Mystery in the Fortune Cookie by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

asked Henry, hiding a smile.
    “Another one said: A pleasant surprise is waiting for you . And the very next day it stopped raining and we had a picnic in the park. Well, that was a pleasant surprise.”
    Henry shook his head. “That was just a coincidence.”
    Jessie was quick to agree. “Benny, we’re always busy.”
    “And thanks to Grandfather,” added Violet, “our lives are filled with pleasant surprises.”
    After their parents died, Jessie, Henry, Benny, and Violet had run away. When they stumbled across an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they made it their home. Then Grandfather found them and brought his grandchildren to live with him in his big white house in Greenfield. He even gave the boxcar a special place in the backyard. The children often used their former home as a clubhouse.
    “Do you think Grandfather is lonely this week without us?” kindhearted Violet couldn’t help wondering.
    “I’m sure Grandfather misses us,” Jessie said after a moment’s thought. “But don’t forget,” she reminded Violet, “Mrs. McGregor is there to keep him company.” Mrs. McGregor was the Aldens’ housekeeper and a wonderful cook.
    “And Watch is there, too!” added Benny. Watch was the family dog.
    “Well, it’s a treat for me to have you here,” said Aunt Jane. “Look, we’ve reached The Underground!”
    “I love the way the little bookstore is tucked away like that,” Jessie remarked, putting a hand up to shade her eyes. “Right beneath the Big Top T-Shirt Shop, I mean.”
    “I guess that’s why they named it The Underground,” Henry realized.
    Benny frowned. He was still wondering if fortune cookies really could tell anything about the future.
    Aunt Jane seemed to read Benny’s mind. “Don’t worry. It’ll still be fun reading our fortunes.” She put an arm around her youngest nephew. “ Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring,” she added. “I’m afraid that’s always a mystery. But the mystery is part of the fun!”
    Benny brightened. “Mysteries are fun!”
    The children followed Aunt Jane down the stone steps that led to The Underground. At the bottom of the steps was a heavy glass door with the names Dottie Shallum and Martin Howard printed on it in shiny gold script. As the Aldens and Aunt Jane stepped inside the little shop, they breathed in the musty smell of old books.
    Dottie and Martin looked up from behind the counter and waved cheerfully. Dottie was tall and slim, with dark, curly hair streaked with gray. Martin was short and round, with a carefully trimmed white mustache. They were both about Grandfather’s age.
    Benny sprang forward. “Happy birthday, Dottie!” he cried, and the other Aldens echoed his words.
    “And we wish you many more to come,” added Aunt Jane as Benny handed Dottie their special gift.
    Dottie put a hand to her cheek. “Oh, you shouldn’t have!” Her eyes were shining as she looked at each of them in turn.
    “We like giving presents,” Benny told her. Then he quickly added, “But it’s okay if you don’t open it right now. You might want to eat first.”
    Jessie smiled at her little brother and brushed her hand across his hair. “Don’t worry, Benny. We’ll have dinner soon.”
    “It can’t be soon enough for me,” put in Martin. “My mouth is watering just thinking about Auntie Two’s Chinese food.”
    Auntie Two was the owner of the Kowloon Restaurant and a friend of Martin and Dottie’s.
    “I’ll second that!” Aunt Jane said.
    “That settles it then,” declared Dottie. “I’ll open my gift at the restaurant — while we’re waiting for our food to arrive.”
    Benny beamed.
    Martin took a quick glance at his watch and frowned. “I’m afraid we’re stuck here for a moment or two,” he told them. “We have a straggler.”
    “What’s a straggler?” Benny wanted to know.
    Martin tugged impatiently on his brightly flowered tie. “A customer who lingers long after the others have gone,” he muttered under his