Duck Derby Debacle

  Chapter 1

  SIMPLY DUCKY!

  “Hundreds of rubber duckies!” Bess Marvin exclaimed. “Can you imagine so many in one place?”

  “Or in one bathtub?” George Fayne joked.

  Nancy giggled as she and her two best friends walked together, enjoying the summer afternoon. That Friday, the air was as warm as cookies fresh from the oven. It was also full of excitement!

  “There’ll be lots of room for all those rubber ducks when they race down the river on Sunday,” Nancy said. “And we’ll be there to watch!”

  The girls couldn’t wait until Sunday, but it was already fun-day. There was a pre-derby festival at Mayor Strong’s house that afternoon, and it was just for kids!

  “How will anyone know whose rubber duck wins the race?” Bess asked. “Most rubber duckies look alike.”

  “Each rubber duck will have a number, Bess,” Nancy explained. “The first to float past the finish line wins.”

  George gave a thumbs-up as she said, “The owner of the winning duck wins a summer of free movies at the cineplex—popcorn included!”

  “Then I’m glad our families have ducks in the race,” Bess said. “I just wish kids were allowed to enter too.”

  “Me too,” George said. “Then we’d really be a part of the rubber ducky derby.”

  Nancy wished they could be more involved as well. There had to be more for them to do than cheer for the racing ducks. Suddenly she had an idea.

  “Maybe we can help out at the ducky derby!”

  “Help out how?” Bess asked.

  “Let’s ask Mayor Strong when we get to his house,” Nancy said with a smile. “There must be something we can do to be a big part of the event!”

  The celebration had already begun when Nancy, Bess, and George arrived at the mayor’s mansion. There were tables filled with duck-yellow cupcakes and duck-shaped cookies. There were games, too, like a rubber duck toss. Most of the kids were standing in front of a stage, waiting to watch the River Heights Junior Dancers rock out a number called “Disco Duck.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George were about to join the crowd when a voice shouted, “There’s still time to buy a rubber duck for the derby, plus a chance to win the big prize!”

  The voice came from a table set up near the gate. Behind it, a man and two women were selling rubber ducks for five dollars apiece. When they made a sale, the volunteer would toss a duck into a cardboard box. Nancy giggled as each landed with a squeak. The ducks sounded like her puppy Chocolate Chip’s squeaky chew toys!

  “Remember, everybody!” a woman selling ducks called out. “The money raised will be used to build benches around the River Heights Park duck pond!”

  “How many ducks do you think they’ve sold so far?” Bess asked.

  Nancy was about to guess when a voice behind them said, “As of five minutes ago—two hundred eighty ducks.”

  The girls turned to see Kinsley Armbruster from one of the other third grade classes at school. She wore a bright yellow cap with an orange duck bill and dangly ducky earrings.

  “Two hundred eighty ducks, huh?” George said, scrunching her face thoughtfully. “At five dollars apiece… that equals one thousand four hundred dollars.”

  “George won the math bee last week,” Nancy said proudly.

  “Wow,” Kinsley said, clearly impressed. “And I thought the Clue Crew just solved mysteries!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George did love solving mysteries—so much so that they called themselves the Clue Crew. They even had a clue book where they wrote down all their clues and suspects.

  “Don’t you collect rubber duckies, Kinsley?” Nancy asked.

  “Yes,” Kinsley said, gazing at the table. “But I only have a hundred rubber duckies. I wish I had more.”

  “More?” George asked. “Aren’t a hundred rubber duckies enough?”

  “Not if I want to break the record,” Kinsley replied.

  “What record?” Bess asked.

  “The Kids’ World Book of Records,” Kinsley said. “I just need a couple hundred more ducks to break the rubber ducky collection record. Then they’d post my name on their website and I’d be famous!”

  “There’s still time to collect more,” Nancy said.

  “Not really,” Kinsley sighed. “A judge from the Kids’ World Book of Records is coming to my house this afternoon to count my ducks.”

  Bess glanced at her watch. “It’s already one thirty. Shouldn’t you be home getting ready for the judge’s visit?”

