Monday, August 31, 2009
CHAPTER 1 ~ The Pipe
"Wait up! " Called Chrissa Bradley to her older brother Jake.
Jake stopped just long enough to let nine-and-a-half year old Chrissa catch up to him before they raced down Portview Drive together. The Bradley Children turned into the dirveway of 1837. Emma Johnson and Scott Anderson, who were sitting in front of an open grage door, jumped up and ran to meet them.
"What - did - you - want?" asked Chrissa between breaths.
"Emma called us over beacuse she thought she heard something,"Scott replied.
"Heard what?" Chrissa asked.
"I thought I heard an animal caught in the drain pipe." Emma answered.
She didn' t sound happy. They all knew how ten-and-a-half year old Emma felt about animals. Emma would do anything to help any animal at all.
"What did it sound like?" Asked eleven year old Jake, who was always ready to help out.
"Well, I couldn't tell what kind of animal it was," Emma answered,"but it scratched like crazy. Let me show you the pipe it was in."
Emma led her friends to the front porch. A drain pipe ran around the perimeter of the roof. When it rained, the water fell into the pipe, and down through another pipe under ground.
"How did you get up there?" Chrissa asked.
"I didn't," Emma replied simply.
"Oh, I get it," Scott said, "it's not up there, it's in here!"
"You got it!" said Emma, "listen, you'lll hear it."
The noise didn't show up.
"I can't hear anything," hissed Chrissa.
"Shhh!," Scott whispered.
"Sorry," Chrissa whispered back.
The four friends waited and listened. Nothing.
"I don't hear anything," Jake said quietly.
"Shh! Just listen." Emma hissed. "You'll hear it, don't worry."
They waited some more. Nothing.
"Well, I think I need to go now," Scott said. "My mom told me to be home in time to set the table for dinner."
"We'd better go too, Emma," Jake said. Chrissa nodded in agreement.
"Tomorrow is Saturday," Emma called after them. "Bring your bikes over! We can wash them and get ice cream from the ice cream truck."
"Alright," Jake replied. "We'll be here."
"I'll be ready," Emma said, "and I'll pay for the ice cream!"
As they were walking home Scott questioned Chrissa and Jake. "Did you hear anything in that drain pipe?" Scott asked.
"Nope." Chrissa said.
"Me neither," said Jake, "did you, Scott?"
"No, I didn't." Scott answered. "Do you think she really heard it?"
"Of course she did!" Chrissa jumped in. "Emma would never lie! Would she?"
Chrissa never thought so, but now she was beginning to wonder if her friend was making the whole thing up. There was no reason for her to lie to them about such a silly thing. But maybe, just maybe, she thought it would be fun to try to trick them. They would surely have to find out more when they saw her the next day.
Jake stopped just long enough to let nine-and-a-half year old Chrissa catch up to him before they raced down Portview Drive together. The Bradley Children turned into the dirveway of 1837. Emma Johnson and Scott Anderson, who were sitting in front of an open grage door, jumped up and ran to meet them.
"What - did - you - want?" asked Chrissa between breaths.
"Emma called us over beacuse she thought she heard something,"Scott replied.
"Heard what?" Chrissa asked.
"I thought I heard an animal caught in the drain pipe." Emma answered.
She didn' t sound happy. They all knew how ten-and-a-half year old Emma felt about animals. Emma would do anything to help any animal at all.
"What did it sound like?" Asked eleven year old Jake, who was always ready to help out.
"Well, I couldn't tell what kind of animal it was," Emma answered,"but it scratched like crazy. Let me show you the pipe it was in."
Emma led her friends to the front porch. A drain pipe ran around the perimeter of the roof. When it rained, the water fell into the pipe, and down through another pipe under ground.
"How did you get up there?" Chrissa asked.
"I didn't," Emma replied simply.
"Oh, I get it," Scott said, "it's not up there, it's in here!"
"You got it!" said Emma, "listen, you'lll hear it."
The noise didn't show up.
"I can't hear anything," hissed Chrissa.
