Lost Voice of the Grand Final

Lost Voice of the Grand Final
Discovered by Sleuth Astrid, the Mind-Reading Chook

Written by Hazel Edwards.

www.hazeldedwards.com

Illustrated and designed by Jane Connory.

ww.janeconnory.com

It was the Grand Final on Saturday. Carrot the Parrot was the Coach for the Birds' team. But he'd lost his voice. Sleuth Astrid had to find it, in time for the Grand Final because the team needed the Voice of the Coach.

Was the Voice captured in the TV ‘Footy' studio? Lost down his throat? Was a Voice Coach any use? What about the Speakeasy? Or the Voice-over on the TV Footy panel or on Talk-back?

And then there's the Bird Wedding of the Year. Carrot was supposed to be the MC (Master of Ceremonies).

As usual, Sleuth Astrid the Mind-Reading Chook, solves the problem.

Hidden in each chapter is a clue that will help solve Astrid's mystery. Snoop around each illustration to find a hidden letter, unscramble a word and help Astrid uncover the secret to the lost voice of the grand final.

Also in the Sleuth Astrid series, by Hazel Edwards.

Copyright © Hazel Edwards and Jane Connory, 2011.

Written By Hazel Edwards.

www.hazeledwards.com

Illustration and design by Jane Connory.

www.janeconnory.com

978-0-9871575-3-9 Sleuth Astrid: Lost Voice of the Grand Final

All electronic rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

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Chapter 1 Entry I.D.

Chapter 2 The Job

Chapter 3 Coach With No Voice

Chapter 4 Speakeasy

Chapter 5 T.V. Studio

Chapter 6 Talk-Back Radio & The Voice Coach

Chapter 7 The Grand Final

Chapter 8 Bird of the Year Wedding

Chapter 1

Grand Final is one of those SPECIAL days. For months, footy fans look forward to the Grand Final, especially if their team is in the Finals match. Or even in the Semi-Finals. Fans wear their team colours and numbers. They sing team songs. And they talk about their players' injuries. Football fitness is more important than world peace in the farmyard.

Rooster thinks he's boss of the yard. But the hens are the real players. I know all the farmyard gossip about who is doing what. But I don't follow football.

‘Which is your football team?' Rooster asks. He likes the team with his Rooster colours. I don't peck an answer. As a hi-tech chook, I know stuff Rooster doesn't. Especially since I work part-time as a sleuth.

‘Do you follow Soccer?'

I shake my head.

‘Do you like Aussie Rules?'

I shake my head.

‘Do you like Rugby?'

I shake my head.

‘Then why are you going to the Grand Final?' asks Rooster.

‘Working there.'

I'm on a budget.

And I don't make lots of money.

So I couldn't afford a ticket for the Grand Final.

Those tickets cost squillions.

But I had a bit of luck.

I was asked to work there on Grand Final Day, by my agent.

‘Does that mean I get in for free?' I asked.

‘Only if you're wearing a special ID tag,' said my agent Ben.

And that's why I now have an ALL ENTRY PASS. I can get into any stand. Even into the training area.

My e-ID tag says ‘VISITOR: Special Security'.

I'm on the job.

But I'm not telling Rooster. The hens will tell him the gossip soon enough. He'd be green with envy. And that won't match his club colours.

Chapter 2

My name is Astrid. I'm a mind-reading chook. I have a few hi-tech toys too. Z-Tek games are my latest.

Chickens are ordinary. But I'm special. Ever since that accident in the Lab, I've been able to read minds. This helps when I'm sleuthing.. I'm EXCELLENT at finding things.

RING. RING. RING.

‘Hullo, Astrid here.' I pull my Z-com from under my wing. I like being a hi-tech hen. I can peck very fast on my screen.

‘Astrid, it's Ben. I've got a job for you.' Ben is a good agent, most of the time. He gets extra work for me. Sleuthing. Or as an actor. I can act really well as a chicken. But no more Hot Chicken Shop commercials!

