The Great Goat Gaffe

  Chapter 1

  MEET AND BLEAT

  “What could be better than spring break?” George Fayne asked.

  “Spring break and spring clothes?” Bess Marvin said.

  Eight-year-old Nancy Drew smiled at her two best friends. “Spring break and feeding goats here at Sweet Creams Farm!” she declared.

  It was a sunny Tuesday in early spring. Nancy, Bess, and George were often busy solving mysteries as the Clue Crew. This day, they were busy volunteering at Sweet Creams Farm.

  To the girls, Sweet Creams was the best farm ever. Not only did it sell goat cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, but it had its own petting zoo filled with tiny Pygmy goats!

  “Hey, you guys!” George chuckled as three goats tried to drink out of the bottle she clutched. “One per customer!”

  But the goats at Sweet Creams weren’t only for feeding or for petting. They were part of a cool new class at Sweet Creams—goat yoga!

  “Feeding tiny goats is super fun,” Nancy said as they carefully placed empty bottles in a wooden crate, “but I wish we could join a real live goat yoga class.”

  “Yoga is supposed to be so relaxing!” Bess added.

  “What’s relaxing about twisting yourself into a pretzel while goats climb all over you?” George asked. “I’d rather play soccer.”

  The three friends left the pen to make room for the goat yoga class. People chatted excitedly as they laid their mats on the soft grassy ground. Some curious goats were already wandering around the mats, bleating softly.

  Nancy, Bess, and George watched through the fence as the yoga instructor, Nina Pickles, began the class. Besides teaching yoga, Nina had her own store where she sold activewear and workout clothes.

  “Be one with the goats as we enter the low lunge,” Nina told the class. “And be sure to check out the low sale prices at Nina Pickles Activewear. This week only!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George traded smiles. Nina was always looking for ways to spread the word about her store.

  “Let’s lie on our stomachs for the cobra pose,” Nina instructed. “Cobra, as in the new snakeskin-design leggings just in at my store!”

  “Baaaaa!” one of the tiny goats bleated as he scampered onto a posing man’s back.

  “Pygmy goats are as small as puppies,” Bess pointed out. “It’s hard to tell which ones are the babies.”

  “You mean kids,” George said. “We learned here on the farm that baby goats are called kids, remember?”

  Kids! The word made Nancy’s eyes light up.

  “Bess, George, the most awesome idea just popped into my head! What if Sweet Creams Farm had a goat yoga class for kids?”

  “You mean human kids, like us?” Bess asked.

  “Yes,” Nancy said. “The class can be called… Kids with Kids!”

  “Cool!” Bess exclaimed.

  “Cool for other kids,” George said as they watched a goat crawl onto a woman’s shoulder. “Like I said, I’ll stick to soccer.”

  “I bet you’ll like goat yoga too, George.” Nancy giggled. “Let’s find Sophie and see what she thinks.”

  Sophie Sweet was the energetic woman who ran Sweet Creams Farm. Nancy, Bess, and George found her at the farm stand unpacking bottles of goat milk smoothies.

  After hearing Nancy’s idea, she smiled. “A goat yoga class for kids would be great for Sweet Creams Farm,” she said. “And for Wake Up, River Heights!”

  “Wake Up, River Heights?” Nancy repeated. “You mean the TV show that’s on super early in the morning?”

  “Correct!” Sophie said. “A crew is coming to the farm tomorrow morning to film our goat yoga class.” Sophie gave an excited little hop. “With spring break this week, a goat yoga class just for kids would be perfect!”

  “Oooh!” a voice exclaimed. “Perfect for me, too!”

  The girls turned to see Nina Pickles, a towel draped over one shoulder.

  “Why aren’t you with your class, Nina?” Sophie asked.

  “I left them in the deep relaxation pose,” Nina explained, “but who can relax with news about a goat yoga class for kids?”

  Nancy couldn’t believe her ears. “You like my idea too, Ms. Pickles?” she asked.

  “Sure I do!” Nina said. “I’m unveiling my new line of kids activewear this week. What better time to introduce it than on TV?”

  “Oh,” Sophie said, hesitating. “I’m afraid that’s not a good idea, Nina.”

  “Why not?” Nina asked, surprised.

