The Disappearing Friend Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

CHAPTER 1
    A New Friend
    T he Alden children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny, were in the supermarket shopping for groceries. Henry, who was fourteen, was pushing the cart. Twelve-year-old Jessie was holding the grocery list.
    The Greenfield supermarket was crowded. Families went up and down the aisles filling their carts. Benny, the youngest of the Aldens, watched the other shoppers and the food they were buying with interest.
    â€œAll this shopping is making me awfully hungry,” Benny said. He was six. He looked hopefully at his ten-year-old sister, Violet, who was in charge of getting the things off the shelves as Jessie read the list. “Could we get some peanut butter, Violet?”
    Violet laughed softly. “Oh, Benny, I’m sure there’s plenty of peanut butter at home. Mrs. McGregor always keeps it on hand for you.”
    â€œBut we might need more,” said Benny. “Maybe it’s on the list.”
    Jessie, who was very organized, looked at the paper in her hand. “It’s not on the list, Benny. But we can get a little more, I think.”
    â€œOh, good,” said Benny. He hurried ahead to the peanut butter. He studied all the different jars carefully, then chose one and took it back to the cart.
    â€œIt sure is crowded here today,” said Henry. “Good thing we’re almost done.”
    â€œDon’t forget the flour, Violet,” Jessie said. She looked down at her list as Henry pushed the cart around to the end of the aisle.

    â€œOops!” he exclaimed, turning quickly sideways. He had almost run into another shopping cart.
    â€œWow!” cried Benny. “Look at all that food!”
    â€œI’m sorry,” said Henry to the sturdy, brown-haired girl who was pushing the very full cart. She was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt. She looked as if she were Jessie’s age. Her dark brown, chin-length hair was pulled back with a blue headband.
    The girl smiled, and her blue eyes crinkled. “That’s all right,” she said. She looked at Benny. “It is a lot of food, isn’t it? We’re new in town, and I’m doing some grocery shopping for my parents.”
    â€œDo you have a big family?” asked Benny. “With lots of brothers and sisters? These are my sisters and my brother, and we have a dog named Watch.”
    â€œWe don’t have a dog,” said the girl. “But I like them.”
    â€œOh, Benny,” said Jessie apologetically. “Hi. My name is Jessie Alden. This is Henry, and Violet. And Benny, of course.”
    â€œHi. I’m glad to meet you. My name is Beth Simon.”
    â€œWelcome to Greenfield, Beth,” said Violet.
    â€œThank you very much,” said Beth. “I like it here already. I hope we can stay a while —this time.”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t you stay here in Greenfield?” asked Benny.
    â€œMy parents are consultants for new companies. We have to move a lot,” she said.
    â€œIt must be fun seeing lots of new places,” said Jessie.
    Beth paused. “Well, it is. But it’s not always easy to meet people.”
    The Aldens and Beth had been walking slowly down the aisle as they talked. At the end of the aisle was a community bulletin board. Benny had stopped in front of it and was studying the signs.
    â€œ Help the . . . Help the ho . . .” he read aloud as Beth and Henry pushed the shopping carts closer.
    â€œHospital,” said Jessie. “The sign says that they’re building a new wing on the Greenfield hospital. They’re trying to raise money for it.”
    â€œHow?” asked Benny.
    â€œThey’re asking people to donate money,” explained Jessie.
    â€œCan anybody give money?” asked Benny. “Could we?”
    â€œIf we had some to give them, we could,” said Henry. He stopped the cart and looked at the other Aldens. “Maybe we could do that.”
    â€œWhat do you