56 pages • 1 hour read
The acid-damaged tire on the Rolls-Royce collapses, which temporarily solves the problem of Wolfson. However, Cooper still faces the problem of time: it is 12:41 pm. The play starts in 19 minutes. Roddy cheers Cooper on, but Cooper is ready to admit defeat when Veronica comes to the rescue. She tells him to get into Chad’s car and calls their mother. The search party can cease its efforts, Veronica says, because she and Chad have just found Romeo.
Upon arriving at school, the group finds Cooper’s mother in tears and his father—who almost summoned the Army Rangers—demanding an explanation. A pale Marchese intervenes to pull Cooper backstage. Thankfully, Wolfson is late, so the play’s start time must be postponed anyway. Backstage, Jolie accuses Cooper of not caring about their performance. While changing into costume, Roddy is cheerful, but Cooper is upset: he’s dirty and sweaty, and Jolie is also mad at him. The makeup team rushes through its preparation.
Wolfson arrives and the play begins. On stage, Cooper notices Wolfson’s glaring, his sister and Chad snuggling, and an angry Brock scowling.
Cooper refocuses on his performance, and he wonders whether Jolie’s shining eyes mean that she has forgiven him in real life (or maybe she’s just acting?).
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By Gordon Korman