I don't even like going near that Hot Chicken shop. It's no mystery what happened to my Aunty Rhoda in there. She became a Special Sandwich with lettuce, mustard and pickles. And my uncle is now a duster at the Feather Bed Shop. So I won't act in bed-shop commercials either.

Ben says quickly, ‘This is NOT a Chicken Shop acting job. Okay?'

‘Where is it?'

‘The Sports Centre. You know it's the Grand Final on Saturday?'

‘Yes. Hens in the farmyard have been talking about it. So has Rooster.'

‘The Coach has got Grand Final Fever.'

‘So has most of the farmyard. What's the job?'

I don't play football. My wings are clumsy on the muddy field. I'm not a fast bird like some players. The Birds were finalists, but they weren't that desperate. I only play computer games, not football. My job is to solve mysteries.

‘Something is lost, again,' says Ben.

Last time, I found Merlin the Magician's lost sense of humour. Merlin needed to be able to laugh in time for his 3pm magic show at the Mall. He did.

I like solving mysteries. I look for clues. And I keep my eyes to the ground. I notice things. And most people don't notice a chook who's just pecking around.

‘Who's the client this time?' I ask.

‘It's Carrot the Parrot himself,' says Ben. ‘He's lost his voice.'

‘That's no mystery. He's probably worn it out.'

Carrot is one of those parrots who is always talking. Parts of him are the same colour as his name. Like the vegetable. But he says he's ‘exotic'. No garden vegetable colours for him. I think he's just orange-carrot coloured. Very noticeable, especially when he yells at you.

‘The Birds team are in the Final and Carrot is the coach. HE says, they need him at the ground to tell them what to do.' I wondered how Coach Carrot told that to Ben if he lost his voice. Maybe an e-mail? I use Chook mail myself on my Z-com.

Anyone who watches TV Sports knows about Coach Carrot. He is always being interviewed on an ‘expert' panel.

In fact, he talks ALL the time. If it's not about football, Carrot's talking about himself or the special events at which he is Master of Ceremonies. He's that kind of a bird. Ruffles a few feathers.

If Rooster and Carrot were in the same farmyard, no-one else would get a chance to speak. Wall- to- wall words. Bird war. Feathers ruffled on both sides. Luckily Carrot lives near the Sports Ground, not in the farmyard. He likes to live on the job.

‘He can't talk or tell players what to do anymore,' says Ben. ‘That's why he sent an urgent e-mail.'

‘When did he lose his voice?' I ask.

‘Before he got up this morning,' says Ben.

‘Does he know where he lost it?' I say. ‘Or why?'

‘No. That's why you've got the job of finding it. The Voice of the Coach must be at the Grand Final.'

‘What about my fee?'

‘D'you want the usual?' asks Ben.

‘Yes please.' Since I'm a hi-tech chook , Ben pays me in new e-games like Leghorn, Eggs Galore or Find the Egg.

‘The voice must be found before Saturday's Game,' repeats Ben. ‘And the Coach has an even more important, speaking date the next day.'

‘Sunday?'

‘Yes. It's Bird of the Year Wedding.'

‘Is Carrot getting married?' I wondered who would marry Carrot.

‘No. Coach isn't keen on any of his footballers getting married on Grand Final weekend. The Bride wanted to marry at 2pm on the Saturday. But the game is on Saturday. Now the wedding will be on Sunday, instead of Saturday. And Carrot is supposed to be the M.C. at the wedding.'

‘Who decided the wedding was on the Sunday?'

‘The Coach.'

‘Why do the wedding party do what the Coach says?'

‘Beak, the bridegroom is also the captain of the football team. They need Beak for the Grand Final. He has to help his team to win or else…'

‘Who do you barrack for? The Birds?' Ben laughed. ‘How did you guess?'

This is a perfect job for Astrid, the hi-tech chook.

I google ‘Voice' and then ‘Lost' and then ‘Birds Coach'. Next, I find a Voice-Coach.

I'll have to visit the football training ground. And talk to Carrot. Maybe this time, he will listen to me?