THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING JEWELRY BOX
[NOTE: This was one of my last Institute of Children's Literature assignments. K.G.]
The alarm clock jingled, waking Joanie Towser. She smiled at the Cabbage Patch doll she held wrapped in her arm. She patted its curly black hair and smoothed its red cotton dress.
What was that noise I heard, last night? Joanie wondered, glancing out the window at the falling snow.
Joanie lifted her head and smiled. Today was her tenth birthday! Today's Saturday and Mindy's coming. I've gotta give her back her jewelry box. Mindy Davidson was her best friend.
Joanie suddenly froze, staring at the mahogany bureau next to the head of her bed. "The jewelry box is gone! Somebody took it!"
But who? Her obnoxious big brother, Michael? Or her pesky little sister, Alicia? Maybe that's the noise I heard, last night!
Joanie swallowed hard. If she didn't recover the jewelry box before noon, Mindy would be furious!
Joanie leaped out of bed and raced out of her bedroom. She found Michael and Alicia yawning in the hall. "All right! Who took my jewelry box?" Joanie clenched her hands.
Michael whirled around, glared at her, and averted his eyes. "I haven't even seen your dumb old box!"
"Did you take it, Alicia?" Joanie put her hands on her hips.
"No!" Alicia shook her head. "I didn't!"
Michael grinned. "Won't you catch it when Mindy comes!" He wagged a blood-blistered index finger at her. He and Alicia strolled to their rooms.
Joanie leaned against the wall. One of them had lied; she felt sure of it. I bet it was Michael. He had not looked at her when she accused him; she knew that often meant guilt. Plus, he had a blister on his finger.
That's not proof. Joanie sighed. I've got to find some clues. Boy's he's going to get it!
Joanie returned to her room and got dressed. As she hung a glittering golden chain around her neck, she saw one of Michael's blue wool mittens stuck in the doorjamb.
Aha! He did do it! Joanie yanked the mitten out of the doorjamb. Last night, too! I'll make him pay for this, the sneak!
She marched out of her room. Overhearing Michael's voice in Alicia's bedroom across the hall, she paused to listen.
"I don't want Joanie to find it," Michael said. "I've got to hide it from her."
Joanie stiffened and thrust out her lip. "Will you?" she muttered. "Well, I'll hide your baseball mitt and see how you like that!"
She tiptoed into Michael's bedroom and saw his baseball glove lying on the carpet next to his dresser. Joanie flung Michael's wool mitten on his bed. She then snatched up the baseball mitt and stalked to the door.
Before she could open the door, it swung open. There stood Michael.
He froze and glared at her. "What are you doing with my baseball mitt?"
"Why were you in my room, last night?"
Michael's face turned pale. "What makes you think that?"
"That!" Joanie turned to his winter mitten on the bed. "It was stuck in my door today. You left it there, didn't you?"
Michael flushed. "Yes, but not because I wanted a girl's jewel box! And if you don't give me back my baseball glove, I'm going to tell on you!"
Joanie sighed and handed it over. He snatched it from her and stomped down the hall. How will I ever get Mindy's box back? Joanie wondered silently, as she followed him down the stairs. She'll never speak to me again!
Joanie looked at her watch. To her horror, it was almost noon.
The doorbell jingled. Joanie opened the door.
There stood Mindy!
Mindy, clad in a snowy winter coat, entered the living room. She held a gaily-wrapped box in her mittened hand. Oh, yes. It's my birthday, Joanie remembered.
The remembrance gave her no joy. How am I going to tell Mindy her jewelry box is gone? Joanie felt sick at heart.
Michael and Alicia raced in from the back door, banging it shut. Michael made a face at Joanie, who glared at him. Mindy greeted them, then turned to Joanie. "Can I have my jewelry box?"
Joanie felt faint. Her smile froze.
Alicia flushed and glanced at the carpet. She raced upstairs.
Joanie stared after Alicia. "I'll be back in a minute, Mindy." She chased Alicia up the stairs.
Alicia met Joanie in the upstairs hall, clutching the pale-pink jewelry box. Roses and violets were painted on the lid and the sides.
"I was going to give it back to you, Joanie. I swear it!"
Joanie snatched the box and scowled at her fiercely. "Alicia Towser! How could you do this to me?"
Alicia puckered her face. "I just borrowed it to put a present inside."
Joanie shook her head. "If you wanted a box, you should have asked Mom for one. This jewelry box wasn't yours to take!"
Alicia hung her head. "I'm sorry, Joanie. Please don't be mad at me."
Joanie sighed. "I'm not. Just leave my stuff alone, OK?"
She raised the lid. Inside lay a tiny golden ring with a sparkling rhinestone diamond. The box was unscathed.
"Thanks, Alicia. The ring is pretty." Alicia slipped the ring onto the middle finger of Joanie's right hand. What was Michael doing in my room, last night? Joanie wondered, as she admired the ring.
She raced downstairs, followed by Alicia. With a light heart, she handed the box to Mindy. "Thank you," Mindy said. "Happy Birthday."
Mrs. Towser called the children to the kitchen. In the middle of the polished birch table stood a strawberry cake with pink icing and ten flickering candles.
After everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to Joanie, she blew out the candles. Then Joanie opened her gifts.
"Open this." Michael handed her a big package. "It's from me."
Joanie tore off the pink wrapping paper and jerked the lid open. The box contained a doll cradle, handcarved out of mahogany wood.
"Michael! Where'd you get this?"
"I made it." Michael looked at his hands. "I took out your Cabbage Patch doll last night while you were sleeping, so I could measure it."
Joanie felt ashamed. "I'm sorry I accused you of taking Mindy's box." She glanced at the tablecloth.
"Yeah. Well, I'm glad you found it."
"Took my jewelry box?" Mindy stared at Joanie. "Who took my jewelry box?"
Joanie grinned. "Someone who didn't know better. But I got your box back, so don't worry."
THE END
©1995 by Kathryn D. Green