Read Online Stacey And The Mystery At The Mall by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ann M. Martin
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Things were still disappearing from other stores in the mall, according to Kristy, but the shoplifters seemed to be avoiding Toy Town. Some food had been stolen from the Cheese Outlet, and some hairbrushes had been taken from the Dollar Store — but nobody seemed interested in stealing toys. A few big things had been taken, too: a treadmill,
and a large-screen TV. Whoever was doing the shoplifting sure had strange habits.
Meanwhile, our plans for the day-care center were going well: we had already signed up enough store-owners to more than cover the rent, and donations of equipment and supplies were coming in every day.
On Tuesday afternoon, we had a short meeting in the empty store. Mary Anne brought in some paint samples she had gotten from the hardware store, and we looked them over. We planned to paint the main walls white, and then use bright, primary colors to block out areas for different age groups. We were going to have a painting party that weekend (on Sunday, when the mall was usually a little quieter), and we hoped to get a lot of the work done then.
Claudia had drawn a plan of the room, and it looked terrific. "See, where this red stripe is will be the toddlers' area," said Claud, pointing to a corner where we could set up a table and small chairs for coloring, a trunk for dress-up clothes, and an area for block constructions. "And we'll put the babies over here," she went on, "in the blue corner."
"The HomeStore has already offered to donate five high chairs and three cribs," said Jessi, checking her notes.
"And I'm going to donate a bunch of these
great animal mobiles I have," said April. "Babies love them."
The biggest area, which Claud had colored green, was for the school-age children. We planned to have two play tables there, plus a small library of books (the BookCenter would be donating those), an arts-and-crafts area, and a "quiet" corner, where kids could be by themselves.
After the meeting, April and I headed back to Toy Town. The store was busy, and a long line of customers was waiting to check out. April went right behind the counter to work with Sarah at the register, and asked me to help a short, blonde woman who appeared to be looking for something in the doll section.
"Can I help you find something?" I asked the woman.
"Oh, I hope so," she said. "It’s my niece's birthday tomorrow, and she's got her heart set on one of those dolls that comes with a book. I think it’s called Baby Read to Me, or something like that."
"Baby Tell Me a Story," I said. "I'm so sorry, but I think we're all out. That doll has been very popular."
"Oh, dear," said the woman. Her face fell.
"Wait a second," I said, remembering something. "A shipment might have come in this morning. Let me go check." I ran to the back
of the store and into the stockroom. "Baby Tell Me a Story," I muttered to myself, as I searched through the boxes that were stacked on the shelves. "I'm sure April said they came in. Now where are they?"
I moved a carton of Legos aside to check behind it, and there on the shelf was a big case of the dolls I was looking for. I grabbed it and pulled it down, intending to open it on the floor and take one out. Just then I heard a noise behind me, and I turned around quickly.
Standing between me and the door to the store, was a man. A man in a dark red ski mask that completely covered his face.
"Oh — " I began to say. My heart had jumped into my throat, and my knees felt weak.
"Don't say a word," the man interrupted me, in a brusque voice. He ran toward me, and for a second I thought I was going to pass out. But then he pushed by me and ran out the back door of the stockroom, the one that leads into the mall. He ran silently — I guess because he was wearing sneakers along with his blue jeans and light blue shirt — pulling off his mask as he went out the door.
Five minutes later, I was sitting in April's tiny office, shaking like a leaf and giving my
report to the guards from security.
and a large-screen TV. Whoever was doing the shoplifting sure had strange habits.
Meanwhile, our plans for the day-care center were going well: we had already signed up enough store-owners to more than cover the rent, and donations of equipment and supplies were coming in every day.
On Tuesday afternoon, we had a short meeting in the empty store. Mary Anne brought in some paint samples she had gotten from the hardware store, and we looked them over. We planned to paint the main walls white, and then use bright, primary colors to block out areas for different age groups. We were going to have a painting party that weekend (on Sunday, when the mall was usually a little quieter), and we hoped to get a lot of the work done then.
Claudia had drawn a plan of the room, and it looked terrific. "See, where this red stripe is will be the toddlers' area," said Claud, pointing to a corner where we could set up a table and small chairs for coloring, a trunk for dress-up clothes, and an area for block constructions. "And we'll put the babies over here," she went on, "in the blue corner."
"The HomeStore has already offered to donate five high chairs and three cribs," said Jessi, checking her notes.
"And I'm going to donate a bunch of these
great animal mobiles I have," said April. "Babies love them."
The biggest area, which Claud had colored green, was for the school-age children. We planned to have two play tables there, plus a small library of books (the BookCenter would be donating those), an arts-and-crafts area, and a "quiet" corner, where kids could be by themselves.
After the meeting, April and I headed back to Toy Town. The store was busy, and a long line of customers was waiting to check out. April went right behind the counter to work with Sarah at the register, and asked me to help a short, blonde woman who appeared to be looking for something in the doll section.
"Can I help you find something?" I asked the woman.
"Oh, I hope so," she said. "It’s my niece's birthday tomorrow, and she's got her heart set on one of those dolls that comes with a book. I think it’s called Baby Read to Me, or something like that."
"Baby Tell Me a Story," I said. "I'm so sorry, but I think we're all out. That doll has been very popular."
"Oh, dear," said the woman. Her face fell.
"Wait a second," I said, remembering something. "A shipment might have come in this morning. Let me go check." I ran to the back
of the store and into the stockroom. "Baby Tell Me a Story," I muttered to myself, as I searched through the boxes that were stacked on the shelves. "I'm sure April said they came in. Now where are they?"
I moved a carton of Legos aside to check behind it, and there on the shelf was a big case of the dolls I was looking for. I grabbed it and pulled it down, intending to open it on the floor and take one out. Just then I heard a noise behind me, and I turned around quickly.
Standing between me and the door to the store, was a man. A man in a dark red ski mask that completely covered his face.
"Oh — " I began to say. My heart had jumped into my throat, and my knees felt weak.
"Don't say a word," the man interrupted me, in a brusque voice. He ran toward me, and for a second I thought I was going to pass out. But then he pushed by me and ran out the back door of the stockroom, the one that leads into the mall. He ran silently — I guess because he was wearing sneakers along with his blue jeans and light blue shirt — pulling off his mask as he went out the door.
Five minutes later, I was sitting in April's tiny office, shaking like a leaf and giving my
report to the guards from security.
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