“Oh,” George said. Her shoulders slumped. “I thought we had him.”
“Nope,” Nancy answered with a quick shake of her head.
“Class, it’s time to settle down,” Ms. Spencer announced as she walked to the blackboard. “Kyle . . . Jason . . . Nancy . . . George . . . please take your seats.”
Nancy hurried to her seat and took out her blue notebook. With a red pen she crossed Kyle’s name off her suspect list.
He’s not the thief, Nancy said to herself. Then she looked up at the bulletin board again.
Wait a minute, Nancy thought. Maybe Kyle wanted two Panda Crunch bars! He could have stolen my lunch to get a second one.
She wrote his name in her notebook again and put two question marks beside it—one for each chocolate bar.
But how could she find out if he ate two chocolate bars, Nancy wondered.
For the next half hour Ms. Spencer read a book to the class.
Then it was time for another special event—a Christmas concert. All the classes in the school went to the gym.
Nancy sat in the wooden bleachers with Bess and George. They listened as the sixth graders sang carols and put on a musical play.
But Nancy wasn’t really listening to the concert. She was daydreaming about Christmas. And thinking about her Secret Santa.
The next day was the last before Christmas vacation. What if her present was stolen again tomorrow? That would be terrible! This was Nancy’s last day to catch the thief.
“Wake up,” a voice next to Nancy said.
Nancy looked up. The concert was over, and Brenda Carlton was standing next to her. She was trying to climb over Nancy, so she could get out of the bleachers.
“Are you going to put this in your newspaper, too?” Nancy asked.
“No,” Brenda said. “Everyone already knows you daydream in school. So it’s not news.”
Nancy stood up and tried to ignore Brenda. But her face felt hot. That wasn’t fair, and Brenda knew it. Nancy wasn’t a daydreamer—not usually. Brenda really knew how to make her angry!
With her back to Brenda, Nancy started to follow Bess out of the bleachers. But the bleachers were narrow, so Nancy had to look down to see where she was going.
All of a sudden something red caught Nancy’s eye.
Glitter! Red glitter!
“Bess,” Nancy said, pointing at the glitter on the narrow wooden steps of the bleachers. “Look!”
“What?” Bess asked.
“Red glitter,” Nancy said. “That’s what my Secret Santa put on my Christmas card.”
“I don’t get it,” Bess said. “Do you think the card is here in the gym?”
“No,” Nancy said. “I think the person who stole it was here in the gym—just a minute ago! Glitter sticks to everything. Maybe they had the card with them. Who was sitting here?”
Bess tried to remember. “I think it was either Kyle or Emily,” Bess said.
“Okay,” Nancy said. She and Bess hurried to join their class. “Let’s go!”
By the time Ms. Spencer had led Nancy’s class back to their room, the bell was ringing. School was over for the day.
Ms. Spencer dismissed the class. Then she went to the door to watch as the students left. Both Kyle and Emily went to their cubbies.
Nancy raced down the aisle to Emily’s seat. Bess was right behind her.
“Look,” Nancy whispered. “There’s glitter on her chair!”
“Let’s look in her desk,” Bess said.
Nancy glanced over her shoulder. She didn’t want to get caught snooping. But she did want to find out if Emily was the thief.
Ms. Spencer had stepped out into the hall. A few students were still in the classroom. But they weren’t looking at Nancy.
She knelt down beside the desk and peeked at the papers inside. A plain white folded sheet of paper was on top. Nancy pulled it out. It was the card Nancy had seen on Emily’s desk the day before.
On the front, in pencil, the card said, “To Emily.” Inside the writing said, “From your Secret Santa. Ha. Ha.”
There were no decorations or drawings on it anywhere. It was the plainest card Nancy had ever seen.
Nancy felt sorry for Emily. But she also had a question. If there was no glitter on Emily’s card, why was there glitter on Emily’s chair?
“What are you doing?” a voice said beside Nancy.
Nancy stood up and saw that Emily had come back. She looked very angry.
“What are you doing in my desk?” Emily asked again.
“I wanted to see your Secret Santa card,” Nancy said.
“Why?” Emily asked. “It’s really ugly.”
“Oh, it’s not so bad,” Nancy said. She was trying to be nice.
“It’s a terrible card, and you know it,” Emily said. “And guess what I got for lunch today? A bologna sandwich. I didn’t ask for bologna. I hate bologna! And for dessert I got hot pepper chewing gum!”
“At least you got something,” Nancy said. “I didn’t get any presents. Not yesterday or today.”
Emily blushed. Then her eyes darted to her desk. She started to brush away the glitter on her chair. Red glitter was sticking to her dress, too.
