Copycat Mystery

Copycat Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online

Book: Copycat Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online
Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
shouting.
    “You never listen, Gwen! I’m not interested in the same things you are! Why can’t you understand that?”
    “I’m not going to sit back and let you make foolish choices,” replied Gwen. “You’ll thank me for it one day.”
    “No, I won’t! I won’t thank you for ruining my life!”
    “Oh, Sharon! Your life won’t be ruined just because you don’t take part in those silly fashion shows. You’ll be busy with your studies when school starts again. I don’t want you spending your weekends modeling when—”
    Sharon suddenly leaped to her feet. “What about what I want? You’re not being fair!”
    Gwen looked as if she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. Instead, she just sat quietly while Sharon stormed out of the ice-cream parlor.
    “Wow,” Henry whispered. “You weren’t kidding, Aunt Jane! Gwen and Sharon really don’t see eye to eye. Now they’re arguing about modeling.”
    “I think Sharon’s a born model,” remarked Jessie, remembering how Gwen’s younger sister had somehow managed to get into every picture Jake North had taken during the laundry demonstration.
    “Just like Benny’s a born ice-cream eater!” teased Henry as he watched his brother scraping chocolate sauce from the bottom of his dish.
    Benny gave him the thumbs-up sign. “Right!”
    Soon they were done and ready to head for the pet store. Leaving Aunt Jane to keep Gwen company, the Aldens hurried outside. They decided to make a stop at the photo shop on the way to pick up Violet’s pictures.
    While Violet stood in line, Jessie noticed a poster on the wall. It was an advertisement for fashion shows that were to take place at a local mall all summer and fall. Jessie motioned toward the poster. “I wonder if that’s what Gwen and Sharon were arguing about,” she said.
    Henry studied the poster for a moment. “It does say they need people to model clothes. And did you notice the fine print?” Henry ran a finger under the words at the bottom of the poster. “‘Anyone under the age of sixteen will need written permission from a parent or guardian before taking part in the shows.’”
    “Sharon’s only fifteen, isn’t she?” Benny asked when they came out of the photo shop.
    Jessie nodded. “And from what we heard, I doubt Gwen’s going to give Sharon permission.”
    “I wonder if Sharon likes modeling as much as I like drawing,” Violet said. Though Violet thought it was rude of Gwen’s sister to storm out of the ice-cream parlor, she couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for her. It would be hard if you couldn’t do something you really enjoyed.
    “That doesn’t excuse Sharon for being rude to Gwen,” Jessie said, walking into the pet store.
    The man behind the counter looked up from his book when the Aldens approached. “Hello there,” he said.
    “Hi,” responded Benny. “Have you sold any canaries lately?”
    The other Aldens exchanged smiles. They could always count on Benny not to waste time on small talk.
    The man removed his wire-rimmed glasses and shook his head. “We don’t sell canaries here. But we do have a couple of parakeets, if you’re interested.”
    “No, thanks,” said Benny.
    Outside, the Aldens turned to one another in dismay. “Looks like we struck out,” Henry couldn’t help saying.
    On the drive back to Aunt Jane’s, Jessie said, “You know, even if that store did sell canaries, the copycat might not have been foolish enough to buy one right here in Elmford.”
    Henry was forced to agree. “Yes, that’s a sure way to get found out in no time.” He looked a bit sheepish as he glanced back over his shoulder at his brother and sisters. “I guess I didn’t give it much thought.”
    “It was worth a try,” insisted Violet as she looked through her snapshots. There was one of Gwen standing in the shadowy parlor that wasn’t very clear. And another one taken down by the creek that was a bit blurry. But most of them had turned out just fine. “This one is very

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