BLUEPRINTS

BLUEPRINTS By: Aleeyah Slater

“Geez, school was boring today.” Nat sighed, slouching under the weight of her backpack.

“Yeah, it really was,” Lincoln agreed, wiping off his glasses, “We don’t even need to learn any of this stuff anyway.”

“And ​so​ much homework...”

“Uh-uh - hey, what’s that?” Lincoln asked, pointing to something half-buried in the snow. Nat shrugged, trudging ahead, “Who knows? Probably garbage. What time do you need to be home? Would your moms mind if we stopped for hot chocolate?? I’m fre-ee-eezing.” “Hold on...” Lincoln bent down, scooping up the item. “It’s a...notebook?”

“What?” Nat asked, doubling back and peering down at the item, “Huh. Yeah, it’s a little black notebook. I wonder who lost it. Is there a name inside?”

Lincoln rifled through a few pages, “No, it’s all blank. That’s weird, who keeps a blank notebook?”

“Wait, stop.” Nat put her hand out, stopping Lincoln from flipping any farther, “There’s a name...Mx. Hattlestad. Do you know who that is?”

Lincoln shook his head, “No, but...the name sounds kinda familiar. I wonder why they wrote their name in the middle of a blank notebook?”

“Is there anything else written in there?”

Lincoln turned a few more pages, “Uh...yeah, an address and...woah. Are you seeing this?!”

Nat’s eyes widened, “Oh yeah, I’m seeing it. This can’t be real!”

“It looks pretty real...”

“Who would put that much money as a reward for a tiny, blank notebook?” “Apparently Mx. Hattlestad, whoever they are. Must be really, really rich.”

“I mean, there’s rich, and then there’s putting a reward of ​twenty thousand dollars ​in a notebook.” Nat pointed out, shaking her head, “I mean...I didn't think anyone had that much money in real life.”

“Me neither...” Lincoln mumbled, hurriedly flipping through the rest of the book, “Nothing else...this is-”

“Crazy.” Nat finished, grabbing the book out of Lincoln’s hands, “This is really, really crazy.”

“Can I see the address again?”

“Yeah...there.” Nat pointed out the page.

“Apartment 6, 191 Elmbech street. Do you know where that is?” Lincoln asked, taking the book back.

She squinted, thinking “Um...yeah, yeah. It’s like fifteen blocks or so from here. Why?” Lincoln raised his eyebrows.

“No...We can’t.” Nat shook her head, stuffing her hands back in her pockets.

“Why not? You were the one suggesting a hot coca detour earlier. This is just...slightly longer.” Lincoln protested, “Just think about it, we could have twenty thousand dollars. ​Twenty thousand dollars​!”

Nat smiled, “That ​would​ be pretty awesome.” She paused for a moment, biting her lip, “Alright! Fine. I’’ll text my dad to ask.”

Licoln grinned, “Great! I’ll call my mom.”

“Which one?” Nat laughed, “Oh, I crack myself up with that every time...”

Linocln rolled his eyes, smiling, “Daisy. You know Jemma works late-”

“Crazy scientist schedule, right, I forgot. My dad should be home from the auto shop by now, let’s see if he answers...” Nat pulled out her phone, typing furiously.

Lincoln dialed, holding the phone to his ear.

“Hey bud, what’s up?” The voice on the other end greeted him.

“Hey, Mom. I was just wondering if Nat and I could...take the scenic route home?” “...What do you mean?”

“Well, we found something interesting, and it could be really awesome, so could we just go see?” Lincoln bit his lip.

“You’re being very cryptic. No more details?”

“No, not really.”

His mom sighed, “Okay, against my better judgement...an adventure’s an adventure. Go ahead. Be safe, and be home by five, ‘kay?”

Lincoln smiled, “Thanks mom! You're the best!”

She chuckled, “Oh, you’d say anything to convince me to let you go. Now, just don’t tell your mum about this, she’d kill me if she knew I was letting you go on some unknown expedition without a parent.”

“Ok, I won’t tell.” Lincoln agreed, bouncing up and down on his toes to stay warm. “Great. Have fun, and I’ll see you at dinner. Bye!”

“Bye, Mom!” He hung up, slipping the phone back in his pocket. He turned to Nat, “Ok,

I’m good to go! You?”

She nodded, “Yup! Dad said sure, a long as I stay with you.”

“Okay! Lets go get a ton of money!”

Nat laughed, “You’re so optimistic. We probably won’t actually get anything. It’s most likely a weird scam.”

Lincoln shrugged, “Well, even if we don’t get the cash, it’ll be fun, right?”

“Of course. Ready to go?”

“Lead the way! I don’t know where we’re going, remember?”

“Right, sorry! Elmbech..this way. Keep up!” Nat headed off down the street, humming to herself, Lincoln scrambling at her heels.

As they walked, Lincoln ran ahead and doubled back like an excited puppy. “C'mon!! Hurry up!!”

Nat raised her eyebrows, “Why are you so hyper?”

“TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!” Lincoln yelled, “Do you know how much candy that could buy?! Or art supplies?! Or....anything?! We’d split the money halfway, right?”

“Of course.” Nat sped up a bit, getting into the idea, “I could get a dog! Or, like, I could go to Barnes and Noble and get soooo many books!”

“Exactly!” Lincoln grinned, “Are we almost there?”

“Umm...” Nat looked up at the street signs, “Yeah! The next block over!”

They ran the next block and a half, stopping only when Lincoln yelled, “191! Right here! Let’s go!”

Nat ran up to the door and hit the buzzer for apartment 6.

The intercom crackled to life, “Hello? Who’s there?”

Lincoln spoke into the mike, “We found your book?” He looked over at Nat, who grinned at him.

