Pet Shop Mystery Read Free

theirs and what ones are mine.”
    Mrs. Tweedy nodded. “First of all, I want you to get to know the Aldens so you don’t confuse them with other children. Henry is the oldest and Jessie the next oldest. They’re both strong and very organized.”
    Mrs. Tweedy pointed out Violet and Benny, who were already on the job. “You’ll be happy to have those two around, Mr. Fowler. Violet and Benny are so gentle with animals. They know how to give them attention without getting them nervous. Their second cousin Soo Lee is welcome here, too. Remember, you sold her a hamster a couple of weeks ago? She’s been wonderful with it.”
    Mr. Fowler stared at the children but didn’t seem to believe Mrs. Tweedy. “Don’t see why the animals should be handled anyway. They’re not playthings.”
    “Animals aren’t playthings, Mr. Fowler, but they do like to play,” Mrs. Tweedy said, going over to pet Doughnut. “I want all my animals to enjoy people so they’ll make good pets. While I’m gone, no matter how busy everyone gets, I hope each of you—including you, Mr. Fowler—will give all my critters plenty of attention.”
    “We will!” the Aldens yelled, so loudly that no one noticed Mr. Fowler didn’t join in.

CHAPTER 3
A Mysterious Note
    On the way home, the Aldens planned their pet shop schedules. Jessie walked along the sidewalk, reading her list.
    “I divided all the chores. Some have to be done every few days. But some jobs are daily—like filling water bottles and feeding the animals who need to eat every day.”
    “Like me?” Benny asked, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. “I have to eat every day. And lots more than once. I wouldn’t make a good turtle or fish.”
    Jessie gave Benny a friendly pat on the shoulder.

    “You do make a good helper, though. After school we’ll do our newspaper route on the way to the pet shop. As for the pet-sitting and deliveries, we can do some of those jobs at the end of the day, on our way home.”
    The children turned into the driveway. When they caught a whiff of something delicious, they walked a little faster—so fast that they missed seeing Arthur Byrd in the shadows. He had followed the Aldens all the way home from the Pretty Bird Pet Shop.
    Watch and Mrs. McGregor, the family housekeeper, were in the kitchen when the children burst in with their news.
    “We have jobs! Guess what kind?” Benny cried. He raced over to the stove to see what was cooking for dinner. “Yum! Beef stew.”
    He sniffed the cornbread cooling on the counter. “When’s dinner?”
    Mrs. McGregor sliced into the cornbread and held out a piece for Benny. “Test this to make sure it’s done. We’re eating at six-thirty instead of six. Your cousins Joe and Alice are coming to dinner with Soo Lee. That’s why I made cornbread to go with the beef stew your cousin Joe likes so much.”
    Benny smacked his lips. “And I like so much, too.”
    Mrs. McGregor’s beef stew disappeared in no time. Joe Alden had an extra helping, and so did Benny. The only one who didn’t seem to eat much was Soo Lee Alden, the little Korean girl Joe and Alice Alden had adopted.
    “Don’t you like beef stew?” Benny asked Soo Lee. “It’s good.”
    “I have a surprise,” Soo Lee answered, “but I can’t tell.”
    “Shhh,” Cousin Alice said to Soo Lee. “We’re almost done. In a few minutes you can show Benny your surprise.”
    Now Benny Alden had a problem. He loved surprises, and he loved dessert. How could he sit still when he was waiting for both of them? “Can you give me a clue, Soo Lee?” he begged.
    Soo Lee’s brown eyes were serious. She shook her head without saying a word.
    “Now, Benny, don’t make it so hard for Soo Lee,” Mr. Alden said. “When you’re seven years old, it’s hard to keep secrets.”
    Henry came in from the kitchen with Jessie, just in time to keep Soo Lee from telling her surprise.
    “Gingerbread, everybody!” Jessie set down a glass plate with a big