CHAPTER 22

I practically flew into school on Monday morning, and when I skidded into the classroom, I saw him sitting there on Mrs. Hutchinson’s chair. Walking stick in hand. Pants too short.

I pounced on him with the biggest hug ever and didn’t let go until Mrs. Hutchinson started asking why I was stuck to her uncle like a

Lancelot Macintosh had come in to talk to the class, just like we’d asked him to when he was our prime suspect.

we found out that Lancelot Macintosh is super rich. He’s practically a

When he was a “young lad” he had invented a small that has gone into all cars ever built since then.

He told us all about it, saying “Marvelous, marvelous” every other sentence and twiddling his mustache at least twenty times.

“So what do you do now, Mr. Lancelot Macintosh?” asked Sarah. “Do you just sit around and count your money?”

Lancelot Macintosh laughed a real hearty laugh. “Well, I keep myself very busy trying to invent new things. Some serious things and some things just for the fun of it!”

Yup, it turns out that Lancelot Macintosh spends a lot of time trying to invent new flavors of bubble gum in his house. That explains a lot!

When he was leaving, he said quietly to me, “Omar, you remind me of myself when I was a young chap. You really impressed me with your marvelous attitude. It reminded me of the days when I chased my dreams and

“Thanks! Is that why you gave the money to the mosque?” I asked.

“Yes, because I want you to believe in yourself and never forget the community that will be there to support you while you’re chasing your dreams.”

Then he chuckled and said, “Either that or something about that big smile of yours must have made me do it.”

No way, I thought. I guess it works after all:

Charlie and Daniel threw me their OHHHH WOWWWW looks.

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At home, when I filled Mom and Dad in about Lancelot Macintosh, they were really impressed. Dad was even familiar with the that he invented and couldn’t believe he had met someone who had contributed to his driving experience so much.

Even Maryam was in a good mood, talking about how she loved his mustache style. “It’s so hipster,” she said, like she even knows what that means.

Mrs. Rogers was over for a cup of tea, and she said, “I could alter his pants to fit, you know.”

“I bet he could pay to alter pants that fit with all that money,” Mom said, laughing.

“I think he wears them like that on purpose,” I said. “And I like him just the way he is.”

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•  •  •

That evening, the doorbell rang. I thought it was another of Mom’s online orders, but it was Daniel and Charlie.

I didn’t know they were coming!

“I invited them, said Maryam. But she said it sweetly somehow, as if she was using the funny insult in an affectionate way.

“Why would you invite them??!” I asked.

“Well, I did sell one piece of art,” she said. “To Dad!”

“Sooooooo?” I was still super confused.

“And I didn’t give the money to the mosque.”

“You called us here to tell us that?” said Daniel.

“Okaaay,” said Charlie.

“Not exactly . . .” Maryam was enjoying this so much.

“Come on, Maryam, stop being weird!” I pleaded.

She giggled. “Follow me, then!”

We all ran up the stairs behind her. In her room, she had three wrapped presents on her bed.

“For you three,” she said, pointing.

We jumped on them like they were going to vanish if we didn’t open them in three seconds.

Maryam had bought us the

that we wanted with the money she had raised.

“Well, you do have but I’m kind of

she said.

I pounced on her with a big hug. Then Charlie joined us, and Daniel got super excited and jumped on us, too.