The Genius Files #4 by Dan Gutman

expression on its face.
    â€œThat is one gigantic head,” Coke said, stating the obvious. “It may be the biggest head I’ve ever seen.”
    â€œWhat did Eisenhower do, Dad?” Pep asked.
    â€œOh, nothing important,” replied Dr. McDonald. “He just organized the D-day invasion in World War Two. He liberated Europe from the Nazis. DefeatedHitler. Won the war. Nothing to write home about.”
    â€œIf not for President Eisenhower,” said Mrs. McDonald, “we’d all be speaking German today.”
    â€œIsn’t that what you said about bauxite?” asked Pep.
    â€œIch spreche Deutsch jetzt!” said Coke.
    Back in the car and on the road, the twins were curious about what they were going to do—besides laundry, of course—in the great state of Texas.
    â€œI really want to go to Paris,” Mrs. McDonald said.
    â€œThat’s in France, Mom,” Pep told her.
    â€œShe means Paris, Texas, you dope!”
    â€œDon’t call your sister a dope,” warned Dr. McDonald.
    â€œWell, what’s so special about Paris, Texas?” Pep asked.
    â€œThey have a replica of the Eiffel Tower there,” Coke told her, “and it has a giant cowboy hat on top.”
    Dr. McDonald shook his head and closed his eyes for a moment, silently trying to compose the right words that would gently register his disapproval without provoking an argument.
    â€œY’know, it’s not your birthday anymore, Bridge, and—” he began.
    Even the twins knew those were the wrong words.
    â€œBen, I told you back in Virginia how badly I wanted to go to Paris, Texas,” Mrs. McDonald said, her voice rising. “So don’t act like it’s a big surprise that I’m mentioning it now.”
    â€œOkay, okay!” said Dr. McDonald, defeated once again as he got back on the highway. “I’ve always wanted to see Paris.”
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    Go to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com).
    Click Get Directions.
    In the A box, type Denison TX.
    In the B box, type Paris TX.
    Click Get Directions.
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Chapter 14
THIS IS WHY WE TRAVEL
    D r. McDonald hit the gas a little harder than necessary, because frustration needs to be expressed somehow , right? He followed Route 69 south for ten miles, and then merged onto Route 82 heading east. Paris, Texas, was a little more than an hour from Denison.
    The twins pulled out magazines to help pass the time. Mrs. McDonald turned on the radio, fiddling with the buttons until she stopped at a country music station. Nobody in the family was a big fan of country music, but who could resist “My Wife Ran Offwith My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him”?
    In the middle of the song, the music suddenly stopped. A male voice came on and repeated a series of letters:
    â€œP-C-F-T-H-B-L-R-N-Y-S-T-N.”
    There was a two-second pause, and then the voice said it again.
    â€œP-C-F-T-H-B-L-R-N-Y-S-T-N.”
    Startled, Coke looked up from the magazine he had been reading. He recognized the voice. It was the same as the voice on the telephone the other night. It sounded vaguely computer generated. The voice repeated the letters.
    â€œP-C-F-T-H-B-L-R-N-Y-S-T-N.”
    â€œIt must be a broken record or something,” said Mrs. McDonald.
    â€œYou’d think somebody at the radio station would notice,” said Dr. McDonald. “Change the station, Bridge.”
    â€œWait,” said Coke.
    He looked over at his sister. She nodded her head. Pep grabbed the little notepad she’d bought back in Memphis and quickly wrote the letters down.
    On the radio, the song returned, and when it ended a new song came on—“If the Phone Don’t Ring, You’ll Know It’s Me.” Mrs. McDonald turned it up loud andbegan to sing along.
    While their parents were occupied in the front seat, Coke and Pep put their heads together.
    â€œThat sounded just like the guy on the phone who told me to look under my