The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck (13 page)

Reginald pointed two fingers at his eyes and then back at Laurie and Bud in the universal symbol of “I'm watching you.” Laurie couldn't believe he actually did that. It was so corny.

Besides, Laurie wasn't about to let it go that easily. “Yeah, but—” she started.

“No buts. Now get,” Reginald barked, slapping at Laurie and Bud with his cleaning rag until they were forced to scurry away out of self-preservation.

Bud threw a look back over his shoulder as he dragged Laurie down the hallway. Reginald was standing, arms folded, in front of the door to the Tuckernuck bell tower. “I think getting that clue just got a lot more difficult.”

Ways to Get Into the Locked Bell Tower
by Laurie Madison, grade six

EMAIL

FROM: WALKER LEFRANCO, School Board President

TO: PRINCIPAL MARTIN WINKLE, Tuckernuck Hall

SUBJECT: PATHETIC, WINKLE

It has come to my attention that there is to be a Save Tuckernuck Hall rally. This is a pathetic display of cheap sentimentality, Martin, and I expect you to reign in your people ASAP. This rally will only hurt your chances with the school board.

—LEFRANCO

EMAIL

FROM: PRINCIPAL MARTIN WINKLE, Tuckernuck Hall

TO: WALKER LEFRANCO, School Board President

SUBJECT: Check your Constitution

Please note highlighted portion:

First Amendment—Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

EMAIL

FROM WALKER LEFRANCO, School Board President

TO PRINCIPAL MARTIN WINKLE, Tuckernuck Hall

SUBJECT: Principal LOON

You're as crazy as that Tutweiler woman was. Do you know Picasso personally too?

Get a grip on reality, Winkle.

“Do I have to go?” Laurie looked in the mirror and adjusted her Clucker hat. She didn't know why she bothered, though. There was no way to make a chicken hat look fashionable, no matter how you arranged the dangling legs.

“Aren't you excited? It's your school! Don't you want to save it?” Mrs. Madison came into Laurie's room in full Clucker regalia—new hat, shirt, jacket, even an old Clucker pin she'd gotten when she went to school at Tuckernuck.

Laurie tried tying the legs over the top of her head like earflaps, but it wasn't a good look for the chicken or for her. “Wouldn't it be easier if I just switched to Hamilton? I mean, this rally. Is a rally really going to save the school? Really?” Laurie was skeptical.

Mrs. Madison hesitated. “We might be able to get the building designated as a historical landmark. Maria Tutweiler was rumored to have high-profile friends in the artistic community—Picasso, Alexander Calder, José de Creeft, Frank Lloyd Wright. Some people even say that there were famous artists and architects who helped with the renovations that turned Tuckernuck Hall into a school. Can you imagine demolishing a building like that?”

“But is that really true? I saw some articles—they said she was just crazy. That it's just an old building, and she didn't know anybody.”

“A lot of people are looking for evidence to prove she wasn't crazy. I don't think she was.”

Laurie couldn't help but notice that her mom hadn't really answered her questions. “And if it's a historic landmark, that'll save the school?”

Mrs. Madison bit her lip. “It'll save the building. And that's a start, right? One step at a time?” Mrs. Madison tugged on Laurie's ponytail and then smoothed her hair. “Let's get going, okay, kiddo? At least we're trying.”

Laurie nodded, untied the chicken legs, and flung them back over her shoulders. What difference did it make? It was worth a shot if it would make Mom happy. And it's not like she'd see anyone there. Just other Cluckers, and they'd look as dumb as her.

Text message from Kimmy Baranski

R U at Rlly? I M!

“Laurie, is that you? Omigod, I can't believe it!” Kimmy squealed and grabbed Laurie by the shoulders. “What is that thing on your head? I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever!”

Laurie squealed too, grabbing Kimmy in a huge hug. “I've missed you so much!”

Kimmy grinned. “I know! It's so weird not having you at Hamilton. Have you convinced your parents yet? Tell me you're starting next week.”

Laurie shook her head and gave her mother a sidelong look. She was too far away to hear them. “Not yet. I'm still working on it though.”

“What? That stinks, Laurie.” Kimmy took a step back. “Didn't you ask your mom? Don't you want to go to the same school as me anymore?”

Laurie nodded so hard the chicken on her hat looked like a bobblehead. “Yeah, but it's complicated, see …”

“Nice hat.” A girl with a sulky expression and a bushy brown ponytail appeared next to Kimmy and gave Laurie the once-over.

Laurie reached up and touched the chicken foot dangling over her shoulder self-consciously. “Yeah, well. It's a Clucker hat. I'm a Clucker. For now,” she added as Kimmy frowned.

Kimmy pulled the ponytail girl forward. “Laurie, this is Alyssa. She's like, my best Hamilton friend.”

Laurie frowned. “Alyssa who smudged your shoes?”

Kimmy scowled. “That was a million years ago and a total accident, okay? Geez, I can't believe you brought that up.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Alyssa cracked her gum and rolled her eyes at Kimmy. “Nice friends, Kim.”

“What? That's what you said!” Laurie didn't know what had happened, but the happy feeling between her and Kimmy was totally gone.

