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

Aldens’ housekeeper. When I first met you and Buzz, you were just two little babies in a carriage. Mr. Alden told me that your father and grandfather were famous Greenfield players, too. I guess it runs in the family.”
    “So does being tall.” Tipper ducked her head under the kitchen doorway so she wouldn’t bang her forehead.
    “Well, you must be hungry after your long drive to Greenfield. Come try some of my apple turnovers. I’ve been hiding them from Benny,” Mrs. McGregor said with a wink. “I just sent your brother upstairs. He said he needed a rest. I told him to take the front guest room. I made up the guest bed for you in Jessie’s bedroom.”
    Tipper heard a door bang upstairs. “Thank you so much, Mrs. McGregor. That will be fine. Buzz is tired from our trip.”
    “Are you tired?” Mr. Alden asked. “We can hold off on Mrs. McGregor’s treats until you rest up.”
    Tipper pulled out a chair. She stretched her long legs under the kitchen table. “I’m more hungry than tired. Apple turnovers are one of my favorite things.”
    “I know what turnovers are,” Benny announced. “They’re something to eat. And know what else? There are turnovers in basketball, too, but not the kind you eat!”
    Tipper’s face brightened when she heard this. “Good for you, Benny! A basketball turnover happens after a player makes a mistake and the other team gets the ball.”
    “An apple turnover happens after Mrs. McGregor bakes,” Benny said. “Then the turnovers go to us!”
    Everyone laughed at Benny’s joke.
    Mr. Alden raised his coffee cup. “Here’s to Tipper Nettleton, the Most Valuable Player in the country.”
    The children clinked their milk glasses against Tipper’s glass and Mr. Alden’s cup.
    Everyone was quiet as they ate. They heard Buzz’s footsteps in the guest room overhead.
    Benny brushed some crumbs from his lips. “Mmm. Buzz is sure missing something good.”
    Tipper put down her glass. “Buzz has been missing a lot of good things lately. Every time someone mentions my trophy he makes an excuse to get away.”
    This surprised Henry. “I thought twins never got jealous of each other.”
    Tipper smiled a little. “Buzz and I never had a smidgen of jealousy between us until now. After all, Buzz plays men’s basketball, and I play on a women’s team. Buzz has always been my biggest fan, and I’m his.”
    “So why isn’t Buzz happy for you now?” Jessie wanted to know.
    Tipper went on, “My trophy seems to be the problem. Winning it made me happy, but it was hard for Buzz.”
    Mr. Alden stirred his coffee and turned to Tipper. “Ah, yes. Your grandfather mentioned that you hope to study medicine after college. I understand Buzz plans to continue playing basketball. I suppose the Most Valuable Player trophy would have helped him more than it will help you.”
    Tipper stared down at her plate. “Exactly. That’s why I’m donating it to the sports center. Buzz won’t have to see it around all the time.”
    “There, there,” Mrs. McGregor said kindly. “Finish your turnover. You’ll feel better. You don’t know these children. Why, they’ll make Buzz forget all about that trophy.”
    Suddenly Tipper pushed back her chair. “The trophy! I didn’t see anyone bring it in. Besides being valuable to me, it’s worth a lot of money. It’s made out of silver.”
    The Aldens followed Tipper out to the car. Tipper unlocked the trunk. “It’s not here! I thought Buzz put it behind the suitcases. Wait, I’d better ask him about it.”
    Tipper was gone in a flash. A couple of minutes later, she was back. “He said it’s in the backseat.”
    Benny and Soo Lee went around to the side of the car.
    “There’s something shiny on the floor!” Benny yelled. “See?”
    Tipper looked through the car window. “Whew! That’s it. I’ll unlock the door.”
    But Tipper didn’t have to unlock anything. When she pulled the handle, the door opened right away. “I can’t believe Buzz