The Mystery at Maypenny's

about International Pine’s offer spread throughout Sleepyside. And wherever the news spread, it touched off the same arguments that had already begun among the Bob-Whites.
    To many of Sleepyside’s worried businessmen, who had seen their sales fall off because of rising unemployment, the possibility that International Pine might expand, creating new jobs and bringing new money into the community, seemed like a dream come true.
    But to many of the older people in town, who had grown up in a Sleepyside that was quiet and rural, the expansion was more like a nightmare. They worried not only about the increase in pollution that the expansion might cause, but also about the change in their community. If their sons and grandsons left .farming and shopkeeping behind to work in a factory, would they leave the old customs and traditions behind, too?
    To Trixie, it began to seem as though talking about International Pine was as much a part of everyday life as eating and sleeping. Interviews with the company president and with environmental experts filled the front page of the Sleepy-side Sun. The paper received so many letters to the editor on the expansion issue that it had to devote a full page, instead of the usual half page, to them each day.
    Many of the store owners in town hung signs in their windows, either in support of or against the factory expansion.
    Even in school, as she walked down the hallways, Trixie could hear her classmates arguing about the issue. In class, too, the expansion was worked into history, social studies, and science classes.
    It seemed to Trixie that the only place in town where the International Pine controversy was not discussed was at the Bob-Whites’ lunch table at school and in their section of the school bus.
    After the argument between Jim and Dan, the Bob-Whites had agreed not to discuss International Pine, the proposed expansion, Mr. Wheeler’s decision to sell, or Mr. Maypenny’s decision not to. In the end, they had realized, their own opinions would have very little effect on what happened. It would be better to keep those opinions to themselves so that, whatever the outcome, the Bob-Whites would still be friends when the controversy was over.
    Trixie did talk things over with her brothers when they were away from the other Bob-Whites, but she found that they continued to be as confused about the issue as she was. Because of the things their father had told them, they realized that more jobs were necessary; on the other hand, they all loved the preserve. They loved Mr. Maypenny, too. It was impossible for any of them to take a firm stand one way or the other.
    On Thursday, Brian announced at the dinner table that his social studies class was going to have a debate the following week.
    “The subject is International Pine, of course,” he said. “I’m on the affirmative team. Dad, would you help me put together some facts and figures?”
    “I will,” Peter Belden said.
    “What made you finally decide you’re for the expansion?” Trixie asked.
    “I haven’t decided that at all, Trix,” Brian said. “I’m as much on the fence as ever.”
    “But you’re arguing for it in the debate,” Trixie reminded him. “Does that mean you’re for it but you’re not for it? I don’t understand.”
    Brian shrugged. “It’s really not that confusing, Trix. I think this debate is important. It’s the first time that the arguments for and against the expansion will really be laid out, side by side, so that people can listen to them clearly if they care to. When my social studies teacher asked for volunteers for the debate, the first two people who spoke up asked to take the negative side, opposing the expansion. They’re both smart kids, and I know they’ll do a good job.
    “That’s when I decided to take the affirmative side. I figured that with the information I can get from Dad, I can present some pretty convincing arguments. It will be an even debate. That’s all I’m concerned about.”
    “Methinks it will take perseverance to persuade Dan Mangan of the perspicuity of the positive position,” Mart said.
    “Dan’s in my social studies class,” Brian reminded his brother. “He looked pretty tense when I volunteered. But I caught up with him after class and explained it to him. I think he understands that it’s a sense of fair play that got me into this, not my personal opinion about the expansion. He can respect that, just as he can respect Jim’s need to