“Just drop it, okay? Geez.” Kimmy shook her head at Laurie.

Laurie wished she'd never brought up the dumb shoes. But it wasn't like Kimmy had talked about much else. How was she supposed to know the shoe smudger was now her BFF and the whole shoe episode was totally off-limits?

“Laurie? Guess who I found!” Mrs. Madison called from somewhere in the crowd.

“Your mom's calling. Guess you'd better see what she wants.” Kimmy toed the dirt with her pristine sneaker.

“Yeah. Call you later?” Laurie didn't want to leave things the way they were, but she didn't see how she could fix anything with Alyssa glaring at her.

“Sure. But I might be out.” Kimmy wouldn't meet her eyes. “They keep us pretty busy at Hamilton.”

“It's a serious school,” Alyssa said, eyeing Laurie's hat. “Not a lot of time for kid stuff, you know?” She reached out and inspected one of Laurie's chicken legs before dropping it again. “Come on, Kim.”

Kimmy gave Laurie a helpless shrug as Alyssa pulled her away through the crowd. Laurie had a sick feeling in her stomach as she watched them leave. Everything that had to do with Kimmy seemed to give her a sick feeling these days.

Laurie flicked the chicken leg out of her face angrily. This whole Clucker thing could've been so fun if Kimmy was doing it too. How come Kimmy hadn't even tried to transfer to Tuckernuck? How come she had to be the one to switch?

“Laurie, there you are, you sneaky thing!” Mrs. Madison said, new chicken hat pushed back on her forehead. “Look who I found!”

Laurie looked up just in time to see her mother come through the crowd with Mr. Sanchez, the Keats fanatic. He was wearing a bright red Tuckernuck Cluckers shirt and a pair of turquoise shorts. With a chicken hat.

Laurie's mouth dropped open, but no words came out.

Mrs. Madison tweaked the brim of her Clucker hat. “It's Bob Sanchez! Can you believe it? We were Cluckers at the same time! Isn't that great? Now, Laurie, I didn't know you were interested in English Romantic poetry!”

Note on refrigerator at the Wallace house

Horace Jr.:

Your head is in the clouds this week. Four errors on one quiz are four errors too many. Anyone can have a bad day, though. We'll redo the quiz when I get home from work Monday, and you can demonstrate you've mastered the material then.

(Also, when you asked to go to the chicken-themed rally, I could tell it was a joke, but I was tired and didn't “get it.” Try telling it to me again tomorrow, okay? My sense of humor will be back then.)

Your father,

Horace Sr.

“Looks like somebody had a good night,” Laurie said when Bud walked into homeroom the next day with a scowl on his face. Bud didn't respond; he just gave her a look that frosted the edges of her notebook.

“Yeah, me too.” She sighed. “And I have no idea how we're getting past Reginald. Unless you count mugging him. That was my best idea.”

Bud rolled his eyes and slammed himself down at his desk. “We're not mugging Reginald.”

“I know. I'm just saying that was the best I could come up with.” Laurie felt slightly insulted. Like she'd really planned on mugging Reginald. She didn't even own a ski mask.

“We'll get in there, no problem.” Bud sighed. The last thing he felt like dealing with now was Laurie. His dad had given him another shot at taking his periodic table quiz after school, and he wasn't going to mess it up a second time.

“Well, sure,” Laurie went on, oblivious. “I mean, of course we're getting in. I'm just saying we're going to have to be a little underhanded to do it, you know? Crafty.”

Bud shook his head. Laurie was just a drama queen. “There are other ways to get things done than by being a total delinquent, okay? Let me handle it. I've got it covered.”

Laurie snapped her mouth shut abruptly and turned to face the blackboard. Fine. If Bud had things so covered, she'd just leave it to him, since she was such a delinquent. And then when his big plan failed miserably, Laurie would swoop in and save the day. Now all she had to do was figure out how to do that.

Important Message

For: Principal Winkle

Mr. Wallace is concerned that his son Horace Jr. (Bud) is becoming distracted from his studies and wants a meeting to make sure Horace Jr. (Bud) stays on track academically. (Also Flora brought doughnuts—they're in the staff room.)

Thanks, Betty

Post-it on Betty Abernathy's computer monitor

Wallace, again? Give me strength.

And do you know how many calories are in those doughnuts?

Lead me not into temptation, Betty.

Marty

“So? What's the big plan?” Laurie hurried down the hallway after Bud, trotting to keep up. He'd refused to tell her anything about his plan, except that it was awesome, it was going to work no problem, and she shouldn't worry about it. Also that he was setting it into motion at lunch.

Laurie hoped whatever it was would work. Bud had been extra weird all day. And after the whole Kimmy encounter, all she wanted to do was find the treasure, become a superstar, and transfer. The search had already taken a lot longer than she had thought it would, and hanging around with Bud Wallace wasn't exactly working wonders on her (almost nonexistent) social life. Even Misti was starting to get irritated, and that was saying something.

Bud walked straight up to the front office and went inside, without even hesitating for a second. Laurie swallowed a yelp of surprise and hurried after him.