Read The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck for Free Online Page B

hand away from his eyes and gave Bud a weak smile. “Sure thing, kid.”
    Bud got up and headed to the study. He wouldn’t mention the treasure again. Not until he’d found it.
    Laurie was watching Misti Pinkerton pry the metallic lid off a container of yogurt when the crackly announcement started over the ancient PA system. Laurie hardly noticed. Odds were pretty good Misti was going to end up wearing a good portion of that yogurt before lunch was over. Misti was what you could call spill prone.
    It was hard to ignore Principal Winkle’s cheery voice though. Especially since he was practically shouting.
    â€œGood morning, Cluckers! This is your princi“PAL,” Martin Winkle! Today’s the big day, so put on your Clucker hats. It’s time for the first Clucker rally of the year. Warm up your vocal cords, because we’ll be expecting some beautiful harmonies this afternoon!”
    The PA system squealed with feedback and then shut off. Laurie felt sick.
    â€œThere’s not really a Clucker hat, right? That’s just a figure of speech?” Laurie’s mom had every bit of Clucker merchandise there was, including the limited-edition clucking cookie jar, but she’d never seen a hat. Laurie really hoped it wasn’t some new thing. She wasn’t a fashion plate or anything, but even she knew that a chicken hat would be a hard look to pull off.
    Misti’s face brightened. “You mean like the shirt? I hope so. Maybe they’ll give them out at the rally.”
    â€œGreat.” Laurie scooched back a little as Misti’s lid came off, spraying Misti with a fine yogurt mist. Not bad, considering Misti’s history. Yesterday she’d spent the afternoon with a stripe of Thousand Island dressing down her front.
    Laurie watched as Misti licked the yogurt lid before setting it aside. She’d been hanging out with Misti and Kimmy since second grade, but in all that time, she’d never really noticed Misti was so … well, Misti-like. Maybe it just hadn’t been so obvious when Kimmy was around.
    â€œYeah, so I figured it all out.” Bud jerked the chair next to Laurie out from the table and threw himself into it cockily.
    Misti stopped, spoonful of plain yogurt still in her mouth, and glared at Bud. “Excuse me, Laurie, but I’d better go before my sweet tooth offends someone.” Misti put the not-quite-clean spoon into her bag, gathered her things together quickly, and huffed off.
    â€œMan.” Bud looked deflated. “People just won’t let that go.”
    â€œWhat, we eat together now? I don’t think we’re at the eating together stage, okay?” Laurie looked around nervously. It was hard not to notice the nasty looks being thrown in their direction.
    Bud barely paid attention. “It was just one science project. Man, I wish I’d done photosynthesis.”
    Laurie shrugged. She didn’t really know what to say. “That might’ve been better.”
    Bud gave her a half grin. “You know the stupidest part? I was just so psyched that my dad thought my presentation was good enough to take to the school board. I was all for it. I wasn’t thinking about what would happen if we won.”
    Laurie crumpled up her bag. “Misti hates plain yogurt. It makes her cranky. I hear there’s an underground sugar network in high school, though, so people should forgive you then.”
    Bud sighed heavily. “Yeah, well, I figured it out. If anyone cares.”
    Laurie looked skeptical. “What, the clue? And how’d you do that? There are no freaking cats in the whole school. What’d you do? Find a dead cat?”
    Bud blushed furiously. “She said it right there—we have to know what we’re trying to understand. And we didn’t. Get it?”
    Laurie tried to look like she knew what he was talking about, but she didn’t have a clue. “Okay, fine, what’s that