Claudia and the Mystery Painting by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2015-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

By the time I returned home from the museum, I was starving. I took a shoe box down from the top shelf of my closet and opened it. I could smell the chocolate even before I tore the wrapping off the Hershey’s bar. My mouth was actually watering. I broke it into squares and put three into my mouth at once, letting them melt.

Then I reached for the telephone book under my bed and turned to the business pages. There it was, Estates Unlimited, in bold letters. I picked up the phone to dial the number listed and heard Kristy on the stairs.

“Hi, Claud. I’m starved,” she said.

I popped the last chocolate squares in my mouth, then opened a desk drawer and rooted around until I found some Hershey’s Kisses. I tossed Kristy a couple and kept a few for myself. I also set out a bag of white cheddar popcorn and some Gummy Bears, in case anyone else was hungry.

“Can you believe that man?” I heard Mary Anne say to Stacey as they ran up the stairs.

“He acted as if it were his house!” Stacey said.

“Who are you talking about?” I asked.

“Mr. Ogura,” they said in unison.

“I was so glad when he finally left,” said Stacey.

“He was at the Madden house?”

Stacey nodded.

“I saw him at the museum too,” I said.

“Did you talk to Mrs. O’Neal?” Abby asked as she burst into the room.

“She’s going to try it again,” I said. “She wants some kids there tomorrow. I told her you would be there too, Mary Anne. Is that still okay?”

Mary Anne nodded. “I already wrote it down. Abby, are you coming?”

“I was planning on it. I’m supposed to sit for Jamie, and his mom is going to drop us off at the museum.”

“Who else might want to go?” Mary Anne asked.

“Go where?” Mal replied. She and Jessi sank down to the floor beside the bed.

“We’re going to try something new at the Kaleidoscope Room before it opens on Friday,” said Mary Anne.

“Margo might want to go,” Mal said. “I think the rest of the kids have something to do tomorrow. I’ll check with Mom and call you.” Margo is Mal’s seven-year-old sister. If we’re not careful, she’ll take charge of the Kaleidoscope Room and Mrs. O’Neal all by herself. She’s going through a bossy stage these days.

“What about Becca?” Mary Anne asked Jessi.

“Can’t. She has a doctor’s appointment.”

“Corrie is always willing to try an art project,” I said.

“She might not be after the last time,” said Abby.

“But she has a lot of imagination. I’ll call her mom and tell her that it’s going to be different this time. And what about Jimmy Cook? He might like to leave his house for a change. And he said he likes to paint.”

“How’s the cat, by the way?” Mal asked.

“She’s doing fine,” said Mary Anne. “In fact, she acts as if she’s always lived in the house, as queen of the place. Jimmy fixed her a basket to sleep in, and they bought her some food.

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