Free The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman Page A

reasons to be here. Why else would he have spent so much money to find an instant winner ticket and also to wire himself up?
    Carol led them down another hallway with darkened offices, cordoned-off cubicles, but walls that practically vibrated with color. Where the murals stopped, framed pictures began: formalportraits of men and women, but with mustaches drawn on them, or with clown hats and squirting bowties, rabbit ears, caterpillar eyebrows, cat’s eyes.

    The group turned down yet another hall that opened into a junglelike area with flowers and small trees and sunshine that filtered through skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows. They stopped beside a massive pair of green doors in an eight-story brick wall.
    Carol turned to them. “Any minute—Correction. Right now, here they are. The other team, with my counterpart, Bill, there in the red shirt.”
    Bill stopped his team at matching red doors about five yards away, then he and Carol nodded to each other and ruffled their own heads of hair in a silent challenge.
    The other team stared at Gil’s team, and Gil stared right back until, ghostlike, both sets of doors lumbered open on their own. Gil and his team edged through.
    “Oh. My. Gosh,” said Bianca.
    “Am I hallucinating?” Lavinia asked.
    Gil shook his head. “Only if I am.”
    Palm trees and monstrous flowers rose for stories. Hot-air balloons and skeletons danced from the ceiling. Huge shoes dangled, giant pandas floated around, and gigantic spears of broccoli sprouted from the ground. Puffs of gold confetti rained in random spots, catching the light and casting a brilliance across a small area. A waterfall rushed and rumbled somewhere to his left. And who knew what was beyond that maze of rainbow-colored walls?
    “Green team. Green team.”
    Gil closed his mouth and focused on Carol.
    “The wow factor here is huge. It still is for meafter hundreds of times. But now I need you to look up to the spectator area. Wave to everyone.” She waited for them to wave. “Now forget they’re there. See Jason, the main camera guy to your left? Wave to Jason and his camera. Wave, wave. Good. Now forget him, too.
    “But here’s something to remember.” Carol pointed toward a plain door. “Through there lies a short corridor leading directly to the conference room where we met. We took the long way around and allowed you to make a grand entrance. The conference room can be your second-best friend. Use it as a home base if you find King Kong, the racecar, and all the other random props too distracting. Now come this way.”
    They stopped at a long, Plexiglas table with green twinkle lights encased along its edges. In the center, on top of a stack of three boxes, sat a green envelope with a big “#1” on it.
    “Ta-da! Your first puzzle. When you hear the chimes, open the envelope and begin. I’ll be lurking in the shadows if you need me. I’m rooting for you, but by the rules, I’m also your impartial referee andyour harshest judge. Do me proud.” Carol put on a set of headphones, spoke a few words into the attached microphone, then gave a thumbs-up to someone in the viewing area.
    An unbroken line of faces peered from the perimeter of the room. It reminded Gil of feeding time at the zoo. He caught a glimpse of his mom and dad. Then, farther down, Old Man Golliwop. And Mr. Titus, touching his nose and his chin.
    Gil stared at Rocky until Rocky noticed.
    Rocky looked up at his dad and ran his own finger across his neck. “Satisfied?” he said to Gil.
    Blong! Blong! Blong!
    Rocky’s hand shot out fastest. He grabbed the envelope and ripped it open.
     
    Puzzle #1
     
    Seek A Lively Evil Magician, With Its Terrible
    Cackling Head
    (choose your answer from these three products)
     
    Lavinia spaced out the boxes: The Black Magic Game, The Salem Witch Game, and My First Magic Act.
    “I wanna win,” said Rocky. “Someone think of something smart to say.”
    Gil and Lavinia were leaning over the table, staring