The Garden Thief Read Online Free PDF

ribbons.”
    “They can do both things,” said Mr. Yee. “They can win blue ribbons, and then they can be eaten.”
    Alex ignored what Mr. Yee said. “I’m looking for Roger Walski,” he said, “but he’s not here yet. When you see him, can you give him a message?” he asked.
    “Sure,” said Henry. “If Mr. Walski is here today, we’ll give him a message.”
    “Good,” said Alex. “Please tell him my father still says no.”
    What did that mean? Jessie wondered.
    *  *  *
    The Aldens and Mr. Yee sat on the grass outside the plots and ate their breakfasts. Mr. Yee stopped in his garden first and picked some fresh snow peas and a few strawberries. They ate the snow peas with their scrambled egg sandwiches and the strawberries after.
    “This is a delicious breakfast,” said Violet.
    “It sure is,” said Henry.
    “It’s the best breakfast I’ve ever had!” shouted Benny.
    The others laughed. “Oh, Benny, you’ll say the same thing tomorrow,” kidded Jessie.
    Benny nodded. “I will if tomorrow is the best breakfast I ever had. And it will be,” he added, “if I have some of Mr. Yee’s snowpod peas and strawberries!”
    “Ah, Benny,” said Mr. Yee, “I think you are going to be a good gardener—as long as you don’t eat up everything you see!”
    They all laughed at that. Then they gathered up their sandwich wrappings and napkins and went to work in the garden.
    Henry spent the whole morning building trellises for the peas and beans. He enjoyed the work, and knew that the peas and beans would grow better once they had the trellises for support.
    Mr. Yee sat on the ground with Jessie and Violet and showed them how to transplant young broccoli plants.
    “My broccoli plants were stolen last week,” he told them. “It is too late to grow broccoli that will win a blue ribbon, but I can still grow some to eat.”
    “Why is it too late?” asked Violet.
    “Because broccoli grows best in cooler weather,” he said.
    After Mr. Yee was satisfied that Violet and Jessie were doing a good job, and that Henry didn’t need his help, he went to check on Benny, who was watering the strawberry plants.
    “Ah,” said Mr. Yee, “you are doing a very good job, Benny.”
    “Good,” said Benny. “I want the strawberries to be delicious.”
    Just then they heard the roar of a motor.
    Roger Walski zoomed up on a three-wheeled ATV that had a box strapped to the back. He turned off the motor and dismounted.
    “Today’s the day,” he told Benny. “Ready to taste a garden-fresh cucumber?”
    “Yes,” said Benny. “I love cucumbers.” He turned to Mr. Yee. “May I go taste Mr. Walski’s fresh cucumbers?” he asked.
    “Of course,” said Mr. Yee, “and I will come with you.”
    Benny and Mr. Yee followed Roger through the maze of garden paths.
    But when they reached the place where Roger’s cucumbers grew on trellises—the hanging vines were empty!
    “My cucumbers!” Roger screamed. “They’re all gone! I’ve been robbed!”
    Before Mr. Yee or Benny could say anything, Roger hopped onto his three-wheeled vehicle and roared away, still shouting.
    “Poor Roger,” said Mr. Yee. “Another victim of this terrible, terrible garden thief.”
    “Poor Mr. Walski,” said Benny. “He’s very upset. He isn’t as cool as a cucumber.”

CHAPTER 6
The Lumpy Shapes
    The following morning the children had breakfast at their usual time, in their usual place: at home.
    Mrs. McGregor had made granola and served it with milk and fresh strawberries that Benny had brought home from Mr. Yee’s garden.
    “These are delicious strawberries,” said Mrs. McGregor.
    “Mr. Yee has two long rows of them,” said Benny, “and it’s my job to water them. He let me pick these yesterday.”
    “I’m so glad you’re helping Mr. Yee,” said Mrs. McGregor. “When your grandfather comes home this afternoon, he’ll be very pleased that you’re helping his old friend.”
    “What are we going to do today,