儿童英语读物 The Chocolate Sundae Mystery CHAPTER 10 Confession

Benny gulped 1. Henry peered through the keyhole. What he saw made him shake his head sadly.



Brian was leading four skinny boys into the parlor 2’s kitchen. The boys wore T-shirts that looked much too big for them, and worn-out shoes.



As Henry watched, Brian seated the boys at the big kitchen table. “Can we have chocolate sundaes tonight?” one of the boys asked.



“Sure,” Brian said. “You know this is the last night we can do this,” he added as he went to the counter to bring back the container of vanilla 3 ice cream.



“But Brian, you promised,” the tallest boy protested.



“I know, Eric,” Brian said as he scooped 4 out four generous portions of vanilla ice cream and put them in special sundae dishes. “But the owner knows something is up.”



“Was he mad about those glasses we broke?” one of the boys asked.



“No,” Brian said as he poured chocolate sauce on the ice cream.



“We didn’t do it on purpose,” Eric said. He got up to help Brian finish making the sundaes. “Paul tripped on a crack in the sidewalk and dropped the package.”



“I don’t think Mr. Brown even noticed those glasses,” Brian said as he put cherries on all the sundaes. “But we have to remember to put everything back in the refrigerator. One night we left the cream out and it spoiled.”



“I guess it didn’t help when we broke that big window,” Eric said glumly 5. “But we were just trying to help you clean up. I was chasing Paul with the broom and the next thing I knew, the handle went through the window.”



“I know you didn’t do it on purpose,” Brian said as he brought the sundaes to the kitchen table with Eric’s help. “But we should have tried to keep Robbie from scribbling 6 on the menus.”



The boy called Robbie shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Brian,” he said softly.



Brian patted the little boy’s shoulder. “I know you were very excited when you saw all those crayons in the kitchen drawer.”



Brian seated himself at the table while the boys ate hungrily. Henry, who was still watching through the crack, noticed that Brian did not eat anything himself.



“Oh, I’m starving,” the boy called Paul said as he scraped the bottom of his dish. “This is the first meal I’ve had all day.”



For some time now, Benny’s foot had been asleep. He shifted uncomfortably and tried to wiggle his foot. It tingled 7 so much, he jumped and banged against Jessie, who gave him a warning look in the dark. Benny moved the other way and knocked over the big mop. It clattered 8 loudly to the floor and hit Violet.



“Ouch!” she yelped 9, then quickly clapped her hands to her mouth.



The boys in the kitchen all jumped and looked toward the closet.



“What was that?” Eric said. He stopped eating and held his spoon in midair.



“Something fell down in the closet,” Brian answered.



“I heard someone talking in there,” Eric insisted. He advanced warily 10 toward the closet, still holding his spoon.



Henry took that moment to open the closet door and step out. Jessie, Violet, and Benny followed him.



The boys stared at the Aldens in horror. “Who are you?” Eric asked sharply.



“It’s okay. I know them. They work here,” Brian explained.



He turned to the Aldens. “I know what you must be thinking,” he said sheepishly. “I can explain.”



“Maybe we should leave now,” Eric said quietly. Brian nodded.



When the boys had left, Brian sat at the kitchen table and told the Aldens everything, everything they hadn’t already guessed.



The boys lived at the edge of town in a very run-down neighborhood. Brian was very good friends with the oldest one.



“Is that Eric?” Benny asked.



“Yes,” Brian nodded. “When he heard I had a job here, he thought I’d be able to help him and his little brothers. You see, Eric’s father lost his job a year ago and his family is very poor. Sometimes, this is the only meal they get all day.”



At first the Aldens had been angry at the boys for eating the Shoppe’s ice cream without paying. Now they felt so sorry for them they nodded sympathetically.



“Could Eric get a job at the parlor?” Jessie suggested. “I’m sure Mr. Brown would hire him.”



Brian shook his head. “No, he has to stay home and baby-sit his little brothers. His mother works, and his father left the family a few months ago.”



Jessie looked down at her hands. “I see,” she said gently.



Brian shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I knew what I was doing was wrong,” he said. “But they’d all come to depend on me.”



“How did you get in?” Henry wondered.



Brian’s face turned bright red. “We used a coat hanger 11 to pick the lock,” he admitted. “We never broke it.”



“I know,” Henry said. “That’s why Mr. Brown never found any sign of a break-in.”



Brian pulled a notebook out of his apron 12. He lay it on the table and opened it to a page filled with a neat row of numbers. “I was keeping track of what they ate and how much it cost,” he explained. “I was planning to pay Mr. Brown back out of my salary. But after that window broke, I didn’t know what to do.”



Henry patted Brian gently on the arm. “Don’t worry, Brian, we believe you,” he said. “But you have to tell Mr. Brown about all this.”



Brian hung his head. “I know I do,” he said. “I feel awful that I helped ruin the parlor’s good reputation.”



“It’s not ruined yet,” Jessie assured him. “Once all this is explained, the customers will be back in no time.”



Brian smiled, giving Violet a shy admiring look.



The following day, the Aldens and Grandfather came to the Shoppe a little late. They wanted to give Mr. Brown and Brian plenty of time to talk.



When they arrived, Mr. Brown had his arm around Brian. “I can’t thank you enough for getting to the bottom of this mystery,” Mr. Brown said when he saw the Aldens.



The Aldens beamed and proudly introduced Mr. Brown to their grandfather.



“If I’d known your grandchildren were going to stay here after closing, I wouldn’t have allowed it,” Mr. Brown said shaking his head. “But I’m glad they did,” he added, winking 13.



“I just told Mr. Brown the whole story,” Brian said. “I have to work at the parlor one month for free.” He looked at Mr. Brown and grinned. “But Eric and his brothers can still come to the Shoppe and get a free treat every week.”



Grandfather said, “I’ll talk to Eric’s parents. I’m sure the children and I can help in some way.”



“Yes,” Mr. Brown said nodding. “I’ll also give them our leftover 14 food. We always have lunch fixings left over at the end of the day. That would be better for them than ice cream.”



“All I have to do now is think of a way to bring customers back to the parlor,” Brian said.



“You know,” Jessie said grinning, “I think I have an idea.”