I, Gertrude McCluck, was very happy on that sunny day in June as I walked on the airplane. Mr. Farmer said I needed a vacation, and so I decided to visit my Aunt Henrietta.

I found my seat and was surprised that it was a window seat. In about five minutes, we were ready to go! It was so exciting! The airplane rumbled on, and we were in the air! I fell asleep and woke up later by a nice lady asking me if I wanted anything to drink. I said I would like Sprite but they were out of it, so I got lemonade. I drank some and reached under me to get a magazine I brought. I found it and started reading Backyard Poultry. (It is my favorite magazine because I'm in it.) I read the whole thing and was surprised that we were coming in for a landing. The landing was just as exciting as the takeoff, and soon I was off the airplane and walking toward the area where we get the luggage. I soon found my suitcase and spotted Henrietta. I went over to her, and we talked all the way home in her truck.

When we got to her house, she had some lovely, roasted beetles waiting in the oven. We ate and went to bed. I woke at three thirty-one and heard something. I got up and went downstairs. The sound was in her kitchen, so I walked toward it. Suddenly the door flew open, something knocked me down, and I heard the front door slam shut. I jumped up but could only find corn scattering the floor. I cleaned the mess up and went back to bed.

The next morning, after I ate a wonderful meal of black beans, my aunt went to shop. (She loves to shop.) I took my detective tools out and went over the house. I found that the man also opened the rice, beans, and fruit drawers and probably stole some of each.

Then I found a footprint, and so I made a note to my aunt. Next, I followed the trail. It led me past two streams, and in one of them, I almost lost the tracks. It was past lunchtime, so I stopped and took a drink and ate a snack. I started again and the trail went to a very old, broken house and disappeared at the door.

I knocked and a lady opened the door. I told her the story, and she told me she was very sorry but her husband was gone. She had no money and nobody would hire her so she had to take some food from someone to feed her five children.

I told her I would be back with food, and I left. Aunt Henrietta was home, and I told her. She brought the food herself and everyday she gave them more food for their meals.