Plastic Palace (9781743583555) by Danny Parker Page B

pointed up at the ceiling.
    â€˜Well done, Lola!’ said Felix. ‘And the stolen plans are inside.’
    Lola smiled at Felix.
    Then she thought for a moment. It seemed that they had two problems.
    â€˜First, we need to get up there to open the safe,’ she said. ‘Then we need to work out the code to get into it.’
    Felix nodded. ‘There is a key pad on the safe with letters, not numbers,’ he said. ‘So it must be a code word .’
    Lola thought about that.
    â€˜I’ve got an idea. Let’s see which letters on the key pad have been used the most.’
    â€˜We’ll never see from down here,’ said Buddy, staring up at the roof.
    â€˜Of course we will,’ said Lola, kneeling down. ‘We’ll use the mirror.’
    They huddled around the mirror on the floor.
    Buddy gave a cry when he saw himself in the mirror. ‘Twist my toggle ! What happened to me?’
    â€˜Oh sorry, Buddy!’ groaned Lola. ‘My brother thought glasses and a moustache would suit you.’
    Felix smiled at Buddy. ‘I thought it was your new look, friend. I rather like it.’ Buddy took another look, then turned to Lola. ‘Hmmmpppphh!’ was all he said.

    Lola turned back to look at the letters again, trying not to laugh.
    â€˜The most worn letters will make up the code word,’ she said extra seriously.
    Most of the letters looked brand-new. But sure enough, some looked a little worn.
    â€˜I think it’s C , L , A , S , P and I . And definitely T .’
    Felix pulled out a piece of paper.
    Lola wrote the letters down. Buddy watched over her shoulder.
    Buddy studied the letters. ‘ CLASPIT !’ he cried.
    â€˜ CLASPIT ?’ said Felix. ‘What does that mean?’
    â€˜Tangled laces, you’re right!’ said Buddy. ‘It should be a real word. Hang on.’ He went back to studying the letters.
    â€˜ SALTPIC !’ he cried next.
    â€˜Buddy,’ said Lola. ‘Can you make an actual word from these letters?’
    â€˜Let me see. Yes … yes … yes. Um, no.’ Buddy shook his head sadly.
    â€˜Did we miss a letter?’ asked Felix.
    Lola stared at the key pad again. ‘I don’t think so,’ she said.
    Lola was quiet for a few moments.
    She arranged the letters this way and that. Then she smiled and wrote something new down. She held up the paper for them to see.
    â€˜Oh, you’re good, Lola,’ said Felix, smiling. ‘You’re very good.’
    And what Lola had written?
    PLASTIC .

Felix was delighted. Buddy turned a quick cartwheel. Lola was happy too, but something still didn’t feel quite right.
    â€˜OK,’ said Buddy. ‘We have the code word. Now how do we reach the key pad to type it in?’
    â€˜We’ll never climb up there,’ said Felix. ‘Too high.’
    â€˜Anyone carrying a spare ladder?’ joked Buddy.
    â€˜We’re not carrying anything ,’ said Lola.
    Buddy checked his pockets.
    â€˜Looking for these?’ Felix asked. In his paws were three juggling balls. ‘You lent them to me, remember?’
    â€˜Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ grinned Buddy, taking the balls from Felix.
    Felix nodded. ‘You can hit the letters from down here.’
    â€˜So that’s why you called me!’ said Buddy, an even bigger clown grin on his face than usual.
    Felix clapped his friend on the back. ‘If anyone can do this, it’s you.’
    â€˜Buddy the juggler, at your service!’ said the clown.
    He started to juggle.
    He was really good. Lola was always surprised at how clever her favourite toy was.
    Slowly, Buddy started to send the balls higher. And higher.
    Almost to the ceiling.
    â€˜I’m ready to give it a try,’ called Buddy.
    He was about to aim the first ball at the letter P , when Lola suddenly pushed him aside.
    â€˜Stop!’ she cried.
    The balls fell to the floor. Buddy