The Great Goat Gaffe Read online

  “Um… I don’t think you guys can go to Quincy’s house today,” Shelby said.

  “Why not?” Nancy asked.

  “Quincy told me that only kids with talented pets are invited to the audition. As you know, Ernie sings.”

  “Raaaaaaaaaak!” Ernie screeched loudly.

  “You call that singing?” George asked.

  “Sure,” Shelby said with a shrug. “Even Brad Sylvester has to clear his throat.”

  The girls watched Shelby quietly as she walked down the block with Ernie.

  “We’ll never get to question Quincy today,” Bess grumbled. “Or look for the green leash with white polka dots.”

  “All because of those singing, dancing pets.” George frowned.

  “Pets!” Nancy gasped as a new idea popped into her head. “I have a talented pet too. My puppy Chocolate Chip can roll a ball with her nose!”

  “Which means Chip can audition!” Bess said excitedly.

  “And while Chip is wowing Quincy,” George said, “I’ll search for that green leash with white polka dots!”

  “Will Chip be okay around all those other pets, Nancy?” Bess asked.

  “Yes,” Nancy said with confidence. “The only animals that make Chip go wild are squirrels, and who has a squirrel for a pet?”

  George hurried home to get her lucky soccer ball for Chip to roll. Nancy and Bess went inside the Drew house to get Chip ready for her audition.

  Less than an hour later, the girls and Chip were heading to Quincy’s house. The frisky chocolate Lab was already rolling George’s ball down the block.

  When they reached Quincy’s, George whistled through her teeth. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “Who knew so many kids in River Heights had pets?”

  The Taylors’ front yard was crowded with cats, more dogs, a hamster in a cage, a rabbit, and of course, Ernie!

  Kevin Garcia from school was there. He held a cage covered with a thick cloth. The girls were curious what was underneath.

  “Who’s your secret pet, Kevin?” Nancy asked.

  “His name is Toffee,” Kevin said, “but no peeking until he performs.”

  All eyes turned to Quincy as he hopped up on a plastic milk crate. “Welcome to the auditions, everyone,” he announced. “As you all know by now, I was Pogo the Trampoline Goat’s manager.”

  “Was his manager?” Nancy whispered to Bess and George. “Isn’t he still Pogo’s manager?”

  “Whoever wins this audition,” Quincy went on, “gets to be represented by me.”

  “Oh, blah, blah, blah,” George whispered. “While the other pets audition, let’s look for that leash.”

  “Good idea,” Nancy whispered.

  “Wait!” Bess said. “Quincy just called Kevin up first. I want to see what kind of a pet he has!”

  “Introducing,” Kevin shouted as he whipped the cloth off the cage, “Toffee!”

  Kevin opened the cage door. Gasps filled the yard when a tiny gray creature with a long tail peeked out. The creature gazed at the crowd with big round eyes—then jumped out of his cage!

  “Woof, woof, woof!” Chip barked loudly.

  Using both hands, Nancy clutched Chip’s leash to hold her back. But it was no use. Chip shot straight at Toffee, who was gliding through the air!

  “Oh noooo!” Nancy cried. “Kevin’s secret pet is a flying squirrel!”

  Chapter 9

  CHEW CLUE

  Pet cats hissed and raised their hackles while Chip kept barking, and the other dogs joined her. The hamster jumped frantically in her cage, and Ernie, still on Shelby’s shoulder, flapped his wings, squawking, “Naughty dog, naughty dog! Oooh boy!”

  Chip pulled Nancy all the way to where Kevin was standing. Toffee had climbed up onto his shoulder, his eyes wide and his fur ruffled.

  “See what your dog did, Nancy?” Kevin said. “She scared Toffee!”

  “Sorry,” Nancy said, holding Chip firmly by her collar, “but no one expected to see a pet squirrel!”

  “Toffee is not a squirrel!” Kevin insisted. “He’s a sugar glider.”

  “A sugar glider?” Bess repeated.

  “Is that a pet—or a candy bar?” George said.

  “A sugar glider is a marsupial,” Kevin explained as he gently petted Toffee. “Sort of like a teeny-tiny kangaroo.”

  Quincy stepped up to Kevin. “What does your sugar glider do?” he asked. “Any tricks? Can he fly through hoops or hop like a kangaroo?”

