The Stinky Sneakers Mystery Read Online Free

stinky sneakers mystery.”
    Abby raised her hand. “Whosethumbprint is missing?”
    â€œJason’s,” he said.
    Jason stood up without being asked. He went to the front of the room.
    All eyes were on him.
    Eric opened his black ink pad. “Press your right thumb here,” he said.
    Jason pushed his thumb down. The pad felt gooey.
    Eric pointed to a piece of paper. “Roll your thumb on this.”
    Jason obeyed. Then he lifted his thumb off the paper and looked down. Oval lines were there—where his thumb had been.
    â€œLet’s see if they match,” Eric said. He compared Jason’s thumbprint and the print on the cheese.
    Miss Hershey watched closely.
    All the kids stared.
    Three fans hummed.
    And Jason’s heart thumped. Hard.

ELEVEN
    Miss Hershey stood up.
    Jason . . . Jason . . . His name flew around the room.
    â€œQuiet, please,” Miss Hershey said.
    Jason wanted to hide.
    â€œI want you to stay after school,” his teacher said. “Do you understand why?”
    Jason nodded. “Yes, Miss Hershey.”
    After school, Jason wrote fifty times: I will treat others with respect.
    Then Jason took the paper to Miss Hershey. “I have something to tell you,” he said.
    Miss Hershey looked up.
    â€œI’m sorry about the stinky sneakers.” Jason took a deep breath. “I just—” He paused.
    â€œWhat is it, Jason?”
    â€œEric just made me so mad. I couldn’t find my project this morning, and Eric made fun. He said I didn’t even have one. But I did. A really super—” He stopped.
    He didn’t want to brag about the sprouts. Bragging had gotten him in big trouble.
    Jason’s voice grew soft. “I lost my science project.”
    â€œCan you find it by tomorrow?”
    Jason felt better. “I hope so.”
    Miss Hershey smiled. “So do I.”
    Jason couldn’t believe his ears. Tomorrow was the judging. If he found his sprouts, they might still win first place!
    He ran all the way home.

    At home, Jason searched for his sprouts.
    He looked in the garage and on the back deck. He looked under the front porch. He even searched the attic.
    But his project was missing. Maybe forever!
    Then the doorbell rang.
    Jason’s mother called to him.
    He sat on the beanbag in his room feeling sad. “Who is it?”
    â€œYour friends are here to see you.”
    Jason sighed. He didn’t move an inch.
    Soon, he heard giggling. It was Stacy and Abby. He’d know their giggles anywhere.
    Jason got up and scurried down the hall. The living room was full of kids—the Cul-de-sac Kids.
    Stacy and Abby were still giggling. And now his mother was, too!
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” Jason asked.
    Abby poked her hands in her pocket. “Oh, nothing.”
    Stacy tried to stop laughing.
    Dunkum asked, “Where did you see your sprouts last?”
    Jason thought. “On my windowsill,” he said.
    â€œ After that,” said Stacy.
    Jason thought some more. “Beats me.”
    â€œWell, think!” Eric said.
    Jason felt nervous. He looked around the room at his friends. “Do you know something I don’t?” he asked.
    All of them nodded.
    Jason jumped up and down. “You’ve found my sprouts?”
    Eric pointed to the kitchen. “Look! I can see them from here.”
    Jason whirled around. He stared straight ahead. Eric was right! The sprouts were in plain sight—on top of therefrigerator. Right where Stacy had put them.
    Jason raced to the kitchen. He dragged a chair across the floor.
    Zoom! He dashed back into the living room. His friends were smiling. Really smiling.
    Jason stood there holding his sprouts. His stomach was in knots. “I’m sorry,” he began. “I did a horrible thing . . . I mean about the cheese in your sneakers.”
    Dunkum went to stand beside Jason. “That’s okay.”
    Eric frowned. “That’s easy for