We’re not on the pedestal . . . we’re in the pedestal. “I think it’s through those doors,” I say as I lead the group out of the elevator. I turn to Scratchy. “You better leave your wheels here.” Scratchy nods.

And then something crazy happens. Carlos must think I’m talking to him, because he STANDS UP and says, “OKAY!”

“WHAT DID YOU JUST DO, CARLOS!?!” The shock of what I’m seeing has me talking like Dooley.

Carlos is standing there, his mouth wide open, his arms in the air. “What’s going on, Arcade? This is UNBELIEVABLE!” His voice is a little higher and less crackly than it was a few minutes ago.

“Arcade! Look at us!” Scratchy examines his arms and then wraps his fingers around his upper leg. “We shrunk or something.”

I jump up and down a little. Yeah, I’m lighter and quicker! Am I younger?

Zoe runs back in the elevator to get us. “Are you guys coming? Loopy’s not going to wait arou—” She looks at me and Scratchy and starts to laugh. “You’re little kids again! This is hilarious!” Then she looks at Carlos and her eyes bug out. “What? You’re standing!”

Carlos walks around in a circle. “And now I’m walking! Man, this is a CRAZY DAY!”

Zoe looks down at her phone and frowns. “Uh-oh, it’s fading to glitter, but here’s one more post from Loopy!” She hands it over so I can see just before it disappears. It’s a picture of a sign, and it says “26 steps to the Pedestal!”

“Come on! He’s almost here!” My friends and I run out of the golden elevator and outside to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

We’re met by a concrete barrier, which is helpful because it keeps us from falling down to the bottom of the Statue of Liberty. I stare out over the water, toward the New York City skyline. The cold breeze whips right through me and sends a chill all the way down to my toes.

“Whoa. That’s DOPE!” It’s the opposite view from when I was on top of the Empire State Building. The Statue of Liberty looked so small from over there. But from here . . .

I throw my head back and stare up at the turquoise statue. I can see her left elbow and the book she’s holding.

Even the Statue of Liberty reads.

“This thing is huge!” Scratchy is also leaning back, looking at the statue. “You think we could go up there? To the crown?”

“Probably. I mean, Carlos is walking, so I’m thinking we can do pretty much anything we want right now. But we gotta find Loopy first!”