Judy Moody Declares Independence Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ludington’s!’ All the British had to go back on their ships. Then everybody came to my house for hot dogs (with mustard). Even Mr. George Famous Washington. The end.
    “Did Sybil What’s-Her-Face really eat hot dogs?” asked Jessica Finch.
    “She ate mustard,” said Judy. “Ketchup wasn’t invented yet.”
    Mr. Todd chuckled. “Actually, the word is
muster,
not
mustard
. When Sybil rode her horse to warn everybody, she called them to muster, which means to get together.”
    “The other parts were all true,” said Judy. “I give this book five
really
s. As in really, really, really, really, really good. It was so good, I stayed inside for recess to read it. It was so good, I read it to my cat and my Venus flytrap!”
    “Thank you, Judy,” said Mr. Todd. “Sounds like Sybil Ludington really inspired you.”
    “Everybody should know about the Girl Paul Revere. Most people never heard of her, because for some barmy reason they forgot to put girls in history books. I wouldn’t even know about her if you hadn’t told me.”
    “Maybe some others will want to read the book now,” said Mr. Todd.
    “Sybil Ludington should be in our social studies book for everybody to read about. Girls should get to be in history books, too, you know. Especially girls who did independent stuff, don’t you think?”
    “Yes, yes, I do,” said Mr. Todd.
    “Girls rule!” all the girls shouted.
    “Huzzah!” said Judy.

On the bus ride home, Rocky told Judy how much he liked her book report. “When I first saw you looking like a pilgrim, I was sure it would be boring. But it was WAY not boring.”
    “Thanks,” said Judy. “I hope I get a way good grade and it shows my Mom and Dad how grown-up and responsible I am.”
    “Just think,” Rocky said, “how super scary it must have been when Sybil rode through the woods . . . and it was dark and robbers were all around.”
    “But she had to stop the British from burning down the whole town of Danbury!”
    “Yeah. But if she got caught, the bad guys might think she was a spy!” Rocky said.
    Judy and Rocky talked about Sybil all the way home.

    When they got off the bus, Judy started walking, then said, “Oops, I almost forgot. I rode my bike to the bus stop today.”
    “Okay. See ya!” called Rocky as he loped off toward his house. Judy unlocked her bike. Behind her, the doors of the bus hissed and closed, and the brakes squeaked as it pulled away from the curb.
    Wait . . . something was not right.
    Stink?
    STINK!
    Stink did not get off the bus! Stink had never NOT gotten off the bus before.
    Judy could not think. She was sure she’d seen him get ON the bus. Should she yell for help? Race home and get Mom?
    “HEY!” yelled Judy. “Mr. Bus Driver! HEY!” she shouted. The bus was already driving off down the street.
    WWBFD? What would Ben Franklin do? Go to bed early? Save a penny? Judy did not think sugar packet sayings could help her now.
    There was only one thing to do. Chase the bus!
    Mom would worry if she didn’t come right home, but there was no time to go tell her. Not when her brother was being kidnapped by a runaway bus.
    She, Judy Moody, had to get her brother back. No matter how stinky he was, he was still her brother.
    Judy hitched up her pilgrim skirt and hopped on her bike. She pedaled hard. She pedaled fast. She rode like the wind. She rode like Sybil on Star. She chased that bus down the street and around the corner and up the hill and down the hill.
    Cars whizzed by.
Whoosh!
Dirt flew in her face. She swerved to miss a big hole in the road. What if she fell off her bike and broke her head?
    Judy kept riding. She tooted her horn. She yelled, “HEY! Mr. Bus! My brother’s on there. GIVE! ME! BACK! MY! BROTHER!”
    The bus kept going.
    A dog barked at her. What if a big meany dog got loose and chased her? What if she got bitten by a wild dog? A wild dog with RABIES?
    Judy pedaled faster. Wind flapped her skirt and whipped her thirteen curls every which