The Hudson River Mystery

saying.
    Trixie clenched her fists. Didn’t Thea know —oh, how could she know that sharks gave Bobby nightmares? Trixie considered barging in to put an end to it, but decided against it. I’ve been called a busybody once too often today, she thought.
    ”And then what happened?” she heard Bobby ask.
    ”And then... the shark opened its mouth and ate up all the people with its sharp teeth!” was Thea’s reply.

More Laughter at Trixie’s Expense • 11

    AT BREAKFAST the following morning, a Monday, Bobby was full of talk about sharks. Far from being frightened by Thea’s fantasy, he had relished its every gory detail.
    Nevertheless, Mrs. Belden was horrified. ”Oh, Trixie, see what you’ve started?” she sighed.
    ”Me!” Trixie exclaimed indignantly. ”Why, Thea—”
    ”She’s a pretty good storyteller,” Bobby interrupted. ”But not as good as you, Trixie.”
    ”Oh? Why not?” Trixie asked.
    Bobby shrugged. ”She didn’t put her arm around me the way you do. That’s what makes a story good, you know.”
    Trixie smiled at him, then turned to her mother. ”It’s not my fault that Thea happened to zero in on sharks last night. I’ll admit, it certainly is a bizarre coincidence.”
    ”Not necessarily,” Brian said. ”Loyola told me that Thea’s always had some sort of love affair with sharks.”
    ”Love at first bite,” quipped Mart, taking in a mouthful of granola.
    ”Not that kind of affair,” Brian said. ”Just collecting books on them—stuff like that.”
    ”Trixie,” Bobby clamored, ”will you tell me another shark story? Are there really sharks in the river? Stark shory, stark shory,” he repeated to himself, delighted.
    Before Trixie could answer, Mr. Belden said firmly, ”I think we’ve had enough about sharks at the breakfast table, Bobby. And no, there are no sharks in the Hudson, for once and for all. Trixie was only teasing—weren’t you, Trixie?” Without giving her a chance to disagree, he went right on. ”As a matter of fact, our Hudson contains things a lot more interesting than sharks. Right, Trix?”
    ”Huh? Oh, sure, like... uh... like—”
    ”Like valuable fish, pirate gold,” her father supplied. ”And sunken treasure from old shipwrecks. New shipwrecks, too, and underwater car wrecks—”
    ”Who ever heard of an underwater car?” Bobby piped up. ”Or a—a wunderwater tar!”
    ”Er, well, I think I’m going to be late for work.
    Bye, gang.” Peter Belden kissed his wife, grabbed his coat, and was out the door before Bobby could ask any more bright questions.
    Trixie tousled Bobby’s curls. ”I think what Dad meant was cars that fall into the Hudson somehow and sink to the bottom.”
    ”Yecch,” said Bobby with a delicate shiver. ”That sounds horrible! What if there were people in those cars?”
    ”They might be able to escape,” Brian reassured him.
    ”Doesn’t it usually take a car about four to eight minutes to sink?” Mart asked.
    Brian nodded. ”Till then, you can roll down a window and climb out. If that doesn’t work, don’t try to get out the window while the water is rushing in. Wait until the car is submerged, so that the pressure is equalized inside and outside the car. Then you can escape by rolling down a window or opening the door—”
    ”But then the sharks will get you,” Bobby yelped. ”I hope that never happens to me!”
    Mrs. Belden poured herself a second cup of coffee and pleaded, ”Couldn’t we try to stay off scary subjects for a while?”
    ”Sorry, Moms,” Trixie said guiltily.
    Brian pointed an accusing finger at Trixie. ”That reminds me, you’re the one who needs a few lessons in lifesaving techniques.”
    ”What did I do now?” groaned Trixie.
    ”It’s what you didn’t do. You failed to come to our aid yesterday when Honey and I were rescuing Ken and Carl. It’s occurred to me that you should take a water safety course, Trix. That might give you the confidence you need.”
    Trixie gulped down the last of her cranberry juice. ”Jeepers, where would I find time for that?” she complained. ”I barely have enough time to prepare for my regular classes in school!”
    ”We’ve heard the rumors,” Mart said knowingly. ”Like the one about how your math teacher is going to start charging admission to let people in to see you perform in class.”
    ”Where did you hear that?” Trixie gasped.
    Her family burst out laughing.
    Mart laughed louder than anyone. ”As the Mock Turtle in