Author's note: This is the last chapter in the story. The last. I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.
And by the way, I left that sentence unfinished on purpose. I wanted to create an effect.
-
Chapter 9: Unfinished Business
-
08:11 AM - TOY ISLAND MAIN PLAZA
The WOOHP capture team had arrived. Dan Ti had been handcuffed, and all the other soldiers had been restored.
Jerry stood in front of Sam, Clover, and me. "Nice work, you three. I certainly didn't expect something like this to occur in front of my own nose."
"No problem," Clover explained. "The one most important quality of being a WOOHP spy is that you're ALWAYS prepared."
Jerry laughed a little, and then turned his attention to Dan Ti. "Now, you're coming with us. We're going to tear down this park and …"
"STOP!" I stepped between Jerry and Dan Ti. "You can't tear down Toy Island. Aside from all the hypnosis and stuff, it's a really fun place."
Sam agreed. "A theme park like this shouldn't just be torn down. It just needs a little renovation, and a new owner."
"But where can we get a crew to do that kind of thing?" Jerry asked.
"How about WOOHP's Delta team?" Clover suggested. "It's not like you ever use them for anything. Remember? The Delta team? Led by Steve Drake?"
"Yeah," I agreed, "and I'm sure some of the tourists here would be glad to help out."
Jerry scratched his head, and then nodded. "I'll make the arrangements immediately."
04:30 PM - HARBOR
The S.S. Toybox arrived back at the port. A wave of passengers disembarked. There were so many that the S.S. Toybox had to go back for more.
Alex was there waiting for us. "Was Toy Island exciting, you guys?"
"A little TOO exciting," I responded, "but I think I'll go back sometime."
MONDAY 05:31 PM - SPIES' VILLA
Once again, the girls were relaxing in front of the TV. Clover turned the TV on right before a commercial.
This was the familiar Toy Island commercial, redone. The same toy soldiers sang out: "This is Toy Island, full of toys / For all the girls and all the boys / The carnival is lots of fun / So come together, everyone."
And so they sang, and a new voice chimed in: "Toy Island, an island carnival so magnificent it rivals Coney Island. Perfect for dates! Cruises to the island leave every Friday at 5."
The voice continued. "Ask for information wherever Toy Island tickets are sold. I, Steve Drake, the new owner of Toy Island, guarantee that you'll love it so much that you'll never want to return home!"
"WANT to return home," I emphasized. "I'm glad it all worked out."
Then, the girls' favorite TV show, Beautiful People, Miserable Lives, came on. It bored me out of my skull, so I got up and left the couch.
I walked over and looked out the window. Mandy and her Toy Island date were walking down the sidewalk.
"I don't know about you, J.B.," Mandy said, "but after that Toy Island fiasco, I never want to see another toy soldier as long as I live."
An idea hit me so hard I nearly lost my balance. During our visit to Toy Island, I had bought a wind-up toy soldier at the souvenir shop. I got it out.
Carefully but quickly, I wound up the soldier and set it off. It crossed Mandy's path as it played a bell version of the Toy Island jingle.
Mandy screamed as she rushed up a nearby tree. J.B. cracked up. The girls were too absorbed in their TV show to notice.
Of course, Mandy knew exactly who to blame for this humiliation. "LEO!"
-
THE END
Oh, one more thing. Did you see the lyrics to the Toy Island jingle in every chapter? Here are their locations:
One: The TV commercial.
Two: Parodied for the "Wait for the next chapter!" blurb.
Three: Right after the announcement that the S.S. Toybox will arrive at Toy Island.
Four: Sam and I try it right before we run into Jason and Megan.
Five: The author's note.
Six: Jerry and Dinah sing it right before we speak to them.
Seven: Sam and the other toy soldiers sing it as they guard our cell.
Eight: The toy soldiers operating the switchboard sing it.
Nine: The TV commercial again.
