Turkey Trouble on the National Mall Read Online Free PDF Page B

Goldfish crackers floated on the soup.
    “Yay!” cried Marshall.
    Then Yvonne added a giant platter of spaghetti. Next came a huge green salad. The First Lady placed a tall chocolate cake on the table next to the briefcase.
    “These are all my favorites, too!” said Marshall. “How did you know?”
    Lois smiled. “I asked your parents,” she said. “Everyone dig in!”
    “First I want to propose a toast,” the president said. He stood and picked up his glass of cranberry juice. “To Yvonne and the First Lady, who prepared this delicious food, thank you. To KC and Marshall and the vicepresident for convincing so many people to pardon their turkeys. And to Arnold and Dez for agreeing to rescue Cloud and his feathered friends!”

    Everyone joined the toast by clinking glasses.
    After dinner, Marshall’s parents went back to their apartment. Marshall had his toothbrush and pajamas. He was staying at the White House overnight.
    “Don’t forget to feed Spike!” Marshall told his parents as they left. “Tarantulas like Thanksgiving, too!”
    Arnold and Dez left to prepare for the money and turkey exchange.
    The president and vice president locked themselves in the office with the money.
    KC and Marshall went upstairs to KC’s room. Her mom had told them that if they wanted to stay up for the excitement later, they had to get some rest.
    But when KC threw herself on her bed at eight-thirty, she didn’t feel at all sleepy. “I wonder where Cloud and the turkeys are right now,” she said, cuddling with her stuffed animals.
    “I wonder if there’s any more of that chocolate cake left,” Marshall answered from where he was lying on KC’s rug. He yawned and closed his eyes.
    KC tossed Mr. Gorilla at him, and Marshall used him for a pillow.

9
KC’s Big Plan
    About an hour later, KC’s bedroom door opened. “Turkey time, kids,” the president whispered.
    The kids grabbed their jackets and followed the president. A clock at the bottom of the stairs announced that it was almost ten. Except for Marshall’s parents, the same people who had eaten dinner together were in the kitchen.
    Yvonne was heating milk for hot chocolate, and eight mugs were lined up on the counter.
    KC slipped into the pantry. When she came out to the kitchen again, there was a bulge under her jacket.
    “You fellows know what to do?” the vice president asked Arnold and Dez.
    Arnold nodded. “Yup. We go to the Crafty Guy shop on New Street,” he said. “If Leroy is there, we get him to take us to the turkeys. When he does, we hand over the money.” Arnold and his brother wore baggy jeans, dark sweaters, and ski caps. KC thought they looked like bank robbers.
    The briefcase stood on the counter, next to the mugs. Yvonne poured steaming milk into each, and the smell of hot chocolate filled the room.
    Everyone walked outside to Dez’s truck, sipping from their mugs. KC stayed in the truck’s shadow, where her mother wouldn’t see her.
    “You’ll have two FBI agents following your truck,” the president told Dez. “You can talk to each other through devices in your caps. The agents will arrest Mr. Leroy as soon as you say he’s accepted the money.”
    “And where will you be, dear?” KC’smom asked the president. “I know you won’t want to stay in the White House when all the excitement is out there!”
    The president shook his head. “I’ll be here with you and the kids, waiting for the good news.”
    He looked at Arnold and Dez. “Thank you two for doing this,” he said, glancing at his watch. “Ten minutes.”
    “I’m a little nervous, sir,” Arnold said. “Can I use your bathroom?”
    Everyone laughed and walked back inside with their empty mugs.
    KC stopped Marshall and pulled him behind Dez’s truck.
    “What are you doing?” Marshall asked her. “Let’s go inside. It’s cold out here!”
    “It won’t be cold in the sleeping bags,” KC said. She put a foot on the truck’s rear bumper and started to