Olivetti

Ernest arrives at Callum Kino’s “studio”—a warehouse in an alley. He lets himself in when his knocks go unanswered. He calls out but sees no one. Upon discovering Olivetti in many pieces, Ernest is horrified. He feels the full weight of grief over his mother’s sickness, accompanied by his guilt over losing Olivetti to this fate. He speaks to the typewriter’s pieces, telling Olivetti that he loves him; this gesture causes him to realize how long it has been since he told his family that he loves them.

Callum walks in as Ernest is scooping Olivetti’s pieces into a container. Ernest ignores Callum’s demands, swipes random metal pieces from shelves into Callum’s path, and flees with Olivetti. Running down the street, Ernest trips and sprawls, hitting his head. Olivetti’s pieces go flying. Ernest panics because no one knows where he is. Soon, though, his father and siblings find him, and Ernest admits that he needs help.

Ernest awakens to find himself on the couch in his apartment with his siblings, father, and Quinn gathered nearby. His siblings have been crying, and he realizes that they already know about his mother’s recent diagnosis. Felix’s early meeting had been with Dr. Branson, who called out of concern. Ernest admits that he does not “want it to be real” (200). His father cannot speak; Ernest finally understands that he is not alone in his fear and grief. The Brindle family members embrace. Ernest learns that Quinn came to the apartment and told them about Olivetti and Callum Kino, alerting them to Ernest’s location. Quinn also told them about Olivetti’s powers. Felix intends to try to put Olivetti back together.

Olivetti regains consciousness as Felix puts his pieces back into place. The typewriter understands that Ernest saved him from the artist. After rolling in a sheet of blank paper, the humans watch for his typing to appear. Finally, as Ernest asks if Olivetti is “still there,” Olivetti types, “Of course. […] I am incapable of going anywhere” (207).

Ernest’s siblings and father are shocked to see that Olivetti can type independently. Olivetti promises to offer more of Beatrice’s writings and help find her, but when he tries to reproduce her words, he discovers that they are gone; he has nothing left in storage. Felix reassures Olivetti that they paid Callum for his parts and put the typewriter back together because he is a member of the family. He says that when Beatrice comes home, she will want Olivetti’s support. Olivetti states that Beatrice sold him for $126, but Ernest reassures him that Beatrice still loves him. They discuss their shared sense of empathy for Beatrice’s fear and desperation; Adalynn admits that she has been skipping theater, and Felix says that he has been missing meetings for the same reason. Quinn and Ernest reveal that they never read the stored writings that Olivetti produced. The family and Quinn plan to search the pages for mentions of likely places where Beatrice might have gone.

At Quinn’s invitation, Thiago and Mrs. Vivian arrive to help. Ernest feels grateful to Quinn and wants to repair their friendship; he tells her that she reminds him of his mother. Quinn invites Ernest to go searching through dumpsters with her sometime soon. Everyone settles in to read the pages typed by Olivetti. At one point, Thiago asks about the word “wardrobe,” and Ernest knows that his mother was alluding to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He reviews the passages where Thiago found the reference and realizes that Beatrice was writing about their family vacation to Oregon years ago. His mother wrote in detail about a huge rock in the water called Haystack Rock. Quinn looks up the cost of a bus ticket to Oregon; it is $126.

Olivetti watches the Brindles pack for the 12-hour car trip. He feels suddenly helpless; even Mrs. Vivian and Thiago are helping out. Ernest asks his family, “What about Olivetti?” (224). Felix decides that they will take Olivetti along. Olivetti is very comfortable in the car and suggests that they all pitch in to plot a story that he will type, just as the siblings used to do when they were younger.

Arriving at Cannon Beach, Ernest sees the massive Haystack Rock sticking out of the shallow water. Signs forbid getting near or climbing. The family looks around, but no one sees Beatrice. Ernest begins to worry that they guessed incorrectly. Then, they find her sunhat in the sea. Ernest goes to the other side of the rock, wondering if his mother wanted to be even closer to it. He spots her on a ledge halfway up.

Ernest is worried that his mother wants to jump. He yells a heartfelt apology, explaining that his fear made him want to push people away. He tells her that he loves her. She glances in his direction, sees her family, and then slowly starts climbing down. Ernest’s father and siblings see her and join in cheering her descent. Ernest realizes that his mother is well practiced at this climb, and he suddenly believes that she can “do anything” (233). When his mother is safely on the ground, onlookers applaud. She apologizes to her family and explains that she just wanted to protect them from sadness for a little while. She says that she always planned to return. She explains that she stayed in a hotel after getting a new credit card but is now ready to go home. When she asks how they found her, Ernest credits Olivetti.

Beatrice explains that she sold Olivetti out of desperation, intent on fleeing. Olivetti realizes that he was instrumental in giving Beatrice a way to work through her fear and sadness. Felix and the children show her the typed page of her Haystack Rock memory and explain that Olivetti communicated the other pages of her Tapestries. They load a piece of paper into Olivetti, and he types, “I’m here for you…Forever” (242). Beatrice is shocked.

After few months, Olivetti has helped not only Beatrice and the Brindles but also Mrs. Vivian’s library. He is a viral sensation and chats with people who want to see his ability; they pay a donation to chat with him.

At the apartment, Remi joins the family. Felix and the children become interested in typewriter repair and begin helping to fix old typewriters from Mr. Corrie and Callum Kino. The healed typewriters go to people with ideas to share; Olivetti calls it “the start of a rebellion” (244). Beatrice and Olivetti both write while she works on new installments for her Tapestries collection. Quinn and Ernest take Olivetti on outings such as searching dumpsters, swinging in the park, and hiking.