Read Online Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery by David Adler - Free Book Online Page A

building.
    â€œHello! Hello!” a young woman in a long red dress said to Eric, Beth, and Danny. “I’m Judy.”
    Cam whispered to Eric, “She’s the director of the senior center.”
    â€œThank you for helping,” Judy told Mr. Jansen, Cam, and her friends. “The main hall is ready. The lights and microphone are set. It’s almost time to start.”
    Mr. Jansen, Cam, and the others followed her into a large room. Lots of chairs were set up in rows. They all faced a small stage. People were standing by tables on the side of the room. Many of the people held canes. Some had walkers. On the tables were trays of cakes, cookies, and fruit. There were also pitchers of water and ice tea.
    â€œPlease, find seats,” Judy told the seniors. “You can eat later. The show is about to begin.”

Chapter Two
    Mr. Jansen stood by the microphone.
    Cam and her friends sat in the first row of seats facing the stage. Lucy Lane and a man wearing a white apron sat behind them.
    â€œThis is Ken,” Lucy Lane told Cam and her friends. “He baked the cakes and cookies for the party.”
    Mr. Jansen waited while the seniors went to their seats.
    â€œThat reminds me,” Danny whispered. “I’ m hungry.”
    â€œYou just want some cookies,” Beth said.
    â€œI don’t just want some cookies,” Danny whispered. “I want lots of cookies and lots of cake.”
    Mr. Jansen held the microphone. When everyone was seated he said, “Good morning. Welcome to the Fall party and talent show. Our show begins with jokes. Here is the very funny Danny Pace.”
    Mr. Jansen gave Danny the microphone. Danny bowed and everyone applauded.

    â€œListen to this,” Danny said, really fast. “I told my teacher to please not punish me for something I didn’t do. She said she wouldn’t. Then I told her I didn’t do my homework.”
    No one laughed.
    â€œI built a dog house and hammered a nail. Wow! That hurt! It was my fingernail.”
    Danny waited. But again, no one laughed.
    â€œThen I dropped the hammer on my toe and do you know what I did? I called a tow truck.”
    This time Danny didn’t wait for people to laugh. He quickly told another joke.
    â€œI dropped the hammer on a leopard. Wow! That hit the spot! And I once heard a singing cow. It made beautiful moo-sic.”
    â€œHis jokes aren’t funny,” Ken the baker whispered to Lucy Lane.
    â€œAnd he talks so fast,” Lucy said.
    Mr. Jansen got on the stage.
    â€œThank you. Thank you,” Mr. Jansen said.
    â€œNo, wait. I have more jokes. Do you know what’s cold and white and flies up and down and up and down? It’s a mixed-up snowflake.”
    Mr. Jansen took the microphone from Danny.
    â€œThank you, Danny Pace,” he said.
    Cam, Eric, Beth, and a few other people applauded.
    â€œNow,” Mr. Jansen told the seniors, “we’ll see some memory magic.”
    Cam got up on stage and stood next to her father.
    â€œHere is my daughter Jennifer Jansen, the girl with the amazing photographic memory.”
    Jennifer is Cam’s real first name. But when people found out about her great memory, they started calling her “The Camera.” Soon “The Camera” became just “Cam.”
    Cam bowed and people applauded.
    â€œPlease, come up here,” Mr. Jansen said to Lucy Lane and Ken the baker.
    When they were onstage, Lucy Lane whispered to Mr. Jansen, “We can’t stay very long. We’re going to a wedding.”
    Cam looked at Lucy and Ken. She closed her eyes and said, “Click!”
    Cam turned and faced the wall behind the stage.
    â€œWhat color is Lucy’s shirt?” Mr. Jansen asked.

    â€œIt’s blue,” Cam answered.
    Cam’s eyes were still closed. She was still facing the wall.
    Cam said, “There are small white flowers on Lucy’s shirt. In the middle of each flower is a