"Shhh!," Scott whispered.
"Sorry," Chrissa whispered back.
The four friends waited and listened. Nothing.
"I don't hear anything," Jake said quietly.
"Shh! Just listen." Emma hissed. "You'll hear it, don't worry."
They waited some more. Nothing.
"Well, I think I need to go now," Scott said. "My mom told me to be home in time to set the table for dinner."
"We'd better go too, Emma," Jake said. Chrissa nodded in agreement.
"Tomorrow is Saturday," Emma called after them. "Bring your bikes over! We can wash them and get ice cream from the ice cream truck."
"Alright," Jake replied. "We'll be here."
"I'll be ready," Emma said, "and I'll pay for the ice cream!"
As they were walking home Scott questioned Chrissa and Jake. "Did you hear anything in that drain pipe?" Scott asked.
"Nope." Chrissa said.
"Me neither," said Jake, "did you, Scott?"
"No, I didn't." Scott answered. "Do you think she really heard it?"
"Of course she did!" Chrissa jumped in. "Emma would never lie! Would she?"
Chrissa never thought so, but now she was beginning to wonder if her friend was making the whole thing up. There was no reason for her to lie to them about such a silly thing. But maybe, just maybe, she thought it would be fun to try to trick them. They would surely have to find out more when they saw her the next day.
CHAPTER 2 ~ The Argument
The next day was Saturday. Right after lunch Jake, Chrissa and Scott rode their bikes to Emma's house. Emma waved to them as they rode into her driveway. She already had a bucket of soapy water, rags and the hose ready for their bike wash. Emma also had her coin purse with her, full of change she had been saving for the ice cream truck.
"Hi!" She called to them, "bring your bikes up here and we can wash them."
"Ok!" Jake replied enthusiastically.
"I'm glad you could all come!" Emma said. "I heard that noise again this morning from up in my room."
Jake, Chrissa and Scott exchanged a glance.
"Emma," Scott said, "you didn't really hear an animal in that drain pipe, did you? We know it was all a big joke."
"No it wasn't. I really heard it." Emma said, surprised that her friends would doubt her.
"Come on. We know you are just playing with us," Jake said.
"No, I'm not," Emma said. "Honest."
"'Come on, Emma, "Scott coaxed, "give up the big joke."
"But it's not a joke," Emma replied. "I really truly heard something in that pipe. Why don't you believe me?"
Just then everyone heard the happy music of the ice cream truck. Jake and Scott ran to catch it. Emma grabbed her lady bug coin purse and ran with her to catch the others at the truck.
"What kind would you like?" Emma asked her friends.
Jake and Scott both wanted orange cream pops, Chrissa got an ice cream sandwich, and Emma got an ice cream cookie sandwich.
"That will be three dollars and fifty cents," said the ice cream lady. Emma counted out the money and paid her for everyone's treats.
"Thank you!" The children said to the driver as the truck pulled away.
"I know!" Emma said, "Let's sit on the front porch so we can hear the noise in the pipe."
"Em!" Scott wailed. "We know you didn't hear anything." With that he took his ice cream pop, marched to his bike, and headed for home.
"We have to go, too." Jake said after a long silence. "Come on Chrissa."
"But..," Chrissa started to object, but she didn't say anything more.
"Goodbye Emma." Jake called over his shoulder as they walked toward their bikes.
Emma sighed sadly and ate her ice cream alone on the porch before going inside. She was confused and disappointed by her friends strange response.
When Chrissa and Jake caught up with Scott, Chrissa asked, "Why did you do that? You know Emma wouldn't lie. I think you just hurt her feelings."
"Well, you can't be too careful," Jake said.
"I still think she's making it up." Scott added.
"Maybe you're right," Chrissa said thoughtfully.
Scott stopped at his house, and the Bradley kids rode the rest of the way home in silence.
"Hi!" She called to them, "bring your bikes up here and we can wash them."
"Ok!" Jake replied enthusiastically.
