Candy Factory Mystery Read Free Page B

Aldens a great deal.”
    â€œWe know how to eat candy but not how to make it,” Benny told Tom. “Except for fudge. We make that in our kitchen.”
    â€œBut Mrs. Winkles,” Meg interrupted. “I don’t see why I can’t handle the candy making on my own. That way you wouldn’t have to waste Tom’s time.”
    â€œNonsense,” Mrs. Winkles told Meg. “You’ll get much more done with Tom here. That way, if we run into any problems, we can fix them right away.”
    â€œIf you mean the missing tails on the mice,” Meg said, “that wasn’t my fault. It probably happened after the candy left the factory.”
    Mrs. Winkles was almost out of patience with Meg. “Well, I’m going off to a food show with Mr. Alden for a few days. I expect you to arrange a time for Tom to work with you on the production line for the next batch of chocolate eggs.”
    Meg looked down at the floor. “Okay,” she said quietly.
    Mrs. Winkles turned back to the Aldens. “Now it’s time for you to attend the Winkles Candy School. I know you’re on school vacation,” she said, “but I hope you don’t mind a class in candy making.”
    â€œSure,” Henry said. “For once, I hope we get lots of homework.”

CHAPTER 4
    The Aldens Go to Candy School
    A fter Mrs. Winkles left with Grandfather, the children got down to candy business. They wanted to learn everything they could. They huddled close to Tom. He showed them everything from making chocolate to packing the cooled eggs into special Winkles egg cartons. Meg stood apart from everyone. Even the Aldens’ smiles didn’t make her any friendlier.
    â€œFirst things first,” Tom said as if he had a big secret to tell the Aldens. “I know in real school no candy is allowed in the classroom. Here at the Winkles Candy School, it’s just the opposite. If you don’t eat candy, we keep you after school.”
    â€œKnow what?” Benny asked. “At home, Mrs. McGregor makes us wash our hands. Sometimes we even wear aprons if we’re cooking.”
    Tom laughed. “Same here, plus gloves.”
    â€œAnd,” Benny began, “Mrs. Winkles said we have to make sure those egg shapes are lined up right, or else the chocolate flies all over the place and makes a big mess.”
    â€œWe’re pretty careful around here so that doesn’t happen,” Meg interrupted.
    Tom looked over at Meg. He seemed as if he were about to say something but changed his mind. “Over this way,” he told everyone. “I’ll show you the next room where we’ll be working today. Mrs. Winkles mentioned some of the chocolate eggs might have gotten smudged when the machine stopped too fast.”
    The Aldens noticed Meg’s lips tighten. “If you think it’s my fault, Tom, just remember sometimes the machines cause the candy to get smudgy.”
    Except for the hum of the machine that kept the room cool, the room was quiet for a few seconds.
    â€œThat’s not what I meant, Meg,” Tom said quietly. “It could happen to anyone. First thing we do is carefully pull apart the halves of the molds by hand. If the eggs are good, we put them back on the belt so the machine can drop in the sugar chicks or whatever special candies go inside. For Halloween, we put candy ghosts inside chocolate pumpkins. For Valentine’s, candy hearts go inside hollow chocolate hearts.”
    â€œWho gets to put in the chicks or ghosts or candy hearts?” Henry asked.
    The children studied Tom’s and Meg’s faces closely. Were they going to get nervous talking about the candy hearts?
    â€œSometimes Meg, sometimes me,” Tom said. He didn’t seem at all suspicious about Henry’s question or the five pairs of staring eyes.
    Meg just looked bored and impatient.
    â€œHow do you keep the chicks from falling out?” Soo Lee wanted to