The Happy Hollisters and the Punch And Judy Mystery
And guess what Ann First prize is a trip for two around the world As her friend’s eyes widened Pam explained that the second prize was a trip to Hawaii and the third prize a real palomino horse I can hardly wait to hear said Pam But I guess I’ll just have to be patient she added with a sigh and the two girls ran toward the Punch and Judy show As they disappeared around the house the bushes moved and two heads came out Joey Brill and his friend Will Wilson stood up Joey was Pete’s age but larger Will was big too and always tagged after Joey Both of them delighted in annoying smaller children and making trouble for the Hollisters Do you want to see the show Joey asked We were invited No it’ll probably be crummy Will said Then I know how to make some excitement Joey said He whispered to his companion and the pair crept off through the foliage working their way unseen toward the back of the Hollisters garage On the lawn Pam announced the show and Pete stepped into the back of the red booth The black shade popped up Punch stuck his saucy head over the edge of the stage and in a high falsetto voice said La-dies and gentlemen What a beautiful day to take a walk along the shore of Pine Lake Roo-to-to Roo-to-to-it Punch strutted back and forth bobbing his head and shaking his tall green hat as the onlookers giggled I used to be a tightrope walker once in the
circus Punch said I’ll see how close I can come to the shore without falling in The puppet wagged this way and that all the time singing Roo-to-to-to-to-it Finally he fell into the imaginary lake Pete shouted Splash and Punch popped up again at once Help me Save me he cried out I just remembered I can’t swim With that up from the water came the long snout of the green dragon as Pete deftly manipulated it Ow Punch cried I’m a goner for sure If I don’t drown the monster will eat me Eat you the funny-looking creature replied Who wants to eat an old wooden-head like you Why your nose alone is enough to scare small babies Don’t talk about my pretty nose Glub Glub Punch said going out of sight for a moment The monster turned to the audience Shall I save him Yes the children shouted Hurry piped little Sue loudly The dragon grabbed Punch’s hat in his mouth and pulled him back onto the stage There now Mr Punch you’re all right aren’t you the monster asked his big jaws moving up and down Yes but I’m all wet Punch complained shaking himself You got me wetter than I would have been looking How’s that the monster asked perplexed
I’ll show you Punch said in his squeaky voice if you’ll look yonder over the lake As the unwary creature turned his head Punch disappeared and came up with a stick Whack Whack He hit the long green snout Take that and that for getting me wetter than I would have been Punch shouted gleefully Just then the youngsters who were looking on enthralled became aware of another noise From behind the puppet stage Joey Brill and Will Wilson came racing across the lawn toward the audience They ran about ten feet apart holding a clothesline between them Stop Pam cried out Or else you’ll hit Before she had a chance to finish her sentence the bullies knocked the Punch and Judy booth flat Pete was thrown to the ground as the rope caught him behind the shoulders Punch went flying in one direction the monster in another The neighborhood children were stunned for a moment as Joey and Will dropped the rope and sped off as fast as their legs could carry them Oh you Holly cried stamping her foot Joey you’re meaner than Punch Ricky raced after them but the two bullies outdistanced him He returned red-faced with anger That Joey Brill better watch out he declared He’s going to be sorry By this time Pete had untangled himself from the booth
