11 Code Bigfoot

Code Bigfoot Judy and Stink sat in the Cave in the back of Fur & Fangs, waiting for the Bigfoot Believers meeting to begin. "One more thing," Stink told Judy. "Dogs always howl whenever they see Bigfoot. Page forty-two." Just then, Zeke banged a gavel down on the table. "Okay, Bigfooters. The Tuesday night meeting is officially called to order." Zeke turned to a retired couple. They were both wearing BOWLING FOR BIGFOOT T-shirts and had cameras around their necks. "Rose and Herb?"

"Present." "Stink?" "Present." "New member?" "Judy Moody. Present." Judy whispered to Stink. "Where is everybody?" "What do you mean? This is it. This is our club." "Weirdness," said Judy. "Rose? Do you have a report?" Zeke asked. Rose stood and opened a large flowered flip pad. "Three new sightings! It's the most we've gotten in one week." "Excellent!" said Zeke. "Give me the coordinates." "One woman saw Bigfoot taking laundry off

her line at fifty-seven Ashberry Road, about a mile east of the mall. Someone else saw something large and furry at the dump." Zeke stuck pins in a map as she called out the locations. "The third SWEARS he saw Bigfoot last night at the corner of Croaker and Jefferson." Judy gasped. Stink jumped to his feet, toppling his chair. "CROAKER and JEFFERSON? That's where we live!" Stink shouted. Herb snapped a picture. "Whoa! You two could conduct an all-night surveillance!" said Zeke. "Are you up for it?" "You mean like a stakeout?" Stink asked. "With a tent and binoculars and emergency sirens and whistles and stuff?" Zeke nodded. Judy and Stink high-fived each other. "Yes! All right! Thrill-o-RAMA!"

"Excellent. Herb and Rose? You're in charge of equipment." Herb saluted smartly. "We've got all the right stuff out in the van." Judy and Stink followed Herb and Rose out to their van in the parking lot. "Do we get to use night-vision goggles?" Stink asked. "Yes, sirree," said Herb. He opened the back of the van. "Camouflage netting, night-vision goggles, camcorder, whistles, thermos for coffee...." "Herb! They don't drink coffee," Rose chided. "We did one time when we were waiting for Santa," Judy reported. "It was blucky." She stuck out her tongue. "Okay, then," said Zeke. "Looks like you're all

set." He hopped onto a black Vespa and put on his helmet, ready to leave. Vroom! "Good luck, little dude. You, too, Moody girl! Call me if you see anything. Day or night." "That's the lot," said Herb, handing over one last flashlight. "Remember, if you need backup, this van is at your service." "August sixth, 8:13 p.m. The trap is set... and the Bigfoot stakeout has officially begun. This is Stink Moody, reporting live from the Moody backyard." "Stink!" said Judy. "Say that we hung up thirty-eight peanut butter jars for Bigfoot bait. And that you're pretending to be a berry bush." Stink panned the camera over to Judy, who was staggering around, wearing the night- vision goggles. "Hey! You look like Owl Girl or

something!" Judy tripped and stumbled. "These don't work. I can't see a thing!" "That's because it's not all-the-way dark yet, Owl Girl." Aunt Opal came outside, holding a baby monitor. "Aunt Opal! Wave to the camera!" Stink called. Aunt Opal waved. "Stink, you make a berry nice bush." "Hardee-har-har," said Stink. "Okay, kids. Let's go over our plans. You two will stay in the tent." "Check," said Stink. "If you see or hear ANYthing, call me immediately on the walkie-talkie." "Check," said Stink.