She sighed, “It’s not that. It’s those mean things that Victoria and her mommy keep saying about us.”
He replied, “Oh darling I told আপনি do not pay any attention to what that nasty little kilt nipper অথবা her mother have to say.” Then groaned, “This is the reason why I should never have entered ye in the pageant.”
Scrooge sat there for several মিনিট thinking about the pageant. He worried about how disappointed Webby would be if she didn’t win. But, if she did win would that just cause her to believe that she had to be a pageant কুইন to be beautiful?
Suddenly his thoughts were I interrupted দ্বারা a very familiar, “Yoo-hoo! Mr. McDuck, that আপনি over there?! Of course it is I’d never forget a face that handsome.”
They both glanced over and saw Jane Muddlefoot standing just a few feet away waving. “Hello…um…Jane is it? What brings আপনি here?” Scrooge ব্যক্ত trying sound as cheerful as possible.
“I’m just here doin’ some last মিনিট shoppin’.” She said.
“Hi Mrs. Muddlefoot. Is Honeybunch here?” Webby asked.
“Yup, she’s here alright. In fact she’s in the dressin’ room right now tryin’ on ‘er pageant dress.” Jane replied.
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by, “Hey Mama, watcha think of this one?!”
The three of them looked over and saw Honeybunch standing in the entryway of fitting-rooms, wearing a risqué and ill-fitting formal. “Hmm…Well I think it’s mighty cute darlin’. What’d আপনি think Mr. McDuck?”
Honeybunch then noticed Scrooge and Webby standing পরবর্তি to her mother. “Hi Mr. McDuck, Webby. Nice to see ya’ll.”
“Hello Honeybunch.” Scrooge said, “Good to see আপনি too.”
“Hi Honeybunch.” Webby replied
“So Mr. McDuck ya still haven’t answered me, what’d ya think of ‘er dress?” Jane asked
Scrooge studied her for a মিনিট and then said, “Well, I’m no fashion expert, but it does look just a wee bit snug on her. Also I do not believe that a dress that revealing is appropriate for a young lass her of age.”
Feeling confused Jane replied, “But আপনি was there at the luncheon, don’t ya remember? Those is the kinds of dresses Ms. Quackson says we otta dress our girls in, if we want to them to even come close to winnin”
“Unfortunately I do not believe that Laura’s true intent was to help the other contests win, but আরো to help her daughter Victoria win.” Scrooge explained.
“Well, why would she that?” Jane asked still puzzled.
Scrooge sighed, “I’m afraid that the Lil’ Miss Duckburg pageant it not at all what the constants have been led believe.” Then he sat down in one of the chairs and said, “Come, sit down, and I’ll explain everything.”
Still feeling confused Jane sat down in the other chair. Then Scrooge began to tell her the whole story about Laura, the gossip stories, and the fraudulent cash prize.
Meanwhile in the dressing-room ফ্ুলপাছ was trying on clothes, with Minnie as her audience. “Daisy!” Minnie called, “How many আরো outfits do আপনি have to try on?”
“Just a few!” ফ্ুলপাছ called back
“Well please hurry-up!” Minnie yelled into the fitting-room, “I’m bored, and remember Uncle Scrooge and Webby are waiting for outside for us!” she got no response.
“What do আপনি think of this one?” ফ্ুলপাছ asked as she stepped out wearing a hot পরাকাষ্ঠা leopard print suit.
“Well I’m not sure it’s really you.” Minnie ব্যক্ত trying to sound nice, even though she really didn’t think the suit was at all attractive.
“I don’t know” ফ্ুলপাছ said, “I think I need some আরো opinions about it. I’m gonna ask Uncle Scrooge and Webby what they think!” Then she darted away toward the area where they had left the others.
Minnie groaned, “Oh Daisy, just pick an out-fit already.” Then reluctantly followed her.
As soon as Minnie and ফ্ুলপাছ came out of the fitting-room they noticed Scrooge and Jane sitting together talking, “Why hello Mrs. Muddlefoot.” Minnie said.
“Well, hi Minnie… right? Who’s your friend?” Jane said.
Without giving Minnie a chance to answer ফ্ুলপাছ ব্যক্ত proudly, “I am ফ্ুলপাছ Duck. And what do আপনি think of my suit?”
