The Tennis Trophy Mystery (5 page)

“Yes,” Cam said. “Maybe
she
thought the tennis trophy was hers.”

“You think Ms. Green took the trophy?” Eric asked.

“Yes,” Cam said. “She thinks she deserved to win the tournament.”

“She
did
deserve to win,” Ms. Benson said. “Mr. Day’s serve was out.”

“Can we go to Ms. Green’s room?” Cam asked. “Can we ask her if she took the trophy?”

“Not now,” Ms. Benson said. “School is almost over. Do your work. After school we’ll all go to Ms. Green and ask her.”

“We’ll miss our bus,” Eric said.

“I’ll drive you home. I’ll call your parents and tell them. I’m sure they won’t mind.”

Ms. Benson went to the front of the room. Cam and Eric looked in their math books again. They worked quietly until the school bell rang.

“It’s about time!” Danny called out. “I’ve learned enough.”

Danny and the other children put their books away. They went to the closet and put on their jackets. Cam and Eric did, too. They all followed Ms. Benson outside.

“We’re not going home on the bus,” Cam and Eric told Mrs. Lane, their bus driver.

Cam, Eric, and Ms. Benson waited for the buses to drive off. Then they went to the music room to see Ms. Green.

They didn’t have to ask her if she took the tennis trophy. It was on her desk.

“That’s Mr. Day’s trophy,” Eric said.

“I just borrowed it,” Ms. Green said. “I left a note.”

The trophy had a large base. Set on top was a small silver figure of a tennis player.

“Mr. Day didn’t see your note,” Cam said. “We spent all day looking for the trophy.”

“I did leave a note,” Ms. Green said. She took the trophy from the desk. “I’ll show it to you,” she said as she walked into the hall.

Cam, Eric, and Ms. Benson followed Ms. Green to the gym. Mr. Day was in his office.

“There it is!” Mr. Day said. “There’s my trophy.
You
took it!”

Ms. Green gave it to Mr. Day.

“But I left you a note,” she said.

“I have lots of notes here,” Mr. Day said. He searched through the many papers, newspapers, and magazines on his desk and on the floor.

Then he pulled out a lined sheet of paper.

“That’s it,” Ms Green said.

Mr. Day read the note aloud.

“‘I borrowed the tennis trophy. I want to see how it looks in my room. Don’t worry. I’ll bring it back. Doris Green.’

“Then you added a postscript. ‘I still think the ball was out. We should play another match and see who really is the better player.’”

Mr. Day looked up from the note.

“Sure,” he said. “Let’s have another match.”

“Fine,” Ms. Green said. “But this time, I don’t want Dr. Prell to be the umpire.”

Ms. Benson said, “Cam should be the umpire. If the ball bounces near the line, she’ll just go,
‘Click.
’She’ll take a mental picture of the ball. She can look at the picture she has in her head and know if it’s in or out.”

Mr. Day and Ms. Green set the game for the next day after school with Cam Jansen as the umpire.

Mr. Day set the trophy on his desk.

“Whoever wins the match,” he said, “wins the trophy.”

The next afternoon, a large crowd of teachers, parents, and children sat on the benches beside the school tennis court. Dr. Prell, the principal, was there. Cam’s and Eric’s parents were there, too. Cam sat by the net on a high umpire’s chair. Eric stood along the side, ready to get balls that were out of play.

Cam tossed a coin to see who would serve first. Ms. Green won the toss.

Cam watched the game closely. Each time the ball bounced close to the line, Cam called it “In” or “Out.” She also said,
“Click!”
When Mr. Day or Ms. Green complained that she made the wrong call, Cam said,
“Click!”
again. She looked at the picture she had in her head.

There were no arguments. Mr. Day and Ms. Green agreed that Cam was a great umpire.

“I won’t argue with a camera,” Ms. Green said, “even a mental camera.”

It was a close match. Both Mr. Day and Ms. Green were good players. When the match ended, they smiled and shook hands. They looked forward to the next time they would play tennis—and the next teachers’ tournament.

Take another look at the picture opposite page 1. Study it. Blink your eyes and say,
“Click!”
Then turn back to this page and answer these questions. Please, first study the picture,
then
look at the questions.

1. What is written on the banner above Mr. Day’s head?

2. Are there any pockets in Eric’s shirt?

3. Is Cam’s hair in a ponytail?

4. How many people are in the picture, 8, 10, or 12?

5. Is there a basketball net in the picture?

6. Who is wearing a checked shirt?

7. How many children are wearing hats?