Boxcar Children 68 - Basketball Mystery by Charles Tang, Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

Nettleton twins, too!”
    “Wow!” Henry shook the twins’ hands. “I’ve seen your names all over our Hall of Fame board at school. My high school coach sometimes plays old tapes of your championship basketball games.”
    “My coach does, too.” Jessie held her hand out to Tipper Nettleton. “She said ever since you played for Greenfield High, lots more girls sign up for basketball. Congratulations on winning the Most Valuable Player trophy. Nobody from Greenfield ever won it before.”
    Tipper smiled. “Thanks. Buzz and I both love basketball. It’s a great game —”
    “Enough basketball talk,” the young man said, interrupting his sister. “I’d better get our luggage, Tip.”
    Now the Aldens noticed another shadow. This one seemed to pass over Tipper Nettleton’s smiling face.
    “Sorry, did I say something wrong?” Jessie asked after Buzz and Grandfather Alden left. “It’s true, though. You really are the most famous basketball player from Greenfield.”
    Tipper put her finger to her lips. “Sometimes it’s better not to talk too much about that. Up until I won the MVP trophy last month, Buzz and I have always been proud of each other. But I think he’s getting a little tired of hearing about my award.”
    The Aldens were surprised to hear this. They were always happy when someone in their family won something. But they were polite children and didn’t say another word. Everyone headed out front to help Buzz and Mr. Alden with the luggage.
    Benny and Soo Lee picked up Buzz’s big sports bag.
    “That’s the name of your college, right?” Benny asked when he saw the bright orange letters on the bag. “I can read.”
    “And I can carry heavy things,” Soo Lee said. She and Benny each lifted one end of the sports bag. “Benny and I help the teams.”
    Buzz cheered up a little when he heard this. “Well, Tipper and I could use a couple of good helpers. We came to coach some of the neighborhood teams. That’s one of the reasons your grandfather invited us to visit.”
    Henry lifted a suitcase from the trunk. “I heard you two were coming to Greenfield, but I didn’t know you’d be staying with us! Maybe you can give us some good basketball tips.”
    Buzz finally started smiling again. “That’s why we’re here.”
    Grandfather closed the trunk. “Buzz and Tipper are too modest. They’ve also offered to play in a fund-raising game for the new sports center on the center’s Opening Day. And there’s one last surprise. Should I tell them, Tipper?”
    Benny and Soo Lee tugged Mr. Alden’s sleeve. “Another surprise?”
    Mr. Alden had a hard time keeping secrets from his grandchildren. “Tipper is donating her Most Valuable Player trophy to the new sports center. The mayor will be coming and perhaps television people as well. Now, what do you children think of that?”
    “Neat!” Jessie said. “We’ll have a big basketball day in Greenfield.”
    Soo Lee put down her end of the sports bag. She looked up at Tipper. “This is heavy. Is your trophy in here?”
    Before Tipper could answer, Buzz picked up the bag. “This is my bag. If you want to help Tipper, you can carry her bag instead.”
    Benny and Soo Lee didn’t know what to say. They weren’t used to cross words. They watched Buzz head up the porch stairs with his sports bag and suitcase.
    Tipper spoke to the children softly. “You know what? I’ll show you my trophy some other time. Buzz is . . . uh . . . tired after our long drive.”
    The children led Tipper into the big white house where they now lived with their grandfather. Awhile back, after their parents had died, the children had lived in a boxcar in the woods. After Grandfather found them there, he brought them home to his house, with its comfy beds and delicious meals. As a surprise, he had brought the boxcar home. Now it was a playhouse in the backyard.
    “Welcome,” a white-haired woman called out cheerily when she saw Tipper. “I’m Mrs. McGregor, the