Free Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #12: Escape to California by Jeff Brown Page B

same way. And I think it’s time to change how the world sees people in wheelchairs.”

    Stanley nodded. He knew what she meant. “But how?”
    â€œBy pulling off one of the greatest stunts of all time,” Lily answered matter-of-factly. “I’m going to escape from Alcatraz, without the use of my legs, on live TV.”
    â€œAlcatraz!” said Mr. Lambchop. “The old prison? Nobody has ever successfully escaped from there! I read about it in my guidebook. It’s perched on a rocky island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, surrounded by shark-infested waters! They call it the Rock.”
    â€œThe one and only,” said Lily.
    Mr. Lambchop shook his head. “But it’s impossible—”
    â€œYou might be surprised by what I can do in my wheelchair,” interrupted Lily. “That’s the whole point!”

    With that, Lily shot forward, her hands spinning both wheels so quickly, they were a blur. Dirt and leaves sprayed behind her. She curved sideways up the base of a giant redwood, and then rolled up the base of another, as if she were moving between a pair of skateboard ramps. Finally she lifted herself out of her wheelchair, spun the chair around, and sat again.
    She came to stop in front of them, with one eyebrow raised as if to say, See?
    â€œThat was incredible!” Stanley cried, clapping. But then he shook his head. “I still don’t understand how I can help you .”
    Lily wheeled up close. “Is it true that you found your way out of a pyramid in Egypt? That you trained with Oda Nobu in Japan and performed with the Flying Chinese Wonders in Beijing?”
    Stanley nodded.
    â€œThen help me pull off the greatest escape ever,” said Lily.
    Stanley’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes climbed the majestic trees, hundreds of feet into the air, where the sun was sparkling through ancient leaves.
    Finally he turned to his father with a look that said, “Can we?”
    Mr. Lambchop sighed deeply and then cleared his throat. “Get back in the van, everybody,” he said. “This has gone far enough.”
    Lily and Stanley’s faces fell.
    But then his dad winked. “We need to let Mrs. Lambchop, Arthur, and Stanley’s friend Thomas know that they shouldn’t worry. It seems we won’t be joining them again for a few days, at least!”

Introducing the Escapist
    When he and his father climbed out of the van at the Foxes’ farmhouse a few hours later, Stanley was greeted by a big shaggy dog that bounded up, flattened him to the ground, and licked his face.
    â€œSequoia!” a voice called. “Heel!” The dog leaped off of Stanley and sat panting beside him.
    A barefoot woman with curly blond hair and a flowing, brightly colored dress reached for Stanley’s hand, helping him up. “I’m Lily’s mom, Amber,” she said, and turned toward Mr. Lambchop. “And you must be Stanley’s father.”

    â€œIt’s George,” Stanley’s dad replied.
    â€œWell, I want to thank you both for being part of our little caper.” She threw one arm around Dr. Fox and put her other hand on Lily’s shoulder. “When our Lily sets her mind to something, she never gives up.”
    The Foxes led them up to the farmhouse. After Stanley’s father had called Stanley’s mom to check in, they joined Lily and her parents for dinner around a worn wooden table. There were so many different colors of food, they reminded Stanley of the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket.
    â€œWe grew most of this here on the farm,” said Amber, serving Stanley some kale slaw. “In fact, if you eat fruits or vegetables back home that are grown in America, chances are they come from California. There’s no place better on Earth.” She rattled off the things on the table: “Artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, basil, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe,