儿童英语读物 The Gymnastics Mystery CHAPTER 7 The Switch
时间:2018-12-06 作者:英语课 分类:73 The Gymnastics Mystery
“Okay,” said Jessie, with her hands wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate. “The big question is, did Al Stockton rent the locker 1 and put his stuff inside and then drop the key?”
“Or did he lose the key before he could put anything inside?” Henry finished for her. “And what did he want to put in the locker? He had Katya’s bag, which he thought was his. What was he using the locker for?”
The Aldens sat around the kitchen table.
Benny’s key lay in the middle. They had fixed 2 hot chocolate to drink with the plate of oatmeal raisin 3 cookies Mrs. McGregor had made that afternoon. Katya was upstairs, resting before her special late-afternoon practice.
“Questions, questions,” Jessie said. “How do we find the answers?”
“We could always go to the airport and open locker number seventeen,” Violet suggested. “See what’s inside.”
Henry shook his head. “It’s a long drive to the airport. What would we tell Grandfather we’re looking for? I think we need to find out more about Al Stockton.”
“I bet he took Katya’s music,” Benny said, reaching for his sixth cookie.
“Either him or Lucas Tripp,” said Jessie. “Al is always following Katya. And Lucas keeps trying to interview her. I still think he’s the one who sold the gold box to the man in Nearly New.”
“The same box that was in the clipping in Katya’s letter,” said Violet. “This is the most complicated mystery we’ve ever had to solve!”
Henry got up to pour more cocoa into everyone’s mugs. “I don’t like talking about the case when Katya isn’t around. But she’s part of it somehow.”
Benny sighed. He really liked Katya. If only she weren’t mixed up in the mystery.
It was nearly dark when Grandfather dropped the children off at the arena 4. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot.
Inside, only a few athletes were still working out. Most had finished their practice sessions and had gone home. The big competition was the next day.
Irina began stretching with Katya immediately. As soon as Katya had warmed up, the coach put the tape in the cassette recorder. Katya began the new floor routine.
The Alden children wandered around the arena. The press box was empty except for phones and typewriters.
“All the reporters and photographers are back at their offices, working on the deadline,” Henry guessed.
“No, there’s Lucas,” said Violet.
Lucas sat in the bleachers, his notebook beside him. He beckoned 5 for the Aldens to join him.
“Are you still working?” Jessie asked him.
She looked at the young man intently, trying to match his features to the description the Nearly New shop owner gave of the man who pawned 6 the gold box. Something was different about Lucas this evening.
“No, I’m off duty,” Lucas replied. “I filed my story earlier. I just like to watch the kids perform. I want them all to win, but of course that’s not possible.”
“We sure hope Katya wins,” Benny said. “I think she’s the best.”
Lucas nodded as Katya flew by on a tumbling pass. “She’s very good. Let’s hope the judges agree.”
Jessie searched her brain for a way to bring up the gold box. “Have you ever been to Russia?”
“No, I haven’t,” Lucas said. “I’d love to do foreign reporting someday.”
Then Jessie realized what was different about him. “You’re not wearing your glasses,” she commented.
He grinned. “Contacts. Sometimes I wear them instead.” Slapping the wooden seat with his notebook, he rose to his feet. “I should be getting home. My dog will be wanting his supper.”
“You have a dog?” Violet wanted to know. “What kind?”
“A golden Lab,” Lucas answered. “All he wants to do is eat and play! See you guys tomorrow.”
When Lucas had left, Jessie whirled on the others. “Lucas has a golden Lab ... just like the guy in the park!”
Henry frowned. “But the guy in the park wasn’t Lucas, Jessie. We saw him clear as day.”
“I know,” Jessie said, biting her lip. If only she could remember where she had seen the man in the park! “This mystery is so confusing, with gold boxes and golden Labs and people in sweatpants. I know there’s a connection somewhere!”
“We’ll find it,” Benny said confidently.
On the morning of the competition, Katya had only a glass of orange juice and a banana.
“I cannot eat too much before a big event,” she told Mrs. McGregor.
Jessie and Violet helped Katya get ready. Today the gymnast wore her team leotard, blue with a shiny white stripe. They pulled her thick blond hair into a neat ponytail and tied it with a white ribbon. A circle of silver clips kept loose hairs from falling into Katya’s face.
Then Katya pulled on a shiny satin blue-and-white warm-up suit. Her cheeks were rosy 7 with excitement.
Then everyone piled into the station wagon 8, including Mrs. McGregor. Grandfather had bought tickets for the whole family.
“Too bad Watch has to stay home,” said Benny.
Katya laughed. “A dog would be a funny sight on the balance beam!”
But at the main entrance of the arena, Katya stopped.
“I am supposed to meet my coach at another door, and I don’t want to run into that man again,” she told them. She glanced nervously 9 at the Alden children.
Henry figured out instantly what was bothering her.
“We’ll go with Katya,” Henry said to Grandfather. “And then we’ll find you.”
Grandfather and Mrs. McGregor went inside to claim their seats.
