It was a lively day at Lakewood Elementary, and the cafeteria was buzzing with the usual lunchtime chatter. Arthur and his friends sat at their usual table, talking animatedly about the latest TV shows, homework, and weekend plans. The air was filled with the clatter of trays, the laughter of kids, and the occasional shout from a lunch monitor reminding someone to keep it down.
"So, who's excited for the weekend?" Buster asked, biting into his sandwich.
"Me! My dad's taking me to the mall to look at the new sports gear," Francine said with a grin. "I'm finally getting those sneakers I've been saving for."
"Speaking of saving up," Muffy chimed in, "I'm thinking of asking my dad for a raise in my allowance. A girl's got to keep up with fashion, you know?"
Arthur chuckled as he took a sip of his milk. "Yeah, right, like you need more money, Muffy."
"Hey, a little extra doesn't hurt!" Muffy replied with a playful shrug.
Across the table, George quietly sketched something in his notebook while Binky was busy devouring his second slice of pizza. Jenna and Maria deeply conversed about their upcoming book club meeting while Ladonna animatedly told a story about her latest adventures with her siblings. Alex and The Brain spoke with Paul and Beulah, who had just transferred to Mr. Ratburn's class from Mrs. Fink's class.
Just as the conversation drifted toward the latest video games, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. The group groaned in unison, reluctantly gathering their trays and returning to class.
"Ugh, just when we were getting to the good part," Binky muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
As they filed into Mr. Ratburn's classroom, the students were still buzzing with energy from lunch. But as they took their seats, they noticed Mr. Ratburn standing at the front of the room, his expression serious yet excited. The room gradually fell silent as the students sensed that something important was about to happen.
"Settle down, everyone," Mr. Ratburn said, his voice calm but with an edge of anticipation. "I have some very exciting news to share with you all."
The students exchanged curious glances, their interest piqued. Mr. Ratburn rarely deviated from the lesson plan, so whatever he had to say must be significant.
"As you know, Jeopardy! is one of the most prestigious quiz shows on television," he began, his eyes sweeping across the room. "This year, they're holding a special tournament for elementary school students, and I'm thrilled to announce that every single one of you has been selected to compete."
The classroom exploded with gasps, cheers, and whispers of excitement. Arthur felt his heart skip a beat—Jeopardy! was one of his favorite shows, and now he had a chance to be on it!
"Wait, all of us?" Fern asked, her voice filled with awe.
"Yes, Fern," Mr. Ratburn confirmed with a smile. "Alan Powers, Alex Davidson, Arthur Read, Binky Barnes, Buster Baxter, Fern Walters, Francine Frensky, George Lundgren, Jenna Morgan, Ladonna Compson, Maria Pappas, Muffy Crosswire, Sue Ellen Armstrong, Paul Jacobs, and Beulah McInnerny—you've all been chosen to represent Lakewood Elementary."
The room was excited as the students realized they were all in this together. Arthur couldn't stop grinning—this was the opportunity of a lifetime!
"But that's not all," Mr. Ratburn continued, raising his hand for silence. "You will each compete against one another, but the tournament winner will receive a grand prize of $100,000."
The room fell silent once more, this time in shock. $100,000 was a staggering amount, especially for a group of kids.
"$100,000?!" Buster blurted out, his eyes wide. "That's… that's incredible!"
"All the stuff we can save for in the future!" Binky said. "And while we are at it, maybe a small party for ourselves?"
"That could work," Brain said. "We do deserve to be happy once in a while."
But as the excitement began to sink in, a ripple of anxiety spread through the room. What would their parents say when they found out about the prize money?
"What kind of questions will they ask us?" George asked nervously.
"And what if we don't know the answers?" Fern added, her brow furrowing with concern.
Mr. Ratburn smiled reassuringly. "The questions will cover a wide range of topics—everything from history and science to pop culture and literature. You'll need to study hard and work together to prepare. But remember, this is a team effort, and you'll have each other for support."
As Mr. Ratburn continued to answer their questions, Arthur's mind began to race. This would be an incredible experience, but the thought of the prize money started weighing on him. What if his parents expected him to give them the money? Or worse, what if D.W. found out?
After school, Arthur, Francine, Buster, and Muffy walked home together, still excited but sharing their growing concerns.
"Guys, what do you think your parents will say when they find out about the money?" Arthur asked hesitantly.
