Backyard Bandit Mystery (2 page)

Stacy couldn't wait to finish breakfast.

She poured a glass of juice. Then she sliced a banana on her cereal.

At last, she hurried down to Dunkum's house.

He was outside shooting baskets. “Hi, Stacy. What's up?” he asked.

“I have a great idea,” she said.

He stopped shooting. “What is it?”

“We need to have a club meeting,” she told him.

“Right now?” He glanced up the street. “Looks like the rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids are sleeping in.”

“Summers and Saturdays,” she said under her breath.

“What's the meeting about?” he asked.

Stacy told him the Flag Day idea. “We need to jazz up Blossom Hill Lane,” she said. “With flags.”

Dunkum grinned. “Cool idea!”

“Only one problem. We have no money,” she said.

“There's a little in the club fund,” Dunkum said. He put his ball down and ran into the house.

Stacy hoped there was enough money to buy seven flags.

She looked at the houses again.

Flags would really spiff things up.

She crossed her fingers.

Stacy waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

What's taking so long?
she wondered.

At last, Dunkum came outside.

His face looked like a prune.

“What's wrong?” Stacy asked.

“I counted the money twice.” Dunkum shrugged his shoulders. “I thought there was more.”

“How much
is
there?” asked Stacy.

“Only two dollars and fifty-three cents. Mostly dimes and nickels,” replied Dunkum.

Stacy uncrossed her fingers. “Not enough for seven flags.”

“Not even close.” Dunkum picked up his basketball.

“What about a fund-raiser?” said Stacy. “A yard sale . . . at my house? This afternoon?”

Dunkum was silent. He aimed high, shot, and made it.

He looked at her. “Abby's gone,” he said. “We can't vote without our president.”

“I thought of that, too,” said Stacy. “Besides, Carly, Shawn, and Jimmy aren't here to vote, either.”

“You're right,” Dunkum said.

She watched him make some fancy moves.

“Well, what if we broke the rules? Just once?” she suggested.

Dunkum didn't say anything. He kept shooting.

Stacy kept talking. “What do you really think?”

“Abby probably wouldn't mind,” he said.

“Should we talk to the others about it?” she asked.

Dunkum nodded. “Wanna?”

“Why not?” Stacy said with a grin.

But she had a strange feeling.

They'd never done
this
before!

THREE

Stacy stared at the beanbag president's chair. Abby Hunter's seat.

Poof!
Stacy sat down too hard.

“The meeting will come to order,” she said.

Dee Dee raised her hand. “Is this a real meeting?” She looked around the room. “Because if it is, there's four of us missing.”

Stacy nodded. “You're right.”

Dunkum tried to explain to little Dee Dee. “We wanna buy some flags for Flag Day.” He glanced over at Stacy. “It's a
great idea. We just wanna talk about it.”

Eric Hagel and Jason Birchall liked the idea. They both said so.

“Why do we have to vote?” Jason asked.

“Yeah,” said Eric. “Abby doesn't care if we make some money. It would be a good surprise!”

“When the cat's away, the mice'll
pay,”
Jason said.

Dee Dee giggled.

Stacy didn't laugh. “So, is it settled?” she asked everyone.

Five heads nodded
yes
.

“Well, are we gonna vote?” Dunkum asked.

“Go for it!” shouted Jason.

“OK,” said Stacy. “How many in favor of a yard sale?”

Five hands went up.

“How many want the yard sale to start today?” she asked.

Same five hands.

“Yes!” said Dunkum. “We're in business.”

“Yay!” Stacy said. “Let's start gathering up our old loot. Anything we don't want.”

“Hey! Your trash could be
my
treasure,” Jason teased.

Dunkum and Eric agreed.

So did the girls.

“This'll be so-o cool,” Dee Dee said.

“I'm gonna search for hidden treasure,” Eric said. And he went right home.

So did everyone else.

Stacy hurried into the house. “Do we have anything to sell?” she asked her mom.

“Like what?” her mom said, smiling.

“You know, trash or treasures. For a yard sale,” Stacy said.

Her mother thought for a moment. “I
don't think so,” she said.

“Ple-e-ease, will you look?” Stacy pleaded.

“What's the sale for?” asked her mother.

“Money for Flag Day,” answered Stacy. “The Cul-de-sac Kids wanna buy flags for every house on the block.”

“Flags?” said Grandpa. “What a nice idea.”

Stacy smiled. “I thought so, too.”

“Where will you put the flags?” asked her granny.

“On all the porches,” Stacy explained.

Grandpa got off the couch and headed down the hall.

“Where are you going, dear?” asked Granny.

“To scout around,” Grandpa said.

“Where?” Granny asked.

“In the suitcase,” Grandpa answered.

Granny's eyebrows flew up. “Oh no!”

“It's OK,” Stacy said. “I'm sure he'll find something.”

“That's what I'm afraid of,” replied Granny.

“I'll go help him,” Stacy offered.

Now her mother was frowning. “Better let Grandpa do his own looking,” she said.

Stacy glanced at Granny. She was
really
frowning now.

“Oh, sorry,” Stacy said quietly.

She knew she better stay out of it.

So she went to the attic.

It was time for some scouting of her own.

FOUR

Later, Stacy and Grandpa hid out in the attic.

Some of their old treasures were piled on the bed.

“Don't let Granny catch you with these,” Grandpa whispered.

Stacy looked through her grandpa's things.

There was a bottle of men's cologne, nearly full.

Stacy twisted the cap and gave a sniff. “Don't you want this?” she asked.

“Never liked the smell,” he said with a
grin. “Granny's the one who bought it.”

Stacy shrugged. “Won't she be upset?”

“Ah, she'll get over it.” He waved his hand.

“What if she doesn't?” Stacy asked.

“She'll just have to buy it back.” He was laughing.

Next he held up his pajama top.

“I think you might need that, Grandpa,” said Stacy.

He laughed. “In this heat? No chance!”

It
was
hot for June. Especially June in Colorado.

“Just skip the pajama top and sleep in your undershirt,” Stacy suggested.

“Hallelujah!” said Grandpa.

And he went downstairs.

I don't wanna get in trouble,
thought Stacy.

But she wasn't too worried. She remembered what Grandpa said. If Granny missed his stuff, she could just buy it back.

Hallelujah!

Before lunch, Dee Dee came over.

Stacy showed off some of her treasures. She showed some of her not-so-great treasures, too.

There was an old fish bowl.

Used magazines.

Some baby books with thick pages.

A beanbag angel with wings.

Three sets of skirts and blouses. Two sweaters.

Dee Dee held up one of the skirts. “I like this one,” she said.

“It's not for sale . . . not yet,” Stacy said.

Dee Dee folded the skirt and put it away. “What about this?” She held up the beanbag angel. “It's real cute.”

Stacy nodded. “Abby gave me that a long time ago.”

“Don't you want it anymore?” asked Dee Dee. “It's so-o sweet.”