The Mysterious Disappearence of Leon Read Online Free PDF Page B

men in the local news, national news, and international news; men in picket lines, parades, and demonstrations. They even watched commercials.
    “Who knows but some soap company might want a handsome man like Noel to tell housewives what soap to use in their washing machines,” Mrs. Carillon would say. “Or maybe some razor-blade company might pay Noel to shave off his red moustache on television.”
    Sports news was their favorite, though. Whenever the announcer said, “The feature race was won by Christmas Bells,” Tina and Mrs. Carillon let out a lusty cheer. Tony was more interested in baseball.
    “The St. Louis Cardinals are playing the Mets at Shea Stadium tonight,” Tony said. “And the game is going to be on television.”
    “Wouldn’t you rather go to the movies?” Mrs. Carillon asked, her eyes still glued to the set. “We usually go to a cowboy movie on Fridays.”
    Tony couldn’t make up his mind.
    “Tina, what would you like to do?” Mrs. Carillon asked. “Tina?”
    Tina was deep in thought. “One minute, I’ve almost got it, except for the ‘I glub.’ ”
    Mrs. Carillon turned away from the television set to stare at Tina. “What have you got?”
    “‘C blub all’ could mean St. Louis Cardinals’ and ‘new....’ could mean ‘New York Mets.’”
    “Tina, that’s wonderful!” Mrs. Carillon decided to stay home and watch the ball game.
    Tony didn’t think Tina’s idea was at all wonderful. Noel had said that in December, and major league baseball isn’t played in winter. Besides, the Mets weren’t around twenty-one years ago. Football was a possibility, but Tony didn’t mention any of this. He had decided he wanted to watch the game.

    Mrs. Carillon disappeared into the purple-flowered couch. The twins sat on either side of her, waiting for the first pitch.
    It was a strike.
    “Oh, no!” Mrs. Carillon sighed.
    “That’s good,” Tony explained. “The Cardinals are at bat. We’re for the other side.”
    “It’s just that I realized Noel is too old to be a ball player.”
    The batter hit a high foul into the stands. The camera followed the ball as it bounced off the fingertips of one fan into the hands of another. The crowd around him waved at the unseen television audience.
    “Look at all those faces,” Mrs. Carillon exclaimed with renewed interest.
    The batter struck out, as did the next, and the third man popped up to short.
    “We don’t have to watch that,” Mrs. Carillon said when the commercial was shown. “Noel is too genteel to drink beer.”
    The Mets came up to bat; three easy outs. The first inning was over.
    “My word, look at that! Look at all those banners: ‘Let’s Go Mets,’ ‘Massapequa Loves the Mets.’” Mrs. Carillon read aloud from the boldly lettered bedsheets held aloft by the fans. “Tiny, look carefully for ‘Noel Carillon Loves the Mets.’”

    “No luck tonight,” she said after the Mets won the game in the tenth inning. “I must have looked at 20,000 faces and read 150 signs. We’ll have to watch again tomorrow.”
    “I have a better idea,” Tony said. “Let’s go to Shea Stadium with our own bedsheet: ‘Noel: Call Mrs. Carillon, SH 1-1212.’ ”
    “We can’t do that,” Tina said. “Every crank 22 in town will call our number.”
    “Tina’s right,” Mrs. Carillon was quick to agree.
    Tony had another suggestion. “How about: ‘Mrs. Carillon Is Here!’? When Noel sees that he’ll come to the next ball game and find us.”
    “What if Noel has a black-and-white TV set?” Tina asked.
    “What difference does that make?”
    “If he has a black-and-white set he won’t be able to read a sign lettered on a purple-flowered bedsheet, or even an orange one, or a navy blue one. We don’t have a white bedsheet in the house.”
    “No problem,” Mrs. Carillon said. “First thing tomorrow, we’ll go to Bloomingdale’s and buy some white sheets.”
    Bedlam in Bloomingdale’s 23
    Mrs. Carillon and the twins were