儿童英语读物 The Mystery at the Crooked House CHAPTER 1 The Marshmallow Mix-up

“Guess who’s helping 1 decorate the tree,” said six-year-old Benny. Watch came running across the snowy backyard with a popcorn 2 ball in his mouth. “Even Watch wants to help the birds!”



Twelve-year-old Jessie was hanging a string of cranberries 3 from the branches of a pine tree. She turned and smiled at their little dog. “Watch knows it’s hard for birds to find food in the winter.”



“Everything is frozen and covered with snow at this time of year,” added ten-year-old Violet as she tightened 4 the purple scarf around her neck.



Purple was Violet’s favorite color, and she almost always wore something purple or violet.



“Not all birds fly south,” added Henry. He took the popcorn ball from Watch and hung it from one of the higher branches. At fourteen, Henry was the oldest of the Alden children. “Some birds stay where it’s cold. They make their homes wherever they can find a warm, dry spot.”



Benny glanced over his shoulder at their red boxcar. “Just like we did!”



He was thinking back to when they had discovered the old abandoned train car in the woods. Their parents had died, and they were hiding from their grandfather because they thought he was mean. But Grandfather Alden wasn’t mean at all.



After finding his grandchildren, Grandfather Alden had brought the four Aldens and Watch to live with him in his big white house on the edge of the town of Greenfield, Connecticut. And when he had realized how much they missed the boxcar, Grandfather Alden had given their old home a special place in his backyard. Now the Aldens often used the boxcar as a clubhouse.



Jessie stepped back to admire their tree. She clapped her mittened 5 hands together and said, “What a feast the birds will have!”



Violet went over and stood beside her older sister. The tree was quite a sight, with its decorations of popcorn balls, apple rings, loops of red cranberries and unshelled peanuts, corn on the cob, and little mesh 6 bags of suet. Everything was tied to the branches with brightly colored yarn 7.



“Birds have huge appetites,” Violet said softly. “Even a tiny hummingbird 8 eats every ten minutes or so!”



Benny grinned. “No wonder they hum. They must be very happy birds!”



They all laughed. The youngest Alden was always hungry.



“I’ll bet we’ll soon have lots of visitors,” remarked Henry.



Benny was stomping 9 his feet to keep them warm. He had a look of concern on his face. “But what if the birds don’t spot our tree?”



“Don’t worry, Benny,” said Violet. “The chickadees will find it. Other birds hang around chickadees because they’re such good food-finders!”



“Just like we’re good clue-finders!” said Benny. And his brother and sisters nodded in agreement. The Aldens loved mysteries, and together they’d managed to solve quite a few. “But are you sure the chickadees will find our tree?” Benny asked.



“Maybe we should leave an invitation for them!” suggested Henry, hiding a smile. He knelt down and began to write in the snow. When he was finished, he got up and brushed the snow from his pant legs.



“I know what that says!” Benny announced proudly. The youngest Alden always enjoyed a chance to show his older brother and sisters that he was learning how to read. “It says, ‘Welcome Birds!’ ”



Violet stooped down and added something to Henry’s invitation. “And ... bring ... all ... your ... friends!”



“That should really do the trick!” said Benny.



Jessie was staring down at the writing in the snow. “A person’s handwriting is supposed to show some interesting things,” she said.



“Like what?” asked Violet.



“Well, Henry’s handwriting slants 10 to the right a bit,” said Jessie, who had been reading a book on handwriting. “That’s supposed to show he’s a very friendly person. And he’s careful with each letter. I can tell he’s probably a hard worker, too.”



“Jessie’s right, Henry!” said Violet. “You are a hard worker. And you’re always friendly to everyone!”



Henry looked pleased. “What about Violet’s handwriting?” he asked.



“Hmmm.” Jessie took another look. “Well, I can see some fancy swirls 11. That’s a sign of a person who’s artistic 12 ... and helpful, too,” Jessie concluded.



“You do like to draw pictures, Violet,” observed Benny. “And you’re good at it!” he added.



Just then the back door of the house opened. Mrs. McGregor came out carrying a tray. There were four cups of steaming hot chocolate and a plate of chocolate chip cookies on it.



“Oh, boy!” cried Benny. “How did you know I was hungry, Mrs. McGregor?”



Mrs. McGregor broke into a smile as she came along the shoveled 13 walkway. “Just a hunch 14, Benny.” She set the tray down on the tree stump 15 that was the boxcar’s front step. “Besides,” she added, “what could be better on a cold winter’s day than hot chocolate with marshmallows?”



Benny reached out for his special cup. It was the cracked pink cup he had found when they were living in the boxcar. “I love hot chocolate with marshmallows in it!” he said. But when he looked down, he gasped 16 in surprise.



“What is it?” asked Jessie, who often acted like a mother to her younger brother and sister. “What’s wrong, Benny?”



“The ... the marshmallows!” cried Benny. “These are the funniest-looking marshmallows I ever saw!”



“Why, whatever do you mean?” asked Mrs. McGregor.



“Well, they look just like mushrooms!” said Benny.



And sure enough, mushrooms were floating in their hot chocolate!



“Oh—oh, my!” cried Mrs. McGregor. “How could I have made such a mistake?” Then she slapped a hand against her cheek. “Don’t tell me ... Oh, my goodness! I must have put the marshmallows in the stew 17!” And with that, Mrs. McGregor rushed back to the house.



The Alden children stared after her in amazement 18. Henry was shaking his head. “That’s not like Mrs. McGregor,” he said.



“No, it’s not,” agreed Jessie. “But she hasn’t been acting 19 like herself at all lately. I spoke 20 to her twice today and she didn’t answer. She seemed to be deep in thought.”



“Mrs. McGregor must be worried about something,” said Violet. “I think we should find out what’s wrong. Maybe we can help.” “Well, what are we waiting for?” cried Benny. Forgetting all about food, he went racing 21 along the walkway with his brother and sisters close behind.



Whatever was wrong with Mrs. McGregor, the Aldens were determined 22 to set it right!