“Ah! Yes, come on up!” The voice chirped happily. The door buzzed, and Nat pushed it open.

They raced up the stairs, and knocked on the apartment door.

“Here we go...” Nat whispered, “You ready?”

“Oh, yeah.” Lincoln whispered back, cracking his knuckles nervously.

The door swung open, and a person with rumpled brown hair and an excited grin greeted them. “Hey! I’m Zeke Hattlestad! It’s so nice to meet you! You two have my book? What’re your names?”

“Yup! I’m Natalie Rodriguez, and this is my friend Lincoln Johnson. Can we come in?” Nat asked, twisting a lock of her hair.

“Oh, of course! You probably want the reward, right?” they asked. When Lincoln nodded frantically, they continued, “Well then, follow me!” Zeke turned and went into the apartment. “How’d you find it?” they called over their shoulder.

“Um, it was out in the snow.” Lincoln spoke up. “Your house is really cool.”

“Oh, thanks! Ah, I can’t believe I was so careless! I was worried sick about it, thank you so much for bringing it back.” Zeke said, rummaging around in a cabinet.

“Yeah, of course...Can I ask you a question?” Nat hedged.

“Ask away!” Zeke pulled out a black box from the drawer, and then grabbed a ring of keys, searching through them.

“Um, why did you put such a big reward on a blank book?” She asked.

Zeke spun around, their eyes sparkling, “Blank?! Oh, no it is definitely ​not​ blank! Can I have it?”

Lincoln handed over the book, looking perplexed, “What do you mean, it’s not blank? We both looked through it.”

“Oh, I bet you did. But, see, if you don't have the proper materials, looking won’t do you any good.” Zeke held a pen over the book, clicking on the blue light in the tip. “Look again...”

“Woah! Is that invisible ink?!” Nat exclaimed, peering over Lincoln’s shoulder.

“You bet!” Zeke answered.

“What is it? Why did you write in invisible ink?” Lincoln asked, looking closely at the pages.

“It’s the blueprints for my latest invention, the Air-Flyer.” Zeke flipped through some more pages, showing off the plans.

Lincoln turned to them, eyes wide, “You...you designed that?!”

“Yeah! It’s my most daring invention yet! I haven't ​quite​ gotten a proper working model yet, but when it’s all done, it should be great!” Zeke smiled proudly.

“Wait, it’s your ‘most daring invention yet’?” Nat clarified, “ So, what else have you made?”

“Oh, lots of little things.The Upsidedown Shoe, the Inverted Charger, the Self-cleaning Sponge, a few others.”

“Hold on. You made the Inverted Charger? And the Upsidedown Shoe? You’re ​the ​Mx. Hattlestad?!?!” Lincoln exclaimed, his mouth dropping open.

“Yes! You’ve heard of me?” Zeke grinned, handing the pen and notebook to Lincoln, and going back the the box and key ring.

“Of course” Lincoln looked over at Nat quickly, “That’s why the name sounded familiar!” He turned back to Zeke, “My grandpa told me about you! He’s ​obsessed​ with your stuff! He loves all kinds of gadgets, and he even bought the Charger last year! This is so cool! He’s going be so jealous to know that I met you! Oh, hey, could you sign something for me to give to him?!” Lincoln exclaimed, clutching the book in his fist.

Zeke laughed, “Of course! I’m glad to know I have fans!” The key clicked in the lock, and the box sprung open. “Aha, here we go. Now, for your reward!” They spun the box to face Nat and Lincoln.

“That...is a box full of money. A ​lot​ of money.” Nat mumbled.

“It’s the reward money! So, it belongs to you guys!”

“Are you serious.” Nat stared at the case, “This is so much! Are you sure you want to give it away? Don’t you need it?!”

“Nope! After the Sponge sold so well, and I started designing the Flyer, I put some extra aside to make sure I could always get my plans back if I lost them. So here you are! Do with it what you will!” Zeke handed Nat the case.

“Thank you. This is incredible! Lincoln, we’re rich!” She exclaimed, looking though the bundles of money.

Lincoln joined her at the case. “Wow. This is awesome!” He rummaged through his backpack, “Hey, can you sign this paper?” He held his math homework up to Zeke.

Zeke laughed, “Um, sure!” they quickly scribbled out a signature on the corner of the sheet and handed it back.

Lincoln stared at it in awe, tracing the letters. “This. Is. So. Cool!”

Zeke looked from Nat, who was still staring at the case, to Lincoln, who was stuffing the math paper back in his bag, and got an idea. “Hey, do you two want a tour? Of my studio or whatever? I could show you around, tell you a little about the inventing process?”

Nat’s mouth dropped open, “Are you serious?!”

They shrugged, “Yeah, I’d be happy to. Lincoln, you could bring your grandpa, and Natasha, if you wanted to bring someone, you could.”

“Oh my God!” Lincoln rubbed hos hands together exiendly. “Can we do it now?!”

“Yeah! Text your families, get ‘em over here!” Zeke smiled, “It’s the least I can do for the rescuers of my plans. Well, that and twenty thousand dollars.” they joked.

Lincoln squealed, pulling out his phone. “Ah, grandpa’s going to be so exited!!” He looked at Zeke, “Thank you so much!”

Nat looked up from the case, “Yeah, thank you! I’m gonna text my dad!”

“Of course! I’m happy to!” Zeke went back to their desk. They grabbed a pen off the table, and checked off a box on a To-Do list sheet. The box said, ‘Play Lost Notebook game. See what happens.’ they smiled, tucking the pen back in their pocket. “That was a success.” they whispered to themselves, before heading back to Nat and Lincoln to start the tour.