"I'm glad you could all come!" Emma said. "I heard that noise again this morning from up in my room."
Jake, Chrissa and Scott exchanged a glance.
"Emma," Scott said, "you didn't really hear an animal in that drain pipe, did you? We know it was all a big joke."
"No it wasn't. I really heard it." Emma said, surprised that her friends would doubt her.
"Come on. We know you are just playing with us," Jake said.
"No, I'm not," Emma said. "Honest."
"'Come on, Emma, "Scott coaxed, "give up the big joke."
"But it's not a joke," Emma replied. "I really truly heard something in that pipe. Why don't you believe me?"
Just then everyone heard the happy music of the ice cream truck. Jake and Scott ran to catch it. Emma grabbed her lady bug coin purse and ran with her to catch the others at the truck.
"What kind would you like?" Emma asked her friends.
Jake and Scott both wanted orange cream pops, Chrissa got an ice cream sandwich, and Emma got an ice cream cookie sandwich.
"That will be three dollars and fifty cents," said the ice cream lady. Emma counted out the money and paid her for everyone's treats.
"Thank you!" The children said to the driver as the truck pulled away.
"I know!" Emma said, "Let's sit on the front porch so we can hear the noise in the pipe."
"Em!" Scott wailed. "We know you didn't hear anything." With that he took his ice cream pop, marched to his bike, and headed for home.
"We have to go, too." Jake said after a long silence. "Come on Chrissa."
"But..," Chrissa started to object, but she didn't say anything more.
"Goodbye Emma." Jake called over his shoulder as they walked toward their bikes.
Emma sighed sadly and ate her ice cream alone on the porch before going inside. She was confused and disappointed by her friends strange response.
When Chrissa and Jake caught up with Scott, Chrissa asked, "Why did you do that? You know Emma wouldn't lie. I think you just hurt her feelings."
"Well, you can't be too careful," Jake said.
"I still think she's making it up." Scott added.
"Maybe you're right," Chrissa said thoughtfully.
Scott stopped at his house, and the Bradley kids rode the rest of the way home in silence.
CHAPTER 3 ~ A Little Talk with Mama
"Oh, Mama," Emma sighed as she set the table for dinner. "Why did I buy them ice cream?"
"Because they are your best friends, Emma." Mama answered. "You know that."
"But none of them said thank you... and they think I am a liar." wailed Emma as tears welled up in her big brown eyes.
"Calm down, Em." mama replied soothingly. "We'll talk about this after dinner. Please go and tell your father that the food is on the table."
All through the meal Emma was quiet. She was deep in thought. The whole time she sat and ate she wondered why her friends would doubt her. How did they get it in their heads that she hadn't heard the scratching sound in the drain pipe? Soon she started making up thoughts in her head. She wondered to herself if maybe someone at Scott's school said that her family was a bunch of liars. Maybe someone said that the Johnson's never told the truth. Emma considered the possibilities all through dinner and she was still thinking about it while she was getting ready for bed.
When it was time for her tuck-in, Mama finally asked, "So, tell me Em, what's going on with Scott, Jake and Chrissa?"
"I'm not really sure," Emma answered, "but I'll tell you what I know."
Emma told her mother how no one heard the scratching noise, and about the ice cream truck, and about the argument. Mama listened carefully, and when Emma stopped to catch her breath, she finally said, "I think you need to prove that you heard that sound."
"How can I do that?" Emma asked.
"I have an idea," said Mama. "Invite them all over for dinner Monday night. We'll have grilled cheese sandwiches and dessert on the front porch..."
"Because they are your best friends, Emma." Mama answered. "You know that."
"But none of them said thank you... and they think I am a liar." wailed Emma as tears welled up in her big brown eyes.
"Calm down, Em." mama replied soothingly. "We'll talk about this after dinner. Please go and tell your father that the food is on the table."