Nancy watched Emily carefully and thought about the glitter clues. There was red glitter on Nancy’s Secret Santa card and on Emily’s chair and dress—that meant something.
Either Emily was the thief—or she was the person who made the card in the first place. Maybe she was Nancy’s Secret Santa!
“Emily,” Nancy said slowly. “Are you my Secret Santa?”
Emily looked surprised. “Why are you asking me that? We’re supposed to keep it a secret.”
“I know,” Nancy said. “But here’s what I think. I think either you’re my Secret Santa—or you stole my Secret Santa card.”
“I did not!” Emily said. “Why would I?”
“I don’t know,” Nancy said. “But my card had red glitter on it, and you have red glitter on your dress.”
“Too bad,” Emily said. “I didn’t take your card—or eat the candy on it. And you can’t prove that I did!”
7
Christmas Joy
Nancy kicked the snow off her boots. Then she climbed into Hannah’s car after school.
“Hannah, I’ve got a problem,” Nancy said.
“Close the door,” Hannah said with a shiver. “You’re letting all the cold air in.”
Nancy pulled the car door shut.
“Now,” Hannah said, “what’s the problem?”
“I’ve solved another mystery,” Nancy said.
“That doesn’t sound like a problem,” Hannah said.
“But I can’t prove that I solved it,” Nancy said.
“Ahhh,” Hannah said. “That’s different. Why don’t you tell me all about it?”
As Hannah pulled away from the school, Nancy told her everything. About how her Secret Santa lunch had been stolen. And how she thought Brenda was the thief—until she saw the red glitter on Emily’s chair.
“And then Emily said she didn’t eat the candy on my card,” Nancy said.
“So?” Hannah asked.
“How did she know there was candy on my card—unless she stole it?”
“Oh. I see what you mean,” Hannah agreed. “But why would Emily take your presents?”
“I’ve been trying to figure that out,” Nancy said. “All I can think of is this. Emily got terrible gifts from her Secret Santa. And I got really nice ones. So she took mine because they were nicer than hers.”
“Well, you could be right,” Hannah said with a sad shake of her head. “I guess she felt hurt, if her presents were as bad as you say.”
“But it’s not fair!” Nancy complained. “Why didn’t she think about me? I felt really hurt, too, when I didn’t get anything.”
“I know,” Hannah said softly. “What she did was wrong.” She turned and gave Nancy a warm smile.
“So I want you to call Emily’s mother,” Nancy said
. “Hey, where are we going?”
Nancy looked out the car window and saw that Hannah had turned down Market Street. They were heading toward the mall, not toward home.
“We’re going Christmas shopping,” Hannah explained. “Your dad is working late tonight. This is the best time for us to pick out a present for him.”
“Great!” Nancy said. “We need to get Jason’s Secret Santa present for tomorrow, too.”
“Oh, yes. I almost forgot,” Hannah said.
“But what about Emily?” Nancy asked. “Aren’t you going to call her mother?”
“I don’t know,” Hannah said. “Is that what you really want me to do? Even though you can’t prove she stole your gifts?”
Nancy stared out the car window and thought about that. No, she decided. It wouldn’t be fair to tell on Emily. Not unless she was sure.
“I wonder who her Secret Santa is?” Nancy said to Hannah.
“Whoever it is isn’t very much in the Christmas spirit,” Hannah replied.
Nancy drew a Christmas tree in the frost on the car window. Then she drew a picture of some presents, tied with big bows.
Then she pretended the presents were for her—and tried to guess what was inside.
When they got to the mall, Hannah led the way to a gift shop first. She let Nancy pick out a present for her father. Nancy chose a brown leather pencil cup. It matched the other leather things Carson Drew kept on his desk.
Then Nancy and Hannah ate dinner in the food court. Hannah had Chinese food: noodles with broccoli.
“Yuck,” Nancy said. She wrinkled up her nose when she saw Hannah’s plate. Nancy didn’t like that kind of noodle.
“Yuck, yourself,” Hannah said, looking at the hot dog and waffle fries on Nancy’s tray.
Finally they went to the toy store. Nancy went to look at the new dolls.
Suddenly, a few feet away, a little girl with red hair started to kick her feet and whine.
“I want that doll! I want that doll, Mommy!” the little girl cried.
“Sorry, Polly, but we aren’t buying you anything now,” the girl’s mother said. “It’s too close to Christmas.”
“But I want it!” the little girl whined loudly. “Annie got one!”
“Yesterday was Annie’s birthday,” the girl’s mother said. “That’s why she got a present.”
“I want one, too!” Polly screamed.
