Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission by Christopher Paul Curtis Read Free Book Online Page B

“That's it! That's half of it, anyway. I remember half of what he said was ‘Bow-wow!' The rest sounded like a cowboy song.”
    Steven said, “Did it sound like ‘Home on the Range’?”
    “Not really.”
    “Did it sound like ‘The Streets of Laredo’?”
    “I don't think so.”
    Richelle said, “Did it sound like ‘If Steven Carter Doesn't Close His Big Mouth, I Think I'll Die, You-all’?”
    Russell said, “Not that one either.”
    She said, “Do you remember anything at all about the way it sounded, Russell? It may be a key to how Rodney Rodent disappeared into that mural.”
    Russell looked very disappointed in himself. He kind of mumbled, “Sorry, Madam President, I guess I wasn't paying real close attention.”
    Richelle said, “That's easy to understand, Russ, seeing your dog disappear into a mural behind a winking elf has got to be pretty scary. I can understand why you might be a little traumatized.”
    Steven said, “Yeah, Russ. Besides, we're Flint Future Detectives, it's an easy enough mystery for us to solve.”
    Richelle said, “Since I'm president, I want to try some new things with the club and this is a good place to start. Instead of chasing off after every little thing like you guysused to do, I think it would be best if we concentrated on only one thing with each meeting. As president, I move that we end this meeting now and head over to the Vernor's mural to find out exactly what happened to Rodney Rodent. It's our duty to try to rescue him and bring him home. I also move that we keep this top-secret until we get more information. Does anyone second my motions?”
    Russell said, “If it means getting Rod-Rode back, then I don't mind getting a little dramatized by that terrible painting. I second that emotion.”
    Just as Russell said that, Steven's father walked by the door.
    “ ‘I Second That Emotion’! Great song! Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Actually, it was the first song they got into the pop top ten after they changed their name. They used to be known as just the Miracles. It was released June 13, 1967, written by Smokey and Al Cleveland. Got to number one on the R & B charts and number four on the pop charts. What are you guys talking about, Motown?”
    Steven thought, “Oh, no! Dad's going to start going off about African American musical history again. I've got to stop him!”
    He said, “No, Dad, we're trying to find out what happened to Rodney Rodent. He disappeared down by Halo Burger yesterday.”
    Dad walked into the room. “Disappeared?”
    Russell said, “Hello, Mr. Carter. Yup, he disappeared in thin air right behind that winking gnome.”
    A shiver ran through Steven's father. “Ooh, that thing has given me the creeps ever since I was a kid, I don't know why they don't just paint over it.”
    Russell said, “Yeah, it was even creepier when Rod-Rode started talking before he disappeared in the mural.”
    Mr. Carter lost interest. He said, “Isn't that nice? Well, I'm sure if you wait long enough, he'll come back. Hello, Richelle.”
    “Hello, Mr. Carter.”
    He looked at Zoopy, who was drooling a little lake onto the floor of Steven's bedroom.
    He said, “Here's an idea! Why don't you take Zoopy down there and see if he can disappear into the mural too, you know, to give Rodney Rodent a little company.”
    Steven said, “That's not funny, Dad. We're trying to figure out what Rodney Rodent said before he flew into that window. Maybe if we knew, we could go in behind him.”
    If Mr. Carter had lost interest before, it was nothing compared with the way he wanted to get out of the room now!
    “Uh-huh, talking dogs, mystery songs and ducking elves. I'm sure this is something you guys will solve in no time at all.” He started easing toward the door.
    Russell said, “Yeah, it was cowboy talk and doggy talk all jumbled up together.”
    Mr. Carter patted Russell on the head and said, “I'm sure it was, son, I'm sure it was.”
    He looked at his watch and