In A Long Way from Chicago, Rupert Pennypacker is supposedly the "best home-baker in the state of Illinois." Along with Grandma Dowdel, Rupert enters a gooseberry pie for the Fruit Pies and Cobblers competition at the county fair. When Grandma catches a glimpse of Rupert, she exclaims "I'm a goner." She thinks she might just lose to Rupert.

When Barnie Buchanan distracts everyone by flying his plane over the fair during the judging period, Grandma Dowdel switches her name card with Rupert's. Barnie Buchanan is the pilot who's offering free rides to all blue ribbon winners at the fair. Joey realizes that, if Grandma wins, he can get a ride in Barnie Buchanan's plane. Because of this, he doesn't say anything when he sees Grandma Dowdel switch the cards. After all, "desperate times" call for a "desperate act."

Ironically, in the end, Grandma wins the red ribbon (second place) for her pie, despite the fact that she switched the name cards. The text tells us that Grandma Dowdel did think she had a better chance of winning with Rupert's pie. In her conversation with Joey, she admits this:

"And another thing. I've got a confession to make," I said. "I know you wanted first prize on the pie. You wanted it bad. And I thought you'd switched the card on Mr. Pennypacker's pie with yours so you could win with his pie."

She shot me her sternest look. But then, easing back in the platform rocker, she said, "I did."

From the story, we can deduce that Grandma Dowdel's pie was actually judged to be better than Rupert's, and if she hadn't switched the card, she would have won the blue ribbon.