The Secret of the Scarecrow (2 page)

After the class quieted down, Mrs. Ramirez explained that they would build the scarecrow on Friday before the dismissal bell. That was only three days away!

“Darcy's will have the most stylish scarecrow ever!” Ms. Franklin declared. “Thanks to Nancy, Bess, and George.”

“Yeah,” Deirdre muttered. “Thanks a lot.”

Nancy, Bess, and George didn't have time for sore losers like Deirdre. They had just won a major contest—and that called for a milk-and-cookie celebration!

“Ready? Go!” Hannah called out.

Nancy, Bess, and George picked up their glasses of milk and began to drink. Until Hannah said—“Stop!”

The girls giggled as they quickly put down their glasses. They loved playing Hannah's stop-and-go game when they drank milk with their cookies.

Hannah Gruen was more than just the Drews' housekeeper. She had been just like a mother to Nancy ever since Nancy's own mom died, when Nancy was three. Hannah gave the best hugs and baked the most awesome oatmeal-raisin cookies!

“I like our scarecrow,” George said between
chews. “But whatever happened to regular overalls and straw hats?”

“Overalls and straw hats?” Bess said, rolling her eyes. “George, that's so
Wizard of Oz
.”

Nancy was about to take another sip when her puppy barked loudly in another room.

“What's up with Chocolate Chip?” Bess asked.

“Maybe she doesn't like being named after a cookie,” George joked.

Nancy, Bess, and George found a still-barking Chip in the living room, her paws against the windowsill.

“She's barking at something outside,” Bess said.

“It's probably a deer,” Nancy said. “There are lots of deer around here in the fall.”

The girls peered out the window. It was getting dark early.

“That doesn't look like an animal to me,” George said.

Nancy looked closer until she saw what
George meant. A small, shadowy figure was dancing across her front yard wearing baggy clothes and a big hat!

“Who was that?” Nancy said as he ran away.

“You mean
what
?” George said slowly. “Baggy clothes, huge hat—I think we just saw a scarecrow.”

“Yeah.” Bess gulped. “A real
live
scarecrow!”

“So? Did you see Jake McStuffings yet?” Harvey Mueller asked Nancy, Bess, and George.

It was Friday afternoon. The kids of Mrs. Ramirez's class were in the school yard, ready to build a scarecrow.

“No, Harvey,” Nancy insisted. “We didn't see Jake.”

Harvey shrugged and walked away.

“But we did see a walking scarecrow, Nancy,” Bess said. “Just a few days ago in your yard, remember?”

“I remember,” Nancy admitted. “But it was getting dark, so we might have just seen a shadow.”

“The shadow of a walking scarecrow,” George muttered.

The kids had everything they needed for their scarecrow: arts-and-crafts supplies, a bale of hay, and the clothes from Darcy's Department Store.

Everyone was there except for Leanne. She had told Mrs. Ramirez she was allergic to hay, so she was excused to the library.

When it was finally time to build the scarecrow, everyone had a special job. Nancy, Bess, and George carefully pulled the clothes out of the bag. They looked very much like the clothes they had designed—except for the Darcy's label sewn inside each one.

“These clothes are awesome!” Bess exclaimed.

“You mean awful!” a voice sneered.

Nancy looked up to see Kevin, Peter, and Quincy. The boys were sticking their fingers in their mouths and making gagging noises.

“What's your problem?” George demanded.

“Whoever heard of a scarecrow with yellow
boots?” Kevin scoffed. “Our scarecrow should have been sporty.”

“Yeah,” Peter said. “Then he could have been our mascot too.”

“Why don't you just get a new mascot for your soccer team?” Nancy asked.

“May I suggest a turkey?” George teased.

“Ha-ha,” Quincy said, not laughing.

The girls were about to carry the clothes to Mrs. Ramirez when Deirdre called out, “Oh, goody! Here comes my special guest.”

“Guest?” Mrs. Ramirez asked.

Everyone turned to see a young woman with bright red hair and sparkly-framed glasses walking over.

“Deirdre, who is she?” Mrs. Ramirez asked.

“Meet Suki Anderson!” Deirdre said. “Suki was a contestant on
the TV show
Catwalk Champ
. She came in second place.”

