Macdonald Hall #7: The Joke's on us

One Lousy Little Broken Wire

"Hey, Mr. Wong! How's it going? You're looking sharp! It sure is great to be back in geography class! I hope we didn't miss too much! Need us to do any extra homework to get caught up? Are you sure — hey, Boots, cut it out! Let go! Hey — "

"Bruno," Boots whispered as he hauled his roommate bodily to their seats. "Everybody's staring at us. They're looking at you like you've gone nuts."

"I don't care," Bruno grinned stubbornly. "I'm just too happy about not being expelled to shut up about it." He leaped to his feet. "Guys, I have an announcement to make. Boots and I aren't expelled. So we'll be here from now on."

There was a burst of applause, and Bruno and Boots accepted backslaps and handshakes. "I hope no one minds if we do a little geography," put in Mr. Wong, handing out a stack of

printed pamphlets. He paused in front of Bruno and Boots. "It's good to have you back, Walton

— O'Neal."

"Thank you, sir," said Bruno appreciatively. He pulled the top two pamphlets from the pile for himself and Boots.

Boots turned his attention to the booklet on his desk. It was entitled "Mineral Deposits Throughout the World." He stared at the design on the cover, which featured a globe, flattened into an oval. Arranged around it were pictures of molecules. At the very top was an ornate crown. Boots frowned. Mr. Wong had never used these pamphlets before. Why did that picture seem so familiar?

It hit him like a bolt out of the blue — this was the mysterious crest from the shirt on the videotape! The flattened globe had appeared to be an egg in the dim light! The molecules provided the circles and the crown they had recognized right from the start!

"Bruno!" he hissed. "Take a look at this!" "Yeah? So?" Bruno regarded his pamphlet.

"Don't you see it?" Boots persisted. "It's the crest from the video!" Breathlessly, he pointed out the egg, the circles, and the crown, tracing the shapes with his pencil.

Bruno's hand shot up. "Mr. Wong! Mr. Wong!"

The teacher rolled his eyes. "What is it now, Walton?"

Bruno shook his head. "Sir, I just wanted to know — what's this crest on the cover of the booklet."

"Oh, that's the insignia of the Royal Geophysical Society."

"Thanks." Bruno sat back in confusion. "That doesn't make any sense. What kind of a creep would wear a T-shirt from a Geophysical Society."

The answer came to both of them at the same time. Bruno and Boots snapped to attention, looked at each other, and chorused, "Elmer Drimsdale!"

***

"Elmer is the Phantom?" exclaimed Pete Anderson in disbelief.

"Shhh!" cautioned Bruno, looking around the dining hall to make sure the school genius wasn't within earshot. "I know it sounds crazy, but who else would have a T-shirt from the Royal Geophysical Society?"

"And think how weird he's been acting lately," added Boots. "All this 'living on the edge' stuff."

"Yeah, but the Phantom started out long before Elmer went off his nut," Larry pointed out. "Maybe not," said Bruno. "Don't forget, Elmer first saw Marylou What's-her-face at the

Summer Science Fair. He was sending her those stupid presents three days into school! What if Elmer cooked up this whole Phantom thing because he thought it would make him seem more glamorous to Marylou?"