  Kinsley’s duck earrings wiggled as she shook her head. “I want to stay here until three o’clock. They’re giving out free T-shirts at the end of the celebration!”

  Kinsley gave the girls a little wave, then headed toward the stage to watch the dancers.

  “Kinsley loves collecting duck stuff,” Bess said. “Maybe I should start collecting something too.”

  “You already have a huge collection, Bess,” George said.

  “Of what?” Bess asked.

  George looked Bess up and down and said, “Clothes! The judge of the Kids’ World Book of Records should check out your closet!”

  Bess rolled her eyes. She and George were cousins, but they were totally different. Bess had long blond hair and the latest fashion-forward clothes and accessories. Dark-haired George loved clothes too, as long as they were comfy enough to do cartwheels in. She was also an electronics geek—and proud of it!

  “There’s Mayor Strong,” Nancy said with a smile. “Let’s ask him about helping out at the ducky derby!”

  Mayor Strong turned when he heard Nancy, Bess, and George call his name, beaming as he recognized the city’s best young sleuths. “What can I do for you girls?” he asked.

  Just as Nancy opened her mouth to reply, a woman stepped between her and the mayor. The girls recognized her at once. It was Dorothy Danner, River Heights’s busiest party planner. The Clue Crew knew Dorothy from a missing butterfly case they once worked on. They also knew she could be a drama queen!

  “Excuse me, Mayor Strong,” Dorothy said briskly. “I need to talk to you at once.”

  “I was just speaking with the girls, Dorothy,” Mayor Strong said. “Can it wait a minute?”

  “Not even a second!” Dorothy declared. “This is an emergency!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George traded glances. Everything with Dorothy was an emergency.

  “I’m planning a baby shower tomorrow morning for Eileen MacDuff,” Dorothy explained. “The theme is rubber duckies.”

  “Mrs. MacDuff?” Nancy asked, grinning. “She’s our school librarian.”

  “Mrs. MacDuff picks out the best books for us to read!” Bess said.

  “And she doesn’t make us whisper in her library,” George added.

  Dorothy raised an eyebrow at the girls. “How nice,” she said, not smiling, then turned back to the mayor. “Mayor Strong, I’m going to need about a hundred rubber ducks to decorate the table.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Mayor Strong asked.

  “My order went to the wrong address,” Dorothy wailed. “It’s too late to have them redelivered!” She shook her head. “Every store in River Heights donated their ducks to this silly ducky derby!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George stared at Dorothy. How could she call the ducky derby silly?

  “How can I help, Dorothy?” Mayor Strong asked.

  Dorothy pointed to the table just as one of the volunteers dropped another duck into the box. “Let me buy those rubber duckies for the baby shower.”

  Mayor Strong shook his head. “Sorry, Dorothy. Those ducks have already been sold. They’re racing in the derby on Sunday.”

  “All of them?” Dorothy cried.

  The mayor nodded and said, “I’m afraid
you’ll have to cook up something else.”

  Dorothy stared at the mayor for a moment, and then her expression shifted. “Cook up something, huh?” she murmured. “Now, there’s an idea.”

  A suddenly excited Dorothy brushed past the girls. She didn’t notice that she bumped George’s shoulder as she rushed off.

  “Sounds like Dorothy’s planning something,” Nancy said.

  George crossed her arms. “She is a party planner, just like my mom, remember?”

  “How could we forget?” Bess asked, licking her lips. “Aunt Louise saves us the yummiest leftovers from her parties!”

  Mayor Strong glanced toward the stage. “Can your question wait, girls? I have to start up the duck joke contest.”

  “Sure, Mayor Strong,” Nancy said.

  George’s eyes flashed as the mayor walked away. “Duck joke contest? I know the most awesome duck joke!”

  “Tell us, George!” Nancy pleaded.

  Bess giggled. “Yes, George! Quack us up!”

  “Okay,” George said with a grin. “What do you get when you fill a box with ducks?”

  Before Nancy and Bess could guess, George blurted out, “A box of quackers! Get it?”

  “I got it!” an angry voice snapped. “And I want to get it back!”