“I'm also a friend of Deirdre's mom,” Suki added.

Bess leaned over and whispered, “I watch
Catwalk Champ
. It's where people compete in a fashion design contest.”

“I asked Suki to design some new clothes for our scarecrow,” Deirdre went on. “Since the ones she has now are so lame.”

Suki reached into a big bag she was holding. She smiled as she pulled out what looked like a dress made of dried fall leaves!

“Ta-daa!” Suki sang out. “What every well-dressed scarecrow will be wearing this year!”

Mrs. Ramirez and the students stared quietly at the leafy dress in Suki's hand. To Nancy it looked more like an arts-and-crafts project than a dress!

“And I thought the yellow boots were ugly,” Kevin muttered.

“I made a hat, too,” Suki said, digging into
her bag. “I hope you like acorns—”

“It's lovely, Ms. Anderson,” Mrs. Ramirez said, cutting in. “But Mimi Franklin already sent us a very nice outfit, so that won't be necessary.”

“Are you saying no to me?” Deirdre gasped.

“Sorry, Deirdre,” Mrs. Ramirez said.

Deirdre's mouth became a thin line. Her face turned red. Nancy knew that look. It meant Deirdre was supermad!

“I hate Darcy's Department Store!” Deirdre declared. “I will never shop there again. Never, ever, ever!”

Suki hurriedly said good-bye and left the school yard. Deirdre stood to the side and pouted while the others built the scarecrow. Making a scarecrow was harder than Nancy or her friends had thought, but it was tons of fun!

Kendra, Marcy, and Nadine had the job of tying the leggings at the bottom with string. Then everyone took turns stuffing them with hay. When that was done, they stuck the legs into the yellow boots. After they filled the coat
and attached the legs, it was time to make the scarecrow's head. That was done by packing a small burlap sack with hay and tying it closed at the bottom. A smiling face was drawn on the sack with colorful markers.

“And now—for the finishing touch!” Bess said, carefully placing the flowered hat on the scarecrow's head.

“Awesome!” Nancy swooned as she and her classmates applauded their work.

“Our scarecrow needs a name, too,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “Can anyone think of a good one?”

“Scary Mary,” Deirdre muttered.

“Hay-ley.” Quincy laughed. “Get it? Get it?”

“Bride of Jake McStuffings,” Harvey said slowly.

“I know,” Shelby Metcalf said. “How about
Autumn
?”

Nancy, Bess, and George liked the name.

Everyone else liked Autumn too. Everyone except Deirdre, but she never liked anything she didn't think of.

“Ms. Franklin will pick Autumn up on Monday,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “But where should we keep her over the weekend?”

“At my house, please!” Bess said. “My mom is picking me up after school and there's plenty of room in our car!”

“Well,” Mrs. Ramirez said. “As long as you keep her inside the house at all times.”

“I promise, I'll take good care of Autumn until Monday,” Bess said, jumping up and down. “Supergood care!”

“Okay, Bess,” Mrs. Ramirez agreed.

“Yippee!” Bess cheered.

“Double yippee!” Nancy cheered too.

Mrs. Ramirez helped the kids pack up the craft supplies and clean up the extra hay. They finished just in time for the dismissal bell.

Bess was about to lift Autumn off the ground
when Deirdre said, “Wait! I want to take a picture of Autumn!”

“Why do you want to take a picture?” Nancy asked.

“It's for my blog,” Deirdre said. “I have told you about my very own blog, Dishing with Deirdre, haven't I?”

“About a gazillion times,” George groaned.

Deirdre took out a tiny pink camera and snapped a picture of Autumn. Without saying good-bye she walked away.

“Whatever!” Bess said. She looked down at the scarecrow and smiled. “Come on, Autumn. We're going home!”

Mrs. Marvin's car was already parked outside the school. As the girls carried Autumn, George said, “Remember to take good care of her, Bess.”

“I told you I would,” Bess said. “Besides, who would want to hurt a scarecrow?”

Nancy could think of only one. Deirdre Shannon!

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!” Mr. Drew said.

Nancy smiled sleepily as she walked into the kitchen. Her dad was making his usual Saturday-morning pancakes. But this time they smelled a bit different.