Page 82 of The Fall Back Plan
“Well, well, well,” says Sophie. “Time for a tiebreaker. Send up your captains to get your answer sheets.” Mrs. Herring and Henry go up to get their papers. When they sit down, all the heads at each table lean in to study it as Sophie continues with her instructions. “I’ve prepared a special set of five Harvest Hollow–themed questions for this scenario, and spelling counts. Is everyone ready?” Seven silver-haired heads plus the young woman with the Codgers all nod. “Here we go. Who is the youngest person ever to be elected sheriff of Harvest Hollow?”
The teams whisper and their pencils scratch. Becky nudges me, and I’m glad the lighting isn’t strong enough for anyone to notice that my neck is looking overwarm.
“Number two: what is his favorite TV show?”
Oh, ha ha. They’re going to have some fun with me, I guess. Pops must have given Sophie the answers. I cross my arms and shake my head, waiting to see what comes next.
“Number three: what cartoon character is on the sheriff’s sleep shirt?”
That elicits a wave of laughter, and Jace smirks at me again. It’s possible Becky and Slocum wouldn’t need to look hard now to see my face is getting warm.
“Number four: what song does the sheriff sing in the shower every morning?”
I narrow my eyes at Sophie. I know Miley Cyrus got all serious with her career, but “Party in the USA” is still a banger, and there’s no way Pops would ever sell me out on that. This has Brooklyn written all over it.
Sophie doesn’t glance in my direction once. “Last question: which high school nemesis of the sheriff went by the name Gappy and never got to play spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven or any other dumb teenage party game when she was a kid?”
What in the world . . . ? Is the answer . . . no. Right? But who else would it be?
The teams whisper. No pencils scratch.
“Time’s up,” Sophie says. “Trade papers and we’ll find out who won. Who is the youngest elected sheriff in Harvest Hollow history?”
“Lucas Cole,” Mrs. Herring says.
“Correct. And what is his favorite TV show?”
“Little House on the Prairie,” Henry says, and the bar cracks up.
Brooklyn for sure. I’m going to have to explain why that’sinside-the-house information. Not that I can put the genie back in the bottle on this one. I will no doubt be finding thirst trap photos of Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon all over the station now.
“Correct,” Sophie says, and the laughs get louder. “What cartoon is on the sheriff’s sleep shirt?”
“Scooby Doo,” Mrs. Herring says.
“No shame in my game,” I call. “The dog solves crimes!”
Becky looks like she can’t breathe, she’s laughing so hard.
“Number four,” Sophie continues when the laughter dies down. “What is the sheriff’s favorite song to sing in the shower?”
I slouch, but there’s no avoiding this.
“Party in the USA,” Mrs. Herring says.
“Correct,” Sophie says.
Jace is on his feet. “Yeah-ah-yeah-ah-yeaaaaaaah,” he sings, and half the bar finishes with “It’s a party in the USA!”
“I’m a patriot,” I call, and that gets laughs and whistles.
“Last question,” Sophie says, and now I’m curious. “Who is his high school nemesis who everyone called Gappy and who never got to play any party kissing games?”
Neither captain raises their hand.
“Lady Librarians?” Sophie asks. They shake their heads. “Hazy Codgers?” Another no.
“I know the answer,” another voice calls. We all turn to look at Jolie, who is leaning against the wall in the hallway leading to her office. “Before I got this dental implant, I was Gappy.”
