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HAUNTED SHARK

It is not easy getting an old ghost in a shark suit underneath the edge of a tent, but we did it We crept around the back of the ht that peoplearound On the way I had told Sir Horace, "When so squeaky voice calls you Dad, you have to pretend that is who you are

You are Dad Got that? And then you have to tell her that Wanda and I are running the show Okay?" Sir Horace did not say anything for a bit and then he said, "Why?" "Because that is a really i, but I ignored her as I was too busy pushing Sir Horace under- neath the tent The tent was e around beside the big fish tank looking worried Outside the croas getting impatient to come in--the Fish Frolics Shoas already twenty , and people gruave Sir Horace a push and said, "Just go and stand by the fish tank Remember you are called Dad Okay?"

I think Sir Horace nodded but it was hard to tell But as he floated off toward the fish tank Nosy Nora yelled, "Hey, Dad! Where have you been?" "Come on, Wanda, " I said "Let’s leave hiot to find Aunt Tabby and Brenda and sort them out now " And I pushed her back outside We found Aunt Tabby and Brenda in Squid Caf talking with Vera and Mabel Aunt Tabby was holding our hats and she looked really irritated Vera and Mabel did not look happy Brenda zoomed in on Wanda "Where have you been? You’re covered in mud and spider- webs " I could see a handkerchiefon

Sure enough, Brenda fished out a big pink hanky, spat on it, and started rubbing at Wanda’s face "Mo-oled out of Brenda’s grasp "Don’t " Wanda did not tell Brenda where we had been, which was good I thought Wanda’s training was going quite well, as when she had first co we did, which had led to a lot of Aunt Tabby trouble However, I could see ere heading straight for Aunt Tabby trouble here "Ara- ht your hats back If you need extra spending money you should ask me I can’t believe how much you made Vera and Mabel pay for these " "Oh, but anted to, " said Vera--or was it Mabel?

"Oh yes, we really did, " said Mabel--or was it Vera? I got out my detective notebook "I can take an order for more, " I said "No, Araminta, you can’t, " said Aunt Tabby "Oh please, " said Mabel--or was it Vera-- "ould love to order some more " "How many would you like?" I asked before Aunt Tabby could say anything "We’ll have two of each, " said Mabel/Vera "So that there’s no fighting, " giggled Vera/Mabel "I will give your order to our resident knit- ter, " I told them "It will be ready in teeks " "Araminta, really" Aunt Tabby said very faintly But she didn’t say anything else

Suddenly Nosy Nora’s squeaky voice caentlemen, please make your way to the Water Wonder- land tent where the world-fain!" The loudspeaker did a horrible high-pitched squeak and everyone winced Then we all heard Nora say, "What was that, Dad? I can’t hear what you’re saying What? Are you sure?"There was a silence, then the loudspeaker caain "Um Would Wanda Wizzard and Ara tent as soon as pos- sible Dad--are you sure?" Then there was a crackle and the loudspeaker went dead "We’ve got to go, " I told Aunt Tabby "They can’t start without us Co anywhere without your hats, " said Aunt Tabby "At least then I can keep an eye on you Put them on "

There was no ti over hats I stuffed my squid hat on and Wanda crammed on her fish hat and we zoomed off into the crowd Nosy Nora was not pleased to see us "You keep getting me into trouble, " she said "Did you know there are two old ladies wearing hats just like yours? I chased theot trapped by your creepy aunt " "Really?" I said "What a coincidence " Nosy Nora looked at me like I was one of those horrible suckerfish stuck on the side of that tank "Anyway, " she said, "I don’t knohy Dad wants you to help, " she said gruht He sounds like he’s got a cold or so " "I expect he thinks you can’t do it all n your own, " I said

"There’s not exactly a lot to do anyway, " said Nora sulkily "It’s only the stupid frogs and then Dad does the shark thing and splashes everyone and then they all go hoht, " said Nora "They’re nasty, sli bucket and handed it to Wanda Wanda grabbed the bucket "I’ve got the fro-ogs, I’ve got the fro-ogs!" she sang and did a weird Wanda-dance around in circles That was aa detective should never do is blow her cover It leads to trouble Nosy Nora looked suspicious--very suspi- cious "What’s going on?’ she asked "Don’t askstriped curtain at the back of the tank

"Shh, " I told Sir Horace--but it was too late Nora stared at me "I don’t believe it is Dad under there, " she said "I’ve heard all about you, Ara " "But--" I said I was going to tell her that I had never said it was Old Morris in the shark suit, but Nosy Nora wasn’t listening "I think it’s your creepy aunt in there It’s just the kind of weird thing she’d do I’ to look!" "No, its not Aunt--" But it was too late Nora unzipped the shark suit and went pale "There’s no one there!" she yelled "It’s haunted!" "That’s right, " I told her since, whatever anyone may think, I do not tell fibs "Where’s my dad?" she yelled "What have you done with hi "I’ll find him! I’ll find him and then you’ll be sorry!" Nosy Nora raced over to the tent flaps and threw the to come in "You do the show, you and your horrible spooky shark--since you’re so smart!" Nora shouted and she disappeared into the crowd

Before Wanda and I had ti over the best seats Aunt Tabby and Brenda won, along with Mabel and Vera, who plonked theht in front of the fish tank That was bad enough, but I couldn’t believe ht behind theet there? But I didn’t have ti down and a horrible hush came over the tent A whole forest of eyes stared at us like they expected us to do so to dooooo?" wailed Wanda under her breath There was only one thing we could do-- the all-new Spookie Shark Show