Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #12: Escape to California (4 page)

Stanley couldn't believe his eyes: his very own superhero suit! “My brother, Arthur, is going to f-freak out!” he stammered.

Uncle Jerry and his team cheered.

“Now there's only one last puzzle piece we need,” Dr. Fox said, throwing an arm around both Stanley and his father. “Next stop, Hollywood.”

“Why Hollywood?” asked Stanley's father.

Stanley couldn't get any more excited. He'd always wanted to go to Hollywood!

Lily rubbed her hands together. “Because that's where our man in show business is.”

Hollywood, Here We Come

“I still don't understand,” Stanley's father said as they huddled in the back of the van outside the gates of the movie studio. “Why do we have to sneak onto a movie set if we're visiting someone you know?”

“Because
,
” Lily answered with a roll of her eyes, “it's a
surprise
.”

“Okay,” said Dr. Fox, pressing a fake mustache onto his upper lip. “Everybody know their roles?”

Stanley adjusted his mirrored sunglasses. His father straightened the scarf around his neck. And Lily punched a leather-gloved fist into her other palm. They rolled out of the back of the van.

Stanley couldn't help gaping up at the palm trees that lined the sidewalk. As they approached the security booth at the edge of the studio lot, a guard stepped out.

“I have the famous Flat Stanley Lambchop here to visit the set of
Storm Warriors
!” announced Stanley's father in a brassy voice. With his business suit and a scarf around his neck, he looked like a real movie mogul.

“Is he on the list?” said the guard.

“The list?” shouted Mr. Lambchop. “My client is the most famous flat kid in the world, and you want to know if he's on the list?”

“All right, all right,” said the security guard, throwing up his hands. “But what about the rest of you?”

“I'm a big agent, mister!” boomed Mr. Lambchop. “I can't wait to tell your boss you don't know who I am!”

Stanley bit his lip to keep from laughing.

“And I am Stanley's trainer,” said Dr. Fox in a Russian accent. He was wearing a red tracksuit. His mustache was coming up on one side. “Flat muscles need good exercise.”

The guard peered down at Lily. She flexed her fists slowly. “I'm da bodyguard,” she grunted.

The guard rolled his eyes and waved the four of them through.

“It worked!” whispered Lily. “Now all we have to do is find the set of
Storm Warriors
!”

“Who are we looking for, anyway?” whispered Stanley, running to keep up.

“You'll see,” said Lily.

They turned a corner.

“There it is!” whispered Dr. Fox, pointing to a placard that read
STORM WARRIORS
beside the entrance to a big warehouse-like building.

Mr. Lambchop tried the huge sliding door, but it wouldn't budge. Then Dr. Fox tried. Finally Lily pursed her lips and grabbed the handle, pulling with all her might. The door squeaked open an inch, but that was it.

“I can fit,” Stanley whispered. “I'll check things out and report back. Wait here.” He paused. “Whom should I ask for?”

Dr. Fox said, “You'll know him when you see him.”

Stanley said, “But who—”

Lily held up her hands. “Trust us,” she said.

Stanley sighed, handed his sunglasses to Lily, and slipped inside. It was very dark. He crept forward.

“This is the big one, everybody,” a voice announced over a loudspeaker. “Remember, nothing loose on set. Everything tied down? Good. Cue rain.”

It started pouring. Stanley curled his head down to keep his face dry.
How do they make it rain from the ceiling like that
? he thought.

“Lightning and thunder,” boomed the voice.

The room flashed, and a deafening crash shook Stanley's whole body.

“And . . . cue tornado!”

A powerful swirl of wind suddenly seized the room, and Stanley was pulled into the air. “Whoa!” he yelled.

A segment of picket fence came flying toward him, and Stanley narrowly slipped through its panels. He dodged a fake cow. A couch came up behind him, forcing him to sit.

Riding through the air on the couch, Stanley saw two men facing off over the spinning center of the tornado! They flipped through the air at each other. One landed a kick in the other's chest, sending his opponent flying . . . right onto the couch beside Stanley.

“Stanley-san?” said the stricken warrior in disbelief.

“CUT!” the loudspeaker voice cried.

The wind instantly died and so did the rain, thunder, and lightning. Stanley was surprised to find that the couch was actually suspended at the top of a crane. On another crane across the set was the car Stanley had narrowly avoided. And sitting beside him was his old friend, the Japanese movie star Oda Nobu.

“WHAT IS THAT KID-SHAPED SIGN DOING FLYING AROUND ON SET!” the director's voice shouted.

“Stanley-san,” said Oda Nobu as the crane descended to the ground. “What are you doing here?”

“I was . . . I am . . .” Stanley sputtered. His mind was reeling.
Did Lily know Oda Nobu was here?
he thought.
Is Oda Nobu our connection in show business?

“Can you come with me?” Stanley gestured for his old friend to follow. At the giant door, he stepped aside and let Oda Nobu pull it open.

Lily rolled right in, almost barreling over Oda Nobu. She stuck out a hand. “It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Nobu! I'm a big fan. Stanley's always talking about you, and we thought we'd bring him down here to say hi. Plus, I knew you were just the man to help us with our plan to change the world!”

Stanley couldn't help but laugh.
Lily is fearless!
he thought.

“Any friend of Stanley's is a friend of mine,” said Oda Nobu. “What is this plan of yours?”

Lily peered around to make sure no one was listening. “We'd like you to hold a live news conference to bring the world's attention to a daring escape from Alcatraz.”

“But who would attempt such an escape?” said Oda Nobu.

Lily sat up straighter. “You're looking at her!”

Hitting the Beach

Less than twenty-four hours remained until the escape. There was only one thing left to do: practice.

Oda Nobu, Stanley, and Lily huddled in the back of the Fox family's van as it raced up Highway 1, along the Pacific coast from Los Angeles toward San Francisco. On one wall of the van hung the blueprint of Alcatraz.

Stanley practiced slipping his head through the slit in the partition to the front seat without Dr. Fox and his father noticing. Lily picked a lock while wearing a blindfold. Oda Nobu went over his script: His agent had informed the networks that both he and his wife, the famed matador Carmen del Junco, would be appearing at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco to make a “shocking announcement” at exactly 7:15 tomorrow evening. The press was already aflutter with rumors that the international celebrity couple might be breaking up.

Suddenly the van stopped. Dr. Fox opened the back doors, and sunlight streamed in. Stanley heard the crashing of waves. A sign pointing back in the direction they came read
SANTA BARBARA
.

“The beach here is deserted,” Dr. Fox announced. “Stanley, Lily, it's time for a test flight.”

Once Stanley squeezed into his flight suit, Oda Nobu looked at him admiringly. “That is the finest ninja suit I have ever seen.”

Stanley puffed out his chest. “Nice, huh?”

Stanley sat on the sand while Dr. Fox fiddled with the extra-fine wires that would attach him to the Escapist—also known as the wheelchair Lily was using for her stunt. His suit turned light beige to match the sand. Oda Nobu gasped and announced that he must have one. “Also,” he added, “Carmen could use such a suit for her bullfights. She would be invincible!” Stanley grinned at the thought of bullfighting with Carmen, as he had in Mexico.