All through the meal Emma was quiet. She was deep in thought. The whole time she sat and ate she wondered why her friends would doubt her. How did they get it in their heads that she hadn't heard the scratching sound in the drain pipe? Soon she started making up thoughts in her head. She wondered to herself if maybe someone at Scott's school said that her family was a bunch of liars. Maybe someone said that the Johnson's never told the truth. Emma considered the possibilities all through dinner and she was still thinking about it while she was getting ready for bed.
When it was time for her tuck-in, Mama finally asked, "So, tell me Em, what's going on with Scott, Jake and Chrissa?"
"I'm not really sure," Emma answered, "but I'll tell you what I know."
Emma told her mother how no one heard the scratching noise, and about the ice cream truck, and about the argument. Mama listened carefully, and when Emma stopped to catch her breath, she finally said, "I think you need to prove that you heard that sound."
"How can I do that?" Emma asked.
"I have an idea," said Mama. "Invite them all over for dinner Monday night. We'll have grilled cheese sandwiches and dessert on the front porch..."
CHAPTER 4 ~ Planning for a Party
Emma made dinner invitations for her three friends and delivered them to Scott, Jake and Chrissa.
At Sunday School that morning, Emma learned how Thomas doubted that Jesus rose from the dead. he said that he would not believe until he could touch Jesus' hands and side. Even Jesus had friends that doubted him.
Finally Emma understood. They didn't believe that the noise was true because they didn't hear it for themselves.
After she got home, Emma sat on her bed planning her party. There would be grilled cheese for dinner, then they could play a game in the front room before heading out to the front porch for dessert, and hopefully,hear some noise from that scratchy pipe.
Emma dashed into the bonus room to look for a board game. The bonus room was very long. Because Emma was homeschooled, part of this room was used as a school room. The school room was in the front and there was a play area in the back. Book shelves stuck off the wall to divide the big space into two separate rooms. Emma went to the game side of the book shelf and looked at the games.
"Hmmm," she thought. "Which game should I choose?" She knew that Jake liked Monopoly, Chrissa liked Tumble, and Scott liked math-related games. Scott loved math and he was good at it. He got all A's on his math tests every time.
"I know," Emma decided, "we'll play Sun Swamp. She grabbed it off the shelf and took it downstairs to set it up for the next night.
At Sunday School that morning, Emma learned how Thomas doubted that Jesus rose from the dead. he said that he would not believe until he could touch Jesus' hands and side. Even Jesus had friends that doubted him.
Finally Emma understood. They didn't believe that the noise was true because they didn't hear it for themselves.
After she got home, Emma sat on her bed planning her party. There would be grilled cheese for dinner, then they could play a game in the front room before heading out to the front porch for dessert, and hopefully,hear some noise from that scratchy pipe.
Emma dashed into the bonus room to look for a board game. The bonus room was very long. Because Emma was homeschooled, part of this room was used as a school room. The school room was in the front and there was a play area in the back. Book shelves stuck off the wall to divide the big space into two separate rooms. Emma went to the game side of the book shelf and looked at the games.
"Hmmm," she thought. "Which game should I choose?" She knew that Jake liked Monopoly, Chrissa liked Tumble, and Scott liked math-related games. Scott loved math and he was good at it. He got all A's on his math tests every time.
"I know," Emma decided, "we'll play Sun Swamp. She grabbed it off the shelf and took it downstairs to set it up for the next night.
CHAPTER 5 ~ The Scratchy Noise Returns
"Scott's here!" Emma shouted. 'We can start the party!"
Like always, Scott was wearing green. He always wore something green. It might be a green shirt, or green socks, or green shoes, or sometimes a green hat. Tonight he was wearing green from head to toe. He was all green.
"Just in time," Mama called from the kitchen. "The grilled cheese sandwiches are ready!"
At first the four friends ate in silence. At least until Emma broke the silence.
"I'm glad all of you could come," she said. "After dinner we can play Sum Swamp."
"I love that game," Chrissa said.
"Me too!" Scott and Jake both said at the same time, causing everyone to laugh at them.
Part way into the game Emma said, "Let's have our ice cream and cookies now."
