OK,here goes the next one..a bit long,but gud one..
Daniel Cruz put down the mystery book he was reading. It had rained all morning, but it had stopped one chapter ago. Now the sun was shining. He decided to head outside.
After checking in with his mom, he headed down the block to the Burnside Apartment complex, where most of his friends lived. There was usually something fun going on there.
As he approached the buildings, he saw a bunch of kids playing football in the lot across the street. The lot was muddy from the rain, and the kids? clothes and shoes were covered in brown gunk.
Maybe later, Nick thought. He didn?t exactly feel like getting muddy just yet.
Then he spotted his friend Kelly Myers on the stoop in front of her family?s apartment. She had her chin in her hands, and her long blond hair hung down in front of her face. She looked really sad.
?Kelly, what?s the matter?? Daniel asked, as he walked up to her.
Kelly picked up a small metallic blue video-game player sitting on her lap. ?When the rain stopped, I came outside to play Mega Racer on my GamePal,? she said. ?Then grandma called down because she needed help on the computer. I ran upstairs and left my GamePal on the steps. When I came back down, Mega Racer was missing.?
Daniel frowned. GamePal game cartridges were really small?not more than an inch wide. He had lost one of his own GamePal cartridges before, and it wasn?t easy to find.
?Think it slipped out of the GamePal?? he asked.
Kelly shook her head. ?I had the game on pause. It was locked in place,? she said. ?Probably somebody took it. I should never have left it outside.?
?Who could have taken it?? Nick asked. ?Was anyone hanging around when you left??
Kelly thought. ?Emily Ang was riding her scooter around the courtyard. But she?s really nice. I don?t think she would have taken my game.?
?But maybe she saw something,? Daniel pointed out. ?Let?s see if we can find her.?
Daniel and Kelly didn?t have to go far?they walked down to the end of the block and saw Emily heading toward them on her scooter. Her long, black hair hung down from under her white safety helmet. She wore a pink shirt, a denim skirt, and white sneakers.
?Hey, Emily,? Daniel said. He and Kelly explained what had happened to Kelly?s Mega Racer game.
Emily looked surprised. ?That?s horrible. I saw Kelly go inside. Then I decided to loop around the apartments.? She paused. ?You know, I think I saw Evan Kennedy walking up to our building as I was leaving.?
Kelly grimaced. ?Evan? He?s always trying to borrow my Mega Racer game, but I won?t let him. He never gives stuff back.?
Daniel raised an eyebrow. ?Let?s go talk to him.?
They thanked Emily and headed to Evan?s apartment, which was around the corner from Kelly?s. They found him on his steps, laughing and talking with some of his friends. Evan?s brown hair was cut in a crew cut. He wore camouflage shorts and a black t-shirt. Daniel noticed that his white sneakers looked brand-new.
?Hi, Evan,? Kelly said, her voice a little angry. ?What?re you doing??
?Sitting on my steps, what does it look like I?m doing?? Evan snapped. His friends laughed.
?Somebody stole Kelly?s Mega Racer game out of her GamePal,? Daniel said. ?We were wondering if you saw anything.?
Evan scowled. ?Why are you asking me? I wasn?t anywhere near there.?
?That?s funny,? Daniel said. ?Because Emily saw you near Kelly?s building.?
?Yeah, so what?? Evan asked. ?I was playing football in the lot across the street. Besides, I saw a game cartridge sticking out of Emily?s back pocket. I bet she?s the one who took the stupid game!?
Daniel looked thoughtful. ?Did you go anywhere else after you played football??
?No, I came right here,? Evan insisted.
Daniel turned to Kelly. ?I know who took your Mega Racer game, and I can prove it!?
Who is it???
Moderation Team
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