The Mystery at the Fair

  “Hi,” Benny said.

  “Nice meeting you,” Violet said.

  “Hello, there,” Jessie said. “What’s wrong, Courtney?”

  “My brother Michael is lost somewhere in these woods,” Courtney said. “We moved into a house on Murray Street a few days ago. Today, we decided to do a little exploring. Michael wandered off while I was picking some flowers.”

  “Don’t worry,” Violet said. “We’ll help you find him.”

  The children began searching for Michael. They’d only been looking for a short time when they heard Benny calling them.

  “Here he is!” Benny said excitedly. “I found him!”

  A small boy sat in the center of a large patch of blueberries. His hands and mouth were full of the ripe fruit.

  “Michael,” Courtney said. “Why didn’t you answer me? I’ve been calling you for more than an hour!”

  The little boy slowly chewed and swallowed the mouthful of berries.

  “I heard you, Courtney,” Michael said. “But every time you called me my mouth was full. You told me don’t ever talk with food in your mouth!”

  The children all laughed. Courtney pulled her brother to his feet. She wiped a blue smudge off his small brown chin.

  “I guess I can’t be too mad at you,” Courtney said. “These blueberries do look delicious.”

  “They sure do,” Benny said, “but I’m just not hungry anymore.”

  “You’re not?” cried Violet.

  “No,” Benny said. “Now I’m starving!”

  CHAPTER 3

  New Friends

  Henry brought the picnic basket over to where Benny had found Michael. The girls spread the blanket near a tree. The Aldens shared their delicious lunch with Courtney and Michael.

  “It’s a good thing we packed some extra goodies for lunch,” Jessie said as she watched Benny and Michael divide the last few chocolate chip cookies.

  “This is the first time I’ve ever met anyone who loves to eat as much as Michael does,” Courtney said, smiling.

  “It looks like Benny’s found a friend in more ways than one,” Violet said.

  After they finished eating, the children began to pick the blueberries.

  “These blueberries are going to make a prize-winning pie for the county fair,” Henry said.

  “What fair?” Courtney asked.

  “Every year, Greenfield has a county fair,” Jessie explained. “This year they have a $25 cash prize for the best baked goods, the best art project, and the best craft project.”

  “Henry and I are going to bake a blueberry pie,” Benny told Michael.

  “I want to help,” Michael said. “Blueberry pie with ice cream on top tastes good.”

  “This pie is for the fair contest, Michael,” Henry said.

  “That’s okay,” Michael said. “We can make two pies. One for the fair and one for us.”

  “That’s a great idea,” said Benny.

  “Well, then,” Jessie said. “If you’re going to make two pies, you and Benny will have to stop eating the blueberries as fast as we put them in the bucket!”

  “Let’s have a blueberry picking race,” Violet suggested.

  “Yes,” Henry said. “Let’s see who fills their bucket first.”

  “Ready, set, go!” Courtney said.

  The children began to pick the berries as fast as they could. Soon their buckets were filled with the sweet fruit.

  “We won! We won!” Michael and Benny said, holding up their bucket.

  “There’s nothing like teamwork,” Henry said. “Now we have plenty of blueberries to make into a pie!”

  “Two pies!” Michael and Benny said together.

  Everyone laughed.

  “I think I’d like to enter something in the fair, too,” Courtney said.

  “We can show you where the entry forms are,” Violet said. “The poster is on a lamppost near our house. Your new house on Murray Street is only three blocks away from where we live. You can walk home with us.”

  As they headed home, the girls tried to decide what they would make to enter in the fair.

  “I love to make jewelry,” Jessie said. “Maybe I can make something that will win a prize.”

  “I love making jewelry, too,” Courtney said, smiling at her new friend.

  “I think I’m going to paint a picture,” Violet said.

  “Let me guess,” Henry said. “I’ll bet you’re going to paint a picture of some violets.”

  “Yes,” Violet said, laughing. “But there will be some other pretty flowers in the picture, too.”

  The children continued to walk and talk until suddenly Henry stopped.

