The next morning, Mrs. McGregor placed a large platter of steaming waffles on the breakfast table.
“Here you go, Benny,” she said. “I made a special waffle for you.”
Benny had been sitting with his head in his hands. He looked up to see what Mrs. McGregor had made. It was a large round waffle with strawberries for eyes and a blueberry mouth. Fluffy white whipped cream hair sat on top.
“Wow! Thank you, Mrs. McGregor.” Benny grabbed his fork.
“There’s the smile we like to see,” said Grandfather. “Are you feeling better now?”
Benny’s mouth was stuffed full with waffle and fruit.
Jessie answered for him. “Benny’s not sick, Grandfather. He feels badly because he can’t find The Legend of the Vampire, the book he checked out of the library yesterday.”
“Perhaps it’s in your room, Benny,” Grandfather suggested.
Benny shook his head.
Violet spooned fruit over her waffle. “We searched everywhere,” she said.
“It was in his backpack when we were at Mr. Hudson’s house. By the time we got home, it had mysteriously disappeared. We even checked at the library to see if anyone had turned it in.” Henry poured himself a glass of orange juice.
“That is a mystery,” Grandfather said. “But I’m sure you children will figure it out.”
The Aldens loved mysteries and they had already solved quite a few since coming to live with Grandfather.
“Maybe you can check at the library again today,” Grandfather said. “They are having their annual fair and bake sale on the front lawn. It might be fun to stop by.”
A timer in the kitchen rang. “That must be my pie,” Mrs. McGregor said, wiping her hands on her apron. “I made an apple pie and a lemon cake to donate to the bake sale. If you children want, you can come with me this morning when I drop them off at the library.”
“That reminds me,” Grandfather said. “Mr. Hudson called this morning. He will be leaving on his business trip shortly. He asked if you children could stop by the house later today to cut the lawn and make sure everything is neat and in order. A young couple from out of town will be stopping by to look at the house this afternoon. Mr. Hudson is hoping that they will be interested in buying it.”
“Are you sure Mr. Hudson called this morning?” asked Henry. “We thought he might have left for his trip last night.”
“No,” Grandfather said. “It was this morning. He said he was packing his bags as he spoke to me.”
“We’ll go to Mr. Hudson’s after the library,” Henry said.
“It’s such a beautiful house,” Violet added. “We’ll make sure it is in good shape when that couple arrives. I’m sure they’ll love it.”
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny helped Mrs. McGregor with the dishes and then carefully placed the baked goods in the car.
“The car smells so good!” Benny exclaimed as Mrs. McGregor drove into town.
Violet laughed. “You’re right, Benny. It smells like a bakery in here.”
Mrs. McGregor parked the car by the curb across the street from the library. Henry carried the apple pie and Jessie took the lemon cake.
Balloons were everywhere. They were tied to the tables and the street lamps and to the backs of chairs. Colorful streamers hung from the library windows and rippled in the wind. On one side of the lawn, a man with a beard played a guitar while children sang along. A storyteller in a long dress sat in a circle and used puppets to tell her tale.
“Hello!” Mrs. Skylar called. I’m so glad you could come to the library fair.”
“We wouldn’t think of missing it,” Mrs. McGregor said.
“Mrs. McGregor made this cake and the pie,” Jessie explained. “They’re for the bake sale table.”
“They look beautiful!” Mrs. Skylar exclaimed. “I’m sure we’ll get a very large donation for them.”
Mrs. McGregor beamed.
“Do you think this is a big enough donation for Mrs. McGregor’s lemon cake?” Benny pulled a fist from his pocket. He opened his hand to show three nickels, a dime, two quarters, a rubber band, a gum wrapper, and a small rock.
Mrs. McGregor laughed. “Oh, Benny,” she said. “I can make another lemon cake for you at home.”
Henry plucked the rock and the gum wrapper from Benny’s hand. He chuckled. “I don’t think these are worth very much, Benny,” he said.
“The rock does have pretty colors in it, though.” Violet smiled at her little brother.
“Why don’t we take the pie and the cake over to the bake-sale table for Mrs. McGregor,” Jessie suggested. “Maybe you can buy some cookies or a cupcake with your coins.”
“Okay. Let’s go!” Benny darted off through the crowd.
“Benny! Wait for us!” Henry called. But it was too late. Thinking only of cookies, Benny had run far ahead.
Henry, Jessie, and Violet said goodbye to Mrs. McGregor and thanked her for the ride to the library fair. Then they headed toward the bake sale. They set Mrs. McGregor’s pie and cake on the table.
“Where’s Benny?” asked Jessie.
“I don’t know,” Henry replied. “I thought for sure we would see him here picking out some cookies.”
“Excuse me,” Violet said to the lady behind the table. “Was there a six-year-old boy with dark-brown hair here a few moments ago?”
“The table has been crowded,” the lady said. “I’m not sure. Is that him over there?” She pointed through the crowd.
Violet ran toward the little boy, but it was not Benny.
Henry and Jessie looked worried.
“Maybe he couldn’t find the bake-sale table,” Violet said. “He’s probably wandering nearby.”
“Let’s split up,” Henry said. “We’ll each go a different way and meet back here in ten minutes.”
“Benny! Benny!” Henry, Jessie, and Violet ran through the crowd calling their brother’s name. But he was nowhere in sight. |