by Sandy Steele

Created on: April 22, 2008   Last Updated: June 11, 2008

The Case of the Missing Potato Salad

Grandma makes the best potato salad in the whole world. Eleven year-old Jane was excited to enjoy fourth of July with all her relatives. Of all the things Jane was looking forward to it was Grandma's potato salad.

Anyone that had tasted it fell in love with it. All but Susie and Michael; Jane's twin cousins. They were younger then Jane and very picky eaters. The rest of the grandkids listened to Susie and Michael, and they have yet to try the potato salad. Try as she might in past years, Jane could not convince her younger cousins to eat Grandma's potato salad.

This year Jane was determined to convince everyone it was the best potato salad ever. She just had to think of what to do in order to make that happen. When her family got to Grandma's they noticed all the other families had already arrived. Including Susie and Michael.

"Jane dear," Grandma said nervously, "I'm afraid we won't be having any of my potato salad this year.

"Grandma what happened?" Jane asked.

"I made it last night and this morning it was gone. Including the bowl. I can't imagine who would do such a thing." Grandma said.

This puzzled Jane for a moment, but then remember how much her younger cousins disliked the potato salad. "Grandma, don't worry. I'll find the missing potato salad."

"Bless your heart dear."

The search began with Jane talking with all the cousins. She would talk with Susie and Michael last. First was five year old Benny.

"Benny, did you see anyone in the kitchen this morning?" Jane began.

"I saw everyone in the kitchen," the five year old replied.

"Was Grandma in the kitchen?" Jane asked.

"Grandma's always in the kitchen." he said.

Jane quickly realized she wouldn't get anywhere with Benny. She asked one final question before leaving, "Have you seen Grandma's potato salad?"

"Last I saw, it was on the kitchen counter, but that was last night." Benny answered as he thought about it.

"Thanks, Benny." Jane then turned to find another cousin. She spotted ten year-old Melanie, but all she got out of the shy girl was that when she went to get a glass of milk for breakfast it was in the fridge.

Talking to herself Jane realized that the potato salad was still in the fridge before breakfast. Since she hadn't arrived until almost one in the afternoon, it could be anywhere by now.

Only one other cousin besides the twins to interview. That was eight year-old Kelly. She told Jane, "I remember seeing it when I was clearing the table after breakfast. But then Grandpa

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