Boxcar Children 56 - Firehouse Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

can from the bottom shelf.
    “Aw, they’re not going to mix it for us?” asked Benny with disappointment.
    “No, I’m afraid not,” said Henry, taking another can from the shelf.
    The Aldens decided that with the paint that was left over, they would only need a couple of more cans.
    Next they went to the art shop, which was just down the street,
    “Hello, Mr. Sanders,” said Violet to the man behind the counter. She liked to draw and paint, and came to the art store often to buy watercolor paints, drawing pencils, and large sketch pads.
    “Hello, Violet. What can I do for you today?” the store owner asked.
    “We need a large roll of brown paper to make a banner,” she said. “We’d also like to get some smaller sheets of heavy paper to make posters.”
    “And paints — in lots of colors,” added Benny.
    “Yes, and some brushes,” Jessie put in.
    “The large rolls of paper are in the back,” said Mr. Sanders. “Poster paper and paints and brushes are over there,” he went on, pointing to some shelves behind the children.
    “Thanks, Mr. Sanders,” said Violet, as Jessie and Benny began to select some jars of brightly colored poster paints and some soft brushes. Violet pulled out several large sheets of paper, and Henry went to the back to get the large roll of paper for the banner.
    When they were finished, the Aldens brought their selections up to the counter. Mr. Sanders rang up their purchases on the cash register, and Jessie gave him the money.
    Their last stop was the nursery, which was a few blocks away.
    As soon as they walked in, they saw what they were looking for. A large display had piles of evergreen boughs in different shapes and sizes.
    “Look,” said Henry, pointing to a sign. “They’re half price, since the holidays are over.”
    “Great!” said Jessie.
    The children selected two large boughs for each window box and took them up to the counter to pay for them.
    “These will look nice with the red brick of the firehouse,” Violet said.
    By the time they’d gotten everything done, it was lunchtime.
    “I’m hungry,” said Henry.
    “Wait a minute!” said Benny. “That’s what I was going to say!”
    Everyone laughed, because they all knew that Benny was always hungry.
    “How about pizza?” said Violet, motioning to the pizza parlor that was across from the nursery. From where they stood, they could smell the delicious aroma of pizza baking.
    “Let’s go!” said Henry.
    The pizza parlor was crowded, but Jessie found a table in the back and they all sat down.
    “I want pepperoni,” said Benny.
    “Me, too,” said Henry.
    “Yuck,” said Jessie. “I don’t like pepperoni. I want mushrooms.”
    “Mushrooms!” said Henry. “That sounds awful.”
    “I know what we can do,” said Violet, who hated to see anyone argue. “We’ll get half pepperoni and half mushroom. And since I like my pizza plain, I’ll just pick off the pieces of pepperoni and mushroom.”
    At last the steaming hot pizza pie arrived. The cheese was bubbling and gooey, and the sauce smelled spicy and delicious. The Aldens each picked up a slice of the kind they liked and started eating. Violet gave her extra mushrooms to Jessie and her extra pepperoni slices to Henry and Benny. In no time there was nothing left but a couple of crusts.
    “That was great!” said Henry as he and Violet headed back to the firehouse to arrange the evergreens and start painting the banner and posters.
    Meanwhile, Jessie and Benny went out to the corner to start getting signatures on their petition. It was a little bit chilly out, but they were wearing warm coats and hats.
    “Save the firehouse!” Jessie called out.
    “Come sign your name!” added Benny.
    “What’s that about the firehouse?” asked a man walking by. Jessie told him that the old building might be torn down.
    “That’s terrible,” the man said. “I’d be happy to sign.” He took the clipboard and pen from Benny and read the petition. Then he