Ice Cream Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

one?” Benny asked, handing a flier to the man.
    “What’s this?” the man said, examining the flier.
    “Advertising,” Brianna replied.
    “And this is your advertising staff?” the man said, grinning.
    Brianna grinned back, then introduced everyone. “As you know, we buy our basic flavors—vanilla, chocolate, strawberry —from Marcos,” she explained to the Aldens.
    “He also provides some, of our ice-cream treats, such as ice-cream sandwiches.”
    “If your business grows like you want it to, you’re going to need more than basic flavors from me,” Marcos said. “You’ll never have time to make all the special flavors you do now.”
    “Someone was just saying that to me a few days ago,” Katy commented. “She had lots of ideas to make us into a big business. If we hired her to run things, she said, we’d be ice-cream kings.”
    “Good thing she didn’t convince you,” Brianna said. “We don’t want to be ice-cream kings, or queens, or anything like that. We just want to make the best ice cream around.”
    “You do!” said Benny.
    “I have to admit, it tastes very, very good. But you could give your flavor recipes to my company and we could make batches for you, you know,” Marcos said.
    “No,” said Katy firmly. “And I’m not going to change my mind, no matter what you say.”
    Holding up his hands, Marcos said, “Okay, okay. Maybe you’re not going to change your mind...yet.”
    “Make a note and put it in our new suggestion box,” Brianna said with a wink.
    Marcos laughed. “See you next week,” he said, and got up.
    “Don’t forget our order forms,” Brianna said, handing him several sheets of paper.
    Marcos tucked the papers into a folder. “If you want to change your order, you know where to reach me,” he said. He waved and headed out the door.
    “The suggestion box looks good,” Violet said admiringly.
    “It does, doesn’t it?” Katy said in a pleased voice. “I hired the right business manager and partner when I hired my granddaughter.”
    Brianna blushed, but she looked pleased, too.
    “I have a suggestion,” Henry said briskly. “I suggest we get to work putting up these posters and handing out these fliers.”
    “Tell you what,” Brianna said. “When you’re finished, stop back by here and I’ll give you a ride on the ice-cream wagon.”
    “Hooray!” said Benny.
    “We’ll be back,” Jessie promised.

CHAPTER 5
Is This Your Horse?
    “Next stop, the library,” Brianna announced from the driver’s seat of the ice-cream wagon. She guided Butterscotch across the grass and under the shade of a large old oak tree next to the library building. “Why don’t you ring the wagon bell, Benny.”
    Benny leaned forward and gave the bell a long, loud ring. “I’m getting good at this,” he announced.
    “You sure are,” Brianna agreed.
    The Aldens had been riding in the ice-cream wagon all afternoon, taking turns sitting up on the driver’s seat with Brianna, helping dish up ice cream, peering out the top half of the Dutch door at the back of the wagon.
    Now, as the wagon halted, Henry unlatched the Dutch door, pushed it open, and walked around to Butterscotch. He took the reins from Brianna and tied Butterscotch to the tree.
    Jessie helped lower the steps from the driver’s seat, while Violet pushed open the side window from which the ice cream was served.
    Brianna went to join Violet inside the wagon, but Benny stayed up in the wagon seat. He liked being there. He waved at everybody he saw and called out, “Ice cream sold here!”
    Now he talked excitedly. “Look! There’s Thelma from the bike shop! Hi, Thelma. I’ve seen lots of people I know today. Marcos, in his blue and white truck. I like his truck. It’s not as nice as our wagon, though. And I saw three neighbors from our street. And two friends of Grandfather’s.”
    Listening to Benny chatter, Jessie patted Butterscotch’s nose, then filled her water bucket. Brianna always carried a