The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck (24 page)

“We'll decide later,” Bud said. He secretly liked being a Clucker. He figured all he had to do was think up a new name so terrible that Laurie would decide she wanted to stay a Clucker too. “Go on.”

Laurie nodded and went back to the letter.

As the bearers of the Spirit Stick, it is up to you to continue this fine Tuckernuck tradition in the coming years. So it will be up to you to create next year's Treasure Hunt, to challenge and engage your fellow students.

“Oh, man, that rocks,” Bud said.

Laurie nodded in agreement. She already had a ton of good hiding places in mind. Places that didn't have anything to do with dead cats. She went back to the note.

And so this tradition can continue throughout the years, without threat from outside forces or the whims of fate and fortune, I have also enclosed—

“Do you know what these are?” Mrs. Hutchins gasped as she finished scanning the bundle of papers from the envelope. “Do you have any idea? This is it, Marty.”

“What?”

“This is a list of every artist and architect who contributed to the school's renovation. Documentation, notarized. And believe me, it's quite a list. Unbelievable.”

“Can I read this? I'm kind of at that part,” Laurie said.

“Let the girl read,” Mr. Wallace said. Laurie shot him a grateful look and went on.

I have also enclosed a list for your records. My fine and devoted friends generously poured their hearts and souls into the development of this school. Their skill and creativity are unrivaled and will serve as inspiration for our students for years to come. And as for Hilda, she may not be beautiful, but our guardian has served us well. But as my skills are not of an artistic nature, my dear friend Pablo has provided an alternative sketch, should you choose to display that instead.

You have inspired me with your hard work. I hope Tuckernuck Hall will serve as inspiration for you in the years to come
.

Your devoted founder,

Maria Tutweiler

Laurie looked up at Mrs. Hutchins. “Pablo?”

Mrs. Hutchins held up the list. “Picasso. She really did know him.”

“Surely we would've noticed a work by Picasso in the school.” Principal Winkle frowned.

Mrs. Hutchins pointed to the first name. “He's on the list.”

Principal Winkle peered into the frame and carefully pulled back the cardboard backing. Nestled in between the cardboard and the painting was a bold sketch of a chicken that could've been Hilda in better days.

“It's signed and everything. It's just like his dove sketches,” Mrs. Hutchins whispered reverently. “Except it's …”

“It's a chicken,” Bud said. He shook his head at Laurie. “I don't think we're going to be able to get rid of the Clucker mascot, Laurie.”

Laurie shrugged. “I think you're right,” she said, grinning. Being a Clucker didn't seem so bad anymore. Actually, it hadn't seemed that bad since they'd started on the whole treasure hunt.

“Henry Moore, James Earle Fraser, Charles Eames.” Mrs. Hutchins stared back down at the list. “The names on this thing. Unbelievable. She listed everyone who contributed to the renovation, no matter how big or small their role.” She chuckled. “Look—Fraser made the bust of Homer!”

Laurie snuck a peek at the list. Mrs. Hutchins was kind of hogging it. “Who's that guy? Millard Smoot?”

“According to this, he carved the presidents in the history wing.” Mrs. Hutchins smiled. “Not everyone who helped with the renovation turned into someone famous. Maria Tutweiler had a lot of friends in the artistic and architectural communities.” She narrowed her eyes at Principal Winkle. “They can't tear this place down.”

“Oh, trust me, they won't,” Principal Winkle said, picking up the phone again. “
Daily Herald
, please?” He held his hand in front of the receiver. “Walker LeFranco won't know what hit him.”

Note from Walker LeFranco to Calliope Judkin

Calliope—

What part of “be my eyes and ears at the school” didn't you understand? You WASTED my time on gerbils and petty squabbles while the STORY OF A CENTURY passed you by. You can forget about any introductions to my contacts at the Morning News. We could have prevented this, Calliope. I don't know what I expected from a Judkin. You were never Hornet material.

No longer a Secret School Source,

Walker LeFranco

Note from Calliope Judkin to Walker LeFranco

Just because you're my neighbor doesn't mean you can push me around. I don't need your stupid contacts to be a reporter. Besides, Cluckers are cooler than Hornets any day.

Calliope

P.S. You can mow your own lawn from now on.

Note tossed by Calliope Judkin to Bud Wallace

So is it true that you guys are in charge of the school now? That's what they were saying in second period.

Note tossed by Calliope Judkin to Bud Wallace

Is it true that they're selling the Picasso to save the school? And do you and Laurie really get a cut of the profits?

Note tossed by Calliope Judkin to Bud Wallace

Are you really going to change the mascot to the Tuckernuck Flame-Throwing Iguana Spawn? 'Cause that's what they're saying in gym.

Note from Bud Wallace to Calliope Judkin

I'm sorry, Calliope, but I only like you as a friend. I'm sorry if that breaks your heart.

Bud

Note thrown by Calliope Judkin at Bud Wallace

I'm a REPORTER and INVESTIGATOR, you nitwit. I was UNDERCOVER. You think I've been following you guys because I LIKE YOU? I got a tip from a source about a story, that's it!

(Is it true that you and Laurie were given baby chicks descended from the original Hilda?)

Note from Marshall Deal to Bud Wallace

Mr. Wallace,

We've discussed your note passing before. Things have not changed simply because you have discovered the Tuckernuck Treasure. Perhaps you'd care to discuss your note passing with Principal Winkle?

