Piggy Party (Cul-de-sac Kids Book #19): Book 19 by Beverly Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A

a club and a favorite motto. Carly’s big sister, Abby, was the president of the Cul-de-sac Kids.
    “Are you gonna bring Piggy to the club meeting tonight?” Dee Dee asked.
    Carly really didn’t want to share Piggy with the Cul-de-sac Kids. He was her pet for the weekend! “Why should I bring Piggy?” Carly shot back.
    “Well, why not?” Dee Dee said. “Pretendit’s show-and-tell—like at school.”
    Carly shook her head. “That’s silly.”
    Dee Dee wrinkled her nose.
    Carly pulled the sled faster. She looked at the sky. “I wonder if the sun will shine tomorrow.”
    “The sun’s always shining,” Dee Dee said. “We learned that in science, remember? You just can’t always see the sun.”
    “Because of the clouds,” Carly said. She knew all that. “I’m not thinking about sunshine right now. I’m thinking about a famous groundhog.”
    Dee Dee clapped her mittened hands. “Because it’s gonna be Groundhog Day soon.”
    “Right,” said Carly. “What do you think about that groundhog in Pennsylvania? He’s the one who sees his shadow every year,” Carly said.
    Dee Dee raised her eyebrows. “Itdoesn’t make sense, does it?”
    Carly agreed. “An old groundhog crawls out of his hole and sees his shadow. So what! Is it really a sign that we’re stuck with six more weeks of winter?”
    “It oughta be the other way around,” Dee Dee said. “If the sun’s shining when the groundhog comes out, that means it’s the end of winter. Right?”
    “Yep. The whole thing is mixed up,” Carly said.
    She thought of the cute guinea pig.
    Maybe Piggy would know if their long, snowy winter was almost over. Maybe he’d know something about the secret of the groundhog. And the shadow.
    Maybe. . . .

THREE
    Carly and Dee Dee carried the guinea pig cage inside.
    “I have an idea,” Carly told Dee Dee.
    “What is it?” Dee Dee asked.
    “Wait and see,” said Carly. They hurried down the hallway to Carly’s bedroom.
    “Aw, please?” Dee Dee pleaded. “We’re best friends, aren’t we?” She’d used that line to hear secrets before.
    Carly didn’t say a word.
    “When’s the secret gonna happen?” asked Dee Dee.
    “Tomorrow at high noon,” Carly said. There was a ring of mystery in her voice.
    Dee Dee sat on the edge of Carly’s bed. “Is this about Groundhog Day?” she asked.
    Carly felt like being a little tricky. “I’m going to find out if spring is coming soon.”
    Dee Dee’s eyes grew wide again. “How?”
    “Just show up here tomorrow. Twelve o’clock sharp.” Carly went to the window and pulled back the curtains. She searched the sky. Heavy snow clouds hung low.
    Dee Dee came over and stood by the window. “Carly Hunter, you’re up to something. I just know it!”
    Carly knew Dee Dee couldn’t keep a secret. It was almost impossible!
    “You can tell me,” Dee Dee said. Her big brown eyes were ready to pop.
    “No way,” Carly said, laughing. She went to the cage and saw that Piggy had stopped shaking. “Look, he’s warming up.”
    Dee Dee was begging. “C’mon, Carly! Don’t change the subject. Tell me what’s gonna happen tomorrow!”
    “I won’t spoil the surprise,” Carly said. “It’s a Groundhog Day secret.” And she made her voice sound extra sneaky.
    “Ple-e-ease?” Dee Dee begged.
    Carly knelt beside the guinea pig cage. She didn’t want to be mean. Or make Dee Dee mad at her. She wanted to have fun on Groundhog Day. She was tired of all the cold and snow. Carly had to find out if winter was nearly over.
    But Dee Dee was still pleading. “I’ll do anything you say, if you just tell me.”
    “Okay, okay,” Carly finally gave in.
    Dee Dee danced around the room. “Hoo-ray!”
    “You have to keep it a secret,” Carly said.
    “I can do that,” Dee Dee replied.
    Carly really hoped so.

FOUR
    Carly sat beside Dee Dee on the floor.
    Time for the Cul-de-sac Kids club meeting. They usually met at Dunkum’s house. He had the biggest basement. And his