Francine shrugged, trying to sound casual. "I'm sure they'll be happy for me… but what if my sister wants to take the money to buy clothes or something? She's always borrowing my stuff."
Muffy nodded, her expression thoughtful. "My dad's always talking about investments. What if he decides to invest the money in one of his companies?"
Buster looked down at his shoes, a worried frown on his face. "My mom might want to use the money for a family vacation. That would be great, but… what if I wanted to spend it on something else?"
As they reached Arthur's house, they all promised to keep in touch and support each other through the competition. But as Arthur walked up to his front door, he couldn't shake the unease in his stomach.
Inside, Arthur's family was gathered around the dinner table, and he knew this was the moment to share the big news.
"Mom, Dad, guess what?" Arthur began, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I've been selected to compete on Jeopardy!—and so has the rest of my class."
His parents looked up in surprise, smiles spreading across their faces. "That's amazing, Arthur!" his dad said, beaming with pride. "We're so proud of you."
"Think of all the opportunities this will open up for you," his mom added, her eyes shining excitedly. "You could be famous!"
But then Arthur dropped the bombshell. "And the winner of the tournament gets $100,000."
His parents' reactions were immediate. His dad's eyes widened in shock, and his mom's smile grew even broader. "$100,000? That's incredible, Arthur!" his dad exclaimed. "We could pay off the mortgage, maybe even take a vacation."
"Or invest in D.W.'s college fund," his mom suggested, already planning how to use the money.
Arthur's heart sank. D.W. was the first thing that came to their mind...AGAIN! They were already thinking of ways to spend his winnings, and he hadn't even won. Additionally, the talks centered around them using the money and not him! He would do the work, and they would get greedy! But before he could say anything, D.W., who had been quietly listening from the next room, burst into the dining room with wide, excited eyes.
"$100,000?!" she shrieked, her voice reaching a pitch that made Arthur wince. "That's so much money! You could buy me every Mary Moo Cow toy ever made!"
At that point, Arthur went up to his room and flopped down on the bed. "This may have gone from the best to the worst moment for me," he muttered.
Throughout dinner, D.W. continued to pester Arthur with endless demands while his parents debated how best to "help" him manage his future winnings. Arthur felt trapped, his excitement about the competition slowly being crushed under the weight of his family's expectations. Arthur knew only one person could help him, and after the meal, while D.W. and his parents continued to count the money before it came, he went to the phone and made a phone call.
Across town, Francine experienced a similar scenario when she told her parents about the Jeopardy! Tournament and the prize money. Her dad's first reaction was to consider investing it, while her mom talked about everything they could finally afford. Francine's dream of using some of it to go on a trip to learn more about a sports media career and possibly get better at playing the drums was crushed immediately. But it was Catherine who made Francine's stomach churn.
"Wow, Francine, you could be famous!" Catherine gushed, already imagining the attention she could get by being the sister of a Jeopardy! Champion. "Think of all the boys who would be impressed! And you'll have to share some of that money with me—I am your big sister."
Francine groaned internally. She could already see Catherine using this as an excuse to borrow money, clothes, and attention—all in the name of "helping" Francine prepare for the competition. The idea of winning $100,000 had suddenly become a lot less appealing.
As night fell, the students of Lakewood Elementary settled into bed, each haunted by their version of the same nightmare.
Arthur dreamt of D.W. taking all his money to build a Mary Moo Cow-themed mansion with a giant statue of her favorite character. He watched in horror as his parents applauded D.W.'s "creativity" while he was left penniless and forgotten.
Francine's nightmare was equally terrifying. In it, Catherine had taken all her winnings to fund a massive party, inviting every boy in town and showing off her sister's success as if it were her own. Francine was left alone in the corner, ignored and miserable, as Catherine basked in the glory.
Buster dreamt of his mom turning their house into a tourist attraction, using his winnings to create a "Buster's Jeopardy! Experience" where strangers could come and see the room where he studied, the kitchen where he ate, and the chair where he watched TV. He was horrified as crowds invaded his home, leaving him with no privacy.
Even though initially excited about the money, Muffy finds herself trapped in a nightmare. Her father used her winnings to buy another company, naming it after her and expecting her to run it. She was stuck in an office, drowning in paperwork, while her family enjoyed the pleasures.
The following day, the students trudged back to school, exhausted and anxious. As they gathered outside the building, they shared their nightmares, each one more ridiculous and frightening than the last. But as they walked into school together, they knew there was no turning back. The competition was coming, and whether they liked it or not, they were in it together.