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儿童英语读物 The Game Store Mystery CHAPTER 3 The Lost Key

时间:2017-11-20 05:16来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

The Aldens had been brainstorming1 ideas for the Game Spot’s Kids’ Korner all weekend. Queenie had asked them to come back on Monday afternoon with a list of possibilities. So after lunch they got on their bikes and rode over to the Crossroads Mall.

“GR … grand OPENING TODAY,” Benny read the new message on the sign in the mall parking lot. “THE GAME SPOT.”

“I’m glad all the letters are there today,” Violet said as they locked their bikes to the bike rack under a tall maple2 tree.

“So am I,” Henry said.

The children walked into the store and were happy to see that Queenie had customers already on her first day. Raina was at the cash register ringing up two puzzles for a little girl and her mother.

Raina looked a lot more cheerful today than the last time the Aldens had seen her. Her long blond hair was tied back neatly3 with a ribbon. She smiled and waved at the children, then turned back to her customer.

“That’s fifteen fifty-five,” Raina said.

The mother handed her a twenty.

“Four forty-five is your change.” Raina handed the mother some bills and coins. “Thank you.” Once they were gone, Raina turned to the Aldens. “It’s good to see you kids again. Queenie is over in the puzzles. I know she’s anxious to talk to you.”

“Thanks,” Henry said. “We’ll go find her.”

The children headed over to the puzzles Queenie and her friend Carter were talking at the opposite end of the aisle4.

“We can move this shelf over here,” Queenie said. “Then we should have room.”

“Yes, but the aisle will still feel crowded. I don’t understand why you want this ‘Kids’ Korner.’ This isn’t a toy store.”

“No, it’s a game store,” Queenie explained. “Children play games too, Carter. And I want children to feel just as welcome here as adults do.”

“Whatever you say, Queenie,” Carter said with a sigh.

Queenie turned then and noticed the Aldens. “Oh, hello!” she said with a big smile. “I was hoping you kids would get here soon.”

But Carter didn’t look as happy to see them as Queenie did.

“I’m thinking of moving this shelf,” Queenie told the Aldens. “Then we can put the Kids’ Korner over there.” She pointed5 to the back corner of the store. Do you think that’s a big enough area?”

“I think so,” Henry said. The others nodded.

Carter sighed. “I guess I’ll start moving the merchandise off the shelf so it can be moved.”

“Thank you, Carter,” Queenie said. “I appreciate that.” Then she turned back to the Aldens. “Have you come up with any ideas to make the area look inviting6?”

“Well,” Jessie began. “We were thinking you should start with some brightly colored tables and chairs. Something in red, yellow, blue, or green.”

“Maybe even all four colors,” Benny put in.

“That would be nice!” said Queenie.

“If you can’t find tables and chairs in bright colors, you could just get whatever you want and we’ll paint them for you,” Henry offered.

“I think you should have some big, fluffy7 pillows for kids who want to sit on the floor and put puzzles together,” Benny said.

“Those are both very good ideas,” Queenie said thoughtfully. She strolled slowly around the area as though trying to imagine it. “What about the walls?”

“We could paint a mural or something on this wall over here,” Violet suggested. “Maybe we could paint a row of children from different countries all holding hands or something?”

“Could you?” Queenie asked.

“Violet’s a wonderful artist, Queenie,” Jessie said as Violet blushed.

“Yes, she is,” Henry agreed. “She could draw it all out in pencil first and then we could all help her paint it.”

“How soon do you think you could get started?” Queenie asked.

“I could start sketching8 right now, if you’d like,” Violet said.

“I’d like that very much,” Queenie said. “Let’s go see if we can find you a pencil.” She headed to the front of the store. The Aldens followed.

Tony Silver, the man who had installed Queenie’s safe last week, fell into step behind them. He had a Word Master game in his hands.

“Hello, Tony,” Queenie said, smiling at him. “How are you?”

“Just fine,” he replied as he set his box on the counter so he could pay for it. “I decided9 I needed a new copy of this game. My set is missing a few letters.”

Queenie walked back behind the counter. “It’s hard to play Word Master if you’re missing some letters,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” Tony agreed. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his billfold. “Say, I was wondering, Queenie. Have you thought about hosting a Word Master tournament in here?”

“Actually, I have,” Queenie said as she took Tony’s money. “Carter suggested it just a few days ago. He thought it would be a good way to get people into the store.”

“All you have to do is pick a date and put up some flyers,” Carter said.

Queenie thought for a minute. “How about two weeks from Saturday, starting at noon? We could have two divisions. One for adults and another for children.”

“That sounds good,” Carter said. The others nodded.

“We could help with the flyers,” Jessie said. “We could make them and distribute them.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Queenie said. She bent10 down and grabbed some paper and pencils from the shelf below the cash register. “Perhaps while Violet is sketching ideas for the mural, the rest of you can work on flyers?”

“We’d be happy to,” Henry replied.

“So, how’s that safe working out for you?” Tony asked. “Are you happy with it?”

“Oh, yes,” Queenie said. “It seems very secure. The only problem is I don’t like the combination. It’s hard to remember. Is it possible to change it?”

“Sure. I’d be happy to show you,” Tony said.

Tony and Queenie went to the back room. Violet took a pencil over to the wall. And Henry, Jessie, and Benny took their paper and pencils over to a table to work on the flyer.

Jessie started lettering the words WORD MASTER TOURNAMENT at the top.

“We should draw some people having fun playing Word Master, too,” Benny said.

“Good idea, Benny. Would you like to draw them?” Jessie slid the paper over to him so he could draw.

A few minutes later, Queenie and Tony came out of the back room. They stopped up by the cash register and Queenie lay a scrap11 of paper on the counter.