  “Look!” Henry said, pointing to the lamppost where the entry forms had been. “Someone’s torn up the poster!”

  The children gathered around the post. Scraps of paper littered the ground.

  “Who would do something like this?” Henry said as he picked up the bits of paper.

  “I’ll bet it was the man in the baseball cap,” Benny said.

  “What man?” Courtney asked.

  “There was a man who was here earlier,” Jessie explained. “He was asking us a lot of questions about our entries.”

  “But why would he tear up all the entry forms?” Michael asked. “That’s mean.”

  “It’s a mystery to me,” Henry said. He looked at his sister and grinned.

  “We love mysteries,” Jessie explained to Courtney.

  “Well, this looks like a good one,” Courtney said. “I really want to enter that craft contest. I wonder where I can get another entry form?”

  “We can make something together,” Jessie suggested. “That way we can use the same form.”

  “Thank you,” Courtney said. “If we work together it won’t take very long to make something.”

  “And working together makes the project more fun,” Jessie said. “Why don’t you come over tomorrow morning so we can get started.”

  “That will be fine,” Courtney said. “See you then.”

  “We can bake our pies tomorrow, too,” Benny said.

  “Yes,” Michael said. “One for the contest and one to eat.”

  “I can hardly wait until tomorrow,” Benny said as he waved good-bye to their new neighbors. “I love blueberry pie.”

  The next morning, Violet and Jessie got up early and went out to the boxcar. They had just opened the boxes that held their art supplies when they heard someone calling their names.

  “Jessie! Violet!” Courtney called out. “Where are you?”

  “We’re in the boxcar,” Violet said.

  “Here we are, Courtney,” Jessie said, waving to her new friend from the doorway. “Where’s Michael?”

  “He’s in the kitchen with Henry and Benny,” Courtney replied. “Mrs. McGregor is showing them how to make pie crust.”

  “I can’t wait to see how their pies turn out,” Violet said.

  “I can’t wait to taste one,” Jessie said.

  “You’re starting to sound like Michael and Benny,” Courtney said as she climbed inside.

  Jessie and Violet showed Courtney their boxcar treasures. Courtney smiled when she saw Benny’s pink cup with the crack in it.

  “This is a great place to play,” Courtney said.

  “It sure is,” Jessie agreed. “We love it out here.”

  “You’re just in time,” Violet said. “We’re about to get started on our fair projects.”

  “Good!” Courtney said. “I’ve bought something special to show you two.” She placed a small wooden box on the table. Jessie smiled when she saw what was inside.

  “Look at all the beautiful beads,” Jessie said as she scooped up a handful.

  “I’ve never seen anything like them,” Violet said. “I love the colors.” She held a small purple bead in her hand. It sparkled in the sunlight.

  “These beads were made in Africa,” Courtney explained. “My parents brought them back for me when they visited there. I thoug
ht we could make a beaded necklace and earrings like some African women wear. Then we could enter them in the fair.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea,” Jessie said.

  “Have you decided what you’re going to paint, Violet?” Courtney asked.

  “I finished the sketch last night,” Violet said.

  “I’d love to see it,” Courtney said.

  Violet opened her sketchbook and showed the drawing to Courtney. It was a vase, filled with flowers of all types, sitting on a small wooden table near a window.

  “That’s going to be lovely,” Courtney said.

  “Thank you,” Violet said. “I’m hoping one of us wins first place, then we can buy Grandfather’s surprise birthday present.”

  “Oh, so that’s why you all want to win so much,” Courtney said, smiling. “That’s a wonderful way to use the prize money.”

  “He’s always doing something nice for us,” Jessie explained. “We want to do something special for him.”

  “Well, let’s get started,” Courtney said. “The sooner we finish, the sooner we can enter the contest.”

  Violet set up her easel by the door, where the light was good. Jessie and Courtney arranged and rearranged the beads until they made just the right combination. The girls worked all morning on their projects.

  “Look, Violet,” Jessie said. “We’re finished with our necklace.”

