The Mystery at Maypenny's

“‘Perspective: The International Pine Controversy,’ ” she read aloud.
    “What’s per— per—” Bobby stumbled over the unfamiliar word.
    “Perspective,” Trixie repeated slowly. “That’s one of Mart’s tongue twisters, Bobby. I think it means seeing the way the pieces of a thing all fit together.”
    “Like a puzzle?” Bobby asked.
    Trixie nodded, smiling wryly. “International Pine is a lot like a puzzle, Bobby.”
    “You said it was like an ice-cream cone,” Bobby said accusingly. “You said International Pine only had one ice-cream cone, and it was chocolate or vanilla but not both.”
    Trixie groaned, remembering that earlier conversation. She’d been so proud of herself for putting the controversy into terms Bobby could understand. Now she realized that he’d taken every word she had said at face value. Impulsively, she reached over and gave her younger brother a hug.
    Bobby quickly wriggled out of her arms. “Read to me,” he said insistently, pointing at the article.
    “This part isn’t funny, like the cartoons, Bobby,” Trixie said. “Wouldn’t you rather hear the cartoons?”
    Bobby stuck his lower lip out stubbornly. “This part first, then the cartoons,” he said.
    Trixie sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was to read another rehash of the International Pine issue. On the other hand, reading was one of the least taxing things to do with Bobby. At least he couldn’t skin his knees or get his clothes dirty while being read to.
    “ ‘Perspective: The International Pine Controversy,’ ” Trixie began again.
    The section consisted mostly of pictures with short captions. There was a picture of the original International Pine factory and an aerial photograph of the land where they wanted to build the expansion. There were pictures of John Score being led off to jail, of Matt Wheeler speaking at the town council meeting, and of the council chairman announcing the tie vote.
    Trixie found her own interest mounting as Bobby’s attention started to wander. Mart is right , she thought. I should pay more attention to the newspaper.
    Just then Bobby asked, “Where’s the ice-cream cones? How come there’s no pictures of icecream cones?”
    Trixie, laughing, put away the news section and read Bobby the comics.

    When the Bob-Whites were all assembled at the boathouse that afternoon, Trixie told them about Bobby’s misunderstanding.
    Her friends laughed until the tears rolled down their faces. “Poor Trixie!” Di Lynch gasped. “I can just imagine you thinking you’d cleared the whole thing up for Bobby, only to find out that you’d actually steered him clear away from the whole issue. That happens to me with the twins all the time.” Di had a set of twin brothers who were just Bobby’s age, as well as a younger set of twin sisters.
    “Nonetheless,” Mart said, “it was an excellent analogy. I am amazed by your perspicuity, my dear Beatrix.”
    Trixie blushed. She knew that Mart’s compliment must be genuine, because he’d balanced it by using her hated real name. “You think I’m clever because I used food for the comparison— and that’s always your favorite issue,” she retorted.
    After the laughter over Trixie’s remark had subsided, Honey suggested that the Bob-Whites organize a game of volleyball. “If you could see how much food Celia packed in that picnic basket,” Honey said, “you’d know how important it is that we work up huge appetites.”
    “My current gustatory desires would no doubt suffice,” Mart said. “But since physical exertion will not diminish them, I would be delighted to take part.”
    Jim quickly got up and busied himself with putting up the net between two trees. Trixie watched him curiously. Because of their special friendship, she and Jim were sensitive to one another’s moods. She couldn’t read his thoughts as she could Honey’s, but she knew when something was bothering him. Something was obviously bothering him this afternoon. He’d hardly spoken since the Beldens had arrived at the boathouse, and even his laughter had seemed preoccupied. Trixie hoped that Jim would tell them what was on his mind, but she knew that no amount of urging would get him to do so until he was ready.
    Trixie stood up, brushed herself off, and walked to the net. “Girls against boys?” she asked, picking up the ball and twirling it challengingly.
    “Why, Trixie, you surprise me,” Brian said mockingly. “I always thought you liked