Carter was back behind the counter with Raina. He glanced at the paper Queenie had just set down.

“Is this the new combination to your safe?” Carter asked.

“Yes,” Queenie replied. “QUEEN. That should be easy to remember, don’t you think? At least it’s a word rather than just a series of letters.”

Carter grabbed the paper and tore it into little pieces. “Careful, Queenie. You don’t want to leave the combination to your safe lying around. And you certainly don’t say what the combination is out loud!”

“Oh, Carter. Don’t worry so much.” Queenie laughed. “There’s nobody in here.”

Carter glanced suspiciously at the Aldens. “There are kids in here,” he said in a low voice. But it wasn’t so low that the children couldn’t hear.

“We’re not going to break into any safes,” Benny said.

“Of course we’re not,” Jessie said to him. “But still, Carter has a point. If you have a safe, you shouldn’t say the combination out loud.”

“Well, I’d better be going,” Tony said. “I’d sure like to have a game of Word Master with you sometime before the tournament, Carter.”

Carter’s shoulders relaxed a little. “I’d like that, Tony,” he said. “Stop back anytime. I’ll be here almost every day.”

“Maybe on Saturday,” Tony said. Then he left.

“How are you kids coming on those flyers?” Queenie asked.

“Pretty good,” Benny said. “We’ve got a couple done. See?” He held them up to show Queenie, Carter and Raina.

“Those are beautiful!” Queenie exclaimed. “Aren’t they beautiful, Carter?”

“They’re okay,” Carter said, barely glancing at them.

“Why don’t you take them down to Bob’s drugstore and make copies,” Queenie suggested. “I’ll give you some money.” She opened the drawer, took out a couple of dollars, and handed them to Henry.

“In fact, while you’re there, perhaps you can have a key made for Raina,” Queenie added. “Would you mind?”

“Not at all,” Jessie said.

“Let me just go into the back room and get the spare key,” Queenie said.

While Henry, Jessie and Benny waited, they wandered back to check on the progress Violet had made. Her pencil marks were very light, so they had to get close to the wall to see.

“This is nice, Violet,” Henry said.

“Thanks.” Violet grinned.

Queenie came back with a frown on her face.

“What’s the matter?” Carter asked her.

“You know that spare key I had hanging on a nail in the back room? It’s gone!”

“Gone?” Carter repeated.

“You didn’t take it, did you, Carter?” Queenie asked.

“No.”

“How about you, Raina?” Queenie turned to the girl at the cash register.

“No.” Raina shook her head. “But I remember seeing it there when I hung up my coat this morning.”

“Hmm.” Queenie’s forehead wrinkled. “I wonder what happened to it? Well …,” She reached into her pocket and pulled out her own key. “Why don’t you take this one and make two copies of it,” she said, handing the key to Jessie.

“Okay,” Jessie replied. Then she and Henry and Benny headed out the door.

“See? Now there’s been more trouble at this mall,” Benny said as the trio walked down to the drugstore. “Somebody took Queenie’s key. Maybe this mall is bad luck!”

“There’s no such thing as bad luck, Benny,” Jessie said.

“And we don’t know for sure that someone took it,” Henry pointed out. “It may have just been misplaced.”

“Maybe,” Benny said. But he didn’t think so. He opened the door to the drugstore. Bells jangled, announcing their arrival.

“Can I help you?” a man in a blue smock asked as he came toward them. He was tall and thin and the name tag on his smock said “Bob.”

“We need to make copies of these papers,” Jessie said, holding up the flyers they’d made. “And then we need two copies of this key, too.” She held up the key.

“The copy machine is over there.” Bob pointed. “And I can help you with the keys.”

Jessie handed Henry the flyers so he could make the copies while she and Benny watched Bob grind the new keys.

When Bob finished with the keys, Jessie asked, “Could we also put up a flyer in here? Queenie is hosting a Word Master tournament at the Game Spot in a couple of weeks and she’d really like to get the word out.”

“Sure,” Bob replied. “You can leave one with me and I’ll put it up on the board in the entryway. But I have to warn you, if Carter Malone is playing, there may not be much response. Everyone knows Carter is an expert at word games.”

“Yes, but it’s fun just to play, even if you don’t win,” Jessie said.

“I guess you’re right,” Bob gave in. He handed Jessie the two keys. “Be careful with these now. You know there’s been a robbery in this mall. You wouldn’t want these keys to fall into the wrong hands.”

“We’ll be careful,” Jessie promised. “Thanks.”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 brainstorming 5x8zb5     
献计献策,合力攻关
参考例句:
  • With Brainstorming, treat the view on how to solve the problem rightly. 利用脑激励法(Brainstorming),正确对待学生实验中的问题解决观。
  • We are going to do some brainstorming soon. 我们很快就要做些脑力激荡。
2 maple BBpxj     
n.槭树,枫树,槭木
参考例句:
  • Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
3 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
4 aisle qxPz3     
n.(教堂、教室、戏院等里的)过道,通道
参考例句:
  • The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
  • The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。
5 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
6 inviting CqIzNp     
adj.诱人的,引人注目的
参考例句:
  • An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
  • The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人,使人感到亲切温馨。
7 fluffy CQjzv     
adj.有绒毛的,空洞的
参考例句:
  • Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
  • The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。
8 sketching 2df579f3d044331e74dce85d6a365dd7     
n.草图
参考例句:
  • They are sketching out proposals for a new road. 他们正在草拟修建新路的计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • "Imagination is busy sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy. “飞舞驰骋的想象描绘出一幅幅玫瑰色欢乐的场景。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
9 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
10 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
11 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废
参考例句:
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。
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