Everyone stared for few minutes, and then finally Scrooge said, “Um…No. Daisy, it’s not that attractive and আপনি do not need to charge any আরো clothing purchases on your credit cards.”
ফ্ুলপাছ glared angrily at him and started to say something but Minnie said, “Daisy, Uncle Scrooge is right.” Remember আপনি have three credit cards you’re trying pay down now.”
Then ফ্ুলপাছ turned away and ব্যক্ত angrily, “HMPH! See if I ask your opinions again!”
Hoping to change the subject and stop this from possibly becoming a fight Jane said, “Say, Mr. McDuck’s been tellin’ me that all these years Ms. Quackson been lyin’ to us. Did y’all know about that?”
“Oh yes, we’ve known about it for a while.” Minnie sighed.
Scrooge had been thinking about the unattractive dress worn দ্বারা Honeybunch, “Say Jane, as I ব্যক্ত before I’m দ্বারা no means a fashion expert, but my বন্ধু Minnie and…um ফ্ুলপাছ are up on all the latest trends. I’m sure they would not mind helping আপনি and Honeybunch pick out a dress.” Then turned to Minnie and ফ্ুলপাছ and asked, “You lassies would not mind that, would you?”
“Oh, of course not, I’d be happy to help.” Minnie said.
“Yes, I’m always glad to প্রদর্শনী someone some fashion tips.” ফ্ুলপাছ said.
“Well, alrighty. It’s mighty nice of ya’ll to help us out.” Jane said.
Once over in the girls formal section Minnie and ফ্ুলপাছ showed Jane and Honeybunch several beautiful dresses. After spending quite a while there, and seeing a lot lovely dresses designed for plus size girls, Jane came to sad conclusion that they were all out of her price range. “Well thanks a bunch for the help ya’ll but, we just can’t afford those.”
“Well, I’m just sorry we couldn’t be of আরো help.” Minnie ব্যক্ত feeling a little down. "If I could help আপনি pay for the dress I would, but I'm afraid it's a little out of my price range also. Sorry again."
ফ্ুলপাছ just shrugged and said, “Sorry we can’t help.” Then she turned to Minnie and said, “Come on Minnie I’ve got two আরো স্যুইটস্ to try on!” grabbed her দ্বারা the hand and ran off.
“Again!” Minnie shouted.
After Minnie and ফ্ুলপাছ were gone, Jane ব্যক্ত to Honeybunch, “Well, darlin’ I guess we should go back to the dressin’ room and get the one we left there. Least we know we’s can afford it.”
When Jane and Honeybunch came back to the fitting-room, Scrooge and Webby noticed that they didn’t have a dress. “Hey Honeybunch, where’s your dress?” Webby asked.
“Mama ব্যক্ত we’re gonna get this one.” Honeybunch ব্যক্ত pointing at the revealing formal her mother was holding, “‘cause we can’t afford any of the other ones.”
“Yup, ‘fraid we’s can’t afford those kinds of fancy dresses.” Jane said, “But thanks again for all your help Mr. McDuck.”
Scrooge, looking at the dress that Jane was holding, replied, “Oh my, well that will just not do at all.”
When Minnie returned প্রথমপাতা from shopping that evening, she decided to call Mickey and remind him about the pageant tomorrow, “Hello Mickey, I just called to remind আপনি that tomorrow is the দিন of the pageant.”
“Oh gee… tomorrow.” Mickey ব্যক্ত nervously, “Look I know ব্যক্ত I’d come. But ya see something’s kinda come up. And I can’t make it.”
“Oh Well I understand.” Minnie ব্যক্ত sadly. Then she asked, “But what did come up at the last মিনিট anyway?”
Mickey grumbled something inaudible under his breath. “What?” Minnie asked.
Mickey sighed and ব্যক্ত embarrassedly, “Well… when I told ya I’d go to the pageant I…sorta had forgotten that… tomorrow’s the দিন of annual video-game tournament.”
“Oh, I see.” Minnie ব্যক্ত coolly, “Well if আপনি change your mind, and decide that you’d like to attend, the pageant will be at the Ducks’ Inn Hotel at eleven a.m. tomorrow morning.” Then she hung up.
That night over at the Quackson house Laura was up late plotting and scheming, how to take Webby down. She finally fell asleep at around three a.m., after deciding that there would be specially picked interview প্রশ্ন and Webbigail would not have a dress to wear.
