“Wow! That’s your best Toiletman costume yet,” George complimented Chris as they all lined up for the Halloween parade.

“Thanks. My mom got me a new toilet seat to use as a shield,” Chris replied happily. “And I also have my new plunger.”

“Is that real mold?” Julianna asked Alex. At least that’s what George thought she asked. It was hard to hear what she said from underneath the big football helmet she was wearing.

“No. My mom said it was too dangerous.” Alex held up a jar filled with green and black dots. “This is rice with food coloring.”

Just then Sage came running over. At least George thought it was Sage. Who else would come to school dressed as a pink-and-white polka-dot ghost?

“Georgie, who are you supposed to be?” she asked him.

She was probably batting her eyes up and down under the sheet. George was glad he couldn’t see that.

George had on a skeleton mask. Over the mask he was wearing a baseball cap with brims in the front and the back. And he was carrying a giant magnifying glass.

“I’m Sherlock Bones,” George said proudly. “Halloween detective.”

Sage jumped up and down excitedly. “Ooo. Perfect,” she squealed. “We’re a Halloween couple after all.”

Oh brother. “You’re a polka-dot ghost,” George said. “What does that have to do with Sherlock Bones?”

“You can call me Nancy Boo,” Sage said. “I’m a ghost detective.”

George rolled his eyes. Sage was a real pain. But he wasn’t going to let her bother him. Not today. Not when he had the satisfaction of looking back at Louie, dressed as a giant pinball machine complete with flashing lights, at the very end of the line. All those lights just made it easier to see the jealous scowl on his face. Nope, nothing could ruin this day.

Grumble rumble.

Uh-oh. Not the burp. Not now! Not when he was about to lead the Halloween parade.

Grumble rumble.

George’s tummy was definitely making some loud noises. But those weren’t burp bubble noises. That was just George’s stomach telling him he was hungry. So George reached into his pocket and pulled out a Nutty Nugget bar.

“I thought your mom said you couldn’t have any of those until Halloween,” Alex reminded him.

“My mom said this was my reward for solving the mystery of the Phantom,” George told him. “Good thing, too. I need some Nutty Nugget energy.”

Just then, music began to play through loudspeakers on the playground. “The foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone. The ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone . . .”

“Hey, they’re playing my song!” said “Sherlock Bones” to his pals. “Come on. I have a Halloween parade to lead.”

Then everyone—except Louie—began to sing.

“The leg bone’s connected to the hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the backbone. Let’s shake those Halloween bones!”