  “Wake Up, River Heights wants to cover goat yoga,” Sophie explained, “not fashion.”

  Nina gasped. “Everything is about fashion, Sophie!” She closed her eyes and took deep breaths through her nose before adding, “I think you’d better find another yoga instructor for tomorrow.”

  The girls watched as Nina huffed back to the goat yoga pen and her class.

  “Will Nina be okay, Sophie?” Nancy asked. “She seemed very upset.”

  “She’ll get over it, I’m sure,” Sophie said. “In the meantime, I have an important job for you girls.”

  “A job?” Bess gulped. “You don’t want us to clean the goat pen, do you?”

  “No, Bess.” Sophie chuckled. “I need you to find kids for our goat yoga class tomorrow. They need to be here at seven thirty sharp.”

  “No problem, Sophie,” Nancy said quickly. “We have lots of friends and classmates to invite.”

  “Getting them to be on TV will be easy,” George added.

  “Easier than cleaning the goat pen!” Bess said, clearly relieved.

  “Good! I’ll get some permission slips to give to your friends,” Sophie said. “Tell them to bring their slip signed by a parent tomorrow.”

  Sophie went to her office for the permission slips.

  The girls couldn’t wait to find kids for the goat yoga class!

  “I am soooo excited!” Bess said. Then, “What are we going to wear to the goat yoga class?”

  “Goat footprints,” George joked.

  Nancy smiled and said, “As soon as we get the permission slips, let’s go to Main Street. We’ll find lots of kids there.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George all had the same rules. They could walk anywhere, as long as it was under five blocks—and as long as they were together. Together was more fun anyway.

  When the girls reached Main Street, they found lots of kids they knew. But most of the kids knew nothing about yoga….

  “I like frozen yoga,” Peter Patino said, pointing to the nearby fro-yo shop. “Will they have chocolate or strawberry?”

  Some kids had heard about yoga, but not goat yoga. When the girls invited Kendra Jackson, she asked, “Are the goats gentle?”

  George nodded. “You won’t know there’s a goat on your back,” she explained, “until you smell the hay on its breath!”

  “Ew,” Kendra said, wrinkling her nose.

  When the girls asked Henderson Murphy, he shook his head. “I watch Danger Dog at that time every morning,” he said. “Tomorrow is the flea circus episode.”

  “You’d rather watch TV than be on TV?” George groaned. “Whatever!”

  The girls left Henderson and walked up Main Street. When they ran out of kids to invite, they turned onto Magnolia Street.

  “I don’t blame Henderson for wanting to see Danger Dog tomorrow,” Bess said. “The flea circus episode rocks.”

  “What if everybody wants to watch Danger Dog tomorrow morning?” George asked, imagining the worst. “What if no one shows up?”

  Nancy wasn’t too worried. “Some kids said yes, some said no, and a few said maybe,” she stated. “Let’s hope for the best.”

  The three friends were about to make their way home when—“Baaaaa! Baaaaa! Baaaaa Baaaaa!�
�

  Nancy, Bess, and George froze. Had they just heard what they thought they’d heard?

  “Was that… a goat?” Nancy asked.

  “For sure,” George said, looking around. “After being at the farm all day, I know a goat when I hear one.”

  “Except we’re not on the farm,” Bess said. “We’re on Magnolia Street.”

  The girls followed the sound to the middle of the block. George pointed to a green house with white shutters. “It’s coming from the Dishers’ house,” she said.

  Eight-year-old Leslie Disher was in the girls’ class at school. Leslie loved writing in her journal. She also worshipped teen singing idol Brad Sylvester. Nancy, Bess, and George didn’t know Leslie’s twin brother, Wesley, as well. He was in the other third-grade class.

  “Baaaaaaa!”

  The bleating grew louder as Nancy, Bess, and George followed it to the backyard. A big trampoline was set up there. But it wasn’t Leslie or Wesley jumping up and down on it. It was a tiny white-and-brown Pygmy goat!

  “Baaaa! Baaaa!” the goat bleated as it bounced sky-high. The girls couldn’t believe their eyes as they watched the goat perform awesome front flips and backflips and midair spins!

  “That’s a goat all right,” Nancy said.

  “Not just any goat, Nancy!” George said with a grin. “That’s Pogo!”

