Sly the Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries Read Online Free PDF Page A

grumpily. “And he’s got a doghouse for the day.”
    â€œYeah, but a doghouse isn’t as interesting as a cooler.You think I could find one big enough for him?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said even more grumpily. “What do you need help with?”
    â€œDon’t make fun of me.”
    â€œI won’t.”
    Melody lay down in the grass on her stomach. She held out her arms in front. “Pull me.”

    â€œPull you?”
    â€œI didn’t get my full kickboard workout because I didn’t have my fins. So I need extra practice. Pull.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œJust pull. And I’ll kick. It’ll be like I’m in the pool.”
    This was the wackiest idea I’d ever heard from Melody. “Have you been talking to Brian?”
    Melody sat up in a huff. “You said you wouldn’t make fun.”
    â€œMelody, this makes no sense.”
    â€œYes it does. Coach said it was good to have people pull us while we kick.”
    â€œHe meant in a pool.”
    â€œWell, I don’t have a pool,” said Melody. “I have grass.”
    â€œThere’s too much friction.”
    Melody went over to her garbage can. She took out a big cardboard box. She flattened it. Then she lay down on it and held out her arms. “Either pull or go home.”
    I pulled.
Spring
    Thursday at lunch Melody came in wearing her backpack again.
    She sat down beside me. “You’re not going to believe what I found in my cubby.”
    â€œReally?” I said.
    She took off the backpack and unzipped the big compartment.
    Two long red fins were stuffed inside. “They’re pretty,” I said.
    â€œThey were there when I got to school.”
    â€œStrange,” I said.
    â€œDo you think I’m losing my mind?”
    I thought about pulling Melody through the grass the day before. I swallowed. “Not really.”
    â€œWhat do I owe you?”
    â€œIt wasn’t a real case,” I said.“Don’t pay me.”
    â€œAll right,” said Melody. “But I’ll give you two baseball cards, as a present then.”
    Melody didn’t play baseball, but she collected the cards.
    â€œThanks.”
    Jack plopped down across from us. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œIt’s private,” said Melody. “Don’t you usually eat with the guys?”
    â€œThey don’t give me carrots,” said Jack.
    Melody looked at me.
    â€œI didn’t actually give him carrots,” I said. “I pointed one at him and he took it.”
    â€œSo, anyway, how’s the swimming?” asked Jack.
    Melody looked at me again.
    â€œI guess it sort of slipped out,” I said.
    â€œNot a good enough kicker for it, huh?” said Jack. “Your coach giving you a hard time?”
    â€œHey, be nice,” said Melody,“or I’ll go out for soccer and kick your you-know-what.”
    Jack’s mouth dropped open. “You’re going to go out for the spring league?”
    â€œWho knows what I’ll do in spring? I might do anything.” Melody got up. “See you later, Sly. We can practice in the grass after school.”
    She left. Without eating.
    And what was all this talk about spring? Yesterday she said spring would be ruined without her swim fins. And now she said she might do anything in spring.
    Jack got up.
    â€œDon’t you dare leave me sitting here alone,” I said.
    Jack left.
    I really did have cooties.
    Way to give a girl a complex.
    I lost my appetite.
Generosity
    After school, Melody went home to eat. She said she was starving because she’d skipped lunch.
    I said I was hungry too. I don’t use words like “starving.” I’m not dramatic. But she didn’t invite me in.
    I went home with two new baseball cards. Taxi’s cooler sat by the porch step. I peeked inside. No Taxi.
    Brian came out of his house. “Wilson got