Irene didn’t get home until almost time for supper, and then all she could talk about was the fact that Tommy Lester would be back at school the next day because his mother was better. Irene had not even heard about Mandie and Joe finding the stranger at Mrs. Chapman’s old house and was not interested.
The next morning Mandie hurried up to the road and was waiting for Joe when he finally came.
“You’re late,” she said as he approached.
“I know, so we’ll have to walk fast,” Joe replied, taking Mandie’s books.
“Joe, tell me what happened to Paul McClendon,” Mandie said, her short legs as always working hard to keep up with his long ones.
“Nothing,” Joe said. “He’s staying with the Millers until my father gets back, which should be sometime this afternoon. Mr. Miller thinks my father may give him a job and a place to live. My mother thinks so too.”
“I’m glad, because he said he didn’t have any relatives at all,” Mandie said.
When they got to the crossroads, Mandie eagerly looked for Faith, but she was not there. Maybe she had gone ahead of them.
Just as Mandie and Joe stepped inside the schoolhouse and Joe handed Mandie her books, Irene and Tommy Lester came rushing in behind them, with Faith after them. But there was no time to talk then because they were almost late.
Mandie carried her books to her desk. As she sat down and started to put the books inside, she saw that the top book in the stack was a reading book, exactly like hers. She quickly examined the edges for the ink smudge she knew was on hers, but there was no smudge. She opened the cover, and there in bold ink was written “Property of Joe Woodard.” She suddenly felt overcome with happiness. So this was Joe’s secret. She looked across the room and held up the book.
Joe smiled and whispered loudly, “It took my mother all this time to find my old book.”
Mandie saw Mr. Tallant look up from his desk, so she only mouthed her reply: “Thank you.”
She was happy now. She finally had a reading book.
Faith stayed in at recess again, this time to take a test she had missed while she and her grandmother had been in Tellico.
“I’ll walk with you and Joe after school,” Faith promised as Mandie and Joe went outside to eat their lunch.
As soon as the bell rang for dismissal, Mandie and Joe hurried to get their coats. Faith joined them. Everyone crowded into the doorway, trying to get out first. Tommy and Irene were right behind Mandie when someone bumped into them, causing Tommy to drop his books. They slid beneath Mandie’s feet. Mandie stooped to help Tommy retrieve them.
“I can get them,” Tommy muttered as she began picking them up.
“I’ll help,” Mandie replied, picking up his reading book. Suddenly she saw an ink smudge on the top edge of the pages. She quickly flipped open the book, and there was her name. “This is my book!” she said in disbelief. Looking up at Tommy, who had stood up, she said, “You took my book, Tommy Lester!”
The crowd of pupils at the door suddenly became still. Mandie stood up, shaking with anger. “You took my book!” she repeated, holding the book open to her name.
Tommy quickly looked around the crowd and then at Mandie. “I’m sorry. I lost mine and never did find it. I was going to give it back to you, honest.” His eyes filled with tears.
Joe spoke in Mandie’s ear. “You don’t need it now, Mandie, you have mine.”
“Why did you take mine?” Mandie asked.
Tommy wouldn’t look her in the eye. “I didn’t have any money to buy another one because money had to be saved for the baby that was coming. I’m sorry we’re so poor, and I’m sorry I took your book.”
Mandie drew in a deep breath, thinking about the death of the little baby, and held her book out to Tommy. “Here, you can keep it. I have another one now, Joe’s old one.”
His head bowed, Tommy reached out and took the book. “Thank you,” he mumbled as he slipped outside.
“Let’s go, Mandie,” Faith said behind her.
Mandie straightened her shoulders and smiled up at Joe. “Yes, let’s go.”
And on the way home, Mandie finally heard about Faith’s visit to Tellico with her grandmother.
“My grandmother got the job,” Faith told Mandie and Joe. “However, there are some strings attached to the offer. The position won’t be available until fall, so my grandmother has not made a decision yet.”
Mandie gave Faith a big smile. “I’m so glad she hasn’t yet.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “Just wait until you hear what Joe and I have to tell you.”
Joe smiled at her as Faith said, “I’ve heard some of it already. And he may not be directly related to us, but my grandmother is hoping he will consider us family, since he doesn’t have anyone and we only have each other.”
As they walked on, Mandie reached for Faith’s hand and squeezed it. “Everything is turning out just wonderful.”
Mandie’s Bookplates
Nobody wants to lose a special book. Creating a special bookplate is one way to make sure that if your book does get lost, whoever finds it will know whom it belongs to.
Materials you will need:
drawer liner paper in a solid pale color
or light pattern
scissors
a ruler
a thin-tipped marker
glue (if your drawer liner paper does not have
adhesive backing)
books
Carefully measure, then cut your liner paper into several rectangles—3 x 5 inches is a nice size.
Personalize each rectangle. THIS BOOK BELONGS TO (your name) and FROM THE COLLECTION OF (your name) are good choices.
If your liner paper has adhesive backing, simply peel off the covering and place the paper on the inside front cover of your book. Be sure to smooth it out carefully so that there are no air bubbles.
If your liner paper doesn’t have adhesive backing, dab a tiny amount of glue—about the size of a nickel—on the back and spread evenly. Position as above.
From the
collection of
Amanda Shaw
About the Author
LOIS GLADYS LEPPARD has written many novels for young people about Mandie Shaw. She often uses the stories of her mother’s childhood in western North Carolina as an inspiration in her writing. Lois Gladys Leppard lives in South Carolina.
Visit the author’s official Web site at www.mandie.com.
RL 2.6, ages 7–10
THE MISSING BOOK
A Bantam Skylark Book/March 2002
Mandie® and A Young Mandie Mystery® are registered
trademarks of Lois Gladys Leppard.
All rights reserved
Text copyright © 2002 by Lois Gladys Leppard
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address Bantam Books.
Visit us on the Web! www.randomhouse.com/kids
Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools,
visit us at www.randomhouse.com/teachers
BANTAM SKYLARK is an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. SKYLARK BOOK and colophon and BANTAM BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
www.randomhouse.com
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