“I don’t blame you, Katya, for being afraid of running into Al Stockton,” Henry said as they scurried 10 around to the side entrance.
“Yes,” said Katya. “So many things have happened. First someone pours water on my jacket. Then that man keeps taking pictures of me. Then my music was taken from my bag.”
This was not a day for Katya to worry, Violet realized.
“I have a plan,” she said. “Benny is about your size. How about if Benny goes inside wearing your warm-up suit?”
“Good idea, Violet,” said Henry. “Katya, you can put on my coat again. It’s so big, you won’t get cold.”
“And nobody will recognize you,” Jessie added, helping 11 Katya out of her jacket.
In minutes, Benny was wearing the blue-and-white shiny warm-up suit with the hood 12 up over his head and Katya was bundled in Henry’s large jacket. “Do I look like a girl?” he asked.
“Do not worry,” Katya reassured 13 Benny. “The boys on our Russian team wear the same suit.”
Henry opened the heavy door and they filed inside. Benny went first. Katya walked behind Henry.
The arena was packed to the rafters with spectators who filled the bleachers, athletes warming up everywhere, coaches, reporters, and other people connected with the competition.
In the front, a row of men and women sat behind a table.
“Those are the judges,” Katya said.
Jessie was scanning the room. “I don’t see Al Stockton. Or Lucas Tripp. Looks like you’re safe, Katya.”
“There’s Irina,” said Katya, shrugging out of Henry’s jacket. “Thank you for helping me. Now I must go with my teammates.”
“I guess we’ll go sit down with Grandfather and Mrs. McGregor,” said Violet.
Benny wiggled out of Katya’s suit and gave it to her so she could wear it between events. “Good luck!”
Katya blew them a kiss before running lightly across the floor toward her team.
“I can’t believe Katya has done anything wrong,” said Violet. “She is too nice to be mixed up in this mystery.”
“I agree,” said Jessie. “Maybe we’ll learn the truth when the competition is over.”
Henry nodded toward the girls’ team bleachers. “Look who’s here.”
It was Mrs. Patterson, Denise’s mother. She wore shiny red pants and a shirt, similar to the warm-up suits the American gymnastics team was wearing. She carried papers in her hand.
Henry got a look at the papers as she passed. “Score sheets,” he said. “She’s probably keeping track of Denise’s scores as the judges give them.”
“I bet she’s keeping track of Katya’s scores, too,” Jessie said. “Katya and Denise are in the same class, but on opposite teams. Katya is the one Denise has to beat.”
“I think we should stay down here,” Benny suggested. “So we can help Katya.”
“Good idea,” Violet said. “If we see Grandfather, we’ll tell him what’s going on.”
But soon the Aldens became busy watching Katya.
The first event was the uneven 14 parallel bars. Several teams from other countries competed before the Russian team. The American team lined up behind the Russians. Mrs. Patterson stood as close to Denise as she was allowed.
Katya’s teammates went first.
Then it was Katya’s turn. She stood before the bars uncertainly, looking around.
“Is she scared?” Benny wanted to know.
Jessie realized what was wrong. The chalk the gymnasts rubbed on their palms before tackling the bars was missing. Someone had misplaced it ... or taken it.
Irina was signaling to Katya, Wait, wait. Irina searched her bag for spare chalk, found it, and ran to Katya. Katya chalked her hands and leaped onto the bars. She began casting—swinging her body away from the lower bar. Then she swung to the higher bar, straddling it and whirling in a circle. She did a handstand just long enough for the judges to admire her form, then slid into another move.
Katya had told the Aldens each position on the bars could not be held too long. They also knew that gymnasts used chalk so their hands wouldn’t blister 15 on the wooden bars. If Katya’s concentration had been hurt by the missing chalk incident, it didn’t show in her magnificent dismount or in the brilliant smile she flashed the judges.
Katya received all 9.9s for her performance. Ten was the highest score.
Violet released a deep breath after the score had been posted. “Maybe this won’t be so bad, after all,” she said. “Her score was nearly perfect.”
Jessie nudged her sister. “Think again.”
Violet looked across the room. On one side of the arena, a black-haired man knelt to snap photographs. Al Stockton.
And on the other side, Lucas Tripp stood at the edge of the mat, watching Katya’s every move.
Then he glanced over at the Alden children and nodded. His heels clicked on the shiny floor as he walked around the mats.
“Lucas sees us,” said Benny. “He looks like he wants something.”
“We’ll soon find out,” Henry said. “He’s heading our way. And he doesn’t look happy.”
- At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
- He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。
- Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
- Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
- She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
- He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。
- He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
- The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He pawned his gold watch to pay the rent. 他抵当了金表用以交租。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作,生活看上去很美好。
- She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。
- We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
- The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
- He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
- He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
- She said goodbye and scurried back to work. 她说声再见,然后扭头跑回去干活了。
- It began to rain and we scurried for shelter. 下起雨来,我们急忙找地方躲避。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
- She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
- The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。
- The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》