wonder. And Cal imagined how Mr. Wylot would use that to get what he really wanted. Maybe he would demand to be part owner of Wish Shoppe and have even more people working for him.

  No matter what the Wylots were up to, the timer was still ticking. The Talaskas had to get out of there.

  Come on, Dad, Cal said with his eyes. Then he made squiggly motions while shaking his head. There are no snakes. They’re all hiding.

  Mr. T. shook his head. It’s not the snakes! It’s this!

  Careful not to let the Wylots see, Mr. T. turned very slowly. Holy Aristotle. With fluttering purple wings the size of dinner plates, the biggest butterfly Cal had ever seen was perched on his dad’s back.

  It was King Wonder’s Butterfly of Savings.

  Mr. T. raised a finger to his lips and looked up. Cal understood. His dad didn’t want to move because he was scared of revealing the flying insect to the Wylots.

  The Talaskas needed to get the butterfly back into the branches without the Wylots’ seeing it.

  Mrs. T. raised her hand. I know what to do! She made a typing gesture, like she was sitting in front of an invisible computer.

  Cal wanted to shout, Are you sending an invisible email?

  She held up a finger, as if she had just discovered something.

  Oh! Something you found online? Cal mouthed.

  Mrs. T. nodded. She hurried to the wall and reached for the light switch. The Wylots saw it and stamped their feet. Emma dropped to the ground, rushing to stop Mrs. T.

  No! No! the Wylots seemed to be saying. Cal wanted to join them.

  Trust me, Mrs. T.’s face said, and then she flicked the light switch.

  The Pet Circle plunged into darkness.

  The Wylots and Talaskas were suddenly rushing about the Circle. No one was talking—at least that Cal could hear—but there were grunts of surprise and what sounded like a struggle.

  Cal felt something slither up his leg. Being unable to talk was probably a good thing. He wasn’t sure the Friendly Farmer was allowed to say what was running through his head.

  Cal spun away from the spot. He felt the creature on his leg shake free and launch into the air.

  Click! The light came back on. Mrs. T. put her hands together on her cheek and tilted her head as if she were sleeping, and pointed up.

  Cal got it!

  Mrs. T.’s research had paid off again. The butterfly thought it was nighttime and had flown to the safety of the branches to rest.

  The Wylots had been on the move, too. While the room was dark, the entire family had rushed out the door that the Talaskas had used. It was sliding shut.

  Just as it was about to close, Emma noticed what the Talaskas were looking at. She lifted her dart gun and aimed up at the Butterfly of Savings. Her eyes said it all. If the Wylots couldn’t have the butterfly, no one could.

  NO! Cal thought.

  Even Leslie looked shocked. She shook her head at Emma. But Emma pulled the trigger anyway. The dart shot through the air.

  Cal had a choice. He could leap forward to keep the door from shutting, or he could jump up to stop the dart.

  He leapt and swatted the dart down.

  The door slid shut. Through the glass, Cal saw Mr. Wylot pop Leslie’s net into the outside track of the door. It was locked, with the Talaskas stuck inside the Circle.

  Emma pointed out the butterfly to Mr. Wylot. His eyes lit up, and he reached to lift the net so he could open the door—

  In a flash, Imo’s hand shot out. She turned the lock on the inside of the door.

  Now the Wylots couldn’t get in, but the Talaskas still couldn’t get out. They faced off in two lines on either side of the glass door.

  Mr. Wylot shrugged, and Cal guessed what he was thinking. It was too bad Mr. Wylot couldn’t capture the Butterfly of Savings, but he’d still show the Talaskas and the world who was boss.

  Leslie held up the Wylots’ ribbons and fanned them out so Cal could count them. Nine. The Wylots had gathered all the ribbons. They just needed to get to the finish line first.

  Cal spun around. At least the door on the other side of the Circle was open. For now.

  Emma jerked to one side. Cal’s heart bumped. Was she going to race around the outside of the Circle and get to the open door first? But she just threw back her head and laughed silently.

  Leslie gave a nasty wave, and the Wylots sauntered off, pushing their empty cart, as if they had all the time in the world.

  But for the Talaskas, time was running out. Their cart’s timer blinked:

  3:56.

  It was impossible. There was no way the Talaskas could run around the store, gather the last four ribbons they needed, and beat the Wylots to the finish line.

  That was when Mr. T. pulled the Pet Circle ribbon from his pocket and handed it to Cal. Something felt different about it. Cal looked down and saw he was actually holding five ribbons stacked on top of each other. That made a total of nine.

  The Talaskas had all the ribbons!

  How? Cal asked, stunned.

  Mr. T. smiled and acted like he was studying an invisible wall. I memorized the map. All of it!

  He must have been running all over that side of the store before going to the Pet Circle. Imo, Mrs. T., and Bug were jumping up and down. Cal didn’t care if it wasted time. He gave his dad a hug.

  Then Cal clapped his hands. We have to get out of here.

  Imo nodded furiously. Go! Go! Go!

  Mr. T. threw his wrapped bundle into the cart. It was heavy, and there was no room left in the overflowing cart. Cal didn’t take the time to wonder how it had gotten so full.

  Bug was pulling away like an unstoppable sled dog, with Mrs. T. pushing behind the cart. Mr. T. was running in front with Butler, and Imo and Cal ran on either side, just in case the cart tipped or something fell out.

  On this side of the Pet Circle, the
y were in uncharted territory. Only Mr. T. knew the way, or at least Cal hoped he did. Cal was starting to worry when he spotted a big sign with an arrow:

  THIS WAY TO EMPLOYEE EXIT

  Employees only! All others, please use main exit!

  Yes! An exit! The family picked up speed and ran in the direction of the arrow.

  Fifty yards later, they slammed open the exit door and burst out of the maze into the sunshine. The non-air-conditioned breeze felt incredible. With his ears free of the store’s perky music, Cal could think more clearly.

  But that sound was replaced by the roar of the crowd.

  The Wylots were nowhere in sight, but the spectators were a hundred feet away, still gathered on the other side of the River of Low Prices. A sidewalk ran from the store to the river. The Talaskas needed to race down that sidewalk, cross the bridge, and reach the finish line.

  “No way they’re going to make it in time!” a man in the crowd shouted.

  “I’ll bet you a dollar they give up right now,” a woman shouted back. “The Wylots never lose!”

  Cal wasn’t the only one who heard them. Bug’s head snapped up. A look of determination came over his face. He slowed down and reached out to scratch Butler behind the ears.

  “What’s that kid doing?” a little boy asked.

  Cal knew. Bug and Butler were choosing this moment to finally perform their B&B Scooter Madness Stunt in public.

  Bug took off running. Cal grabbed for his shirt, but missed as the cart whizzed away.

  No, Bug!

  A kid and a dog on a mission, Bug and Butler ran toward the River of Low Prices. Cal knew that Bug imagined himself sailing over the river with the cart, landing dramatically on the other side. Then the finish line would be just a short trot away.

  What happened instead was a catastrophe.

  Butler made a wide turn before coming to the two-foot-high concrete ledge that ran along the river, since they had always practiced avoiding the “target” at the last moment. But Bug jumped over the ledge. The cart rammed into it and didn’t budge as he sailed through the air. The harness went tight and yanked Bug back, slamming him against the ledge with a whap!