Chapter 1

Google is Deaf

It all began with a misunderstanding on Google's part. One misunderstanding that flipped my whole world upside down. My name is Rebecca. Rebecca Pryce. This is the story of how my life changed forever—for the better. This is the story of one of my fondest memories ever.

It was the summer of 2019. I was sick of having nothing to do except read. I grabbed my phone. No new texts. Or emails. I sighed. I picked myself up and meandered over to The Most Esteemed Bookshelf, a regular shelf granted the coveted title because of its holding my all-time favorite book series—Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. Automatically, I reached for my bookmarked copy of Nightfall, the sixth book. I'd been rereading the entire series to keep my mind off the dreadful cliffhanger in Shannon's latest book, which I just so happened to be on. Opening it, I began to read, becoming so engrossed that I didn't hear the voice calling me till it was too late.

Uh-oh.

It was Mom.

"Rebecca Astrid Pryce!" Mom scolded. "I've been calling you three times now! It's time for you to go help out at Eternal Valley Souvenir Shop."

"Coming, Mom!" I yelled back.

Replacing my bookmark, I pulled my dark brown hair into a messy low ponytail and burst out of my room, phone in hand. I'd been volunteering at Eternal Valley Souvenir Shop, which was owned by my aunt, for a few weeks now, and Mom was always on time. Hastily I tapped the microphone icon on Google Maps.

"Eternal Valley," I mumbled.

After releasing the icon to let the dratted device know I was done speaking, I stifled a fangirl squeal. Google apparently had interpreted my request as "Eternalia". Quickly I snapped a screenshot before typing "Eternal Valley". Once the directions for the souvenir shop were up, I laced up my worn light pink Converse and headed out the door with my precious phone.

"Well, Rebecca, took you long enough," Mom observed.

"Sorry," I replied. "Google had the wonderful idea of misinterpreting my request, so I had to manually search for the directions."

"Oh, it's fine, sweetie."