  “No,” Kevin said. “He’s just a neat pocket pet.”

  “Then put him in your pocket,” Quincy snapped. He turned to Nancy. “Take your dog home, please. She’ll never make it in Hollywood!”

  Nancy didn’t want to leave without asking Quincy about Pogo’s leash. By then Chip had calmed down, but the other pets were still jumpy. Quincy had no choice but to call off the pet auditions.

  Nancy, Bess, and George watched the other kids carry and walk their pets away from the Taylor house. The owners were disappointed, but not as disappointed as Quincy.

  “Phooey ka-blooey,” he said. “Now I’ll never get to see Harriet the Hula-Hoop Hamster.”

  “Sorry again, Quincy,” Nancy said. “But we didn’t come for the auditions. We’re trying to get answers on our latest case.”

  “What case?” Quincy asked.

  “Someone put Pogo in our goat yoga class yesterday,” George explained. “Was it you?”

  Quincy shook his head. “No way. Why would I put a trampoline goat in a yoga class?”

  “You told us you wanted Pogo to be on television,” Bess said, “and you’re his manager.”

  “Was his manager!” Quincy sighed. “Two days ago, Wesley fired me. He said he didn’t want Pogo to be a famous trampoline goat anymore.”

  “Fired?” Nancy said, puzzled. “Then you didn’t take Pogo to Sweet Creams Farm yesterday so he could be on Wake Up, River Heights?”

  “Why bother if I’m not Pogo’s manager anymore?” Quincy asked glumly. “Besides, I was watching Danger Dog then. I watch it at that time every morning.”

  “Danger Dog!” Bess said, her eyes lighting up. “We heard that yesterday’s episode was awesome. Do you remember what it was?”

  “How could I forget?” Quincy said with a smile. “It was the flea circus episode. It’s the best!”

  He picked up a stick and tossed it for Chip to fetch. While they played, Bess whispered excitedly to Nancy and George, “You guys, Quincy is right. Henderson told us the flea circus episode would be on!”

  She shook her head, adding, “Quincy couldn’t have been at the farm yesterday morning, because he was home watching Danger Dog.”

  “Danger Dog saves the day!” George declared.

  “At least for Quincy,” Nancy said with a smile.

  The Clue Crew thanked Quincy for his help; then Nancy walked Chip out of the yard along with Bess and George.

  “I’m glad Quincy’s not a suspect anymore,” Nancy said. “But I’m not glad that he was our last suspect.”

  George held on to Chip’s leash while Nancy crossed Quincy’s name off the suspect list. She was about to close the book when the purple Pogo bracelet tucked inside fell out.

  “I’ll get it,” Bess said, picking up the bracelet and handing it back to Nancy. Before Nancy could slip it back into her clue book, she saw something that she hadn’t noticed before….

  Nancy gasped “Bess, George, I just found a clue on our clue!”

  She pointed to two little ragged marks on the bracelet. “My hand must have covered them when I pulled this bracelet off the fence.”

  “Maybe they’re rips from the fence,” George said.

  “Rips would be longish,” Nancy said. “These look like teeth marks.”

  “Teeth marks?” Bess exclaimed.

  “Whose teeth?” George asked.

  “Pogo’s!” Nancy said. “He was chewing on Wesley’s purple bracelet the day before the yoga class, remember?”

  “I remember,” Bess said. “But
if the bracelet was Wesley’s, and we found it on the fence—”

  “Why would Wesley sneak his own goat into the yoga class?” George cut in.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” Nancy said as she closed her clue book. “Next stop, the Disher house!”

  Can you solve the Pogo puzzler? Try thinking like the Clue Crew. Or turn the page to find out who dunnit!

  Nancy believes the chewed-up purple Pogo bracelet was Wesley’s. Why would Wesley want to leave Pogo in the goat yoga class? Write down some reasons on a piece of paper.

  The Clue Crew ruled out all of their suspects. Can you think of any others? Write them down on a piece of paper.

  Pogo ran amok through the whole goat yoga class! Why do you think the little goat went wild? Write your reasons on a piece of paper.

  Chapter 10

  GO, POGO, GO!

