The Great Greene Heist

Jackson sends secret messages to all the team members. He hides Hashemi’s in one of his Star Trek books and the others receive a cryptic email telling them to meet at Hashemi’s shed at five o’clock if they do not want Keith to become Student Council president. Jackson has used Hashemi’s tech knowledge before, but nothing this serious, and Hashemi is thrilled to have an official position on the team. Hashemi clears away his Trekkie memorabilia before the team arrives to avoid embarrassment. Bradley is the first to arrive followed by an annoyed Victor Cho who sees himself as superior to nerds like Hashemi and pretends to read War and Peace while they wait. Jackson and Charlie arrive at five o’clock and make their case to the team. Charlie explains to a doubtful Victor how much power Keith will wield over club finances if he wins the election. Hashemi explains their plan to throw the election using an idea from Star Trek II: The Wrath of the Khan. The tactic is called “The Kobayashi Maru” and is a way to overcome a no-win situation by changing the test. It is not technically cheating, but instead rigging the game to ensure a victory.

Gaby and Lynne meet with Omar at his house to work on campaign posters and discuss the budget. Gaby struggles to make both new library computers and the organic food bar fit into the budget. Lynne argues no one wants a salad bar anyway, but Omar stands up for Gaby’s idea. As she tries to find last year’s budget, Omar decorates a poster with Gaby’s name in large, sparkly letters. Gaby suggests increasing the Botany Club’s budget so they can grow the vegetables for the food bar, but Lynne reminds her that many students are upset with the Botany Club due to the recent surge in allergy flare-ups. Gaby argues Charlie says the cedar trees they planted near the football field are the cause. Lynne exits, making it obvious she is leaving Omar and Gaby alone. Gaby is uneasy because she knows Omar intends to ask her to formal as he nervously approaches her with a box of candy in hand.

Charlie bribes John Parson, the main office student helper, with a copy of Uncanny X-Men 266 so that he will quit his job. As he is resigning, Bradley happens to be in the office and offers to take the job. This puts him in both the guidance office and the main office during fourth period. Charlie informs Jackson of the switch and they go over the plans for the next day. Charlie arranged his mom’s schedule so that she will be gone, and Gaby and Lynne will be at the basketball game. Jackson knows about Gaby and Omar, but despite Charlie’s pleas, Jackson does not want to tell her the truth about his feelings. Jackson plans to be at Charlie’s house by four o’clock, but Charlie still has his doubts about the scheme. Charlie also feels they must tell Megan the truth about Keith’s bribery, and they both agree the tip must be anonymous.

Gaby and Lynne attend Omar’s basketball game at the Fitz, but Gaby is not thrilled to be there. She only said yes to Omar’s invitation to the game because he is nice and has been so helpful in her campaign, and only accepted his invite to the formal because she did not want to hurt his feelings. As she watches Omar play basketball clumsily, Gaby thinks back to the Blitz in May. In a flashback, Gaby remembers how well she played that day clenching a staggering victory for Jackson and her over Keith. Lynne snaps her back to reality asking what she is wearing to the formal. Gaby despises dressing up and says she will just wear the same thing as last year. Lynne teases her that Omar is now her boyfriend, and Gaby does not understand why Lynne thinks about boys so much.

For last year’s formal, Gaby remembers how her Tia Isabel took her for a makeover before the dance, including full makeup and a hair appointment that left her with a shiny, silky new bob with a red chrysanthemum tucked behind her ear. When she returned home that day, Charlie and Jackson were playing video games and Charlie hardly recognized his sister, but Jackson was left speechless by her new look. He gently touched Gaby’s hair and told her he liked it. Gaby felt uncomfortable in all the clothing and makeup, but never forgot Jackson’s touch and the way he looked at her.

Back in the present, Gaby returns home to find Jackson and Charlie playing basketball. Charlie leaves them to play basketball together, but Gaby refuses. Jackson gently teases Gaby saying, “So you’re scared?” (83), piquing her competitive nature. They start with a simple game of HORSE, but soon they are engaged in an intense game of one-on-one. Releasing all the stress of school drama, Gaby enjoys spending time with her friend as they did before. “It was like things used to be-before fancy shampoos and ill-advised kisses and lukewarm hugs” (84). After two hours, they stop to rest and talk, and Gaby tells Jackson she and Omar are just friends. She wants to understand why Jackson kissed Katie, and he tries to explain his impulsive decision, but holds back from sharing the details of his and Katie’s agreement, for fear Gaby will think he is foolish. Gaby is unsatisfied with his explanation, but they part on good terms with Jackson promising he learned his lesson and wants to follow the rules.

Gaby drags herself home, almost too tired to finish her homework after half-heartedly responding to texts from Omar. The next day she wakes up feeling sore and tired from the basketball game with Jackson, but still giddy over their interaction. After a shower, she sees a stream of texts from Charlie stating her campaign posters are made from recycled paper, but Keith’s vinyl signs are not labeled with resin codes and cannot be recycled. When she opens her closet and drawers, all her clothes are missing except a Sk8tr Boiz t-shirt. Once in the kitchen, she realizes there is no meat in the fridge, leaving her only with yogurt, an apple, and a cheese sandwich for lunch.