Mama suggested that they go outside to enjoy them on the front porch, and she winked at Emma as she passed out the goodies. They left the game and went outside.
The evening breeze blew Chrissa's hair. She wished that she could help Emma prove to the boys that she had heard that scratchy sound in the pipe. She wasn't really sure if she believed for herself that Emma had really heard it or not, but she wanted to believe her.
Emma was discouraged when they finished their dessert without hearing the noise. They got up to go back inside to finish their game, but Scott didn't move. In fact, he sat frozen.
"Come on, Scott, it's your turn at Sum Swamp!" Chrissa urged.
"Shh!" Scott whispered. "What was that?"
All four of them listened No one moved. No one breathed.
"What did Scott hear?" Chrissa wondered.
She didn't have to wait long to find out, because just then there was a loud scratching sound coming from the drain pipe.
"Was that the noise you have been hearing?" Chrissa asked excitedly. Emma nodded. Then the scratching sound came again.
"Definitely!" Emma exclaimed. Then she asked quietly, "Did you not believe me because you hadn't heard it for yourselves?"
"Yes." The three friends admitted.
They all told her that they were sorry for doubting her and they asked if she would forgive them. They even remembered to thank her for buying them ice cream.
"It's alright, I forgive you." Emma said with a smile.
"I've got it!" Scott said, jumping up. "To make up for what we did, we'll help you find out what the noise is!"
Everyone agreed.
Like always, Scott was wearing green. He always wore something green. It might be a green shirt, or green socks, or green shoes, or sometimes a green hat. Tonight he was wearing green from head to toe. He was all green.
"Just in time," Mama called from the kitchen. "The grilled cheese sandwiches are ready!"
At first the four friends ate in silence. At least until Emma broke the silence.
"I'm glad all of you could come," she said. "After dinner we can play Sum Swamp."
"I love that game," Chrissa said.
"Me too!" Scott and Jake both said at the same time, causing everyone to laugh at them.
Part way into the game Emma said, "Let's have our ice cream and cookies now."
Mama suggested that they go outside to enjoy them on the front porch, and she winked at Emma as she passed out the goodies. They left the game and went outside.
The evening breeze blew Chrissa's hair. She wished that she could help Emma prove to the boys that she had heard that scratchy sound in the pipe. She wasn't really sure if she believed for herself that Emma had really heard it or not, but she wanted to believe her.
Emma was discouraged when they finished their dessert without hearing the noise. They got up to go back inside to finish their game, but Scott didn't move. In fact, he sat frozen.
"Come on, Scott, it's your turn at Sum Swamp!" Chrissa urged.
"Shh!" Scott whispered. "What was that?"
All four of them listened No one moved. No one breathed.
"What did Scott hear?" Chrissa wondered.
She didn't have to wait long to find out, because just then there was a loud scratching sound coming from the drain pipe.
"Was that the noise you have been hearing?" Chrissa asked excitedly. Emma nodded. Then the scratching sound came again.
"Definitely!" Emma exclaimed. Then she asked quietly, "Did you not believe me because you hadn't heard it for yourselves?"
"Yes." The three friends admitted.
They all told her that they were sorry for doubting her and they asked if she would forgive them. They even remembered to thank her for buying them ice cream.
"It's alright, I forgive you." Emma said with a smile.
"I've got it!" Scott said, jumping up. "To make up for what we did, we'll help you find out what the noise is!"
Everyone agreed.
CHAPTER 6 ~ A Restored Friendship
"I've been thinking there's an animal in there. " Said Emma.
"How can we get in there to see?" Asked Chrissa.
"I'm not quite sure." Scott replied.
"I think we should investigate first." Jake suggested.
Everyone helped clean up the game. As they put the game away Jake thought to himself, "I'm so glad our friendship is restored. And I'm sorry for how we treated Emma.
Chrissa was thinking the same thing. "Why did we treat Em like that? I'm so glad we all got to hear the noise from that animal."
Emma had thoughts of her own. "Yes! They heard the sound! They finally believe me!"
