The Election-Day Disaster (5 page)

KC got dressed and walked to the kitchen. Simon was sitting at the table eating a piece of toast. His laptop was open, and he was pecking at the keys with one finger.

Yvonne was standing at the kitchen sink with her back to them. KC could tell that she was crying.

“Yvonne, what’s wrong?” KC asked.

Yvonne turned around. She was holding a damp paper towel to her face. “The president was just here for his coffee,” she said. “He told me I should think about looking for another job. He said he and you and your mom might be moving out of the White House after Christmas!”

KC sat down, stunned. She knew that when a new president moved into the White House, it happened in January.

“How could this happen, all because of a couple of pictures?” Yvonne went on.

Before KC could answer, they heard a knock on the kitchen door. Yvonne opened it to find Marshall standing there, out of breath. Behind him in the hallway stood Arnold, looking pale.

“I ran all the way,” Marshall said. “Turn on the news. They’re talking about the president.”

KC turned on the small TV in the kitchen.

“This is Donny Drum, and I’ve got your news! Overnight, the president’s poll numbers have gotten worse. With the election two days away, it seems certain that we will soon have a new president in the White House. Well, the candidates aren’t talking, but we’d love to hear your
comments! What do you think, viewers?”

Yvonne, KC, and Marshall stared at the TV set. No one moved.

“I have an idea,” Simon said.

KC looked at him and turned down the volume. Marshall sat next to KC.

“We go see that Drum guy,” Simon said, tipping his chin toward the TV. “We tell him we know exactly how those fake pictures got onto the Internet. We can bring him copies of the real pictures Arnold took. We’ll tell him he’ll be the only one with the real story, but he has to promise to put it on TV today.”

KC shook her head, confused. “But it was Arnold and his brother,” she said. “How do we—”

“We get Drum to put Arnold on TV, and Arnold can tell how his brother did
it,” Simon said. He looked at his aunt and grinned. “This will be huge. By tonight, the whole world will know the truth!”

KC nodded. “It’s worth a try,” she said. “Let’s talk to Arnold.” She jumped up and opened the kitchen door.

Donny Drum’s Sunday-night story was so big it replaced the football games. KC, Marshall, the president, and Lois were watching it on the TV in the president’s study. On the screen, Donny Drum was saying, “This is Donny Drum, and I’ve got your news!” He was interviewing Arnold and his brother, Dez West.

Dez looked into the camera and told the world how he had changed two innocent pictures. “I sent them to a couple of my friends,” he said. “I thought that
would be the end of it. I’d never do anything to hurt the president. Neither would my brother.”

“So it was all just a joke among brothers,” Donny Drum said, smiling into the camera. “What do you think of this, viewers? How will you vote on Tuesday? Should we keep President Thornton in office for another four years?”

When KC and Marshall walked into Thornton campaign headquarters with the president and KC’s mom, three hundred people stood up and cheered. The computers and telephones were gone. In their place, the tables were covered with food and things to drink.

The sad and worried faces had also disappeared. Now everyone was smiling.
One woman was openly crying with joy.

It was Tuesday, November 4—Election Day. The clock on the wall said the time was nearly midnight. Most of the votes were in, all across the United States.

The president thanked his staff and volunteers. “It’s not over yet,” he said, trying hard to keep the smile off his face. “Dr. Jury could still win this election.”

A large TV screen had been hung high on one wall. The volume was low, but one of the volunteers turned it up. Donny Drum’s big white teeth grinned down at the room. Behind him were scoreboards showing that most votes had been cast for President Thornton.

“Well, you’re seeing the same thing I’m seeing,” Donny Drum said to his viewers. “It seems President Zachary Thornton
will be our leader for the next four years. He has millions more votes than his opponent, Dr. Melrose Jury.”

Someone handed Donny Drum a note. He read it quickly, then turned back to the camera. “Folks, I believe Dr. Melrose Jury has something to say to President Thornton.”

Donny Drum’s face disappeared. A different camera showed Dr. Jury picking up a telephone. Dr. Jury was smiling at the camera as he asked to speak to the president.

Just then a telephone on one of the desks rang. The president’s campaign manager answered, then handed the phone to the president.

“Hello, Dr. Jury,” the president said.

On TV, Dr. Jury said, “Congratulations,
Mr. President. I’m delighted that you’ll be with us for four more years.”

“Thank you, Dr. Jury,” the president said. “I hope you’ll come to the White House for lunch someday soon.”

Dr. Jury laughed. “Can I have pizza?” he asked.

“I’ll cook it myself,” the president said.

When the president hung up the phone, the room erupted into whistles, clapping, and foot stomping. From large nets on the ceiling, thousands of red, white, and blue balloons began drifting down. Volunteers were hugging each other, tossing confetti into the air, and opening bottles of champagne.

KC’s mom gave the president a big kiss, which got everyone whistling again.

KC and Marshall stuffed themselves
on cake and ice cream. They sat at a big round table with the president and vice president, Lois, Yvonne, and Simon.

“This is so cool,” Marshall said. “We should have an election every year!”

“No way,” the president said. “Every four years is plenty for me.”

KC yawned. She closed her eyes and leaned against her mother.

“Hey, no fair going to sleep,” Simon said from across the table.

“I wasn’t sleeping,” KC said. “I was just thinking about four more years of solving mysteries from inside the White House!”