Elvis and the Underdogs (26 page)

Ripley barked like crazy
when he heard the sirens behind us. Alexander turned around and saw a police car with flashing lights behind us.

“Uh, Mr. Taisy's dad, I think you should pull over,” said Alexander. I couldn't believe it. This was a disaster. We would never catch up to Elvis now.

“Don't worry. I have a special kind of relationship with cops. Meaning they treat me special and I'm always kind back.”

After Taisy's dad posed for a picture with Officer Perkins and told him all about Elvis, we got back on the highway, only this time with a police escort. According to my calculations, with the new speed we were driving, we were only three minutes behind. That is, if Alexander was right about the route that they were taking, and if they didn't stop for gas or food. Taisy sensed my increasing anxiety. So did Ripley. He whined in the backseat.

“Benji, are you okay?” Taisy leaned into me.

“I don't think so. I'm really scared. What if we never find them? What if I don't ever see him again?”

“You know what that's called?”

“The ugly truth?”

“No, that's called stinkin' thinkin', and there's no place for that here,” said Taisy. “I'm going to tell you what all my coaches tell me when I get stressed out because the clock is running out. And it's what I always think of when I start to feel negative. Are you ready?”

“Um, okay, tell me.” Wow, Taisy sure could be dramatic.

“Just breathe and believe.”

“That's it? That's what they say?”

“Breathe and believe. I know it sounds simple, but it works. You have to believe you can do anything, and that everything will work out how it's supposed to. Just believe. Breathe and believe. Breathe and believe.”

I took a deep breath and thought about the last few days of my life, which were absolutely the craziest, most bizarre days I'd ever experienced. And today was the absolutely most incredible and most bizarre one of all. The highs, the lows, the drama, lots of laughs and lots of tears. It pretty much had everything.

“I believe.” I said it quietly. Then I said it again, because I felt it. “I believe.”

“I believe too,” said Alexander.

“Me too. I always believe,” said Taisy.

“I believe!” my mom called out from the front seat.

And then we all looked at Taisy's dad, whose giant hands gripped the steering wheel. “I believe . . . I believe . . . that I see them! Look, two black sedans up ahead!”

He was right. It was them. It had to be. He honked the horn at Officer Perkins, who saw the cars too. He put on his siren, and in no time at all we had caught up with them. The Secret Service cars pulled over to the side of the highway, Officer Perkins pulled his car behind them, and we pulled over behind the police car.

No one said anything, and no one knew what to do. After a moment, my mom kicked into action and opened her car door. She stepped out and marched toward the Secret Service cars.

“Should we get out too?” we asked.

Taisy's dad said we should wait. He said there was too much tension and far too many guns around for us to make any sudden movements. My mom had her head in the window of the second sedan for a while. She was talking nonstop, making wild hand gestures. After another thirty seconds, which felt like thirty years, she pulled her head out of the car and walked back. She stopped and talked to Officer Perkins, and then pulled him in for a big hug.

“Wait! Why are they leaving?” Alexander pointed up ahead. The two Secret Service cars were pulling away. When my mom opened the car door, everyone started talking at once. She held up her hand, and we all fell silent immediately.

“Everyone calm down. There's a rest stop two miles up, and we're all going to meet there. We can't have children and dogs on the side of a highway. It's too dangerous.”

“Did you see him? Did you see Elvis? Was he okay?”

“Yes, I saw him, Benji. He was fine, as big as ever.”

We followed Officer Perkins's car as it turned off the highway. My mom said he was coming with us because there was no way he was going to miss the excitement.

I was so happy at the thought of seeing Elvis again, I was speechless. Taisy was right. Everything had worked out. Well, not totally, since this was still going to be a good-bye, but at least I'd get a few pictures of Elvis, which was all I really wanted.

It was a big reunion at the rest stop. If anyone had been watching, I'm sure they would never have guessed what the heck was going on. A police officer, four Secret Service agents, a retired Super Bowl football champion, my mom, Taisy, Alexander Chang-Cohen, and me, plus a giant dog, a medium-sized dog, and a tiny dog.

It was hard to tell whether Elvis was happier to see me or Princess Daisy. Then Elvis read my mind and said that he was really happy to see Princess Daisy, but he was even happier to see me. He was pretty choked up over the fact that I'd chased him down to say good-bye again. I told him that I knew I couldn't live my life without having a few pictures to remember him by. I said I planned to blow up the pictures to poster size and put them in my room. We took a few group shots of everyone, and yes, my mom had been very smart to bring her tripod. And yes, she did have problems with the remote. Luckily, Alexander is an electronics whiz, so he was able to help her with that.

My mom took some pictures of me, Taisy, and Alexander with all three dogs. And finally, at the end, she took a bunch of pictures of just Elvis and me. Elvis was so excited, I had to keep wiping the drool strands from his mouth. My favorite picture was when Elvis told me to climb on his back, and I hugged his neck and we both just smiled. Oh, there was also a good one of Taisy, Alexander, me, and Elvis where I made bunny ears behind him, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be thrilled with that one.

