Free Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald Page B

Philadelphia to tell them the news about the Boston Tea Party,” Dad said.
    “Tea party? Did somebody say
tea party
?” asked Judy.
    “Okay, okay. Let’s head back to meet Mom and Stink.”
    Judy ran up to Stink. “You missed it, Stink!” She told him all about the guy climbing out the window and giving the secret signal.
    “Who cares?” said Stink. “We saw something better!”
    “What?” said Judy. “A two-hundred-year-old toilet?”
    “No, a
musical
toilet!” said Stink. “You put a quarter in —”
    “You have to pay to go to the bathroom?” Judy asked. “That stinks.”
    “You go inside, and you’re in this round room, and it’s all white and clean — really, really clean — and it plays music!”
    “I thought he’d never come out,” Mom said.
    “C’mon. We can quick hop the subway over to the Tea Party Ship,” said Dad.
    “Finally!” said Judy.
    “More old stuff? I declare NO FAIR!” Stink shouted. The shout heard ’round the world.

She, Judy Moody, declared independence from Stink. She ran up the planks ahead of him. She climbed aboard the
Beaver
. The Boston Tea Party Ship!
    “Is this a real ship?” Stink asked.
    “It’s a real ship,” said a guy wearing a wig and dressed like Paul Revere. “But it’s not old, like the real
Beaver
. We built it to show what the Tea Party ship looked like.”
    “Finally! Something NOT old!” said Stink.
    Judy climbed some ropes. So did Stink. She tried out a hammock. So did Stink. She went down the ladder into the dark cargo hold. So did Stink.
    “Stink! How can I declare independence from you if you keep following me everywhere?”
    Judy went back on deck. The Wig Guy was explaining about the guys who wore disguises, sneaked aboard ship after dark, and threw a million dollars worth of tea overboard.
    “Who’d like to try throwing tea into Boston Harbor?”
    Judy rushed to the front. Stink followed (of course!). They picked up bales tied with rope. Judy heaved a bale of tea over the side. “I won’t drink tea! Taxes are NO FAIR!”
    “Take that, King George!” said Stink as he tossed a bale off the ship.
    “Who else wants to try?” Wig Guy pointed to a girl wearing bunny ears and carrying a purse that said B ONJOUR B UNNY .
    “C’mon, now. Wouldn’t you like to give ’er the old heave-ho?”
    “No,” said the girl. “I quite like tea.” She had a funny accent.
    “From England, are you?” asked the man. The girl nodded.

    “How exciting. This lass has come all the way from
across the pond,
as they say, just to see our ship!” The girl beamed.
    “Glad to have you aboard, lassie!” Wig Guy shook her hand. “The Revolution was a long time ago. Let’s be mates!”
    The girl with the freckles and the funny voice was from England! Where they drank tea and had a queen. Judy had never met a real-live person from a whole other country before. Rare!
    “I’m going to talk to her,” Judy told Stink.
    “You can’t! She’s a Redcoat! One of the Bad Guys!”
    Judy looked around, but the Girl from Across the Pond was nowhere in sight. Just then, Mom called for Judy and Stink to go to the gift shop.
    Judy wandered up and down the aisles. Boxes of tea, bags of tea, tins of tea. Teapots and teacups and teaspoons. Stink followed her.
    “Look! A tricorn hat!” She tried it on. “Stink, can I borrow some money? I want to get this hat.”
    “It’s my money,” said Stink. “From my allowance. Use your own.”
    “But I already spent mine at the Old North Church gift shop. On a Declaration of Independence and a
Paul Revere’s Ride
flip book. I should get more allowance because I’m older than you. C’mon, Stink. You always have money.”
    “No way,” said Stink.
    “Redcoat!” Judy said.
    “Yankee Doodle!” Stink said.
    “Lobsterback!” said Judy.
    “Chowder Head!” said Stink.
    “Red Belly!” said Judy.
    “Blue Belly!” said Stink.
    “Kids! Keep it down,” said Dad.
    “Stink, stop following me around and stop