About this Book Guide for Eye of the Beholder

The quiet, unsuspecting town of Wakefield is in for another jolt. Tyler McAllister and Lymie Lawrence are at it again! The terrible twosome have been quarantined together with the chicken pox, and their young minds begin to work overtime. With the approaching celebration of one of Wakefield's favorite sons, the early twentieth-century sculptor Badoglio, the boys decide to get in on the act.

Legend has it that a young and frustrated Badoglio threw two of his partially completed heads into the Hoosickill River. As a part of this year's celebration, the river is scheduled to be dredged in an effort to recover the lost works of art.

What could be more perfect and tailor-made for the boys? Lymie is the actual inventor of the idea. He believes that they can fool the townspeople by making their own stone heads and throwing them into the river. It doesn't take long to convince Tyler that this isn't such a bad idea.

The heads are created in Tyler's garage using the tools of the McAllister's groundskeeper, Chuckie, and are completed in two days. Tyler models for Lymie's work of art and Lymie returns the favor for Tyler. After ruining several drill bits, the job is done. Chuckie later learns that his tools have been used and the drill bits damaged, and he explodes. His anger changes to hilarity when he learns that the boys consider the stones works of art. Lymie is so insulted that he leaves.

The next day, Lester Phillips, an unexpected guest arrives at the McAllister's home. His parents have unknowingly left Lester at the local ice cream shop. Lester ends up spending the night at the McAllisters' because his parents car won't start. While touring the McAllister property, Lester discovers Tyler's stone head and insists on taking it up to Tyler's room. Mrs. McAllister sees the head, but thinks it is merely another of Tyler's creative endeavors.

Lymie comes to Tyler's house the following evening and instructs Tyler to get his head. The two bike to the river and deposit the "art" into the water.

The neighborhood kids band together for some Halloween mischief, which targets the town's self-proclaimed vigilantes, the Keepouts. The plan is to tell all of the parents they are at the school dance, when in reality their pockets are stuffed with eggs and tomatoes, ready for action. The night goes awry in a big way when the Keepouts capture Tyler and take him into their house as a hostage. Tyler soon realizes as they tie him to a chair and even hold a gun to his head, that he is dealing with two psychos! He is pleading for mercy when he hears the sound of shattering glass. The next thing Tyler knows, the police have broken in to rescue him. They strongly reprimand the Keepouts for their actions and take Tyler home to his mother.

Needless to say, both Mrs. McAllister and Chuckie were very upset about Tyler's experience with the Keepouts. Chuckie wants Mrs. McAllister to press charges, but she decides to put it on the back burner for the time being. Tyler sleeps late the next morning and does not attend the head-dredging ceremony. He does, however, receive a call from an excited Lymie, who reports that the heads have been found. Tyler doesn't share his excitement, realizing that more trouble is just around the corner.

Chuckie is the first to figure out that the newly found Badoglio heads are the creations of Tyler and Lymie. Using some verbal finesse, he slowly pries the truth from Tyler. Chuckie makes light of the situation, but Tyler is not amused.

Mrs. Estelle Hildegarde, the resident patron of the arts in Wakefield, has invited two art critics from New York City to authenticate the heads. All of the town officials are making quite a fuss over them. They all enter Mrs. HildegardeÍs house together, as the excited townspeople look on.

Tyler is convinced that the stress of the entire "head escapade" has thrown him into a full-blown depression, while Lymie seems to be taking it all in stride. With their friends Mary Grace and Babette, they watch people milling around City Hall. Babette can't understand Tyler's overconcern about the heads. Another local character, who is totally unimpressed by all of the hoopla, is gameroom/greasy-spoon owner, Buster Rudzinski. He not only shows disdain for the art, but also for the art critics and the citizens of Wakefield. An amused Chuckie believes that the art critics will certainly see the heads as fakes. The worst that will happen is that there will be some disappointed residents of Wakefield.

Tyler's peace of mind is short-lived. He and his mother arrive at the park to wait in line to view the heads, which are being housed in a trailer. Mrs. McAllister passes the time talking to other people, while Tyler tries to get a glimpse of what's ahead. Once inside the trailer, Tyler is horrified to see that the critics have indeed deemed the stone heads as early works of Badoglio's. To further complicate matters, Mrs. McAllister realizes that the head displayed in the trailer and the one she saw days earlier in Tyler's bedroom are one and the same.

Tyler's mother is beyond furious as she discovers Tyler's latest prank and that Chuckie has had knowledge of it all along. To defuse the situation, Chuckie suggests that the boys confess to the critics, which would allow them to exit the situation with some dignity. They could then announce that, upon further inspection, they discovered that the heads were clever imitations. Mrs. McAllister is relieved by the idea, but she thinks that Lymie's mother needs to be made aware of the situation.

Furious with Tyler for "spilling the beans," Lymie comes looking for him. As a fight is about to break out, Babette grabs Lymie by the collar. The boys are forced to explain why they are so angry. Once the secret is out, they all try to come up with a way for the boys to confess. In the meantime, Buster Rudzinski strolls up. A somewhat imposing figure, he gets Tyler to blurt out the big secret.

Lymie screams at Tyler, not trusting his fate to the hands of Buster, who has said that he will take care of everything. The boys decide not to reveal this latest detail when they meet their mothers in the park. The next thing they know, Buster is up on the podium with the other dignitaries. Buster proceeds with the introductions of the honored guests. He allows Mrs. Hildegarde and the "experts" to say just enough to successfully humiliate themselves before Buster "drops the bomb." The gleeful Rudzinski takes great pleasure in announcing the names of the true artists, Tyler and Lymie. Big ol' Buster has totally embarrassed those who had always regarded him with utter disdain.

After the boys receive a verbal thrashing from the dignitaries, the decision is made. In order to save face, they must all admit their mistake and laugh publicly at the joke. Tyler and Lymie are hustled off to the shelter of their respective homes. Tyler vows that this time he has learned his lesson.

The heads are auctioned off as collectors items for five thousand dollars. The money will revert to the Wakefield Library. An irate Lymie believes that the money is rightfully theirs. He calls Tyler to tell him that he has been contacted by an attorney, who wants to represent them. Tyler wonders if perhaps they should talk to the guy. After all, how could it hurt?

About the Author of this Guide

Mary Ann Wildman currently teaches a class called RCT (reading, communications, and theater) at North Side Middle School in Anderson, Indiana. She received her BA from Butler University and her MA from Ball State University. She resides in Anderson with her husband and two sons.