The Pet Show Mystery

Mart said. “The latter is not. There must be a way of stopping the rumor, and we’ll figure out what it is.”
    “The solution is to prove to people that the pet show is strictly on the up-and-up,” Dan said.
    “Right,” Brian said, nodding approvingly. “But how?”
    “I think I’ve got something,” Trixie said. “Say on,” Mart told her.
    “Well, if people don’t trust us with the pet show money, we shouldn’t have the pet show money,” Trixie said. “Why couldn’t we set up an account at the bank? I’m sure we could arrange things so that we can’t take any money out without the bank’s knowledge and permission. Then people don’t have to trust us—they can just trust the bank.”
    “Oh, Trixie, that’s perfectly perfect!” Honey said enthusiastically.
    “Yes, that should do it,” Brian said. “And to announce the plan, we’ll just need to print up more fliers.”
    “All those in favor of Trixie’s plan, signify by saying aye,” Jim said.
    “Aye!” everyone chorused.
    “Motion carried,” Jim said.
    “I move that we adjourn, so that the Belden Bob-Whites can talk to their father about setting up an account for the pet show proceeds,” Dan said. “Mr. Belden is an officer of the bank, after all.”
    “I’ll second that motion,” Honey said.
    “I’ll call you later,” Trixie said, jumping up from the couch and pulling on her coat as she dashed for the door.
    Her two older brothers, normally less impulsive, were right behind her.



6 * Dr. Chang Explains

    “IT’S WORKING!” Honey exclaimed the next afternoon, as the tenth student in less than half an hour walked away from the sign-up table.
    “It’s better than working,” Trixie replied. “I think the sign-up is going better now than it was before the rumor started.”
    “You’re right,” Honey agreed. “Every student in school must have seen the fliers we circulated this morning, describing our new arrangement with the bank. That must have reassured the students who were believing the rumor. And the fliers also reminded the students who’d been meaning to sign up and hadn’t gotten around to it.”
    “Just don’t expect me to be grateful for the rumor,” Trixie said. “I keep remembering how awful it was. Who would hate the Bob-Whites that much?”
    “Maybe no one,” said Honey. “Jim and I talked about it last night after you and your brothers left. You know, sometimes somebody makes a joke or wonders aloud about something. Another person overhears and takes it as truth, and that person repeats it. Pretty soon it’s a full-fledged rumor. But it’s not vicious, and it’s not intentional.”
    Trixie shook her head. “I’m sure that happens sometimes. But not this time. Someone started that rumor deliberately to hurt the Bob-Whites.” There was a mystery here— Trixie just knew it!
    “All right,” said Honey. “Maybe it’s the pet show that’s the target, not the Bob-Whites at all.”
    “That’s possible,” Trixie said.
    “But who hates the pet show?” Honey asked.
    Trixie was one step ahead of her friend. “I can think of two suspects. Paul Gale has publicly attacked the pet show twice—at the mall and on TV. And Miss von Trammel was furious about Dr. Chang being the judge.”
    “I’ll admit that Paul Gale seems to hate the pet show—or rather, the bird-feeding plan. He couldn’t have started the rumor, though, because he doesn’t have access to the school, where the rumor started. As for Miss von Trammel, I can’t believe she’d be so angry that she’d want to ruin the whole show.”
    “I saw her, you didn’t,” Trixie countered. “She was plenty angry.”
    “I’ve seen her nearly every school day since I moved to Sleepyside, though,” said Honey. “I just can’t believe she’d suddenly become such a—such a raving maniac.”
    “A distinct description of my distaff sibling,” Mart said, as he and Brian came to relieve the girls at the sign-up table.
    “Not Trixie,” Honey said, “Miss—”
    “Missed you here at the table,” Trixie said quickly. “Glad you’ve finally come. Really busy here. Good luck.” As she spoke, she picked her books up from the floor, then tucked them under her arm. “Come on, Honey. Let’s let the men do some work for a change.”
    A new flock of students coming up to the table distracted the boys. Honey waited until they were out of earshot to ask, “What’s up?”
    “You said you can’t imagine Miss von Trammel that