by Linda S. Mills

Created on: October 11, 2010   Last Updated: October 19, 2010

WHO STOLE THE NEWS?

The Brookfield News always came early on Pine Street.  Each morning, 8th grader Joey Clark carefully tossed a folded newspaper on every porch in the neighborhood. But one chilly week in October, something strange happened.  The news just never arrived – and the neighbors became very confused.

On Monday, Mrs. Wiggins missed a sale on bananas and bought sour cherries instead.  On Tuesday, Mr. Gregory came down with the sniffles after getting caught in the rain without his umbrella.  On Wednesday, Mia and Tommy Brown were late for school because their mother didn’t know that the highway was closed for repair.

By Thursday, the neighbors gathered on the street and hollered in a panic “WHO STOLE THE NEWS?”

“Someone needs to get to the bottom of this,” said Mrs. Wiggins. 

“I’ll pay five dollars to the person who solves the mystery,” Mr. Gregory promised.

Mia and Tommy stepped forward.  “Don’t worry, we’ll find the thief.”

The prime suspect was the paperboy Joey Clark.  Mia and Tommy marched right up to his house, and his father greeted them.  “Hello kids, what can I do for you?” 

“We’re here to see Joey.  We think he may know something about the missing news.”

Joey was sitting at the kitchen table doing his homework.  Tommy eyed him carefully, “As you know, the news has been stolen and we’re here to see if you had anything to do with it.  Can you prove that you delivered the paper, as usual?”

“Of course I did, ask my dad.”  Joey looked at his father with concern. 

“It was a rainy week.  I helped by driving Joey around the neighborhood.  He had nothing to do with the crime.”

Mia and Tommy thanked Joey and his father for their time and headed over to Zac Porter’s house.  He was their friend and they knew he wasn't guilty.

Zac could hear them walking up the stairs and opened the door.   “Hey guys, what’s up?”

“We’re trying to find out who took all the newspapers,” Mia announced.

“You don’t think I had anything to do with it, do you?”

“No, not really, but we have to ask everyone,” Tommy reassured.  “Can we talk to your mom?”

Mrs. Porter was sitting in her office working at the computer.  With

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