After the morning’s events, Charlie carefully avoids Gaby all day. At lunch, Carmen Cleaver, a member of the Environmental Action Team, joins Gaby at her table and compliments her shirt saying, “Their music sounds like crap, but the profits from every shirt sold goes to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (92). Carmen shares that Jackson asked for the team’s support of Gaby’s campaign, and though they were initially hesitant when they learned her posters are recyclable and Keith’s are not, they agreed to help. Carmen also has a copy of Gaby’s environmental plan which she balled up and threw at Jackson in the library. Gaby and Carmen discuss replacing the school computers with ones from a company with a smaller carbon footprint. Carmen sneers at Keith as she recalls when Mr. Sinclair accepted an award for making environmental improvements at his company, but Keith later admitted his dad only did it for a tax incentive. At Charlie’s suggestion, the environmental team changed its name to SAKS, Students Against Keith Sinclair, and they are ready to get out the vote for Gaby. Jackson convinced Carmen that Gaby is the right candidate for the job, but Gaby worries she cannot live up to his accolades.

When Gaby finally corners Charlie, he apologizes for the clothes and lunch food. Charlie tries to calm his sister by reminding her how Keith stole her campaign slogan and bribed Stewart to drop out, but he does not tell her about Dr. Kelsey’s involvement, fearing she will quit the election altogether. Gaby is committed to running a positive campaign and worries about some of the boys’ tactics, but Charlie tells her not to worry about what he and Jackson are doing behind the scenes. Later when she opens her locker, she finds a black t-shirt, her favorite jeans, a Forever Young CD, and a red chrysanthemum.

Jackson gathers Victor, Bradley, and Hashemi to outline his plan to break into the office and replace the Scantron machine with a new one programmed to show that Keith lost the election. Article XXIII, Section B5 of the Student Council bylaws states that if the election results are questionable, then the ballots should remain in Lincoln Miller’s custody until the Honor Board can conduct a hand recount. If Keith demands a recount, Jackson will break into the office and add enough ballots to swing the election for Gaby. Mr. Pritchard keeps important documents in a locked filing cabinet in his locked office, but Jackson is skilled at picking locks and can create a bump key for any lock, provided he knows the model number. The Scantron machine is kept in the copy room and its lock identification is on the inside of the door. Since the copy room has been locked ever since Jackson’s brother Samuel entered one night and photocopied his butt, the team will have to break into the copy room to identify the lock. Whispering to Charlie, Jackson asks if Gaby is angry, and Charlie says to avoid her for a bit. Annoyed by the small talk, Victor directs them back to the lock conundrum. Hashemi suggests having a rigged machine delivered to the office, and Jackson admits this is a great idea, but he already has a plan which involves Bradley reading upside down.

During fourth period the following day, Bradley hides out in the copy room with Hashemi’s giant cell phone pretending to text, but instead snaps photos of the doorknob. When Mrs. Goldman enters, Bradley follows Jackson’s plan and pretends the doorknob hit him in the nose. While Mrs. Goldman ushers him away to get an icepack, Bradley memorizes the name on the lock, Guttenbabel 4200.

Jackson is momentarily deflated that the copy room is secured with the one lock he cannot conquer. Guttenbabel 4200s are double-barrel deadbolts that use a small electrical current to prevent picking. The school began using sturdier locks after someone broke into the school and hung Homecoming King posters for “Seymour Butts” (105). After revising the plan, he gathers some of the team at Hashemi’s shed. Jackson needs Victor to make a phone call, but Victor reluctantly offers money to fix the problem instead. After Jackson reminds him of the times Keith flushed his homework, Victor agrees to help. Victor calls Mrs. Goldman and pretends to be the disc jockey from WJXI calling to tell her she won tickets to the Sk8tr Boiz concert.

Mrs. Goldman calls in sick for the first time in the 30 years she has worked at Maplewood Middle School. Ms. Appleton is annoyed knowing that Mrs. Goldman is attending the concert in Cincinnati but is glad the day is nearly over. Jackson Greene enters the office and, casting a knowing glance at Megan Feldman working on the computer, asks to speak to Dr. Kelsey saying that he and Charlie have a confession to make. While he waits on Charlie to arrive, multiple phones begin to ring and Victor, disguised as Danny Nguyen, walks in asking to borrow art paper. A flustered Ms. Appleton gives “Danny” her key ring so he can open the supply closet. While Victor works his job, Charlie and Jackson stall Dr. Kelsey with a proposal from the Botany Club to plant flowers near the football field. When they are done, the school is empty, and Victor has captured a photo enabling Hashemi to make a three-dimensional image of the key.

Jackson and Charlie visit Basilone’s Lock and Key Shop in the Short North neighborhood. The owner is out on a call, but his son Ray is minding the shop. Ray and Jackson’s brother Samuel were close friends in high school until they split up to attend different schools. Ray is stunned when he sees the image of the Guttenbabel key. Charlie offers him $50 cash to make a copy, but Ray says he will need at least eight days to complete the complicated metal work involved to get the precise match. Jackson offers him $200 to do it in five days, claiming Samuel said it was possible.