  “Oh,” Violet said. “It’s beautiful.”

  “We need to buy some more silver wire before we can finish the earrings,” Jessie said.

  “You’re right,” Courtney said. “There’s only enough left to make one earring.”

  “I need to go to the crafts store, too,” Violet said. “I’m just about out of yellow paint.”

  The girls walked into town to the crafts store. Jessie and Courtney followed Violet over to the art supplies aisle.

  “Here it is,” Violet said. “Shimmery Yellow #7. Can you see the little bits of metallic paper mixed in with the paint?”

  “I’ve never seen paint like that before,” Courtney said.

  “It’s new,” Violet explained. “The metallic paper helps to reflect the light. It makes the paint look like sunshine. I’m going to use it to put the finishing touches on the flowers in my painting. The best thing about this paint is that as long as it’s still wet, it’s easy to remove. That way, if you make a mistake, you can still fix it.”

  “Your painting is going to be beautiful, Violet,” Jessie said. “Come on. Let’s find the wire we need to finish those earrings.”

  An older woman and a young girl blocked the end of the art supplies aisle. The girl carried a beautifully embroidered book bag with the initials KGS on it.

  “Kristie, decide what paints you’re going to use and do it quickly,” the woman demanded. “I want to make sure you have everything you need to win that art contest at the fair.”

  “Mother, I really don’t want to enter another contest,” the girl said sadly. “I hate art competitions. It takes all the fun out of painting.”

  “Fun!” the woman said loudly. “I’m spending a lot of money on art lessons for you, and you seem to care only about painting for fun?”

  “Mother, I don’t like to paint if I can’t enjoy myself,” Kristie said softly.

  “Pick out the supplies you need and let’s go,” her mother replied firmly. “You have to be finished with your painting today. I want to make sure it has time to dry before you enter it in the fair.”

  “Excuse us,” Violet said. Then she recognized the girl and smiled. “Hello there, Kristie. Jessie and Courtney, this is a classmate, Kristie Stephens.”

  “Hello,” Kristie said. “Nice to see you again, Violet. This is my mother.”

  Mrs. Stephens whirled around and frowned as she stared at Violet.

  “I remember you, Violet,” Kristie’s mother said. “You won the art competition last year at school. Kristie came in fourth.”

  “Kristie’s painting was lovely,” Violet said.

  “Well, the judges seemed to like your painting much better,” Mrs. Stephens said. “Kristie has been taking art lessons, and her work has really improved. Hasn’t it, Kristie?”

  “I guess so, Mother,” Kristie said.

  “Are you entering the art competition at the fair, Violet?” Mrs. Stephens asked.

  “Yes, I’d planned to,” Violet said.

  “Well, so is Kristie,” Mrs. Stephens replied. “But this time, things are to be different.”

  “Well, good luck, Kristie,” Violet said. “I’ll see you at the fair.”

  Before Kristie could say good-bye, her mother took her arm and steered her up the aisle and out of the store.

  “Goodness,” Jessie said. “I really feel sorry for poor Kristie.”

  “Mrs. Stephens really wants Kristie to win the fair competition,” Courtney said.

  “I know,” Violet said. “But Kristie didn’t look like she was looking forward to it at all.”

  “Well, girls,” Courtney said. “I see the wire we need for the earrings over there. We’d better hurry if we’re going to finish our projects today.”

  The girls picked up the silver wire and paid for their supplies. Then they returned to the boxcar and unwrapped their purchases. Jessie and Courtney carefully began stringing the beautiful African beads on the thin silver wire. Finally, the earrings were finished. Courtney tried on the necklace.

  “You look like an African princess,” Jessie said.

  “Thank you,” Courtney said. “This necklace makes me feel like royalty. Maybe one of my ancestors was a princess.”

  “I hope the judges are impressed with our work,” Jessie said. “If they are, we’re sure to win the $25 prize.”

  CHAPTER 4

  The Blueberry Pies

  Violet was hard at work on her painting when Michael and Benny climbed inside the boxcar.

