Surprise in Store
âGuess what, class?â Mrs. Ramirez said. âWe have a special guest today.â
Eight-year-old Nancy Drew smiled as she sat up straight behind her desk. She loved special guests almost as much as she loved solving mysteries. But who was the well-dressed woman standing next to Mrs. Ramirez?
Nancyâs best friend Bess Marvin tugged gently at Nancyâs reddish blond ponytail. âWho do you think she is, Nancy?â she whispered.
âI may be a detective,â Nancy whispered back. âBut I donât have a clue.â
Nancy was lucky to have both of her best friends in her class. Her other best friend, GeorgeFayne, sat a few desks down. She was too far to trade whispers but close enough to trade smiles!
âMy name is Mimi Franklin,â the mystery guest said. âAnd Iâm the owner of Darcyâs Department Store.â
âWow,â Nancy said under her breath. Darcyâs was the biggest store in River Heights!
âHas anyone here shopped at Darcyâs?â Ms. Franklin asked.
Nancyâs hand shot up. Her new back-to-school shoes were bought at Darcyâs. She looked around the classroom to see all hands up. All except Leanne Hudsonâs.
âYouâve never shopped at Darcyâs?â Ms. Franklin asked Leanne.
âNo,â Leanne Hudson said. She added quickly, âBut Hudsonâs Apparel is having a sale on suitcases and duffel bags!â
Nancy got it. Leanneâs parents owned Hudsonâs Apparel, a smaller store across the street from Darcyâs. Why would she shop anywhere else?
âMs. Franklin is here to tell us about her special surprise,â Mrs. Ramirez said. âGo ahead, Ms. Franklin.â
Nancy sat up even straighter. What could it be?
âDarcyâs is about to decorate their store windows for fall,â Ms. Franklin explained. âThereâll be pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, and a scarecrow.â
Ms. Franklin gave a big smile and said, âMrs. Ramirez is a friend of mine, and she tells me how creative this class is . . . so how would you like to make our scarecrow?â
Excited whispers filled the room.
âWhat kind of scarecrow?â George asked.
âAny kind,â Ms. Franklin said. âAs long as itâs no bigger than a nine-year-old and is wearing clothes from Darcyâs.â
Tommy Maronâs hand shot up. âDoes Darcyâs sell superhero capes?â he asked.
âUh . . . no,â Ms. Franklin said.
âPhooey,â Tommy grumbled.
Mrs. Ramirez explained the next step: âEach of you will draw an idea for the scarecrow. Then Ms. Franklin will pick the best one for their window.â
Nancy smiled over her shoulder at Bess. A contest!
âOnce I pick a winner, I will choose the outfit at Darcyâs that best matches that design.â
âYou can work in teams,â Mrs. Ramirez said. âBut no more than three.â
Perfect! Nancy thought. She, Bess, and George were already a teamâa team of detectives who called themselves the Clue Crew.
âIs everybody ready to make a scarecrow?â Ms. Franklin asked.
âNot me,â a voice in the back said.
Everyone turned to see Harvey Mueller.
âScarecrows are scary for a reason,â Harvey said. âHavenât you guys heard of Jake McStuffings?â
âJake Mc-who?â Kevin Garcia asked.
âJakeâs a scarecrow who wears baggy overalls and a big straw hat,â Harvey said in a hushed voice. âEvery fall, Jake leaps off his pole to wander the streets of River Heights.â
Most of the kids snickered. Harvey was always making up scary stories!
âQuit laughing!â Harvey said. âJake is for real!â
Mrs. Ramirez clapped her hands for attention.
âOkay, class,â Mrs. Ramirez said. âLetâs go quietly to the art room so we can begin.â
The kids formed a line near the door.
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