Say It Ain't So (25 page)

In the chaos of people rushing everywhere, my parents found me and hugged me tight. “Oh, Lenny,” my mom said. “We're so proud of you. Special treat tonight. Any present you want.”

“Anything?” I asked.

“Sure,” Dad said.

I thought about it for a minute. Maria Bonzer came up to give me a high five while I thought.

“You know, I don't want anything for me,” I said to my parents.

“That's wonderful!” my mom said. “You have learned the true meaning of Discardia.”

“Uh, no,” I said. “That holiday still sucks. But I do want to
give
a gift for my special present. Maria needs a new phone. Some jerk stole hers.”

“That's what you want?” Mom asked. “We're offering to buy you anything and you want to buy the librarian's niece a phone?”

“Sure,” I said. “It's important.”

“It is?” Maria said.

“Yep,” I said. “That way you can call me sometimes.”

“Awwww,” my mom said.

“For cases!” I said. “To work on cases! We're a detective team. And we're the best.”

“Sure you are,” Dad said. “Sure you are.”