Candy Factory Mystery Read Online Free Page B

cereal. No chocolate chip pancakes today.”
    Benny wasn’t too disappointed. After all, he was living in a candy factory. He could get sweets anytime he wanted. He went over to Violet and Soo Lee, who were still sleeping. He tickled their feet.
    â€œStop it, Watch!” Violet said before opening her eyes. “It’s too early.”
    Soo Lee giggled. “That’s not Watch. It’s Benny.”
    Soon, the whole family was up and about, eager to begin the day. After Jessie and Henry’s good breakfast, everyone helped tidy up the loft.
    Henry went over by the window to hang up the dish towel. That’s when he noticed someone down in the parking lot below. “Looks as if we’re not the only early birds. Tom’s down there.” Henry opened the window. “Hey, Tom,” he yelled. “We’re up here!”
    By this time, the other children crowded at the window to wave to Tom, too.
    â€œWe’ll be right down!” Jessie yelled. Then she said to the other children, “That’s fanny. Why is he getting in his car?”
    Violet looked puzzled. “He didn’t wave or say hi. Don’t you think he saw us or heard us?”
    â€œMaybe he forgot something at home and had to run back for it,” Henry said. “Oh, well, we’d better go downstairs. I’d like to get organized before Meg gets to work. I don’t want her saying we’re late or anything.”
    Jessie checked the kitchen clock. “It’s not even seven o’clock. I wonder why Tom got to work so early. Well, let’s go. Mrs. Winkles told Tom and Meg to leave a key for us in the candy shop window box. She said we could go into the candy-making area that way.”
    A few minutes later, the children found the key in the window box. Everyone huddled around Jessie as she fiddled with the lock.
    â€œIt doesn’t fit,” Jessie said, trying the key one way, then the other. “I wonder if this is the right key. Let’s go around back and see if it works on one of the other doors.”
    Jessie tried out the key on several doors. The children could see right away that their small key didn’t fit the big factory lock.

    â€œLet’s go back upstairs and call Tom or Meg to see when they’re coming in,” Jessie suggested.
    Henry called Tom’s number first when the children went back to the loft. “Hi, Tom,” he said when someone picked up. “It’s Henry. We’re locked … Hey, don’t hang up.” Henry put down the phone. “I must have dialed the wrong number. I thought it sort of sounded like Tom, but then the person hung up.”
    Henry tried again, dialing more carefully this time. “That was Tom’s answering machine,” Henry said when he hung up. “I’ll try Meg. Does anybody have her phone number?”
    No one did.
    â€œYou know what,” Jessie said. “Since we have to wait for Tom and Meg anyway, why don’t we do our grocery shopping now for our lunch? Mrs. Winkles mentioned a store not too far from here that opens early. Maybe by the time we come back, Tom and Meg will be here.”
    Violet started a shopping list. “What do we need?”
    â€œNot candy!” Soo Lee and Benny cried out together.
    By the time the Aldens returned from the store and put their groceries away, Meg’s car was in the parking lot.
    â€œThat’s fanny,” Jessie said when everyone discovered the candy kitchen was still locked. “I hear the candy machines humming inside. I wonder why Meg didn’t unlock this.”
    Henry banged on the big metal door as loud as he could.
    â€œWe’re locked out,” Henry yelled. Finally, the door opened. Meg stood there and stared at the Aldens. “I can’t just stop the candy making to open doors and such,” she said. “Well, go get dressed as long as you’re here.”
    Jessie showed Meg the key that