Yours,

Marshall Deal

Sixth-grade science

Note from Principal Winkle to Bud Wallace

MR. WALLACE:

I UNDERSTAND YOUR INTEREST IN WHO WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE EIGHTH-GRADE GRADUATION CEREMONY, BUT WE WON'T BE MAKING THAT DECISION FOR A WHILE YET. MOST LIKELY IT WON'T BE UNTIL YOUR CLASS REACHES THE EIGHTH GRADE. I'LL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU IN MIND AND INFORMED.

THANKS.

YOUR PRINCI“PAL,”

MARTIN WINKLE

Letter from Calliope Judkin to Olivia Hutchins

Dear Mrs. Hutchins:

I hereby resign my position as Gerbil Monitor Number Three. I am no longer planning to get a gerbil as a pet and would prefer to resume my original duties of Office Liaison instead.

Thank you,

Calliope Judkin

P.S. You may want to seek therapy for Ponch and Jon. Those gerbils are seriously disturbed.

Note from Misti Pinkerton to Laurie Madison

Scavenger hunt? School project? A “thing”? The way I see it, I solved at least one of those clues for you, so I figure I've earned a place on the planning committee for next year's hunt. Believe me, I've got some awesome ideas for clues.

Cluck cluck!

Misti

EMAIL

FROM: LAURIE MADISON

TO: KIMMY BARANSKI

RE: Are you EVER transferring??

Hey Kimmy,

Nope, I think I'm just going to stay here and be a Clucker. You know, since I found the treasure and all.

See you,

Laurie

P. S. Want me to teach you the Clucker song?

Letter from Calliope Judkin to the editor-in-chief of the
Daily Herald

Dear Sir,

I am offering you the story of a lifetime: the inside scoop on the hunt for the Tuckernuck Treasure, as observed from day one by this intrepid reporter.

Think about it. This is a limited-time offer.

Calliope Judkin

Note from Laurie Madison, stuck to Jack Madison's door

I seem to remember a little bet about whether I'd find the treasure. Something about laundry?

Time to pay up.

Laurie

Note from Jack Madison, stuck to Laurie Madison's door

So, do you bleach your whites or not?

Just checking.

Jack

EMAIL

TO: FLORA DOWNEY, Tuckernuck Hall

FROM: HORACE WALLACE SR.

SUBJECT: My Heartfelt Appreciation

Dear Miss Downey,

I want to thank you again for taking Bud under your wing and helping with his mathematics education. He is a changed boy. Would you allow me to take you to dinner on Friday to show my appreciation?

Yours,

Horace Wallace

EMAIL

FROM: FLORA DOWNEY, Tuckernuck Hall

TO: HORACE WALLACE SR.

SUBJECT: It's a Date

Wally,

I'd love to. And call me Flora.

Best,

Flora

Note from Horace Wallace Sr. to Horace Wallace Jr.

Hi, Bud,

I found a bunch of board games in the attic that we boxed up awhile ago. Why don't you invite a couple of your friends over to see if they all still work?

Have a good day at school.

Your dad

P.S. Your old dinosaur toys were in there too. I left them on your desk. T. rex says hi.

Note from Misti Pinkerton to Bud Wallace

If one of those board games is Risk, you and Laurie are GOING DOWN.

Just a warning.

Misti :-)

Open Letter to School District

With this letter, I hereby tender my resignation as the president of the school board. In light of recent events, I feel my services would be put to better use elsewhere.

Walker LeFranco

Post-it on Principal Winkle's computer

Bad news, Marty. Some of the kids got a tip and stormed the staff room. They found the doughnuts. They know, Marty.

They know.

Betty

Sign on cafeteria door

Due to recent allegations of unfairness re: sweets, Tuckernuck Hall will now allow the consumption of one (1) standard-sized dessert per student at lunchtime. I hope that this compromise will be satisfactory to all students.

Thanks.

Your Princi“PAL,”

Martin Winkle

Thank-you note left on Martin Winkle's desk

Marty,

Ponch and Jon just LOVE their Deluxe Gerbil Playhouse! They are changed gerbils. I have never seen them so calm and relaxed—they spend their days playing on the wheel, running through their access tubes, jingling the bells, and swinging on the swing. You've got to come by and see them!

Their door is always open.

Thanks,

Olivia

Note to Olivia Hutchins from Principal Winkle:

PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE KIDDING ABOUT THEIR DOOR.

MARTY

Maria Tutweiler locked the doors to Tuckernuck Hall one last time and tugged them to make sure they were secure. She had hoped to see her challenge through to the end, but the difficulties with the school board had made that an impossibility. She smiled to herself as she went to hand over her keys to the second principal of Tuckernuck Hall. It didn't matter if she was there to see it. She had set the wheels in motion, and she knew her students wouldn't let her down. That puzzle was as good as solved.

This book would not have been possible without some amazing people—Katherine Tegen, Katie Bignell, Steven Malk, and the team at Katherine Tegen Books. You guys rock.

More thanks are in order:

To Elizabeth Enright, John Bellairs, and Ellen Raskin, for their books full of clues and mysteries.

To Wilkie Collins, for the use of the name.

To Washington and Lee University, for the use of the fight song (cluckerized though it may be).

To the pet store clerk in Richmond, for not being able to tell boy gerbils from girl gerbils.

And to Chuckie and Nibbles and their enormous brood of bruisers.