  Chapter 2

  NO JOKE

  Nancy, Bess, and George all groaned at the same time. They would know that voice anywhere.

  “Antonio Elefano,” Nancy said as the girls turned around.

  Antonio stood behind them with his hands on his hips. There were five other kids with him. Each wore red T-shirts that read PROFESSOR CHUCKLE’S COMEDY & CLOWNING CAMP.

  “Comedy camp?” Nancy asked.

  “Since when are you funny, Antonio?” Bess said.

  Antonio shrugged. “Comedy camp wasn’t my first choice, but Bug Camp at the zoo was filled up and Camp Daredevil wouldn’t dare take me.”

  “I wonder why,” George said under her breath.

  “Don’t change the subject,” he snapped. “You stole my duck joke, and I want it back for the contest… Georgia!”

  “Uh-oh,” Bess whispered to Nancy. “George hates when someone uses her real name.”

  Nancy could see that George was already mad. Her teeth were clenched as she said, “I did not steal your joke, Antonio Elefano, and you know it.”

  Nancy and Bess exchanged worried looks. What if the showdown between Antonio and George became too loud? Or nasty? What if they were asked to leave?

  “I have an idea!” Nancy said quickly. “Whoever goes first gets to tell the quackers joke. The other person should have another joke ready.”

  “Fine,” George muttered. “I already have another joke, anyway.”

  “Antonio?” Nancy asked. “Do you have another joke too?”

  Antonio looked down as he toed the ground with his sneaker. “Yeah… I guess.”

  “Good,” Nancy said, pointing to the stage. “Because it looks like the joke contest is about to start.”

  The campers began walking toward the stage. Antonio looked over his shoulder and called, “Good luck, George. May the best joke win.… Mine!” before climbing up the steps.

  “Don’t worry,” Nancy said softly. “Bess and I don’t believe Antonio. Of course you didn’t steal the quackers joke from him.”

  “Tell us your other joke,” Bess said. “Please?”

  “Okay,” George said. “Who stole the soap from the bathtub?”

  “Who?” Nancy and Bess asked together.

  “A robber ducky!” George grinned.

  Nancy and Bess doubled over, laughing at George’s new joke when—

  “Get ready to quack up, because it’s time for the duck joke contest!” Mayor Strong boomed into the microphone. “Whoever has a joke, come on up!”

  “Me, me, meeeee!” Antonio shouted as he raced to the center of the stage. George took her place behind Antonio and two other kids.

  “Antonio is first in line, Nancy,” Bess said with a frown. “He’ll get to go first and use George’s duck joke.”

  “Okay, kids,” Mayor Strong called out. “When I point to you, tell your duck joke in a nice loud voice!”

  “Point to us?” Antonio cried. “But I was first in line!”

  “You’ll get your turn, Antonio,” Mayor Strong said cheerily. He pointed to George. “Got a joke for us?”

  “I do, Mayor Strong!” George said loudly and clearly. “What do you get when you fill a box with ducks…? A box of quackers!”

  “A box of quackers!” Mayor Strong guffawed. “Good one!”

  Everyone laughed. Everyone except Antonio, whose mouth was a grim line. After two more kids told their jokes, it was his turn.

  “Got a joke for us, Antonio?” Mayor Strong asked.

  “I did!” Antonio grumbled. “But George told it first!”

  The mayor shrugged, then turned to the next jokester, Kendra Jackson. After three more jokes, he introduced Angela Aikens, the winner of the school science fair, to help pick a winner.

  Angela smiled as she held up a wiry contraption. “According to my latest laugh-meter invention,” she said, “the winner is Kendra Jackson with her Count Duckula joke!”

  Nancy and Bess were happy for Kendra, but disappointed for George. They ran to meet her as she came down from the stage.

  “Your joke was really funny, George,” Nancy told her.

  “You mean my joke!” Antonio shouted from a few feet away. “And just for that, the ducky derby is going down!”

  Nancy wondered what Antonio meant. He’d lost the contest, but why would he take it out on the ducky derby? Nancy didn’t have long to think about it. Mayor Strong was trying to quiet the crowd.

