Hockey Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page B

top.
    “Remember he said he was thinking of moving somewhere warm?” Violet said. “I guess he’s going to Florida.”
    Benny flipped through the brochure, admiring the pictures of sailboats and tropical fish.
    “Here’s a pen,” said Violet.
    “Thanks,” said Jessie. She’d found a blank slip of paper and wrote Scott a quick note. Then she and Henry each took one end of the large box and headed to the lobby to meet Grandfather.
    After dropping the box off at home, the children went to the grocery store. Because it was a special dinner, the Aldens had asked Mrs. McGregor if they could make the meal. The children were very good cooks, so she’d agreed.
    Once they were home, they got right to work. Jessie seasoned the chicken and put it in the oven to bake. Next she rinsed the string beans and trimmed off the ends so they’d be ready to steam for dinner.
    Henry peeled and sliced apples for the pie.
    Benny washed the potatoes and put them in a pot of boiling water.
    Violet was in charge of the biscuits.
    “Can I help?” Benny asked when he was done with the potatoes.
    “Sure,” said Violet, letting Benny have a turn stirring the biscuit dough. Then Violet and Benny took turns rolling it out into a thin pancake on the board and cutting it into circles. When it was time for dinner, they’d bake the biscuits so they’d be fresh and warm.
    Then the Aldens set the table for dinner. They used the pretty flowered plates and bright blue napkins.
    “Blue like the Scouts!” said Benny. “Kevin will like that!”
    “And blue like the Polar Bears,” Jessie added.
    In a short while the doorbell rang.
    “I’ll get it!” cried Benny, running to the front door and pulling it open.
    As expected, Kevin stood on the step. Beside him was Cathy and a small woman with brown hair.
    “Hello,” said Kevin, reaching out his hand to Grandfather. “You must be James Alden.”
    “I am indeed,” said Grandfather with a big smile. “And I certainly know who you are.”
    “This is my wife, Amy, and my daughter, Catherine,” Kevin said.
    When everyone had been introduced, the two families settled in the living room. Jessie chatted with Cathy, who seemed friendly but a bit nervous.
    A short while later, everything was arranged on the table, steaming hot and smelling delicious. “Dinner’s ready,” Henry called into the living room.
    “Great!” said Kevin in a loud voice. “I’m hungry!”
    “And so am I!” said Benny in his smaller voice.
    Everyone laughed as they headed into the dining room.
    The meal was a great success.
    “You kids cook even better than you skate,” said Kevin.
    “Now can we look through your box of stuff?” Benny asked eagerly.
    “We sure can,” said Kevin.
    The Alden and Reynolds families both went back into the living room and gathered around the large box. Kevin lifted the lid and pulled out a piece of paper. “Here’s a list of everything that’s in here,” he said, handing it to Jessie. “I’m going to have all of this stuff on display at the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday. You kids can help me decide how it should be set up. We also need to make signs explaining what all the pieces are.”
    One by one, Kevin pulled items out of the box and held them up. “Here’s a picture of the whole Scouts team the first year we won the Stanley Cup,” he said.

    Jessie checked the picture off on the list as everyone crowded around to see all the players they recognized in the picture.
    “Here’s a trophy I received back in college,” Kevin said, pulling out a large silver cup. Jessie checked that off on the list as well.
    “Everyone seems so excited about the new rink you’re building,” Grandfather commented.
    “Not everyone,” Benny said.
    “What do you mean?” Grandfather asked.
    “A few mysterious things have happened at the rink,” Jessie said, “and they have made us wonder if maybe someone doesn’t want the new rink to be built.”
    “What mysterious things?” asked