“Look,” said Benny. “It’s Mr. Porter!” Sure enough, the owner of the radio station stepped out from amongst the shoppers. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing really,” Mike was quick to say. “We were just congratulating the winners of the Great Detective Race.” With a sweep of his arm, he pointed towards the children. “The Aldens!”
“Well, how about that!” Mr. Porter gave them a big smile. “When I saw the crowd, I thought something might be wrong.”
“Now, what could be wrong?” asked Mike.
“Actually,” said Debra, “there is a problem, Mr. Porter.”
The station owner’s face grew stern as Debra told him about Amber Madison. He frowned as he looked at the photo. “How could you do something so dishonest, Mike?” he wanted to know.
“Hey, I just didn’t want kids to win the race,” Mike said with a shrug. “I did what was best for the station, that’s all.”
“For the station,” Mr. Porter asked, “or for you?”
“What’s the difference?” Mike snapped. “I’m the reason for the Big G’s success. Everybody knows that.”
“Mike, I’ve always said it takes teamwork to make a station successful,” Mr. Porter said quietly. “But I don’t think you’re a team player.”
“I can see why you’re upset, but—”
“Here’s the deal, Mike,” Mr. Porter interrupted. “Everybody deserves a second chance, so I’m not going to fire you. You will, however, be working the Late Night show for a while.”
Mike’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious!”
“I run an honest station, Mike,” the station owner replied. “We’re planning more contests during the daytime and I just can’t trust you.”
“Look, I’m sorry I betrayed your trust, Mr. Porter.” Mike shifted uncomfortably. “I should never have done that, but … can’t we sit down and talk about this?”
Mr. Porter shook his head. “My decision is final, Mike. You won’t be back on the daytime show until you prove you’re a team player.”
Mike opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he walked back to the WGFD booth, looking truly sorry.
“Congratulations,” Debra said, turning to the Aldens. She held out two envelopes. “Here’s your tickets to Swan Lake—and a voucher for a ride in the sky with Chopper Dan.”
“Thanks!” said Benny.
“But there’s only room in the helicopter for one other person,” Debra added. “I suppose you’ll have to draw straws.”
“Or put your names into a hat,” said a voice behind them.
The Aldens turned to see Chris standing with his father, Chopper Dan. Chris was giving the Aldens the thumbs-up sign.
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny looked at each other. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Violet asked her sister and brothers.
Jessie nodded. So did Benny and Henry.
Benny held the envelope out to Chris. “You take it,” he said. “Now you can get a ride with your dad.”
Chris stared at the envelope. “What …?”
Henry said, “We want you to have it.”
Chris hesitated. “But … I haven’t been very nice.”
“You left that clue in the hopscotch game,” guessed Jessie. “Didn’t you?”
Chris nodded. “I heard you talking about all the mysteries you’ve solved,” he confessed. “I didn’t think I had a chance to win.”
Benny blinked in surprise. “You sent us on a wild-goose chase?”
“Yes,” he said. “I saw you in the park the other day. When you left your notebook on the bench …”
“You tore out the list of playgrounds, didn’t you?” guessed Violet. “Then you planted that fake clue in the hopscotch game.”
Chris didn’t deny it.
Chopper Dan looked at his son in disbelief. “Why would you do such a thing, Chris?”
“I wanted to throw the Aldens off track.” Chris hung his head. “Getting a ride in the helicopter was so important to me. I figured the race was just a game to them.”
“It wasn’t just a game to us,” Violet exclaimed.
“It was more than that,” agreed Jessie. “A lot more.”
Henry added, “We were trying to win tickets to Swan Lake for our housekeeper, Mrs. McGregor.”
“I’m really sorry,” Chris said, handing the envelope back to Henry. “I don’t deserve this.”
Chopper Dan shook his head in surprise.
“You wanted a helicopter ride that much?” he asked his son. “I had no idea.”
“I think we can work something out,” said Mr. Porter. “We’ll make sure you get that ride in the sky with your dad, Chris.”
“Thanks so much!” said Chris. Then, turning to the Aldens, he added, “Sorry about the fake clue.”
“If you mean that,” said Jessie, “then you won’t play tricks on people anymore.”
“I won’t,” Chris promised. “Not ever.”
The next day, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny trooped into the dining room where Grandfather and Mrs. McGregor were waiting. Henry was carrying a birthday cake while everyone sang “Happy Birthday” at the top of their lungs. Even Watch woof-woof-woofed his way through the song.
“Oh, how beautiful!” Mrs. McGregor said, as Henry set the cake on the table.
“It’s your favorite,” Jessie told her. “Chocolate with caramel frosting.”
“Well, fancy that,” said Mrs. McGregor. “And just look at those sprinkles on the top—in the shape of a swan!”
“Well, you couldn’t get tickets to Swan Lake,” Henry said, his eyes twinkling, “so we made you a swan cake.”
“How thoughtful!” said Mrs. McGregor.
“Now make a wish, Mrs. McGregor,” Benny said. “Sometimes wishes really do come true.”
Their housekeeper closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out all the candles.
“Well done!” said Grandfather, as everyone clapped.
Benny held out an envelope. “Open this first, Mrs. McGregor,” he said. “Okay?”
Mrs. McGregor smiled at the youngest Alden. Then she opened the envelope Benny handed her. “Why, it’s a sketch of Watch!” she said, as she pulled out a birthday card.
“Violet drew it herself,” Benny said proudly.
“But everybody helped with the verse inside,” Violet was quick to add.
Mrs. McGregor opened the card and read the verse aloud.
We entered a race
and followed the clues
so somebody’s wishes
all would come true!
“Happy birthday, Mrs. McGregor!” Jessie handed their housekeeper another envelope.
“Oh, my!” said Mrs. McGregor. “What’s this?”
“Open it, Mrs. McGregor!” cried Benny. He was bouncing up and down with excitement.
The Aldens held their breath as she opened the envelope.
“Front-row tickets to Swan Lake?” the housekeeper blinked in surprise. “How in the world …?”
“It wasn’t easy, Mrs. McGregor,” Henry said with a grin. “First, we followed the Pied Piper, then—”
“We tracked down a giant turkey!” continued Benny.
“And don’t forget about the mermaid,” added Violet.
Mrs. McGregor laughed. “You know what?” she said. “I can’t wait to hear all about it!” |