One day the Bicycle Club decided to ride their bikes through the small seaside town - Cathy's bike had a flat tire, so she decided to float beside them instead. They were headed towards the abandoned lighthouse when they noticed something didn't seem right at Mr. Wuliver's pet shop. They saw that the store's door had been busted open and all the canaries and gold fish were missing. Jessie pulled her flashlight out of her knapsack to look for clues. She noticed a bright blue fingerprint on the cash register.
"Gee whiz, It almost looks like the blue chalk on a pool cue." she said.
They all looked at each other and in unison said, "The Ole' Billiards Barn!"
Whomever broke in to the shop had to be connected to the pool hall or an avid pool player.
'But what would he want with all those canaries and fish?" asked Sarah.
"Maybe its Sylvester the Cat " said Lindsey.
"Stop joking around you guys! These pets could be in serious trouble!" shouted Jessie.
"Let's get a move on to the Ole' Billiards Barn and see if there is anything fishy!" said Lindsey.
The group chuckled a little but Jessie found it was too soon to make a pun out of possibly dead goldfish. They grabbed some yarn from the kitten toy section so they could pull floating Cathy from the back of their bikes. The girls made their way down the path to the billiards hall. When they pulled up to the pool hall, they parked their bikes next to the rock quarry. The walked into the Ole’ Barn and saw the usual characters. Captain Seaskull O’Hoolihan was sitting in his regular seat by the dart board. He stared at the girls as they look for possible suspects.
“I don’t like the looks of this.” said Sarah.
“It’s getting late and Aunt Sassy says we have to be back for dinner.” added Lindsey.
“I miss the ground” chimed Cathy.
The Captain got up and asked, “Are you here about the canaries and goldsfish?”
“How do you know about Mr. Wuliver’s shop?” asked Jessie.
“I know everything that goes on in this seaside town. And it looks like the storms a’ comin’. You girls better be on your way.” he said.
Just then Miss Big Bones, the Captain’s St. Bernard barked.
“Wait a minute,” said Lindsey, “You got Miss Big Bones as a puppy, right?”
“Yes?” said the Captain.
“But not from Mr. Wuliver?” quipped Sarah.
"No, I got her from the breeder.” he said.
“And that breeder wouldn’t happen to be Mr. Guliver?! Mr. Wuliver’s rival pet dealer!” asked Jessie.
“What’s it matter to you?” he asked.
“Because canaries and goldfish are the only pets that Mr. Wuliver has in his shop that Mr. Guliver doesn’t breed.” replied Lindsey.
This was true. And in this seaside town and all seaside towns canaries and goldfish were the most popular pets. The girls went off to Mr. Guliver’s to try and find the missing animals. When the gang arrived at Guliver’s house they saw he had wet suitcases with yellow feathers sticking out.
“Stop, Guliver! We know it was you that broke into Mr. Wuliver’s pet store.” yelled Sarah.
“You can’t prove it, you’re just a bunch of kids!” he said.
“But I’m not.” Chimed the Sheriff, who arrived in the nick of time.
“Not you Sheriff! I’m innocent. How do you know it wasn’t those girls who broke into the shop?!” said Guliver.
“Why these girls wouldn’t break into anything but your heart.” said the sheriff.
“Awwwwwww” chirped the canaries.
“Quiet you canaries! Not one more peep outta you!” yelled Guliver.
“Why would you want to steal a bunch of canaries and goldfish?” asked the sheriff.
“Because they were the only pets Guliver didn’t have.” added Cathy
“They were going to be my fortune!” he cried.
“Fortune? How?” They all asked.
“How? By returning to Prague and trading them for deutschmark checks which I’d exchange on the blackmarket. Obviously.” He said.
“Oh.” They said in unison.
The sheriff arrested Mr. Guliver and the girls brought all the goldfish and canaries back to a grateful Mr. Wuliver. The pets cheered with glee.
“There, there young canaries. Everything’s going to be alright. Everything’s going to be alllllright.” Said Jessie.
The girls got on their bicycles (except Cathy) and made it home in time to enjoy Aunt Sassy’s homemade mintz pie.
And that’s why you don’t leave the air conditioner on.
The End.
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