  Chapter 2

  GOAT FOR IT!

  “Pogo?” Bess repeated.

  “How do you know his name, George?” Nancy asked.

  “Here’s how,” George said, reaching for a phone in her jacket pocket. “Pogo is a rising YouView star. He already has a ton of likes!”

  Bess gasped as they watched Pogo’s YouView video. “I like him too. Look at him go!”

  With her fingers, George enlarged the video. “Not only is Pogo a trampoline star,” she pointed out, “he’s got a brown star-shaped mark on his side. How random is that?”

  Nancy smiled as she looked from the video to the real goat on the trampoline. “I heard about Pogo,” she said, “but I didn’t know he lived right here in River Heights.”

  “That’s because I live in River Heights,” a voice piped up, “and Pogo is my pet!”

  The girls turned to see Wesley Disher walking over holding a book in his hand. As he got closer, Nancy could read the title: Raising Your Pet Goat.

  “This book says what to feed a goat, where to keep it, and how to play with it too,” Wesley said as he flipped through the pages. “It says nothing about goats on trampolines though!”

  “Maybe because Pogo is a special goat, Wesley,” Nancy said.

  Bess turned to George. “Make your own video, George. Go ahead!”

  But the minute George lifted her phone camera—

  “Stop!” someone shouted. “Don’t even think about it.”

  Turning again, the girls saw another boy from school, third-grader Quincy Taylor, walking quickly toward them shaking his head.

  “No videos, please,” Quincy told George. “And if you want to interview Wesley about Pogo, you have to go through me first.”

  “Since when?” George asked.

  “Since I became Pogo’s manager,” Quincy said proudly.

  Nancy wasn’t surprised that Quincy had a new job. He was always jumping into some new project or club. “Did you put Pogo’s video up on YouView, Quincy?” she asked.

  “Sure, and that’s just the beginning,” he said. “Once I get word out about Pogo, there’ll be Pogo toys, Pogo books—maybe even a Pogo TV show.”

  Pogo hopped off the trampoline, landing on all fours. He gave another bleat before padding over to the girls.

  “Speaking of TV,” Nancy said, “you’re both invited to a special goat yoga class at Sweet Creams Farm tomorrow morning.”

  “Very early!” George added. “The class will be shown on Wake Up, River Heights at seven thirty.”

  “Goat yoga?” Wesley asked.

  “There’s a pen at Sweet Creams Farm with goats just like Pogo,” Bess explained. “They really love crawling and jumping on posing people.”

  Wesley thought about it, then shook his head. “No, thanks,” he said. “Seven thirty is way too early during spring break.”

  “Not for Pogo,” Quincy declared. “That show is just what he needs for his TV debut!”

  Nancy glanced at Bess and George. She knew they were thinking the same thing she was. Sweet Creams already had plenty of goats for the goat yoga class.

  “Thanks, Quincy,” Nancy said. “We’re pretty sure Sophie Sweet is all set with goats for tomorrow morning.”

  “Besides,” George said, “Pogo should stick to trampolines, not yoga mats.”

  “Okay, okay.” Quincy sighed as he reached into his pocket. “If Pogo can’t be on the show, can you at least wear these to spread the love?”

  Quincy pulled out three purple bangle bracelets. Each sturdy paper bracelet had Pogo’s name printed on it. He handed one each to Nancy, Bess, and George. Wesley was already wearing a Pogo bracelet on his wrist.

  “You just wait,” Quincy declared. “Soon Pogo will have left his mark on everyone!”

  Bess pointed to Pogo nibbling on Wesley’s purple bracelet. “You mean teeth marks!” She giggled.

  The girls said goodbye to Wesley, Quincy, and even to Pogo. They rounded the house and made their way back to the sidewalk. Standing at a blue recycle bin was Wesley’s twin sister, Leslie.

  Leslie muttered to herself as she shoved something deep into the bin. “Dumb goat… dumb goat… dumb goat!”

  “Hi, Leslie,” Nancy said.

  “That dumb goat you were mumbling about…,” George said. “You can’t mean Pogo.”

  “Oh, yes I can!” Leslie shouted. “Look what that shrub-breath did to this. Look!”