  “Come and see our pies!” Michael said happily. “We’re going to eat one of them after lunch.”

  “Just a minute, Michael,” Violet said, “I’m almost finished.”

  “Hurry,” Benny said. “Mrs. McGregor said we can’t eat lunch without you.”

  “Oh,” Courtney said with a laugh. “So that’s the real reason you want us to hurry.”

  Benny grabbed Courtney’s and Violet’s hands. Michael held hands with Jessie. The children ran to the house as fast as they could go.

  “Hi,” Mrs. McGregor said as she wiped her hands on her apron. “I hope you’ve had as much fun with your projects as we’ve had with our pies.”

  “We sure have!” Jessie said.

  “I was just about to take our pies out of the oven,” Henry said.

  “They smell delicious,” Violet said.

  “I can’t wait to taste it,” Jessie said.

  “I’m not going to just taste my pie,” Benny said. “I’m going to eat a big piece!”

  Henry carefully covered his hands with a pair of oven mitts. Then he took one of the pies out of the oven. One side of the pie stood up just right. The other side was flat.

  “Oh, my,” Mrs. McGregor said. “The crust must have fallen down when you put it into the oven.”

  “I’m sure the second one looks better,” Henry said.

  He took the second pie out of the oven. The juice from the blueberries had bubbled up through the crust. It was a sticky mess.

  “Oh, no,” Benny cried. “Our pie is ruined!”

  Henry, Michael, and Benny looked very disappointed.

  “I’m sure they taste wonderful,” Courtney said.

  “If you turn the first pie a certain way you hardly notice that one side is up and the other is down,” Jessie said helpfully.

  “I don’t think it will win looking the way it does,” Henry said.

  “Just try and see,” Courtney said. “You never know until you try.”

  “Anything that smells that good is bound to taste good,” Violet said.

  “I’m sure your pie will do just fine in the competiti
on,” Mrs. McGregor said. “Now, let’s have lunch.”

  The children quickly finished their lunch. Then Henry cut a slice of the second pie for each of them.

  “This pie is wonderful,” Courtney said. “Good job, boys!”

  “See, I told you,” Jessie said. “It smells good and it tastes good, too!”

  “Thank you,” Michael said. “We worked hard on our pies, didn’t we, Benny?”

  “We sure did,” Benny agreed.

  “We couldn’t have done it without Mrs. McGregor’s help,” Henry said.

  “I’m proud of all of you,” Mrs. McGregor said.

  The next morning, the Alden children waited restlessly on their front steps for Courtney and Michael to arrive. Jessie had carefully placed the jewelry in layers of tissue paper. Violet had wrapped her painting in heavy brown paper. It rested beside her on the step. Henry and Benny had their blueberry pie in a bakery box.

  “Where could they be?” Jessie asked. “If we don’t hurry we’ll miss the sign-up time for the competition.”

  “Here they come,” Benny shouted.

  “I’m sorry we’re late,” Courtney said as she ran up the stairs. “Michael insisted upon having seconds of everything at breakfast.”

  “It’s a long time until lunch,” Michael said. “I was worried there wouldn’t be anything to eat at the fair.”

  “Oh, they have lots of good things to eat,” Benny said. “I remember the fair we had last year.”

  “We remember it, too,” Henry said. “You ate so much cotton candy you had an upset stomach.”

  “I won’t eat too much cotton candy this year,” Benny promised.

  “I’ll eat half of whatever he buys,” Michael said helpfully. “That way, he can’t eat too much.”

  “Thank you, Michael,” Henry said. “That sounds like a good plan.”

  The high school marching band was playing a merry tune when the children arrived at the fairgrounds. Brightly colored tents with signs that said EXHIBITS, FOOD, DRINKS, GAMES, BAKED GOODS CONTEST, CRAFTS CONTEST, and ART CONTEST lined the walkway. Crowds of adults and children moved from tent to tent. Screams and laughter from the roller coaster and Ferris wheel could be faintly heard. The smell of roasted peanuts, popcorn, and hot dogs filled the air.