The Judy Moody Double-Rare Collection - Megan Mcdonald [32]
“Stink, we’re going on the Freedom Trail. Not the Frog Trail.”
“What should we do first?” asked Mom.
“Tea Party! Boston Tea Party Ship!” said Judy, jumping up and down.
“We came all the way to Boston for a tea party?” asked Stink.
“Not that kind of tea party,” Mom said.
“The people here first came over from England,” said Dad, “because they wanted to have freedom from the king telling them what to do.”
“Dad, is this another LBS? Long Boring Story?” asked Stink.
“It’s way NOT boring, Stink,” said Judy. “It’s the beginning of our whole country. This wouldn’t even be America if it weren’t for this giant tea party they had. See, the Americans wouldn’t drink tea from over there in England. No way.”
“Not just tea,” said Mom. “The British made them pay unfair taxes on lots of things, like paper and sugar. They called it the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act. But the Americans didn’t have any say about what all the tax money would be used for.”
“I don’t get it,” said Stink.
“We didn’t want some grumpy old king to be boss of us,” said Judy.
“America wanted to be grown-up and independent,” said Mom. “Free from England. Free to make up its own rules and laws.”
“So Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence,” said Dad.
“And a lot of important people signed it real fancy,” said Judy, “like John Hancock, First Signer of the Declaration. Right, Mom?”
“Right,” said Mom.
“Before we hit the Freedom Trail, let’s go see the Liberty Tree,” said Dad. “That’s where people stood to make important speeches about freedom.”
“Like a town crier?” asked Judy.
“That’s right,” said Dad. “Here we are.”
“I don’t see any tree,” said Stink. “All I see is some old sign on some old building.”
“The British cut it down,” Dad said. “But that didn’t stop the Americans. They just called it the Liberty Stump and kept right on making speeches.”
“I don’t see any tree stump,” said Stink.
“Hello! Use your imagination, Stink,” said Judy.
“Kids, stand together in front of the sign so Dad can take your picture.”
“I still don’t see what’s so big about the American Revolution,” mumbled Stink.
“Some of us like the American Revolution, Stink,” said Judy. “Let freedom ring!” she shouted. Hair flew across her face.
“Judy, I thought I asked you to use a brush this morning,” Mom said.
“I did use it,” said Judy. “On that pink fuzzy pillow in our hotel room!” Mom poked at Judy’s hair, trying to smooth out the bumps. Judy squeezed her eyes shut, making an Ouch Face. Dad snapped the picture.
“Hear ye! Hear ye!” called Judy. “I, Judy Moody, hereby declare freedom from brushing my hair!”
“Then I declare it from brushing my teeth!” said Stink.
“P.U.” said Judy, squinching up her nose.
Dad snapped another picture.
Three worst things about Boston so far were:
1. Stink
2. Stink
3. Stink
“Time to hit the Freedom Trail!” said Dad.
“Let’s head up Park Street,” Mom said, pointing to a line of red bricks in the sidewalk. “Follow the red brick road!”
“Look!” Judy cried, running up the hill. “Look at that big fancy gold dome!”
“That’s the State House,” said Mom. “Where the governor works.”
“Judy!” Dad called. “No running ahead. Stick close to us.”
“Aw,” said Judy. “No fair. This is supposed to be the Freedom Trail.”
“Stay where Dad and I can keep an eye on you,” said Mom.
“Roar!” said Judy.
After the State House, Mom and Dad led them to Park Street Church, where the song “My Country ’Tis of Thee” was sung for the very first time.
Stink looked for famous-people initials carved into a tree outside. PLOP! Something hit Stink on the head. “YEE-UCK! Bird poo!” said Stink. Judy cracked up. Mom wiped it off with a tissue.
Stink sang:
“My country pooed on me
Right near the Pigeon Tree.
Of thee I sing. . . .”
“Mom! Dad!” said Judy, covering her ears. “Make him stop!”
Judy ran ahead. “Hurry up, you guys! The church has an old graveyard!”
Mom read the plaque at the entrance: “‘May the youth of today . . . be inspired with the patriotism of Paul Revere.’”
“Paul Revere’s grave is here!” Judy shouted. “So is John Hancock