  Nancy brought Chip home. Then she hurried with Bess and George to Wesley’s house.

  George still had her soccer ball. She kicked it all the way to Magnolia Street.

  “Let’s go straight to the backyard,” Nancy said as they approached the Disher house. “That’s where Wesley usually is when he’s spending time with Pogo.”

  The Clue Crew rounded the house to the backyard. The trampoline was still set up, but there was no sign of anyone, not even Pogo.

  Bess pointed to a small green-colored shed in the far corner of the yard. “Why doesn’t that little house have a door?” she asked.

  “It could be a run-in shed,” George said. “You know, like a doghouse.”

  “Or a goat house,” Nancy said with a smile. “Let’s check it out.”

  George playfully tossed the ball into Bess’s arms. While she and Nancy entered the shed, Bess stayed outside, bouncing the ball on the grass.

  “It’s kind of dark in here,” Nancy said, looking around the shed, “but I see bags of goat chow, grooming brushes, water dishes, and lots of hay.”

  George turned to the wall and grinned. “I see just what we’re looking for.”

  “What?” Nancy asked.

  “Boom!” George said as she pulled a long belt-like object off a hook. “One green leash with white polka dots!”

  “George!” Nancy gasped. “You found it!”

  “Um… you guys,” Bess called from outside. “I found something too.”

  “What, Bess?” Nancy asked as she and George exited the goat shed.

  Not saying a word, Bess pointed to the roof. Nancy and George glanced up. Staring down at them from the top of the shed was Pogo!

  “Baaaaaaa!”

  Pogo backed up, then took a running leap off the roof, landing on all fours!

  Startled, Bess let go of the ball, shooting it into the air. Pogo bleated as he jumped up to butt the ball hard with his head. The soccer ball arched way over the yard, right toward Wesley!

  “Whoa!” he cried as he ducked. The ball soared over his head. “I never saw Pogo do that before.”

  Wesley chased the ball down, picked it up, and carried it back to Nancy, Bess, and George. “What are you guys doing here?” he asked. “You didn’t come to play soccer, did you?”

  Nancy was ready to explain everything. She took a deep breath, then said, “You already know that someone snuck Pogo into the Sweet Creams Farm goat pen yesterday. He ruined the whole yoga class.”

  “Did you bring Pogo to the farm, Wesley?” Bess asked.

  Wesley stared at the girls, then let the ball drop to the ground. “What makes you think I did it?” he asked.

  George had been holding Pogo’s leash behind her back. She held it up for Wesley to see. “This matches the green collar Pogo was wearing yesterday,” she said.

  “So?” Wesley asked.

  “So, there’s more,” Bess said. “Show him the bracelet, Nancy.”

  Nancy held up the purple Pogo bracelet. “We found this stuck on the goat pen gate yesterday. It has tiny teeth marks on it.”

  “As if a little goat chewed it,” George added. She nodded at Wesley’s wrist. “By the way, where’s your Pogo bracelet?”

  Wesley tried pulling his sleeve down over his wrist. Blushing, he shifted his weight from side to side. “Okay, I did bring Pogo to the farm yesterday. But not to ruin your yoga class!”

  “Then why did you bring him?” Nancy asked.

  “Pogo was getting in trouble here for chewing stuff up—mostly Leslie’s things,” Wesley explained. “The book I have on raising a pet goat has a whole chapter on what goats need to make them happy.”

  “What do they need?” Bess asked.

  “Other goats,” Wesley replied. “The book says, ‘An only goat is a lonely goat.’ ”

  “Is that why you brought Pogo to the farm yesterday?” Nancy asked. “To make friends?”

  “I guess.” Wesley sighed.

  “Why didn’t you just ask Sophie if you could put Pogo in the pen?” George asked. “And why didn’t you stick around to watch him?”

  “I was afraid Sophie would say no, so I secretly left Pogo in the pen with the other goats and came straight home.” Wesley’s shoulders drooped. “I had no idea Pogo went bonkers in the yoga class until the guy from Sweet Creams brought him home.”

  Nancy couldn’t help feeling bad for Wesley. He hadn’t meant to do anything wrong. He just wanted Pogo to be happy.

  “Pogo probably did like being with the other goats,” Nancy said, smiling. “He just didn’t like yoga that much.”

