Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize

Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize

I, Nate the Great, am a detective. I solve important cases. I do important things. This morning I was doing something very important. I was at the supermarket buying dog shampoo for my dog, Sludge. Today Sludge was going to be in a contest in the park to choose the smartest pet in the neighborhood. I, Nate the Great, knew that Sludge was the smartest. And the dirtiest.

I wanted Sludge to be a clean winner. I bought dog shampoo, and flour, eggs, butter, milk, salt, sugar, and baking powder to make pancakes. I like pancakes. I bought so many things that the grocery bag bulged open. I put the bag in the basket on the back of my new bicycle and started to ride home.

I rode past Rosamond’s house. Strange noises were coming from inside her house. I wondered what was happening. But I kept my eyes straight ahead to see where I was going. Besides, strange noises were the right kind of noises to come from Rosamond’s house. Because Rosamond is strange. When I got home, Sludge was waiting for me.

“ I bought you some shampoo, ” I said. Sludge did not think that was good news. Sludge hates baths. I put the grocery bag on the floor. Before I could unpack it, the telephone rang.