儿童英语读物 The Mystery in the Snow CHAPTER 2 Missing Keys

Benny was the first to see the carved wooden sign. It read Snow Haven 1 Lodge 2. “We’re here!” he exclaimed.



Mr. Alden turned the station wagon 3 into the long driveway. Snowflakes danced in the headlights. “And not a moment too soon,” he said. “With all this snow, driving will be impossible before too long.”



Violet glanced out her window. The branches of the evergreens 4 were already heavy with snow. The ground below was covered in a soft blanket of white. “It’s so beautiful!” she said.



“And so quiet,” Jessie said.



“What’s that up ahead, Grandfather?” Henry asked. He pointed 5 toward a long, low building. Its lights cast a warm glow through the gathering 6 dusk.



“Must be the lodge,” Mr. Alden told him.



“Is that where we’ll stay?” Jessie asked.



“I imagine so,” Mr. Alden answered.



“I’d rather stay in one of those,” Benny said. He pointed to a group of small cabins on their right.



Grandfather stopped the car in front of the lodge. Several other cars were parked there. Watch sat up and wagged his short tail.



They climbed out of the station wagon and headed inside. A fire blazed in the large, stone fireplace. Big, comfortable couches and chairs were grouped on the wood floor. Here and there, small clusters of people talked and laughed.



“James!” A tall, thin man stepped out from behind a counter and came toward them.



Mr. Alden grabbed the man’s hand. “Todd, it’s good to see you.”



Todd Mercer smiled. “I’m glad you made it before the storm,” he said.



“So are we!” Benny piped up.



“This must be the famous Benny,” Mr. Mercer said.



Benny blushed. He’d never been called famous before. It made him speechless.



Mr. Alden introduced his other grandchildren, and Watch, who had followed them inside. “I hope it’s all right for our dog to be inside the lodge. He’s very well-behaved,” said Mr. Alden.



“Fine with me,” Mr. Mercer said.



The door opened and a gust 7 of snow blew in. A man and woman dressed in ski suits rushed inside. A rosy-cheeked boy about Henry’s age tagged along after them.



“James, why don’t you sign in,” Mr. Mercer said to Mr. Alden. He turned to the children. “Help yourselves to the hot chocolate and snacks on that table over there.” He pointed toward the windows.



Benny’s eyes widened when he saw the table covered with plates of cookies and small sandwiches, and a large, steaming pot of hot chocolate. “What a sight!” he said.



Jessie looked out the windows. Children skated on the pond behind the lodge. Snow fell all around them. “It looks like a picture in a storybook,” she said.



“Better,” Benny said. “You can’t eat pictures.” He helped himself to a cookie.



Violet laughed. “Oh, Benny,” she said. “Jessie was talking about the view.”



Benny glanced out the window. “That’s nice, too, but — ”



“You can’t eat it,” Henry finished.



They carried their snacks to the couch.



Mr. Mercer brought over the young boy who’d just arrived. “I want you to meet Jimmy Phelps,” he said. “He’s been with us every winter vacation since he was no bigger than you, Benny.”



Jimmy smiled shyly. “Hi,” he said.



Henry moved over. “Sit down here,” he said. “There’s plenty of room.”



“Get some food first,” Benny suggested. “It’s delicious.”



Jimmy nodded. “Okay,” he said. “And I have to sign in.” He went to the high desk and signed the guest book.



Jimmy’s parents and Mr. Mercer were talking to Grandfather.



“I wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are staying here, too,” Jessie said.



“Why wouldn’t they?” Henry asked.



Jessie shrugged 8. “Mr. Mercer said Jimmy’s been here every winter; he didn’t say anything about his parents.”



Benny looked at the grown-ups. “Maybe they’re not his parents,” he said. Just then, Jimmy returned. “Are those people your parents?” Benny asked him.



Jimmy nodded. “Yes,” he answered. “Why?”



“Benny asks lots of questions,” Henry explained.



“That’s the only way to get answers,” Benny defended himself.



Everyone laughed.



“Are they staying here, too?” Jessie asked Jimmy.



Jimmy glanced toward his parents. “No,” he said. “They never stay.” He looked glumly 9 at his feet.



“Why not?” Violet asked. “It’s such a nice place.”



Before he could answer, someone called, “Jimmy!”



Jimmy popped to his feet. “Freddy!”



A girl rushed up. “I am so glad to see you,” she said. “I was afraid you wouldn’t be here this year.”



“Freddy, meet the Aldens,” Jimmy said.



“Freddy?” Benny said. “Isn’t that a boy’s name?”



The girl took off her green knit cap. Her short, black hair curled tightly around her face. “My name’s actually Frederica,” she said. “Freddy’s easier.”



“That’s for sure,” Benny agreed.



Mr. and Mrs. Phelps joined the group.



“Jimmy, we’re about ready to go,” Mr. Phelps said.



Mrs. Phelps hugged her son. “You’re sure you have everything?”



Jimmy sighed. “Mom, how many times did we check?”



“You’ll call us if you need anything?” she said.



Mr. Phelps took her arm. “Come on, Grace. With this snow, it’ll take us a while to get to the airport.” He put his arm around Jimmy. “Walk us out to the car, son,” he said.



Freddy watched them leave. When they had gone outside, she said, “They don’t know what they’re missing.”



“Are your parents here?” Jessie asked.



She shook her head. “They went to visit my sister. She moved to Florida last summer. But they’ll be here later — for the awards dinner.”



“Why didn’t you go with them?” Violet wanted to know.



“And miss the snow and the fun here? No way,” Freddy said. “Besides, Jimmy and I are team captains this year.” She leaned close as though she were about to share a secret. “My team’s going to win.” She giggled 10 with excitement. “It’s going to be the best year ever.”



“It’ll certainly be the biggest year,” Mr. Mercer said as he came up beside them. “Seems I’ve overbooked the lodge.”



At his side, Grandfather said, “Todd’s looking for volunteers to stay in one of those cabins we saw on the way in.”



“Anyone interested?” Mr. Mercer asked.



Five hands shot up. Two of them belonged to Benny.



When Jimmy returned, Mr. Mercer called to him. “Jimmy,” he said, “I left the team box in the equipment shop. Would you mind getting it? You know where the keys are.”



“On the board behind the desk?” Jimmy asked to make sure.



Mr. Mercer nodded.



Jimmy hurried off.



“What’s the team box?” Henry asked.



“Everyone signs a card and puts it in the box,” Freddy explained. “Tomorrow morning, Jimmy and I will pick names out of it. That’s the way we form the teams. Then we have five contests: skiing, sledding, skating, snow sculpting 11 and ice carving 12.”



“Mr. Mercer, I can’t find the keys,” Jimmy called.



Mr. Mercer went over to help him. The Aldens followed.



Mr. Mercer stepped behind the desk. He looked through the keys hanging on the board. Each one had a tag. “That’s strange,” he said. “The keys were here earlier today. I put them here myself.”



“Maybe they fell on the floor,” Jimmy suggested.



Everyone looked around, but no one saw the keys. Mr. Mercer looked upset.



“Couldn’t you use another box?” Benny suggested.



“Yes,” Mr. Mercer answered, “but we have to be able to get into the equipment shop.”



“There’re all kinds of things in there we need,” Freddy added.



“Without them,” Jimmy said, “we won’t be able to have the games.”



“It will make things very difficult.” Mr. Mercer paused a moment. Then, looking around at the concerned faces of all the children he said, “I’m sure they’ll turn up somewhere.”