  “Baaaaa!” Pogo bleated.

  Everyone looked at Pogo. The little goat was prancing through the yard, kicking the soccer ball over and over with his tiny hoof!

  “Hey,” George exclaimed as she watched her ball roll across the grass. “That’s it!”

  “What’s it?” Nancy asked.

  “Pogo may not like yoga,” George said with a grin, “but I bet he’ll like something else!”

  * * *

  “Go, Pogo, go!” Nancy cheered as Wesley’s goat sprinted after the rolling ball. But this time he wasn’t alone. Pogo was running with the other Pygmy goats from Sweet Creams Farm!

  Racing alongside the goats that morning were Nancy, Bess, George, and their friends.

  The crew from Wake Up, River Heights was there too. But this time they hadn’t come to report on a goat yoga class. They were there to film goat soccer!

  “What says spring to kids more than soccer?” Stephanie Burns said to the camera. “Today at Sweet Creams Farm, some of those kids are goats!”

  “Baaaaa!” Pogo bleated as he scampered past Nancy, Bess, and George. Wesley caught up with them, all smiles.

  “Pogo is totally loving soccer with his new friends!” Wesley said, “and Sophie says I can bring him to the farm whenever I want!”

  As Wesley ran to catch up with Pogo, Bess turned to Nancy and George. “I’m happy the Clue Crew solved another case,” she said. “And I’m even happier that Pogo is happy.”

  “Me too,” Nancy said. “I guess Pogo is more into soccer than yoga after all.”

  “Hey, whatever floats your boat,” George said before kicking the ball in Pogo’s direction. “Or should we say, goat?”

  More from this Series

  Duck Derby Debacle

  Book 16

  Pool Party Puzzler

  Book 1

  Last Lemonade Standing

  Book 2

  A Star Witness

  Book 3

  More from the Author

  Butterfly Blues

  Museum Mayhem

  Keep reading for a preview of

  Duck Derby Debacle

  by

  Carolyn Keene

  “Hundreds of rubber duckies!” Bess Marvin exclaimed. “Can you imagine so many in one place?”

  “Or in one bathtub?” George Fayne joked.

  Nancy giggled as she and her two best friends walked together, enjoying the summer afternoon. That Friday, the air was as warm as cookies fresh from the oven. It was also full of excitement!


  “There’ll be lots of room for all those rubber ducks when they race down the river on Sunday,” Nancy said. “And we’ll be there to watch!”

  The girls couldn’t wait until Sunday, but it was already fun-day. There was pre-derby festival at Mayor Strong’s house that afternoon, and it was just for kids!

  “How will anyone know whose rubber duck wins the race?” Bess asked. “Most rubber duckies look alike.”

  “Each rubber duck will have a number, Bess,” Nancy explained. “The first to float past the finish line wins.”

  George gave a thumbs-up as she said, “The owner of the winning duck wins a summer of free movies at the cineplex—popcorn included!”

  “Then I’m glad our families have ducks in the race,” Bess said. “I just wish kids were allowed to enter too.”

  “Me too,” George said. “Then we’d really be a part of the rubber ducky derby.”

  Nancy wished they could be more involved as well. There had to be more for them to do than cheer for the racing ducks. Suddenly she had an idea.

  “Maybe we can help out at the ducky derby!”

  “Help out how?” Bess asked.

  “Let’s ask Mayor Strong when we get to his house,” Nancy said with a smile. “There must be something we can do to be a big part of the ducky derby!”

  The celebration had already begun when Nancy, Bess, and George arrived at the mayor’s mansion. There were tables filled with duck-yellow cupcakes and duck-shaped cookies. There were games, too, like a rubber duck toss. Most of the kids were standing in front of a stage, waiting to watch the River Heights Junior Dancers rock out a number called “Disco Duck.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George were about to join the crowd when a voice shouted, “There’s still time to buy a rubber duck for the derby, plus a chance to win the big prize!”

  The voice came from a table set up near the gate. Behind it, a man and two women were selling rubber ducks for five dollars apiece. When they made a sale, the volunteer would toss a duck into a cardboard box. Nancy giggled as each landed with a squeak. The ducks sounded like her puppy Chocolate Chip’s squeaky chew toys!