The Disappearing Friend Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

mean?” Benny asked.
    â€œWe could earn money to give to the hospital,” Henry said.
    â€œYes,” said Jessie. “We could hold a car wash.”
    â€œOr baby-sit,” chimed in Violet.
    â€œOr have a bake sale,” said Benny, his eyes twinkling at the thought.
    Henry grinned at his little brother. “Those all sound like good ideas.”
    â€œWell,” said Beth. “Why not do them all ?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” asked Henry. “How could we do that?”
    Beth turned her cart up the next aisle and Henry did the same with his. They walked slowly, pushing their carts as they talked and shopped.
    â€œWell, where I used to live, my friends and I made money by having a helper service,” said Beth. “People could call us for whatever they needed—baby-sitting, car washing, leaf-raking, or dog walking. . . .”
    â€œOr errands or cleaning or whatever,” said Jessie excitedly. “What a great idea, Beth.”
    Beth’s cheeks turned pink. “Thank you,” she said.
    Violet spoke up. “Why don’t you work with us, since you thought of it? It would be lots of fun.”
    Beth hesitated for a minute. Then she said, “I’d love to.”
    â€œI’d still rather have a bake sale,” said Benny.
    â€œMaybe we still will,” said Violet, smiling.
    â€œWe need to make posters to advertise,” said Jessie. “Beth, could you come over tomorrow? We could all make them together.”
    Again Beth hesitated. “I . . . think so. Okay!”
    â€œOh, good,” said Benny. “You can meet Watch. And Grandfather. And Mrs. McGregor —she’s our housekeeper. And you can see our boxcar.”
    The Aldens couldn’t help but smile at Beth’s puzzled look. They explained how they had lived in a boxcar before they’d come to Greenfield to live with their grandfather Alden. They were orphans, and had run away when they’d heard that Grandfather was a mean person. When he had found them and their boxcar, they’d realized how kind he was and how silly they’d been to run away. They had gone to live with him, and they’d been happy there ever since.
    â€œAnd Grandfather moved the boxcar so it’s behind our house and we can visit it whenever we want,” Benny said.
    â€œI can hardly wait to see your boxcar, and to meet Watch, and to make posters,” said Beth.
    â€œWhere do you live?” asked Henry.
    When Beth told him, he said, “Good. That’s not far from where we live. You’ll be able to get to our house quickly, especially if you have a bicycle.”
    â€œI do,” said Beth. “Should I bring anything?”
    â€œWe have plenty of art supplies,” said Violet. “Can you come around ten o’clock?”
    â€œI think so,” said Beth.
    â€œWho do we give the money to?” asked Benny suddenly.
    â€œThe hospital,” said Violet.
    â€œWe should find out who’s in charge at the hospital,” said Jessie.
    â€œWe can stop by there after we drop off the groceries,” Henry said.
    They stopped at the end of the next aisle. Jessie consulted the grocery list. “That’s everything,” she announced.
    They waited while Henry explained to Beth how to get to their house. Then Beth looked at her very full grocery cart. “I’d better hurry. I still have some more shopping to do. I hope the grocery store can deliver all this!”
    â€œIf we had our errand service, we could do it!” Henry said, laughing. “But the store delivers.”
    â€œGood,” said Beth. She waved cheerfully and pushed her cart back up the aisle. “See you tomorrow.”
    â€œSee you tomorrow,” echoed the Aldens.
    They paid for their groceries and started to walk home.
    â€œBeth is nice,” said Violet.
    â€œAnd that was a great idea she had,” said Henry.
    â€œI think so, too,” said