7. Sweet Feet

Chapter 7 Sweet Feet "They look just like the ones we saw hanging near the school," Brian said. "I think they're the same ones," Bradley said. "That other pair is gone. I noticed they were missing after school." The four kids gazed up at the pair hanging above them. "And you think that's them up

there?" Nate asked. Bradley nodded. "I saw some high school kids near the tree," he said. "They might have taken them down and brought them over here." "But why?" Brian asked. "This is crazy!" "I'm going up to get them," Lucy said. She dropped her book bag on the ground and began climbing the tall tree. "What for?" asked Nate. Lucy stopped climbing. "Maybe whoever left these sneakers is the same person who put the little one in the barn," she said. "And that person stole Goldi." Lucy pointed up. "These sneakers might be clues!" Lucy climbed until she came to the limb holding the sneakers. But the limb was too thin for her to go any farther. "I need a long stick," Lucy called down. The three boys scurried around in the bushes under the tree. "I got one!" Bradley yelled. He held up a dead branch. "Is this okay?" "Perfect," Lucy said. "Can you hand it to me?" "I think so," Bradley said.

"We'll give you a boost," his brother said. Brian and Nate put their hands together and linked their fingers. This made a step for Bradley's foot. With one hand on his brother's head, Bradley held the branch up to Lucy. "Got it!" Lucy said. She used the stick to knock the sneakers to the ground. Lucy scurried down, and Nate plucked a leaf out of her hair. "Cool climbing, Lucy," he said. Bradley took a whiff inside one of the sneakers. "They smell new," he said. "Look how white the laces are. I don't think they've even been worn." "Why would anyone toss a pair of cool new sneakers up into a tree?" asked Nate. The kids studied the sneakers. They were bright green, with a lightning bolt on the side. Inside, a label said SWEET FEET.

"Like the flyer I found in the supermarket!" Brian said. He held up the small sneaker they'd

found in the barn. "They're the same, only this little one doesn't say sweet feet inside." "This is getting weirder and weirder," Bradley said. "Let's head home," Brian said. "My tummy needs a snack." They decided to walk down Owl Road. Nate had the SWEET FEET sneakers hanging around his neck. Bradley was studying the flyer, trying to make sense of it. Suddenly a voice rang out. "Hey, you kids!" A man with gray hair walked over to them. He was holding a leaf rake. "You kids live around here?" the man asked. "No, we live on the other side of Main Street," Brian answered. The man looked suspicious. "What're you doing over here?" he asked. "We were looking for our teacher," Nate piped up. "Ms. Tery? She lives on Thrush Court." Finally the man smiled. "Okay, but there's been some stealing going on, and I just wondered." "What kind of stealing?" Bradley asked.

"Someone took my front doormat," the man said. He pointed to his porch. "It was there last night, and gone this morning. Who'd want an old doormat?" "Sir, did you find a little green sneaker like this?" Brian asked. He held up the one clipped to his book bag. "I'll be danged!" the man said. "I found one like that on the porch. Gave it to my grandson." "It's been happening all over town," Bradley said. He told the man about the kids in school who'd lost stuff. "They took our hamster!" "My pal Hector lost his garden hose!" the man said. "He lives on Pheasant Lane. I'll ask him if he got one of those sneaker things." The man shook his head and went back to his raking. The kids waved, then kept walking down Owl Road. "Something very weird is going on in this town," Bradley muttered. "And I intend to find out what!" Five minutes later the kids piled into the kitchen at Bradley and Brian's house. They found a note and a plate of cookies on the table. The note said: