Megan McDonald - Judy Moody Saves the World!

Judy Moody did not set out to save the world. She set out to win a contest. A Band-Aid contest.

Judy snapped open her doctor kit. Where was that box of Crazy Strips? She lifted out the tiny hammer for testing reflexes.

Hey, can I try that? asked Stink, coming into Judys room.

Stink, didnt you ever hear of going knock, knock?

Sure, said Stink. Whos there?

Not the joke, said Judy. The thing a little brother is supposed to do before entering a big sisters room.

You mean I have to tell a joke just to come in your room? asked Stink.

Never mind, said Judy.

Never mind who? asked Stink.

Stink! Just sit on the chair and cross your legs, said Judy. Im going to test your reflexes.

Please dont do doctor stuff to me! Stink said.

Cmon, Stink. Judy tapped Stinks knee with the hammer. Stinks foot shot out and kicked her in the leg.

Hey, Stink, said Judy. You kicked me! Who do you think you are, a cassowary?

A what-o-wary?

Cass-o-wary. I learned it in Science. Its a rain forest bird that cant fly, so it kicks its enemies.

Im not a casso-whatever, said Stink. I just have really good reflexes.

Judy flashed her best anaconda eyes at Stink. Forget it, she said, putting the hammer away.

Stink reached into Judys doctor kit and pulled out some Crazy Strips.

Stink! I told you not to steal my Crazy Strips. Now this box is empty, as in ALL GONE. I told you Id put your arm in a sling if you didnt stop stealing my stuff.

Stink did not want his arm in a sling again. Especially when it wasnt broken. Give it, said Judy, taking the box from Stink. I want to read about the contest.

Contest? asked Stink. What do we have to do?

Judy read the box.

Crazy Strips 5th Annual

Design Your Own Bandage Contest.

Create your own Crazy Strip.

Draw with pencils, crayons,

or markers.

Think of a theme!

Go wild with a style!

Be outrageous! Be you!

You mean we draw something to go on a Crazy Strip? asked Stink. What do we win?

Judy read on.

Thirteen top designs will be chosen to be printed on Crazy Strips. Just think kids all across the country could be wearing YOUR creative, colorful Crazy Strip.

Is that all? asked Stink.

Rare! Judy said. I, Judy Moody, could have my own Crazy Strip.

They have to let you win something, Stink said, grabbing the box from Judy.

Just think. Knees, ankles, and elbows everywhere will be wearing a Judy Moody original. Even Elizabeth Blackwell, First Woman Doctor, didnt have her own Crazy Strip.

Oh, brother, said Stink. Before you get too famous, can I use some of your skinny markers?

What for? Judy asked.

I want to draw a Crazy Strip, too. It says here the Grand Prize is a pair of Rollerblades.

Rollerblades! Let me see that.

Top Winner: Crazy Strip of the Year Rollerblades plus your design printed on a Crazy Strip for one year

Runners-up: Crazy Strip of the Month Crazy Strips sunglasses plus your design printed on a Crazy Strip for one month

All participants receive Honorable Mention certificates.

Dream on, Stink. Only one kid in the whole entire United States of America gets Rollerblades.

So?

So look at some of the kids who won last year. Theyre ten years old. Eleven. One is even thirteen. Thats a teenager. Youre only seven.

And a quarter, said Stink.

Youd have to be Picasso for them to pick your design, she said.

Who?

You know. The guy who painted all those blue people.

Then let me borrow your blue marker, said Stink.

Judy dumped all the markers, crayons, colored pencils, and pastels she had on the floor. Stink grabbed the first blue marker he saw and started to draw.

What are you drawing?

Bats, said Stink. Blue bats.

Youre bats, said Judy. People dont like bats.

But bats eat millions of insects, said Stink. People should like bats.

I know that, said Judy. Im just saying, bats are not going to beat a teenager. Stink kept right on coloring bats.

Your bats sure have big ears, said Judy.

Theyre Virginia big-eared bats.

Oh, said Judy.

Stink was a good artist, but Judy didnt want him thinking he was a genius or anything. She had to dream up a good-as-Picasso idea. Better than ucky old bats. Better than a teenager. She wanted her Judy Moody Crazy Strip to be seen all across the U.S.A. The world. The universe.

Stink, stop squeaking, said Judy.

Its the magic markers.

I cant think with all that squeaking, Judy said.

Judy studied some of the other winners on the box from last year. There were ladybugs, flowers, soccer balls, rainbows, and peace signs. Happy, happy, happy. Judy tried to think of something happy to draw on her Crazy Strip.

She drew smiley faces. Yellow, red, blue, green, and purple smiley faces. Underneath she wrote CRAZY STRIPS CURE BAD MOODS.

Everybody draws smiley faces, said Stink.

Who? asked Judy.

Heather Strong, in my class. And teenagers.

Stink was right. Smiley faces were not good enough to decorate the ankles of millions. Smiley faces were not good enough to win Rollerblades. Smiley faces were not Picasso.

Judy turned her Crazy Strip upside down. The smiley faces turned into bad-mood faces.

Nobody wants a cranky Crazy Strip, Stink said.

ROAR! said Judy.

They like it if you have a message, said Stink, but I cant think of a message about bats.

How about BATTY FOR BAND-AIDS?

Thats good! said Stink. Thanks!

Stink was already done with his Crazy Strip and Judy still did not have a single idea. Not one inspiration.