Meg Mackintosh and the Mystery at the Soccer Match by Lucinda Landon

“Go, Hawks!” Meg Mackintosh and her friends cheered their teammates on the soccer field.
    â€œScore!” they yelled excitedly as the Hawks snared a goal.
    â€œWe’re going to win the gold medal!” Alex and Carmen slapped a high five.
    â€œMeg and Carmen, get ready,” Coach Lee called out. “You’re going in at the end of this quarter.”

    â€œMy brother, Peter, is the goalie for the Panthers,” Meg told Alex as she tightened her laces. “He’s always bragging about how great he is. I wouldn’t mind popping a goal past him myself,” she said with a smile.
    â€œI wish I had the chance to,” said Alex.
    â€œOoops, sorry, Alex,” Meg said, glancing at the cast on his broken leg. “It must be tough sitting out the championship match.”
    â€œAt least the Hawks are ahead,” sighed Alex, hugging his dog. “We’ve got to win this one, right, Farley?”
    Carmen picked up the gold medal on thetrophy table nearby. “I saw a medal like this at a sports museum. It’s so heavy, I bet it’s solid gold. I’d really love to win it.”
    â€œCoach Lee won it playing international soccer a long time ago,” Alex told her. “He promised to give it to today’s winning team to keep until next year.”
    â€œThat’s great,” Meg said. “It must be worth a fortune,” she added.
    â€œYeah, it’s great, as long as the Hawks win,” Carmen replied.
    Their words were nearly drowned out by cheering nearby.
    â€œCome on, Panthers. Heather, get in there and fight!” yelled her dad.

    â€œSign the soccer petition!” a woman called. “No more awards!”

    â€œAlex, isn’t that your Mom?” asked Meg.
    â€œYes,” Alex groaned. “She thinks our soccer league is getting too competitive. She wants to do away with awards.”
    â€œNo awards?” said Carmen. “How about no yelling,” she joked. “The parents are noisier than the kids!”
    â€œMy parents are away,” said Meg as she scanned the area, “but Gramps and Skip are here — at the hot dog booth, as usual.”

    Just then the referee’s whistle signaled the end of the quarter. It startled Alex’s dog, Farley, and he bolted towards the field.

    Meg jumped up and caught Farley by his thick fur. He wasn’t wearing a collar, so it was hard to hold on. “Sorry, Farley, no dogs allowed in the game!”
    Alex hobbled over to retrieve his dog. “I’ve got him, Meg. Get in there and score!”
    Meg gave Alex a thumbs up. “Watch my knapsack, will you? It’s got all my detective stuff. Take a look, if you want. I know you’re curious about joining our Detective Club.”

    Alex rolled his eyes at Carmen as he peered into Meg’s knapsack. “She really expects a mystery at a soccer match?”
    â€œYou know Meg,” Carmen answered, as she followed Meg onto the field. “She’s always looking for a case to solve.”

    â€œLook at the stuff she’s got in here,” Alex muttered to himself. “Magnifying glass, instant camera, notebook, binoculars, flashlight. There’s even a message in code.”
    He picked up a pencil and started working on the code. “If I could decode the message, I’d really surprise Meg!” he said.

    CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?
    Just then it started to sprinkle, so Alex packed up Meg’s detective kit, except for her binoculars, which he used to follow the fancy footwork on the field.

    The Hawks were still on the attack. Meg passed the ball to Carmen, who drove at the goal, but Peter and the Panthers turned the ball back. A moment later, the Panthers scored!
    â€œThe Panthers will get that medal yet,” Peter called to Meg. “I can see it now — in my new display case — on my bureau,” he teased.
    â€œNot if I can help it,” Meg