Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Where did it come from?" I asked Koko Dodo. "I have no idea! That's the BIG DEAL mystery! That's why I called you. You're supposed to figure it out." "Well," I said, "it's big and it's a mystery, but why is it a BIG DEAL?" "Why is it a BIG DEAL? Just look at my store!" said Koko Dodo. I looked at it. It was empty. Well, except for the cookies. I mean, it was empty of customers.

"Usually I have customers lined up around the block! Now nobody will go in the store because they think my cookies stink," he fumed. "That's why I need you to solve the mystery—instead of just standing around asking questions all day!" "Well, asking questions is how I usually solve a mystery," I told him. "But if it will make you feel better, I'll send Nina up there to taste the shoe." "Why the heck would you do that?" Koko Dodo asked.

"Well, it worked the last time," I said. "Go ahead, Nina." Most goats can jump very high. Nina can jump higher than most goats. She made a big jump and landed on the roof of the cookie store. She took a great big bite out of the shoe. She chewed it for a minute, then started to turn green.

"ACK!" she bleated, and then she keeled over. She fell right off the roof. Luckily, she landed on Koko Dodo and was not injured. "What did it taste like?" I asked when she had finished gagging and choking. "Old fish," said Nina. "And the beach. "Rope. "Boats.

"Treasure chests. "The Seven Seas." She stopped and thought for a second. "And dirty feet," she added. "That's ridiculous," said Koko Dodo, still lying under Nina. "How would a goat know what dirty feet taste like?" "You don't want to know," I told him.