h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Chapter 27

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There was a lull in the interviews now. Scribbles saw Viola talking to the two strange men, and wandered over to see what was up.

“Grandpa was in hock for the estate,” Viola explained to him. “We got him out thanks to the insurance money, but we have to pay it back now that Dad isn’t dead. The insurance company is kind of funny that way.”

“Your mother is *extremely* pleased with how everything has turned out,” Scribbles said. “Book sales are going through the roof. I will suggest that she help repay the insurance money from her profits. Your father stands to make a pile of money from speeches and product endorsements, too. He may even write a book or two himself.” He winked. “Money is the last problem your family faces right now.”

“If the theme park got off the ground, there would be even more money,” Viola said. “The problem is, Grandpa was never enthusiastic about it, and neither was Mom.”

“I think we need a good old family conference,” Scribbles said. “All these relatives have had a chance to see how great your father’s inventions are. Yolanda is a manager at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, and would be able to put Blemnox Park on a sound footing. Your grandmother can train dozens of acrobats, tightrope walkers, and air pilots. That supersonic plane could be a gold mine if some well-heeled people would like to take a spin in it—local ordinances permitting.”

Viola began imagining a brighter future than she had ever thought possible. They could have Karaoke nights at the bandstand. Whaling-ship cruises on the lake. Then there was the space station her father had been working on. How many theme parks could boast a real space station *and* a Sinatra-voiced whale? Now, if only they could keep pieces of space junk from falling on the park. Or was it only Badkarmastan where things like that happened?

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Deb

[Amy P]