The Missing Book (9 page)
Tommy quickly looked around the crowd and then at Mandie. “I'm sorry. I lost mine and never did find it. I was going to give it back to you, honest.” His eyes filled with tears.
Joe spoke in Mandie's ear. “You don't need it now, Mandie, you have mine.”
“Why did you take mine?” Mandie asked.
Tommy wouldn't look her in the eye. “I didn't have any money to buy another one because money had to be saved for the baby that was coming. I'm sorry we're so poor, and I'm sorry I took your book.”
Mandie drew in a deep breath, thinking about the death of the little baby, and held her book out to Tommy. “Here, you can keep it. I have another one now, Joe's old one.”
His head bowed, Tommy reached out and took the book. “Thank you,” he mumbled as he slipped outside.
“Let's go, Mandie,” Faith said behind her.
Mandie straightened her shoulders and smiled up at Joe. “Yes, let's go.”
And on the way home, Mandie finally heard about Faith's visit to Tellico with her grandmother.
“My grandmother got the job,” Faith told Mandie and Joe. “However, there are some strings attached to the offer. The position won't be available until fall, so my grandmother has not made a decision yet.”
Mandie gave Faith a big smile. “I'm so glad she hasn't yet.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “Just wait until you hear what Joe and I have to tell you.”
Joe smiled at her as Faith said, “I've heard some of it already. And he may not be directly related to us, but my grandmother is hoping he will consider us family, since he doesn't have anyone and we only have each other.”
As they walked on, Mandie reached for Faith's hand and squeezed it. “Everything is turning out just wonderful.”
Mandie's Bookplates
Nobody wants to lose a special book. Creating a special
bookplate is one way to make sure that if your book does get
lost, whoever finds it will know whom it belongs to.
Materials you will need:
drawer liner paper in a solid pale color
or light pattern
scissors
a ruler
a thin-tipped marker
glue (if your drawer liner paper does not have
adhesive backing)
books
Carefully measure, then cut your liner paper into several rectanglesâ3 x 5 inches is a nice size.
Personalize each rectangle. THIS BOOK BELONGS TO (your name) and FROM THE COLLECTION OF (your name) are good choices.
If your liner paper has adhesive backing, simply peel off the covering and place the paper on the inside front cover of your book. Be sure to smooth it out carefully so that there are no air bubbles.
If your liner paper doesn't have adhesive backing, dab a tiny amount of glueâabout the size of a nickelâon the back and spread evenly. Position as above.
From the
collection of
Amanda Shaw
About
the
Author
LOIS GLADYS LEPPARD has written many novels for young people about Mandie Shaw. She often uses the stories of her mother's childhood in western North Carolina as an inspiration in her writing. Lois Gladys Leppard lives in South Carolina.
Visit the author's official Web site at
www.mandie.com
.
RL 2.6, ages 7â10
THE MISSING BOOK
A Bantam Skylark Book/March 2002
Mandie® and A Young Mandie Mystery® are registered
trademarks of Lois Gladys Leppard.
All rights reserved
Text copyright © 2002 by Lois Gladys Leppard
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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BANTAM SKYLARK is an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc. SKYLARK BOOK and colophon and BANTAM BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
eISBN: 978-0-307-43394-7
v3.0