Emma was so glad that her grin spread from ear-to-ear. Every one of the four had the same big smile as they put the game away. After the game was cleaned up, they all went outside. It was getting dark, so Mama turned on the outside lights so they could see while they studied the pipe.
Suddenly Mama called them. "Scott, Jake, Chrissa, it's getting late. I think it's time for you to head home."
"Ok, Mrs. Johnson." the three replied.
"When will we investigate the drain pipe?" Chrissa asked.
"Tomorrow!" Emma replied.
"I can come over after I do my homework." Scott said. "I'll swing by your house on the way," he said to Jake and Chrissa. "We can ride our bikes to Emma's house together."
"How can we get in there to see?" Asked Chrissa.
"I'm not quite sure." Scott replied.
"I think we should investigate first." Jake suggested.
Everyone helped clean up the game. As they put the game away Jake thought to himself, "I'm so glad our friendship is restored. And I'm sorry for how we treated Emma.
Chrissa was thinking the same thing. "Why did we treat Em like that? I'm so glad we all got to hear the noise from that animal."
Emma had thoughts of her own. "Yes! They heard the sound! They finally believe me!"
Emma was so glad that her grin spread from ear-to-ear. Every one of the four had the same big smile as they put the game away. After the game was cleaned up, they all went outside. It was getting dark, so Mama turned on the outside lights so they could see while they studied the pipe.
Suddenly Mama called them. "Scott, Jake, Chrissa, it's getting late. I think it's time for you to head home."
"Ok, Mrs. Johnson." the three replied.
"When will we investigate the drain pipe?" Chrissa asked.
"Tomorrow!" Emma replied.
"I can come over after I do my homework." Scott said. "I'll swing by your house on the way," he said to Jake and Chrissa. "We can ride our bikes to Emma's house together."
CHAPTER 7 ~ The Pipe Investigation
After he had finished his homework, Scott biked over to the Bradley's house. Chrissa and Jake were waiting for him. The three of them rode their bikes to Emma's house. Emma met them at the front door and greeted them. "Hi, you guys!"
"Hey, Emma." Jake responded.
They all sat down on the front steps to think about the pipe. After awhile, Jake said, '" guess we need to find out how whatever is in there got in there."
"I think it came from up there," Chrissa guessed, pointing at the gutter that ran around the roof.
"But then it would have to be a bird," Scott pointed out. "Is there another way into the pipe?"
"There is!" Emma said. "The pipe comes out of the ground in our yard. Maybe whatever it is went up the pipe, not down it."
The others agreed.
"Maybe my dad can disconnect the pipe for us." Emma suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea!" Chrissa exclaimed.
Emma went to ask her dad to disconnect the metal drain pipe from the plastic tube that ran under the ground.
When Mr. Johnson came outside, he asked, "Now, which pipe do you need disconnected?"
"This one, Mr. Johnson," Jake answered.
"Yes sir. I'll take care of that right away," Mr. Johnson said, sounding a little like a soldier. Everyone laughed.
"Let me know when you kids are finished so I can connect it again," he said. And he disconnected the pipe, and went back inside the house.
Scott reached into his green backpack, which perfectly matched his green shirt and baseball cap, and he retrieved a green flashlight. He shined the light up the pipe and stuck his head under it to see if he could see anything inside the long tube.
"Empty," he reported.
Suddenly, there was a squeak, and a tiny head appeared out of the plastic pipe that was sticking put of the ground.
"Hey, Emma." Jake responded.
They all sat down on the front steps to think about the pipe. After awhile, Jake said, '" guess we need to find out how whatever is in there got in there."
"I think it came from up there," Chrissa guessed, pointing at the gutter that ran around the roof.
"But then it would have to be a bird," Scott pointed out. "Is there another way into the pipe?"
"There is!" Emma said. "The pipe comes out of the ground in our yard. Maybe whatever it is went up the pipe, not down it."
The others agreed.
"Maybe my dad can disconnect the pipe for us." Emma suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea!" Chrissa exclaimed.
