The Lacrosse Mix-Up by Mike Lupica

Author:Mike Lupica
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2019-11-04T16:00:00+00:00

FIVE

At dinner, Danny and Tess Walker asked the twins if they’d made any progress solving their latest mystery.

“Well, today in class, there was a scratching noise that seemed to be coming from the roof,” Zoe said. “Ms. Moriarty thought it was just the tree branches rubbing up against the building.”

“We’re not even sure if that’s a real clue,” Zach said. “But it’s something.”

“Except,” Zoe said, “Ms. Moriarty let me run behind the school before Zach and I got on the bus. I didn’t see any limbs touching the outside of our classroom.”

Zach cleared his throat. “Zoe didn’t tell me where she’d been until we were riding home,” he said. “For a while there, I thought I might have to solve the case of my missing sister.”

Zoe grinned at her brother.

“I was just investigating,” she said. “Like you’re going to do tomorrow when you look around the storage closet.”

Now Zach was the one grinning, just at their parents.

“She thinks she’s the lead detective,” he said, throwing a thumb in Zoe’s direction.

“Do not,” Zoe said. “We’re equals.”

“As long as you’re the equal in charge,” Zach said, and everyone at the table laughed.

“I just want to figure this out so badly,” Zoe said, slumping in her chair.

Zach chuckled. “That’s no surprise.”

“And,” their dad said, placing a hand on Zoe’s shoulder, “I have complete confidence that the two of you will crack this case the way you do every mystery.”

They had finished their dessert by then. Strawberry shortcake, one of the twins’ favorites. But none of the Walkers were in any rush to leave the table. It was everybody’s favorite part of the day. The twins got to tell their parents everything that had happened at school.

But it was more than just Zach and Zoe talking. It was the way their parents listened. Tess Walker told the twins that it was a rare gift to be a truly good listener.

“I don’t want either one of you to get discouraged,” Danny Walker said. “Just do what you always do, in school or in sports: power through when you get to the hard parts. This is just like a game. Not everything is going to go your way.”

“We didn’t even get to practice today,” Zoe said, resting her head in her hands. “It started raining right before the bell rang. By the time the clouds were gone and the sun came out, our bus was almost all the way home.”

“Well,” Tess Walker said, “if you need some sports activity, the weather outside looks pretty sweet right now.”

“How about we take our minds off lacrosse for a few minutes,” Danny Walker said, “and play a little Walker family basketball in the driveway.”

“But, Dad,” Zach said, “it’s lacrosse season right now.”

“Your dad knows that,” Tess Walker said. “But in his heart, basketball is never out of season.”

They all quickly cleared the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Zach and Zoe were already wearing their sneakers. Their parents went to get theirs. It was decided that tonight it would be the Walker women against the Walker men.

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