  Leslie reached deep into the bin and pulled out a large poster. It was shredded from top to bottom like linguine!

  “This was my latest poster of Brad Sylvester. I left it in the backyard after showing my friends, and Pogo got to it!”

  Leslie tossed the damaged poster back into the can. “It even smelled like Brad’s favorite candy: Watermelon Wowsies.”

  “Now it smells like garbage,” Bess said, pinching her nose.

  “Thanks to Pogo,” Leslie snapped. “So far he’s chewed up my rain boots, my favorite sunglasses, and just about all of my Brad Sylvester mementos.”

  “I guess Pogo isn’t a Brad Sylvester fan,” joked George. “Why did your family get a goat in the first place?”

  “I wanted a cute little kitten or puppy, but Wesley wanted a goat,” Leslie explained. “He’s two minutes older, so guess who won.” Slamming down the lid, Leslie muttered, “I wish Pogo would just get lost.”

  “That was harsh,” Nancy whispered as Leslie walked toward her house. “Leslie doesn’t seem to like Pogo much.”

  “But I saw a purple Pogo bracelet around Leslie’s wrist,” George said. “Why would she wear one if she doesn’t like Pogo?”

  “Because she likes the color purple?” Bess guessed.

  The girls forgot about Pogo as they headed up Magnolia Street. By then even George was getting used to the idea of a goat yoga class.

  “Why don’t we practice some yoga poses?” Bess suggested, stretching her arms high above her head. “I know the cat, the cow, the cobra, the downward-facing dog—”

  “There’s only one yoga pose I know,” George cut in, twisting her arms this way and that. “The corkscrew pasta!”

  * * *

  Very early the next morning, Hannah drove Nancy, Bess, and George to Sweet Creams Farm. As she pulled into the parking lot, she said, “The farm’s market is open early. Why don’t I do some shopping while you girls do goat yoga?”

  Hannah Gruen was the Drews’ housekeeper, but she was more like a mother to Nancy. Since Nancy was three, Hannah had made sure she brushed her teeth twice a day, ate her vegetables, got up in time for school—and got lots of hugs!

  “What are you going to buy, Hannah?” Na
ncy asked from the back seat, where she sat between Bess and George.

  “When at a goat farm… buy goat cheese!” Hannah declared, turning off the engine. “I heard the flavor of the day is blueberry pecan.”

  “Blueberry pecan?” Bess said with surprise. “Is that cheese or a yummy cookie?”

  Hannah and the girls climbed out of the car. Nancy always liked taking the receipt card from the farm’s parking meter and sticking it behind the windshield wipers. It had the date and time on it.

  “Do you have your yoga mats?” Hannah asked.

  “Check,” Nancy said, lifting her rolled-up mat.

  “My hot pink mat matches my leggings,” Bess said with a smile. “In case you haven’t noticed.”

  “How can we not, Bess?” George groaned. “They’re so bright, even the goats will need sunglasses!”

  Nancy giggled. Bess and George were cousins, but as different as different could be. Bess had blond hair, blue eyes, and wore the trendiest clothes. Dark-haired George only wore her comfiest jeans—and had the holey knees to prove it!

  After waving goodbye to Hannah, the girls headed to the goat pen. On the way, they saw production trucks, television equipment, and a long table filled with snack foods for the crew of Wake Up, River Heights.

  “Omigosh!” Bess gasped. “Do you see what I see?”

  “Chocolate donuts with rainbow sprinkles!” George said, smiling at the table. “Maybe they’ll let us have some.”

  “Not the donuts, George,” Bess said. “The kids! Human kids!”

  Nancy looked where Bess was pointing. Laying down yoga mats inside the goat pen were several of their friends and classmates!

  “They showed up after all!” Nancy said happily.

  The girls high-fived before joining the others in the pen. The goats were there too, busy grazing in their open goat shed.

  Sophie greeted the kids, then introduced them to the yoga instructor, Eddie Finch. Eddie wore zebra-striped yoga wear as he waved to the class.

  Next, Sophie introduced Bev, the director, and one of the show’s hosts, Stephanie Burns. Stephanie was too busy putting on lip gloss to say hi or wave. Suddenly—

  “Okay, quiet, everyone,” Bev called out as she listened closely through her headset. “Ready in five… counting down.”