Even the Secret Service agents loosened up. Sure, Agent Daniels was a little cranky about getting further behind schedule, but he was really excited to meet Taisy's dad. It turned out Agent Daniels was a huge football fan. Taisy's dad let all the agents try on his Super Bowl ring, and of course in the back of his car he had a few footballs lying around that he signed for everyone to take home. It was probably the best hour of my entire life. Mainly because we had all been strangers just a day ago, and now we were all coming together in a big, crazy lovefest at a rest stop on the side of the highway.

I didn't cry when I said good-bye to Elvis this time. My mom had told Agent Daniels that we were definitely coming to Washington, DC, for a visit, with Alexander and Taisy, too. Taisy cried a little, but she said it was more because she knew how much Princess Daisy was going to miss Elvis.

It was getting dark, and my mom said it was time to go. Everyone got back in their cars, and it was just Elvis and me alone in the rest stop park.

“I guess this is good-bye again?” I said.

“This is good-bye for just a little while. Until next time.”

“I'll send you some of the pictures. Maybe they'll frame one and put it by your dog bed in the White House?”

“That would be great. But Benji, I don't need a picture to remember you. I'll remember you and our time together forever.”

“Me too. Hey, you called me Benji.”

“Yes, I guess I did.”

“I love you, Elvis. And I want you to know that you're even more extraordinary than you think you are.”

“I love you too, Benji, and don't kid yourself, you're pretty extraordinary too. You've got real character. And you found yourself a great pack.”

“Yeah, I think so too. But there's always room for one more, so if the White House is too small for you, you always have a home with me.”

I gave him one last big hug. He licked my face one more time, and then we parted ways. This time when we both got back to our cars, we turned at the same time and waved. It was just like the movies.

When I climbed back into the car, everyone was silent.

“I'm okay, guys. Really. I'm just happy we all got to be together again. And that I now have the pictures to prove it.”

We drove home in silence. Everyone was lost in thought, but then when we got back to town, we all went out for hamburgers and ice cream.

When we switched back to our car, Taisy said she'd see me at school tomorrow during lunch.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I'll save you a seat at lunch. Don't you want to sit together? You too, Alexander.” I was so thrilled with the idea to have friends to sit with at lunch, I couldn't even say anything and just nodded. Alexander must have felt the same way, because we just stood there grinning like idiots and waving until she was gone.

Next we picked up Alexander's bike, and we brought Alexander and a cake to their house. My mom and Mrs. Chang-Cohen hit it off instantly, and my mom invited Mrs. Chang-Cohen to join her book club. Alexander said it was probably better not to tell his mom about our high-speed chase, and I agreed.

“You want to walk to school together tomorrow?” he asked when we said good-bye.

“Sure. Sounds good.” We fist-bumped.

When we were in the car alone, I asked my mom what she was thinking, because she was so quiet. She said she was proud of me.

“Really? Why?” I asked.

“Just because, Benji. Just because.”

Writing alone is hard, but I was lucky enough not to be on my own for this labor of love. My dear friend Tasha Blaine, from that very first voicemail message you left telling me how much you loved Benji and Elvis, and how they made you laugh out loud on the subway—you became my number-one reader, supporter, and partner in this endeavor. You were the first eyes on every word, and I couldn't have done it without you. Lots of love and thanks to my family and friends, who have always supported my writing career: Mom; my big brother, John; my sister-in-law, Susie; the one and only Howard J. Morris; my most excellent friends Laura, Stephanie, Zander, Jessi, Holdy, Mark, and Jenna. Nadine Morrow and her amazing family must also be recognized. Nadine, you were absolutely the inspiration for the mom in this book! A very special shout-out must go to Sebastian Hochman and his dad, David. SB, you were my very first kid reader, and I thank you for your time and thoughts. Big thanks to my other early young readers: Ethan Plunkett and Sky Martin. I would also like to thank all my friends at
Shake It Up!
: the hilarious writing staff, the entire crew, everyone at the Disney Channel, and especially the world's best cast, because all of you helped me realize how much fun it is to write for children. Many thanks also to my awesome agent, Sally Wofford-Girand, to Mark Gordon and Josie Freedman at ICM, and my manager Alex Hertzberg. Last but never least, my fabulous, incredible editor, Alessandra Balzer; her wonderful associate editor, Sara Sargent; and the rest of her amazing team at Balzer + Bray and HarperCollins, who have been awesome partners in this whole exciting process. And to the talented Kelly Light, who brought the characters in this book to life perfectly. A big kiss to my furry dog family as well: Doozy, Finn, Kimba, and Wendell . . . I can't tell you how many times I've wished all of you could talk! And to all you Underdogs out there, remember: A good sense of humor is the key to life. Breathe and believe!