15 Pepsi World

Chapter 15 PEPSI WORLD The McDonalds only had to drive about forty minutes on Route 70 heading west to reach New Bern, the second-oldest city in North Carolina. At the mouth of the Neuse River, it's just miles from the Atlantic Ocean. "Hey, y'know what else is in New Bern?" asked Mrs. McDonald as she leafed through her guidebook. "The stuffed head of the horse that used to pull the town fire truck. His name was Firehouse Fred. We could go see him afterward." "Do we have to?" Pep asked. "I don't want to look at some dead stuffed horse's head." Dr. McDonald pulled off the highway at the New Bern exit, made a right on Pollock Street, and drove less than a mile, taking a right on

Middle Street. And there it was—an unassuming little corner store with a blue awning. Just down the street, there was an open parking spot big enough for the RV. "So this is where Pepsi was invented?" Pep asked. There was a plaque on the wall. As she got closer, she could read the words … This building marks the site of Bradham's Pharmacy where Caleb D. Bradham created

Pepsi-Cola in 1898. "Pharmacy?" Pep said. "Back in those days," her brother told her, "pharmacies had soda fountains in them, and the pharmacist would mix up his own drinks. So this guy named Caleb Bradham began experimenting, and he hit on a formula of carbonated water, sugar, kola nut extract, vanilla, pepsin, and rare oils. In the beginning, he called the stuff 'Brad's Drink.'" "How can you possibly know all that?" Pep asked her brother. "I just do, okay?" he replied. "Bradham renamed the stuff Pepsi-Cola in 1903 after the two main ingredients, pepsin and kola nuts." "Who cares?" Pep said, refusing to be impressed by her brother's encyclopedic knowledge of useless information. The McDonalds went inside. The Birthplace of Pepsi was empty, or at least it was empty when it came to people. It was filled, however, with just about every Pepsi product in existence.

There were Pepsi teddy bears, baseball caps, clocks, cookie jars, and earrings. Pepsi salt and pepper shakers, key chains, umbrellas, coffee mugs, and mouse pads. Pepsi zipper pulls, belt buckles, and T-shirts that read FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRINK COKE. "This place is just a store that sells Pepsi stuff," said Coke. "It's not like it's a museum or anything." "It's just a big commercial for Pepsi." Dr. McDonald scoffed. "It's like all these tourist traps." "Well, what did you expect?" Mrs. McDonald asked. "The Louvre? You're not going to find the Mona Lisa at a place like this." "I don't even like Pepsi," said Coke, who always insisted that Coca-Cola tasted better than Pepsi-Cola. "I say we blow this pop stand." "I want to look around a little," said Pep. "We came so far to get here." "I'll be in the RV," muttered Dr. McDonald. "Me too," said Coke.

Mrs. McDonald snapped a few photos and picked up a brochure. "Come on out when you're finished, honey," she told Pep. "Don't listen to those boys. You take your time in here." Now Pep was alone. She didn't even see anybody behind the cash register. She wandered around the aisles, looking at the Pepsi hooded sweatshirts, the Pepsi bottle Christmas tree ornaments, the earrings made out of Pepsi bottle caps. It was a Pepsi world! Growing up, Pep had always felt a little left out when she'd go into stores with her friends. Girls with names like Melissa and Ashley and Rachel could always find personalized souvenirs with their names on them. There was never anything for kids who had an unusual name. But here, everything in the store had Pep's name on it. It was almost like the whole place was devoted to her. She was mesmerized. "Don't be sad, little lady." The husky voice came from behind her. Pep,

taken by surprise, wheeled around to see … Elvis Presley. Well, an Elvis Presley impersonator, anyway. There he was, in all his Elvis glory, decked out in a white spandex jumpsuit, a ridiculously wide macramé belt with metal studs, a white scarf, and a red velvet cape with elaborate embroidered designs all over it. This guy wasn't just some casual fake Elvis. He was a real fake Elvis. He even wore an Elvis mask, which completely covered his face. "Do you work here?" Pep asked innocently. "You might say that, darlin'." He was even putting on a fake Elvis voice. "Why are you dressed up like Elvis Presley?" Pep asked. "Today is Elvis Day at the Birthplace of Pepsi," Elvis replied. "The King loved Pepsi. Say, are you here all by yourself, young lady?" "The rest of my family got bored," Pep told him, "so they're waiting in the RV. But my name is Pepsi, so this place is pretty cool to me."