The Clue in the Recycling Bin by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2010-08-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

The Intruder

As the children worked, Mrs. Wickett left the recycling center and went home. Violet noticed that Mrs. Wickett was smiling.

Just as the children finished hauling the last of the boxes into the center and sorting the recycling, they heard a huge boom of thunder.

“Uh-oh,” said Jessie. “I don’t think we can walk home before the rain comes.” Even as Jessie spoke, droplets of rain began to fall from the sky.

Kayla came running up to them. “Better get into my studio,” she said. “It’s going to pour!”

As the children ran toward the studio with Kayla, they saw Chad running there, too.

Kayla and the Aldens ran into the small shed. Chad ducked into the studio right behind them.

In just that short time, the rain turned from droplets to a heavy downpour.

“It might rain all day,” Chad said. “I can give you kids a ride home.”

“No, thank you,” said Henry. “We’ll wait for our Grandfather to get home and pick us up.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have to wait all day,” said Kayla. “I’ll take you home in my van.” Kayla handed Jessie her cell phone. “Call your grandfather and tell him that Kayla Korty is giving you a ride home.”

Jessie dialed Grandfather, and Grandfather asked to speak to Kayla. Then he asked to speak to Jessie again.

“You can ride with Kayla,” said Grandfather. “I know her parents.”

Chad turned and walked out into the rain. “If you don’t want a ride,” he said, “there’s no sense in my hanging around. I’ll go home, too.”

Jessie watched as Kayla used newspaper and cloth to cover up everything on her workbench. Jessie wondered if Kayla was hiding something.

Kayla locked the studio door, and they all ran to her van and piled in. But before Kayla could pull into the street, Chad came running up to them.

“My car won’t start,” he said. “Can you give me a ride? I don’t live far.”

“Sure,” said Kayla. “Hop in.”

By the time Chad squeezed into the van, he was soaked.

“Thanks,” he said to Kayla.

“Where to?” she asked him.

“Oh, you can drop the kids off first,” he said. “I’m in no hurry.”

Jessie thought that Chad had better manners when he needed something, like a ride home.

As Kayla drove the Aldens home, Chad asked them how they became interested in the recycling center. They told him they learned about recycling in school, and that with the help of their grandfather and Mrs. McGregor, they had set up recycling boxes in their garage.

“We used to have to take the newspapers to one town, and the plastics and glass to another,” said Henry. “Now we can take everything to one center here in Greenfield.”

“You take old newspapers and cans and bottles to the center,” said Chad, “and you take things home from the center.”

“Only if we want to,” said Jessie.

“We didn’t know we could take things home until we saw Mrs. McGregor’s big green frog,” said Benny.

“Yes,” laughed Kayla, “that is one really big, really green metal frog!” She seemed to think for a while. “I wish I hadn’t given that frog away.

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