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The Carpet Calamity

Suspects:
1. Maggie
2. Billy
3. Janet
4. John

"Honestly, John!" said Susan, looking at her son's muddy feet. "It will take a week of scrubbing to get you clean."

Susan sat on a patio chair, looking across her back yard to where her ten-year-old son John was busy playing in a mud puddle. Sitting next to her was her neighbor Maggie, who was visiting for the day. Maggie's nine-month-old son Billy crawled on the floor next to them, playing with wooden building blocks.

"Kids," complained Susan. "They always find some way to make a mess, don't they?"

"Tell me about it," agreed Maggie. "My little Billy is always digging around in things he shouldn't. I've had to put child-safety locks on every cupboard in the house!"

"I know," said Susan. "I had to do that when the children were younger. Now that my sister has a baby, I've had to put them on again. I guess you can never be too careful."

As the two women sat enjoying the afternoon sun, Susan's thirteen-year-old daughter came out of the house. She had been working all day making posters to promote recycling at her school. Since she had already taken charge of the recycling at home, she found the posters were quite easy to make.

"I'm done with my school project, mom," she said.

"Well done, honey," said Susan. "Why don't you take your brother down to the beach? Try to get him to wash those muddy feet if he can."

"Alright," answered Janet. "C'mon, John. Grab your muddy little shoes and let's go."

John and Janet walked across the yard and through the back gate. Billy crawled over to the grass and watched curiously as a ladybug crawled up a blade of grass.

"What would you say to a nice glass of lemonade?" offered Susan.

"Oh that would be divine!" answered Maggie.

"Right, stay there and I'll get some from the kitchen," said Susan rising from her chair.

As she walked through the back door, a thought occurred to her. This would be a perfect chance to use those new crystal glasses she had received for her birthday. She kept them in a cupboard in the dining room and hadn't even used them yet.

She walked down the hallway to the dining room, enjoying the feel of brand new carpet under her bare feet. She had recently had every room in the house re-covered in white, expensive carpet. But upon entering the dining room she discovered the most horrifying scene she could possibly imagine.

"No!" she screamed. "My carpet! My beautiful carpet!"

Dark red stains covered the whole room. Her brand new and very expensive white carpet was marked

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