Case of the Topsy-Turvy Toy by Aaron Rosenberg

Author:Aaron Rosenberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2011-04-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Penny was tearing her napkin up into tiny pieces. “I don’t get this riddle,” she said. “What two words contain the most letters?”

They were all eating lunch together at Jest Joking. Benny was there, too. He had gone to check on his shop and brought back sandwiches for everyone.

Pete shrugged. “Together, I’m sure we can think up lots of long words,” he answered. “Let’s start making a list.” Pete took out a pencil and his notebook. Everyone made suggestions.

‟Adventurous and hippopotamus are long words,” suggested Penny.

“How about fantastical imagination,” Benny said.

“Or scrumptious confectionary?” Rupert offered.

“I know! I know!” said Elliot. “It’s got to be superduperdiddleyumpty tudiniferous!”

Pete laughed. “Those aren’t real words!”

“The riddle did not say ‘what two real words, ’” replied Elliot.

“We need a dictionary,” Penny muttered.

Just then, the door chime rang. “Hello, Jests!” a voice called out. A man stepped inside. He wore a blue jacket and a blue cap. He carried a large canvas bag filled with mail.

“Mr. Parcel!” Pete and Penny called out.

“Well, hello, young Pizzarellis!” Mr. Parcel replied. He placed mail on the counter. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” When Mr. Parcel delivered mail to the pizza parlor, he often brought a riddle for Pete and Penny to solve.

Penny snapped her fingers. Mr. Parcel was great at giving riddles, she thought. Maybe he can solve them, too! “We actually have a riddle for you today!” She glanced at Rupert and Elliot. They both nodded.

“Really?” Mr. Parcel rubbed his hands together. “Let’s hear it!”

“What two words contain the most letters?” Penny recited the riddle from the fountain.

Mr. Parcel thought for a minute. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he laughed. “Oh, that’s easy! Post and office—the post office!”

“You’re a genius!” Rupert said. He pulled the tiny key out of his pocket. He handed it to the mailman. “Then this key must open a post-office box!”

Mr. Parcel studied the tiny key. “Yep, it’s for one of our boxes,” he replied. “Box three hundred fourteen.” He pointed to the number on the key.

“Let’s go!” Elliot shouted. “Uh, Benny?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Benny answered. “I’ll watch the shop until you get back.”

“Thanks!” Elliot ran outside. The others followed him.

“Good luck!” Mr. Parcel called after them as they raced down the street. Fortunately the post office was only a few blocks away.

Penny reached the post office first. She went to open the door and was almost knocked over by a woman who was rushing out. “Pardon me,” the woman said. She was wearing a big hat decorated with yellow flowers along the brim. Penny couldn’t see the woman’s face under the big, floppy hat, but something about her seemed familiar. The woman hurried off.

Pete and the Jests caught up to Penny. “Let’s find that box! ” Elliot said. He led the way into the post office.

The post-office boxes took up one wall. Pete scanned the numbers. It’s got to be here somewhere, thought Pete. “Here it is! ” he called out. He pointed to the right box.

Rupert inserted the key and turned it.

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