22 Breaking and Entering

Chapter 22 BREAKING AND ENTERING "What's eating you?" Dr. McDonald asked as Coke climbed into the car with a scowl on his face. "Nothin'." "Didn't you kids find those mammoths to be fascinating?" their mother asked. "I got a lot of material for Amazing but True." Coke and Pep grunted. Their parents glanced at each other and rolled their eyes. Teenagers. Who can figure 'em out? "Well, I think you're really going to like our next stop," Mrs. McDonald said optimistically. They had lunch at a Waco restaurant called Buzzard Billy's, and then drove a few miles to the south side of town, the industrial district of Waco. Dr. McDonald pulled up to a huge, boxy

building with an empty parking lot. A sign on the side of the building said Coke and Pep were instantly intrigued. Chocolate cures all ills. "Mars?" Pep asked. "You mean like the candy bars?" "The company makes Skittles, Starburst, Milky Way, and Snickers here," her mother replied, leafing through her guidebook. "In fact, it says that if you're eating a Snickers bar anywhere in North America, there's a ninety-six percent chance that it was made right here at this factory." "Wow," Coke said. "This is gonna be cool!" "Why do you think the parking lot is empty?" asked Dr. McDonald. "I guess we're a little early for the tour," Pep

said. As they stepped out of the car, they could smell the chocolate—a wonderful smell. Coke pulled on the front door of the building, but it was locked. A small sign stated the obvious—CLOSED. "Closed?!" Mrs. McDonald took out her cell phone and dialed the number in her guidebook. After wading through several frustrating layers of computerized options, she finally punched in 0 and got a human being at the other end of the line. "We're standing at the front door of your factory, and it's locked," she explained politely. "We're here to take the two o'clock tour." "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am," said the voice at the other end of the line, "but we don't have a tour." "It says on the internet that you have a guided tour every day of the week at ten, noon, two, and four o'clock," Mrs. McDonald said, her voice rising.

"Calm down, Bridge," said Dr. McDonald. "That must be a mistake, ma'am," said the voice. "There is no tour. And the factory is closed today, anyway." Now she was mad. "What do you mean, it's closed?" Mrs. McDonald shouted. "We drove all the way across the country to come here. My kids were so excited. They've been sitting in the car for five hours." "We have not, Mom," Pep whispered. "Shhhhhh!" "I'm sorry, ma'am—" "Do you have any idea who I am?" Mrs. McDonald shouted into the phone. "No ma'am, I don't." "I am the creator of Amazing but True, one of the most popular reference sites on the web. ABT gets over a million hits each month. My readers are not going to be happy when I tell them about this. You don't want a boycott on your hands."

"Bridge, let it go," Dr. McDonald said. "I'm sure your website is very influential," the voice on the phone said, "but we simply don't offer a tour. We never did." "Let me ask you a question," Mrs. McDonald said, trying to remain calm. "What if the president of the United States came here today and asked for a tour of the factory? Do you think you might find a way to open up and show him around?" "I suppose we would, yes," the voice said. "Well, I have news for you. The president isn't gonna show up today. But we did. How about you give us the tour you would have given the president?" "I'm sorry, ma'am. I wish I could help you." "Well, that's the last pack of M&M's I'll ever buy," Mrs. McDonald said indignantly as she hung up. "Come on, gang, let's blow this pop stand." Disappointed, the family climbed into the Ferrari. But as Dr. McDonald turned the key in

the ignition, he got a gleam in his eye. He revved the engine, and instead of driving out of the parking lot, he drove slowly around to the back of the factory. "Ben, where are you going?" asked Mrs. McDonald. "If they won't give us a tour," he replied, "maybe we can take our own tour." "Dad, you are such an outlaw!" Coke said with admiration. "It must be the Ferrari." "I don't have a good feeling about this," Pep said. The rear of the Mars factory had multiple entrances. Dr. McDonald drove slowly, looking for a door or window that might be open. He stopped the car and got out. "Follow me," he said. "This is insanity!" Mrs. McDonald complained, but she got out of the car anyway. "I'm sure they have security cameras, alarm systems, armed guards—" "Chill, Bridge," Dr. McDonald said. "This is