Edison's Gold Read Free Page A

is … it’s not anywhere we’ve been before. It’s a whole new adventure for us. In Wichita.”
    Good news?
Tom wondered if it was possible to mathematically calculate the direct relationship between the badness of the news and the forced wideness of his dad’s smile.
    â€œThe same Wichita that’s in Kansas?” Maybe there was a very charming Wichita Street in Yonkers, only a few minutes’ bike ride from Noodle’s and Colby’s houses.
    â€œThe Wichita where that meteor fell.” Tom’s mother had suddenly materialized in the doorway. “Near Dorothy and Toto, too,” she added for Rosie’s benefit.
    No, no, no
. This was not a joke. Tom looked from his father’s face to his mother’s. He could feel himself starting to panic. They couldn’t move. His whole life was in New York. And then out of the corner of his eye, he saw the answer to their problems … Nanny Golightly.
Aha!
It was a little early for the unveiling, but the prototype was basically finished.
    He swung his legs off the bed.
    â€œMom, Dad—we don’t need to go to Wichita. Once I sell the patent for Nanny Golightly, we won’t have to go anywhere. We’ll be loaded.”
    â€œNanny Go-who?” His dad, who loved anything to do with gadgets, patents, and inventions, couldn’t help but look curious.
    His mother, however, was already shaking her head. “Tom, don’t make this situation worse. We need to be realistic right now.”
    But Tom only had eyes for the invention that would save them all. He placed a picture book into one of Nanny’s oven-mitt hands, then pressed play on the CD player. “Mom, remember how you were saying you never get enough time to read to Rosie?”
    â€œLook, honey, you can still see Noodle and Colby in the summer,” said his mother, not really listening. “They can visit—”
    â€œWell, now you can!” Tom interrupted. “Because I recorded three hours of you singing to her, then burned it onto a CD. Six songs, including her favorite, ‘She’ll Be Coming ’Round the Mountain.’ ”
    â€œRoun mountay!” Rose clapped her hands, recognizing the title.
    â€œSee? Already got a request.” And before anyone could utter another word, the sound of his mom’s voice piped sweetly out of Nanny Golightly’s microphone mouthpiece.
“She’ll be coming ’round the mountain when she comes—”
    â€œRoun moun …” Rose was all dimpled grin. Hismother even looked warily impressed as the robot’s mismatched arms turned pages in time with her singing.
    â€œYou just plop your kid down in front of the robot here,” Tom boasted like a used-car salesman, “and let Nanny Golightly here do the rest!”
    â€œA little WD-40 through the shoulder hinges there’d do wonders,” pointed out his father, his spirits momentarily lifted.
    â€œGreat idea, Dad.” Tom was beaming. “Love the enthusiasm.”
    This is it
, he couldn’t help thinking. It was destiny. Ninety-nine percent perspiration had finally paid off. The Edison family wasn’t moving anywhere.
    â€œShe’ll be coming ’round the mountain, she’ll be coming ’round the mountain.”
Abruptly, Nanny’s voice lurched into a Darth Vader bass tone, her arms slowing down. In the next second she sped up, her tin voice now squeaking like a chipmunk’s.
    Smack!
The malfunctioning robot hurled the picture book across the room.
    Rose began to cry.
    â€œTom! Please stop that thing!” His mother scooped up his baby sister from her father’s lap, as Tom jiggered withNanny’s buttons and gadget appendages. Too late. With a hollow pop, Nanny’s head sprang off her body and flew into the air.
    Rose immediately stopped crying, so shocked and frightened she could not make a peep.
    â€œIt’s all right,