Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Lizzy is confident the keys aren’t lost—just misplaced in the lawyer’s office. The kids make a plan to use candy to bribe their way past the security guard to search the office on Monday. On Sunday, Jeremy’s grandmother emails to remind Lizzy and him about the state fair and that they will enter the young talent contest with a hula hoop act this year. Both kids are mortified at the idea, but the prize is $50, so they don’t object.

On their way out of the building on Monday, they meet the kids of the new neighbors who moved in over the weekend—a boy and a girl about their age. Lizzy blushes at something the boy says and prattles on about how cool the girl seems. When Jeremy asks why Lizzy cares so much, Lizzy huffs and tells him to forget it because “you don’t understand girls at all” (74).

Jeremy and Lizzy go to Jeremy’s uncle’s store to buy the bribe candy as one of the employees is opening the place. The kids notice the employee’s giant ring of keys and resolve to try those before visiting the lawyer’s office.