Next, he reads this review of Amity Schlaes' biography of Coolidge. Hooray for Coolidge, he thinks. Next, we need to re-evaluate Warren G. Harding, who deserves better treatment then he gets from High School textbooks. Teapot Dome? How is that different from Solyndra?
Roderick finds this picture of a bubble car, which reminds him that he hasn't spoken to Mr. Smiley lately.
He dials Mr. Smiley's landline phone. Smileys prefer not to speak on cell phones, because they get distracted and bump into things.
"Hello, this is Mr. Smiley."
"Mr. Smiley, this is Roderick."
"Hello, Roderick."
"I found a picture of a bubble car, and it made me think of you."
"That's nice."
"We got a blizzard here at Old Ivy. Did you get any of that in Smileyville?"
"Silly. It's always sunny and seventy degrees here in Smileyville, except at Christmas when it snows so it's pretty."
"Oh, that's right, I forgot."
"There's an excellent new book out about Coolidge, do you plan to read it?"
Mr. Smiley pauses and checks his memory to see if he knows who Coolidge is. He decides that he doesn't.
"Not for awhile, I've got so many things to do." This isn't strictly true. Mr. Smiley really has nothing to do but Smileys, as a rule, do not read.
"Why don't you come and visit Molly and me at Old Ivy?"
"Maybe in the Spring. I don't think the Bubble Van handles snow that well."
"Okay, well it's nice speaking with you."
"Bye-bye."
Honestly, thinks Roderick, Mr. Smiley hasn't been quite the same since he married Clothilde and floated off to Smileyville in a hot air balloon.
There is a scrabbling noise, and a note appears under Roderick's door. It's from Megan, who wants him to know that she's ready and waiting for him as soon as he "does it" with Molly. Roderick tosses the note in the trash.
