CHAPTER 20

Sofia took a deep breath and walked to the swings.

“Hi, Sofia!” said Iggy, jumping off the swing and landing next to her.

“You shouldn’t have done it,” said Sofia.

“It’s okay,” said Iggy.

“No, it’s not!” said Sofia angrily.

“I wasn’t swinging high when I jumped,” said Iggy. “I didn’t get hurt.”

“Not that,” said Sofia. “I know you stole the vote!”

Iggy was shocked. “I did not!” he said. “I’m not a thief. I didn’t steal the vote.”

“Then why didn’t you help look for it with everyone else?” she asked. “I think you knew we wouldn’t find it because you already had it!”

“That’s good detective work,” said Iggy. “But you’re wrong. I didn’t steal the vote.”

Sofia looked at him suspiciously.

“I didn’t steal the vote,” Iggy continued, “because there wasn’t a vote to steal!”

“What?” asked Sofia. “Seventeen people went into the booth and voted.”

“No,” said Iggy. “Seventeen people went into the booth, but only sixteen voted. I didn’t vote.”

“Why not?” asked Sofia.

“I like turtles and birds,” said Iggy. “They are both like architects. Turtles grow their own houses on their backs, and birds make houses from sticks. But more than that, I like Rosie and Ada. They’re both my friends, and I don’t want either of them to be upset. So I just let other people vote.”

Sofia frowned. “Why didn’t you say something when we were looking for the ballot?” she asked.

“I was going to . . .” said Iggy, “but everybody was mad about the vanishing vote, and I felt embarrassed. And I figured other people knew more about the pets anyway, because I wasn’t paying much attention during the debates. I was building a tiny igloo out of paper wads.”

“Iggy!” said Sofia.

“I know,” said Iggy. “But it was inspired by the turtle’s shell.”

Sofia shook her head. “It’s everybody’s job to know what’s going on,” she said.

“I know. I’m sorry about the ballot,” said Iggy. “But if it helps, I think you’re a good election commissioner, and I know you’ll figure out what to do.”