8. Where Is Pal

Chapter 8 Where Is Pal? The kids left the police station. No one knew what to say. Ben and Ralphie wanted their brother back. Bradley, Brian, Lucy, and Nate wanted their leprechaun back. At the fitness center window, they watched two women dressing a leprechaun statue in gym clothes. "We'd better get home," Ralphie said. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out," Bradley said.

"See you guys," Ben muttered. He and Ralphie trudged toward Robin Road. Bradley, Brian, Lucy, and Nate went to the twins' house. Bradley found a note from his mother: Gone shopping. Josh is in charge. Pal seems lonely. Play with him! Lunch is in the fridge. —Mom "Where is Pal?" Lucy asked. Bradley whistled. Pal didn't come. Brian clapped his hands. Pal still didn't come. "Geez, don't tell me somebody stole him, too!" Brian said. "Let's go look," Nate said. The four kids split up and searched the house. Bradley checked the bedrooms. Josh was on his bed reading and eating a sandwich.

"Have you seen Pal?" Bradley asked. "He was in the kitchen when I made my sandwich," Josh said. "He's not there now," Bradley said. Next, he went to the bedroom he shared with Brian. Pal's tail was sticking out from under Brian's bed. "There you are," Bradley muttered. He flopped down on the floor next to the bed. "Hi, Pal. Come on out." Pal didn't move. "I'll give you a cookie," Bradley said. Pal wasn't interested. "Are you mad at me?" Bradley asked. Pal didn't make a sound. Bradley peeked under the bed. Pal's big brown eyes looked back at him. "What have you got there?" Bradley asked. Pal was lying on something brown and fuzzy. Bradley pulled out the two sleeves he'd cut off his old sweater.

"You miss your sweater?" Bradley asked. "Is that why you're mad? I had to use the sweater for the leprechaun." Just then the other kids walked in. "I found him," Bradley said. He showed them the two sweater sleeves. "Pal's mad because we took his old sweater." Brian, Lucy, and Nate got down on the floor. They all looked under the bed. Pal looked back at them. "I have an idea," Lucy said. "He'll come out when he gets hungry," Brian said. "No, I mean about finding the leprechaun," Lucy said. "Maybe Pal can find it for us!" The other three just looked at her. "He loves that old sweater, right?" Lucy said. Bradley nodded. "And we put the sweater on the leprechaun, right?" Lucy said. "Yup," Bradley said.

"Well, Pal is a hound dog. Detectives use hound dogs to find missing people. So maybe Pal's nose can lead us to the sweater. And then we'll have the leprechaun!" "Great idea, Lucy!" Bradley said. "And if we find our leprechaun, the other two will probably be with it!" Bradley put his face under the bed again. "Pal, want to go for a walk?" Pal wriggled out from under the bed. "Woof!" he said.