Read Online The Trimoni Twins and the Shrunken Treasure by Pam Smallcomb - Free Book Online

her back with Enid. Uncle Hoogaboom, Wiliken and Gaidic appeared in the lobby of the Merlin Hotel at ten o’clock sharp, and they set out for the day.
    At Mimi’s request, they went to see modern works of art at the Stedelijk Museum in the morning. They ate a quick lunch, and per Beezel’s request, went on a canal boat tour in the afternoon.
    Afterward they went for a walk down the Prinsengracht, the Prince’s Canal.
    â€œI wanted you to see my neighborhood,” Uncle Hoogaboom told the girls. “It is a very special place.”
    â€œI love it here,” Beezel told him.
    â€œIt sure feels different from back home, doesn’t it, Beezel?” Wiliken asked, and she agreed.
    Uncle Hoogaboom explained that the canal dated back to the seventeenth century and that the beautiful homes that lined it were part of what was once the Golden Age of Amsterdam.
    They strolled lazily along, and spent the afternoon popping in and out of the shops. When they passed a street named the Tuinstraat, Uncle Hoogaboom herded them into a little café for dinner followed by
appelgebak
, a delicious apple pastry. A few more houses down the street was Uncle Hoogaboom’s shop on the ground floor of Wiliken’s grandfather’s house.
    â€œThere’s one more place I want to show you.” They walked past Uncle Hoogaboom and Wiliken’s house to a wide street called the Westerstraat and then across to an old market square, called the Noordermarkt.
    â€œThere’s a flea market here tomorrow,” he told them. “You girls would love it. Hector, maybe youcan bring them back here to do some more shopping?”
    â€œYes!”
Beezel
and Mimi said together.
    Hector laughed. “All right.”
    Then Uncle Hoogaboom showed them the Noorderkerk, the North Church. Outside in the square, Beezel and Mimi fed bread crumbs to some birds and watched the sun beginning to set.
    Beezel nudged Mimi and pointed to Hector. He and Gaidic were holding hands. The twins looked at each other and tried hard not to giggle.
    â€œShould we head back?” Uncle Hoogaboom asked them after awhile. They all agreed that they were getting tired. Gaidic said good-bye and left for her bus stop.
    â€œUh-oh,” Wiliken said as a black car drove in front of the square and slowed down.
    Beezel saw a familiar round-bodied man with frizzy orange hair inside the car. “Isn’t that Slear?”
    â€œGreat,” Wiliken said. “Listen, I’m going to lose this guy and then I’ll catch up with you, okay?”
    â€œThat’s fine,” Uncle Hoogaboom said as he pointed right, in the direction of their house. “We’ll head home the long way, across the Violettenstraat.You should go left, Wiliken. Head up the Boomstraat and cut over. We’ll meet back at the house.”
    Wiliken rejoined their group after several blocks of outmaneuvering Slear. “That guy just doesn’t give up,” he said, panting.
    â€œWe’re almost home,” Uncle Hoogaboom said. “Just a few more blocks. If that Mr. Slear sets foot inside our home, I’m calling
de politie!”
    â€œThat’s the police,” Hector whispered to the girls.
    They walked quietly along the Violettenstraat together. The street was almost empty. Beezel looked at the houses and imagined each one had a family enjoying a cozy dinner inside. The thought made her homesick, and she wondered how her parents were doing in Katmandu.
    The sound of a car screeching around the corner broke into her thoughts and got all of their attention.
    â€œHe should slow down,” Wiliken said. “What a jerk.”
    â€œOh no! Look!” Mimi pointed to a scruffy dog that had decided at that moment to pad across the street to greet them.
    â€œGo back, doggie!” Mimi said softly.
    The black car raced down the street toward them,and toward the dog that seemed oblivious to the approaching danger. The dog ambled