Free The Secret of the Scarecrow by Carolyn Keene Page B

game when they drank milk with their cookies.
    Hannah Gruen was more than just the Drews’ housekeeper. She had been just like a mother to Nancy ever since Nancy’s own mom died, when Nancy was three. Hannah gave the best hugs and baked the most awesome oatmeal-raisin cookies!
    â€œI like our scarecrow,” George said betweenchews. “But whatever happened to regular overalls and straw hats?”
    â€œOveralls and straw hats?” Bess said, rolling her eyes. “George, that’s so Wizard of Oz .”
    Nancy was about to take another sip when her puppy barked loudly in another room.
    â€œWhat’s up with Chocolate Chip?” Bess asked.
    â€œMaybe she doesn’t like being named after a cookie,” George joked.
    Nancy, Bess, and George found a still-barking Chip in the living room, her paws against the windowsill.
    â€œShe’s barking at something outside,” Bess said.
    â€œIt’s probably a deer,” Nancy said. “There are lots of deer around here in the fall.”
    The girls peered out the window. It was getting dark early.
    â€œThat doesn’t look like an animal to me,” George said.
    Nancy looked closer until she saw whatGeorge meant. A small, shadowy figure was dancing across her front yard wearing baggy clothes and a big hat!
    â€œWho was that?” Nancy said as he ran away.
    â€œYou mean what ?” George said slowly. “Baggy clothes, huge hat—I think we just saw a scarecrow.”
    â€œYeah.” Bess gulped. “A real live scarecrow!”

Jake or Fake?
    â€œSo? Did you see Jake McStuffings yet?” Harvey Mueller asked Nancy, Bess, and George.
    It was Friday afternoon. The kids of Mrs. Ramirez’s class were in the school yard, ready to build a scarecrow.
    â€œNo, Harvey,” Nancy insisted. “We didn’t see Jake.”
    Harvey shrugged and walked away.
    â€œBut we did see a walking scarecrow, Nancy,” Bess said. “Just a few days ago in your yard, remember?”
    â€œI remember,” Nancy admitted. “But it was getting dark, so we might have just seen a shadow.”
    â€œThe shadow of a walking scarecrow,” George muttered.
    The kids had everything they needed for their scarecrow: arts-and-crafts supplies, a bale of hay, and the clothes from Darcy’s Department Store.
    Everyone was there except for Leanne. She had told Mrs. Ramirez she was allergic to hay, so she was excused to the library.
    When it was finally time to build the scarecrow, everyone had a special job. Nancy, Bess, and George carefully pulled the clothes out of the bag. They looked very much like the clothes they had designed—except for the Darcy’s label sewn inside each one.
    â€œThese clothes are awesome!” Bess exclaimed.
    â€œYou mean awful!” a voice sneered.
    Nancy looked up to see Kevin, Peter, and Quincy. The boys were sticking their fingers in their mouths and making gagging noises.
    â€œWhat’s your problem?” George demanded.
    â€œWhoever heard of a scarecrow with yellowboots?” Kevin scoffed. “Our scarecrow should have been sporty.”
    â€œYeah,” Peter said. “Then he could have been our mascot too.”
    â€œWhy don’t you just get a new mascot for your soccer team?” Nancy asked.
    â€œMay I suggest a turkey?” George teased.
    â€œHa-ha,” Quincy said, not laughing.
    The girls were about to carry the clothes to Mrs. Ramirez when Deirdre called out, “Oh, goody! Here comes my special guest.”
    â€œGuest?” Mrs. Ramirez asked.

    Everyone turned to see a young woman with bright red hair and sparkly-framed glasses walking over.
    â€œDeirdre, who is she?” Mrs. Ramirez asked.
    â€œMeet Suki Anderson!” Deirdre said. “Suki was a contestant onthe TV show Catwalk Champ . She came in second place.”
    â€œI’m also a friend of Deirdre’s mom,” Suki added.
    Bess leaned over and