Sly the Sleuth and the Food Mysteries Read Free Page B

Friday. On Friday cheerleading practice met at my house. I hurried home to clean up before the others got there.
    Brian was waiting by my back door. He had both arms squeezed around Taxi.
    â€œTaxi doesn’t like to be held,” I said.
    â€œI have a present for her.” Brian followed me inside. He put Taxi down. He took off his backpack. Then he took off his jacket. “Look, Sly. Look at my shirt.”
    His T-shirt had MASCOT printed on it in Magic Marker.
    Kate was the captain of the squad. That’s because the whole idea of the squad was hers. When Brian asked to be a cheerleader, Kate had said no. But she’d made him mascot, instead. Kate can be nice when she isn’t being bossy.
    â€œI’ve seen your mascot shirt a million times, Brian.”
    â€œGood.” Brian unzipped his backpack. He held up a baby T-shirt. On it was printed MASCAT.
    I stared. Brian practiced his letters at my house. I knew his handwriting. Brian had printed those letters.
    â€œIt’s for Taxi,” said Brian. “Get it?”
    I still stared.
    â€œLaugh. My mom laughed.” Brian grabbed Taxi again. “Help me put it on her.”
    I shook my head in amazement. But I put the shirt over Taxi’s head. I fit her front legs through the armholes. It hung on her all crazy and baggy. “Brian, did you think of this yourself ? When did you learn how to spell cat ?”
    â€œ Cat is in the at family,” said Brian. “With bat and fat and sat. Don’t you know the at family, Sly? I can teach you. It’s easy.”
    My mother had said Brian was brilliant. Maybe she was right. I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of having a genius neighbor. “It’s a great shirt, Brian.”
    Knock knock knock. Melody and Princess came in.
    Brian held Taxi up. “Look.”
    â€œMeow.” Taxi squirmed free. She ran off.

    â€œWow,” said Melody.
    â€œCool,” said Princess. “Will Taxi wear it to basketball games?”
    â€œDo you have a cat, Princess?” I asked.
    â€œNo,” said Princess.
    I didn’t think so. “Cats can’t go to games.”
    Knock knock.
    I opened the door.
    Kate stood there. “Cheerleading is over,” she said.

Recipes
    â€œHow can practice be over already?” said Melody. “We haven’t started yet.”
    â€œIt’s over.” Kate opened the tote bag on her shoulder. She handed out envelopes.
    â€œWhat’s this?” asked Melody.
    â€œRecipes.”
    â€œHow come?” I asked.
    â€œWe’re going to cook together.”
    â€œI love cooking,” said Princess. She opened her envelope and took out the paper inside. “Oh, no.” Princess stared at her recipe.
    â€œYou’re not supposed to say ‘Oh, no,’” said Kate. “You’re supposed to say ‘Good.’”
    â€œSpaghetti with oil and garlic,” read Melody from her own recipe. “Is that good?”
    â€œAsk Princess,” said Kate.
    â€œWhy should she ask me?” said Princess.
    â€œIt’s an Italian recipe.They all are. And you’re Italian.”
    â€œI’m American. My father’s Italian.”
    â€œPicky, picky,” said Kate.
    â€œSince when do cheerleaders cook?” I asked.
    â€œWe’re not cheerleaders,” said Kate. “Not anymore.”
    â€œI like being on the squad,” said Princess.
    â€œA minute ago you said you love to cook,” said Kate.
    â€œI like being on the squad better,” said Princess.
    â€œDon’t make trouble, Princess,” said Kate. “I hurt my ankle, so there is no more squad.”
    â€œYou can’t just do that,” said Melody.“We’ll wait for your ankle to heal.”
    â€œI hate waiting. Now we’re a cooking club. We can be on TV.”
    â€œTV?” I put my hand on Kate’s forehead. “Are you delirious?”
    Kate brushed my hand away.