儿童英语读物 The Great Detective Race CHAPTER 10 Swan Cake

“Look,” said Benny. “It’s Mr. Porter!” Sure enough, the owner of the radio station stepped out from amongst the shoppers. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing really,” Mike was quick to say. “We were just congratulating the winners of the Great Detective Race.” With a sweep of his arm, he pointed¹ towards the children. “The Aldens!”

“Well, how about that!” Mr. Porter gave them a big smile. “When I saw the crowd, I thought something might be wrong.”

“Now, what could be wrong?” asked Mike.

“Actually,” said Debra, “there is a problem, Mr. Porter.”

The station owner’s face grew stern as Debra told him about Amber² Madison. He frowned as he looked at the photo. “How could you do something so dishonest, Mike?” he wanted to know.

“Hey, I just didn’t want kids to win the race,” Mike said with a shrug³. “I did what was best for the station, that’s all.”

“For the station,” Mr. Porter asked, “or for you?”

“What’s the difference?” Mike snapped. “I’m the reason for the Big G’s success. Everybody knows that.”

“Mike, I’ve always said it takes teamwork to make a station successful,” Mr. Porter said quietly. “But I don’t think you’re a team player.”

“I can see why you’re upset, but—”

“Here’s the deal, Mike,” Mr. Porter interrupted. “Everybody deserves a second chance, so I’m not going to fire you. You will, however, be working the Late Night show for a while.”

Mike’s jaw⁴ dropped. “You can’t be serious!”

“I run an honest station, Mike,” the station owner replied. “We’re planning more contests during the daytime and I just can’t trust you.”

“Look, I’m sorry I betrayed your trust, Mr. Porter.” Mike shifted uncomfortably. “I should never have done that, but … can’t we sit down and talk about this?”

Mr. Porter shook his head. “My decision is final, Mike. You won’t be back on the daytime show until you prove you’re a team player.”

Mike opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he walked back to the WGFD booth, looking truly sorry.

“Congratulations,” Debra said, turning to the Aldens. She held out two envelopes. “Here’s your tickets to Swan Lake—and a voucher⁵ for a ride in the sky with Chopper Dan.”

“Thanks!” said Benny.

“But there’s only room in the helicopter for one other person,” Debra added. “I suppose you’ll have to draw straws.”

“Or put your names into a hat,” said a voice behind them.

The Aldens turned to see Chris standing⁶ with his father, Chopper Dan. Chris was giving the Aldens the thumbs-up sign.

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny looked at each other. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Violet asked her sister and brothers.

Jessie nodded. So did Benny and Henry.

Benny held the envelope out to Chris. “You take it,” he said. “Now you can get a ride with your dad.”

Chris stared at the envelope. “What …?”

Henry said, “We want you to have it.”

Chris hesitated. “But … I haven’t been very nice.”

“You left that clue in the hopscotch⁷ game,” guessed Jessie. “Didn’t you?”

Chris nodded. “I heard you talking about all the mysteries you’ve solved,” he confessed. “I didn’t think I had a chance to win.”

Benny blinked in surprise. “You sent us on a wild-goose chase?”

“Yes,” he said. “I saw you in the park the other day. When you left your notebook on the bench …”

“You tore out the list of playgrounds, didn’t you?” guessed Violet. “Then you planted that fake clue in the hopscotch game.”

Chris didn’t deny it.

Chopper Dan looked at his son in disbelief. “Why would you do such a thing, Chris?”

“I wanted to throw the Aldens off track.” Chris hung his head. “Getting a ride in the helicopter was so important to me. I figured the race was just a game to them.”

“It wasn’t just a game to us,” Violet exclaimed.

“It was more than that,” agreed Jessie. “A lot more.”

Henry added, “We were trying to win tickets to Swan Lake for our housekeeper⁸, Mrs. McGregor.”

“I’m really sorry,” Chris said, handing the envelope back to Henry. “I don’t deserve this.”

Chopper Dan shook his head in surprise.

“You wanted a helicopter ride that much?” he asked his son. “I had no idea.”

“I think we can work something out,” said Mr. Porter. “We’ll make sure you get that ride in the sky with your dad, Chris.”

“Thanks so much!” said Chris. Then, turning to the Aldens, he added, “Sorry about the fake clue.”

“If you mean that,” said Jessie, “then you won’t play tricks on people anymore.”

“I won’t,” Chris promised. “Not ever.”

The next day, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny trooped into the dining room where Grandfather and Mrs. McGregor were waiting. Henry was carrying a birthday cake while everyone sang “Happy Birthday” at the top of their lungs. Even Watch woof-woof-woofed his way through the song.

“Oh, how beautiful!” Mrs. McGregor said, as Henry set the cake on the table.

“It’s your favorite,” Jessie told her. “Chocolate with caramel frosting.”

“Well, fancy that,” said Mrs. McGregor. “And just look at those sprinkles on the top—in the shape of a swan!”

“Well, you couldn’t get tickets to Swan Lake,” Henry said, his eyes twinkling, “so we made you a swan cake.”

“How thoughtful!” said Mrs. McGregor.

“Now make a wish, Mrs. McGregor,” Benny said. “Sometimes wishes really do come true.”

Their housekeeper closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out all the candles.

“Well done!” said Grandfather, as everyone clapped.

Benny held out an envelope. “Open this first, Mrs. McGregor,” he said. “Okay?”

Mrs. McGregor smiled at the youngest Alden. Then she opened the envelope Benny handed her. “Why, it’s a sketch⁹ of Watch!” she said, as she pulled out a birthday card.

“Violet drew it herself,” Benny said proudly.

“But everybody helped with the verse inside,” Violet was quick to add.

Mrs. McGregor opened the card and read the verse aloud.

We entered a race

and followed the clues

so somebody’s wishes

all would come true!

“Happy birthday, Mrs. McGregor!” Jessie handed their housekeeper another envelope.

“Oh, my!” said Mrs. McGregor. “What’s this?”

“Open it, Mrs. McGregor!” cried Benny. He was bouncing up and down with excitement.

The Aldens held their breath as she opened the envelope.

“Front-row tickets to Swan Lake?” the housekeeper blinked in surprise. “How in the world …?”

“It wasn’t easy, Mrs. McGregor,” Henry said with a grin. “First, we followed the Pied Piper, then—”

“We tracked down a giant turkey!” continued Benny.

“And don’t forget about the mermaid,” added Violet.

Mrs. McGregor laughed. “You know what?” she said. “I can’t wait to hear all about it!”

1 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

2 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

3 shrug   

v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)

参考例句：

• With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩，走出了房间。
• I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。

4 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

5 voucher   

n.收据；传票；凭单，凭证

参考例句：

• The government should run a voucher system.政府应该施行凭证制度。
• Whenever cash is paid out,a voucher or receipt should be obtained.无论何时只要支付现金，就必须要有一张凭据或者收据。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 hopscotch   

n.小孩独脚跳踢石子的游戏，“跳房子”游戏

参考例句：

• The children squared off the sidewalk to play hopscotch.孩子们在人行道上划出方格，做“跳房子”的游戏。
• At hopscotch,the best hoppers are the children.在跳房子的游戏中，孩子是最优秀的单足跳者。

8 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

9 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。