Emma went to ask her dad to disconnect the metal drain pipe from the plastic tube that ran under the ground.
When Mr. Johnson came outside, he asked, "Now, which pipe do you need disconnected?"
"This one, Mr. Johnson," Jake answered.
"Yes sir. I'll take care of that right away," Mr. Johnson said, sounding a little like a soldier. Everyone laughed.
"Let me know when you kids are finished so I can connect it again," he said. And he disconnected the pipe, and went back inside the house.
Scott reached into his green backpack, which perfectly matched his green shirt and baseball cap, and he retrieved a green flashlight. He shined the light up the pipe and stuck his head under it to see if he could see anything inside the long tube.
"Empty," he reported.
Suddenly, there was a squeak, and a tiny head appeared out of the plastic pipe that was sticking put of the ground.
CHAPTER 8 ~ The Secret Detectives
"Squeak!" said the little creature, looking at them.
Scott reached into his pack and took out a pair of green rubber gloves. He tugged them on and said, "I think this little guy has made a nest in there."
He shone the light down the plastic pipe that ran under the lawn. Just as he had expected, there was a nest. But there was something else that he hadn't expected. There was a whole family of tiny field mice living in the pipe.
"How are we going to get them out of there?" asked Chrissa.
"Maybe my dad could help us again," Emma said, jumping up to go get him. Emma ran inside to find her dad. When he came outside he smiled big and asked, "So, where is this little mousey of yours?"
"In here, Mr. Johnson," Jake replied, pointing to the pipe that stuck up out of the ground.
Scott handed Emma's dad the rubber gloves. Mr. Johnson pulled them on, reached down the pipe, and carefully pulled out the nest full of little mice.
"Let's take them out by the big tree in the back yard," he said.
Following Mr. Johnson out to the big tree, Scott said, "We just solved a mystery!"
"Hey, you're right!" exclaimed Emma.
"I know!" Jake cried, "lets make our own detective agency."
"Yeah! That's a great idea!" they all said.
"What will we call it?" asked Chrissa.
"How about the Secret Detectives?" Emma suggested.
"Perfect!!!" Her three friends all said at the same time.
"Tuesday, April 13th, the Secret Detectives solve their first mystery!" Jake yelled out. "The mystery of the scratchy pipe!"
Emma smiled. Everything was back to normal. The friends were still best friends, and they had agreed on the prefect name for their new detective agency. And that was the way it was supposed to be.
~ the end ~
Scott reached into his pack and took out a pair of green rubber gloves. He tugged them on and said, "I think this little guy has made a nest in there."
He shone the light down the plastic pipe that ran under the lawn. Just as he had expected, there was a nest. But there was something else that he hadn't expected. There was a whole family of tiny field mice living in the pipe.
"How are we going to get them out of there?" asked Chrissa.
"Maybe my dad could help us again," Emma said, jumping up to go get him. Emma ran inside to find her dad. When he came outside he smiled big and asked, "So, where is this little mousey of yours?"
"In here, Mr. Johnson," Jake replied, pointing to the pipe that stuck up out of the ground.
Scott handed Emma's dad the rubber gloves. Mr. Johnson pulled them on, reached down the pipe, and carefully pulled out the nest full of little mice.
"Let's take them out by the big tree in the back yard," he said.
Following Mr. Johnson out to the big tree, Scott said, "We just solved a mystery!"
"Hey, you're right!" exclaimed Emma.
"I know!" Jake cried, "lets make our own detective agency."
"Yeah! That's a great idea!" they all said.
"What will we call it?" asked Chrissa.
"How about the Secret Detectives?" Emma suggested.
"Perfect!!!" Her three friends all said at the same time.
"Tuesday, April 13th, the Secret Detectives solve their first mystery!" Jake yelled out. "The mystery of the scratchy pipe!"
Emma smiled. Everything was back to normal. The friends were still best friends, and they had agreed on the prefect name for their new detective agency. And that was the way it was supposed to be.
~ the end ~
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