  She turned her attention back to the stage as the Mayor said, “I was just handed the total number of rubber ducks sold for the derby on Sunday! We’ve sold three hundred thirty-five rubber duckies—enough to buy two benches for the duck pond!”

  Loud cheers filled the air.

  “We have all our ducks in a row for Sunday,” Mayor Strong added with a chuckle. “We just need to write your numbers on them before the race.”

  Numbers? The words made Nancy’s eyes light up. He had just given her the most awesome idea!

  “Bess, George—that’s how we can help out! We can write the numbers on the rubber duckies for the race!”

  Bess groaned. “All three hundred and thirty-five?”

  “Do you think the mayor will let us do it?” George asked.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” Nancy said with a smile. “Let’s ask!”

  Just as Mayor Strong climbed down from the stage, the girls ran to his side. He listened to Nancy’s idea, then asked, “Do you think you can handle this responsibility, girls? Numbering this many ducks is a big job.”

  “We have lots of waterproof markers in our kitchen drawer,” Nancy said. “And my dad can make sure we’re doing it right.”

  Mayor Strong nodded thoughtfully. “I’m sure you’d do a great job. Do you promise to take good care of the ducks and bring them to the riverbank Sunday morning by ten o’clock sharp in time for the race?”

  “We promise!” Nancy, Bess, and George replied as one.

  “Then congratulations, girls,” Mayor Strong declared. “The job is yours!”

  The Clue Crew high-fived, then thanked Mayor Strong. They would get to be a big part of the ducky derby on Sunday!

  The mayor helped load the box of rubber ducks onto a wagon for the girls to wheel over to Nancy’s house. After making sure the box was taped shut, they were on their way.

  “Can’t we stay a bit longer?” Bess asked as they approached the gate. “Remember what Kinsley said? In less than an hour, they’re giving out the free T-shirts!”

  Nancy shook her head as she pulled the wagon along the path. “I want to get these ducks home now,” she said. “We have work to do.”

  They were about to turn onto the street when they heard someone trying to get their
attention. “Wait!” Kinsley called.

  Nancy stopped wheeling as Kinsley ran to catch up.

  “Take a picture of me with all the ducks, please,” Kinsley said, waving her phone. “Then I can break the rubber ducky record!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George stared silently at Kinsley. Something about her ask just didn’t seem right.

  “It wouldn’t count if they’re not your ducks,” George said.

  “Sorry, Kinsley,” Nancy said softly.

  Kinsley dropped the hand holding her phone to her side. “No problem. I still have time to find a few hundred ducks before the judge comes later.”

  The girls watched Kinsley walk back to the festival.

  “Where’s Kinsley going to find a few hundred ducks in so little time?” Bess wondered.

  “She’ll think of something,” Nancy said. “In the meantime, we have hundreds of ducks to number, so let’s get them home.”

  The girls took turns pulling the wagon. When they reached the Drew house, they worked together to lift the box out of the wagon bed and carefully place it on the doorstep.

  “Let’s leave the wagon outside while we bring the box of rubber ducks into the house,” Nancy suggested.

  She was about to open the front door when a familiar tune filled the air. It was the Mr. Drippy ice-cream truck rolling down the street.

  “I so want ice cream now!” Bess declared.

  “But we have to get the box inside,” Nancy said, protesting.

  “I could use some ice cream too, Nancy,” George admitted. “The box will be safe in your yard.”

  Nancy looked at the box on the doorstep, then at her friends. “Okay,” she said. “But let’s be fast, please.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George found the truck around the corner. Eight-year-old Henderson Murphy was leaning out the window. Henderson helped his father serve ice cream every summer.

  “Name your flavors!” Henderson called with a grin.

  “Strawberry, please,” Bess said.

  “Which strawberry?” Henderson asked. “We have strawberry shortcake, strawberry banana, strawberry kiwi, strawberry—”

  “Plain strawberry is fine,” Bess said.

  “Cup or cone? We have sugar cones, graham cracker cones, gluten-free cones—”