Operation Tenley (24 page)

BOOK: Operation Tenley

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The crowd erupted into a standing ovation.

Tenley straightened her new official
ANMIT
Nominee
sash as she started down the aisle, limping slightly. Behind her, sitting on her father’s shoulders, little Emmie smiled and kicked Mrs. Tylwyth accidentally, who stood next to them holding the toddler. They all cheered for Tenley.

At the podium, Mr. Frimpy shook Tenley’s hand and gave her the microphone.

“Thank you so much everyone for voting for me, Tenley T, as Hadley Beach’s official nominee for
America’s Next Most Inspirational Teen!
”

Cheers erupted again. In the crowd, Ms. Shareen whistled through her fingers. Mr. Mingby wrapped his arm around her proudly.

“And I hope everyone watched my nail art tutorial on tiny tornadoes.” She held up her hand to show ten different tornadoes on each of her nails. “While I’m super excited and grateful to be Hadley Beach’s official nominee,” her voice cracked. “I can’t accept it.”

Hushed tones fell across the crowd.

“The thing is, there’s someone out there who deserves it more than me. Someone who I never even
noticed
before. Because let’s face it, he’s someone who isn’t very tall or even that hot yet.” Tenley smiled. “But this person had to think really quickly and concentrate really hard to save us during that tornado, putting himself in danger when he could have just let me fall.” Tenley pulled off her sash. “So, while I still hope you’ll all watch my nail art tutorial next week,” she lowered her voice, “think three-dimensional letters,” then again in full voice, “I hereby give you Hadley Beach’s
new
official nominee for
America’s Next Most Inspiration Teen
, Holden Wonderbolt!”

Holden looked like a deer caught in headlights. A row down from Mrs. Tylwyth, he shook his head and waved the applause away, but the crowed started chanting his name, louder and louder, until finally he had no choice. He stood and walked down the aisle and onto the stage.

“Tenley, what are you doing?” he whispered.

Tenley dropped the sash over his shoulder and cinched it around his waist. The crowd chanted, “Speech! Speech! Speech!”

Tenley pushed him forward to the podium.

“Um, so, yeah.” He nodded to the crowd. “I was, you know, just glad to be able to help out. And hopefully there won’t be too many more tornados in Southern California.”

He waved and stepped off the podium. The students chanted, “Wonder-bolt! Wonder-bolt!”

Principal Frimpy took back the podium. “And that concludes our ceremony. Happy summer, everybody. Remember, do something good and see something great!”

Mrs. Tylwyth rushed up to the stage with the squirming toddler. “That was sweet, Tenley,” she smiled. “Holden dear, have you heard anything from Pennie?”

“No,” Holden answered. “I haven’t.”

Mrs. Tylwyth blinked back tears. “I wish she’d come home.” She turned back up the aisle.

Holden and Tenley stepped off the stage together.

“Ow.” Tenley hopped on her good foot.

“I keep forgetting about your ankle,” Holden said.

Tenley looked down at his cast. “Guess that makes us even.”

“Guess so,” he agreed, starting up the aisle.

When they reached the auditorium exit, they stood at the doorway and looked up at the sky.

“Hey Holden, do you think Pennie’s ever coming back?”

“I don’t know. Everyone made so much fun of her.”

“I’d never let anyone make fun of her again.”

“Me neither,” Holden said. In the distance, a quick flash of lightning lit up the sky.

He slipped his hand into his pocket and curled his fingers around the crystal eight.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I grew up in a house full of art and creativity and for that I am forever thankful to my mother, Jinxie. My father, John Gooch, besides being the best dad on the face of the planet, also taught me how to act nice, eat rice, and let the good times roll—which comes in handier than you might think. Building a story world takes many eyes on the page and I am grateful for my editor, Tara Creel, my bff, Jessica Benjamin, my publisher, Georgia McBride, and my agent, Jennifer Unter. My mostly-delightful daughters, Madison, Daisy and Tatum (who gave me the bottle idea) are proof that I’m the luckiest mom in the world; and my husband, Craig, never gives up on us—even when we go all Tenley Tylwyth on him.

Jennifer Gooch Hummer
is the award-winning author and screenwriter for her debut novel, GIRL UNMOORED. Raised in Boston, Jennifer graduated from Kenyon College with a B.A. in English and moved to Los Angeles where she read scripts for major talent agencies and production companies. A true believer in fairies, Jennifer currently lives in Southern California with her whistling husband, three teenage daughters, and two slightly neurotic rescue dogs.

OPERATION TENLEY is the first book in the series, THE FAIR CITY FILES.

Connect with Jennifer -
http://jennifergoochhummer.com

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