Nancy couldn’t stop staring. The little girl was yelling at the top of her lungs.
“Come on, Nancy,” Hannah said, tugging on Nancy’s arm. “We have our own shopping to do.”
Nancy followed Hannah to the back of the store. She hunted around for the soft toys. Jason liked squishy balls and foamy sports toys. Finally Nancy settled on a squishy baseball.
“This is the fun part about being a Secret Santa,” Nancy said to Hannah. “Picking out a really special gift.”
“Too bad Emily’s Secret Santa didn’t feel that way,” Hannah said.
Nancy looked up at Hannah. “You’re right,” she said.
Just then Nancy heard the little girl’s voice again.
“I want it! I want it!” the girl cried out.
“It’s too bad when people can’t get the things they want, isn’t it, Hannah?” Nancy said softly.
“Yes,” Hannah agreed. “But people can’t always have everything they want.”
“I know,” Nancy said. “But sometimes they can.”
Quickly Nancy turned and ran down one of the aisles.
“Nancy!” Hannah called. “Where are you going? You can’t do anything for that little girl!”
“I know,” Nancy answered. “But there’s just one more thing I want to buy!”
8
Nancy’s Secret
When Nancy got to school the next morning, she was carrying two paper bags.
Jason Hutchings and Mike Minelli came up behind her. They were pushing each other from side to side in the hall. Jason bumped into Nancy and stopped.
“Hey, how come you have two bags?” Jason asked.
“It’s a secret,” Nancy answered.
“I’ll bet she got something for the teacher,” Mike said. He stuck his tongue out and made a face. “Teacher’s pet.”
“Nope,” Nancy said, shaking her head.
Jason stared hard at the two bags. “Are you a Secret Santa for two different people?” he asked.
“Could be,” Nancy said with a mysterious smile.
“Nah,” Jason said. “I don’t believe you.”
Nancy laughed. “Let’s go in,” she said. “Don’t you want to find out who your Secret Santa is?”
Jason walked into the classroom, but he was still staring at the bags. Nancy followed him.
“Okay, class,” Ms. Spencer said. “Put your Secret Santa bags on the back table. Then everyone go out into the hall. We’re going to open our Secret Santa presents right away today.”
“Yes!” some of the kids shouted. “Yay!”
The room was noisy as everyone talked at once. Some kids pushed and shoved. Nancy put her bags on the table and then went back into the hall.
When she got there, George and Bess were just arriving.
“Hurry!” Nancy said. “We’re doing Secret Santa right now.”
“Great!” George said. Both girls tugged their boots off quickly. Then they ran into the room in their socks. They put their bags on the table.
A minute later they came out. Ms. Spencer was right behind them.
Mrs. Oshida was walking down the hall. Ms. Spencer asked her to keep an eye on the class.
“Is it time for Secret Santa?” Mike called in a loud voice.
“Not yet,” Ms. Spencer said. “Nancy? May I see you in the room for a minute?”
Me? Nancy thought. What for?
“What’s going on?” George asked in a whisper.
“I don’t know,” Nancy said.
But as soon as she walked into the room, she saw Emily Reeves standing next to the teacher’s desk.
“Nancy,” Ms. Spencer said, sitting down at her desk. “Emily has something to tell you.”
Emily looked at her feet.
“Go on, Emily,” Ms. Spencer said. “Tell Nancy what you told me.”
Emily kept staring down. She said something in a small voice. Nancy couldn’t hear the words.
“What?” Nancy asked.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” Emily said. “I took your Secret Santa stuff.”
“I thought so,” Nancy said. “But why did you do it?”
“Will you be mad if I tell you?” Emily asked.
“No,” Nancy said. “I don’t think so.”
“Well,” Emily said slowly, “I ran into the room on Wednesday while everyone was still outside. And I saw my card. It was so ugly! Then I saw yours. It was beautiful. I took it and ate the candy. I kept the card in my pocket both days.”
“But what about yesterday?” Nancy said. “Why did you take my lunch?”
Emily blushed. “I just couldn’t help it,” she said. “I was first into the room after the concert. When I saw the things in my lunch, I got mad. So I took yours. It was in a pretty bag, with decorations on it. I knew it would be a good lunch.”
That’s pretty babyish, Nancy thought. But she knew how it felt to want something so badly.
“I’m really really really sorry,” Emily said. “I’ll give you my Secret Santa present. Will that make it okay?”
Nancy smiled. “It’s okay,” she said to Emily. “I’m glad you told me the truth. You can keep your present.” Then she added, “I hope you get something nice.”
Emily gave Nancy a grateful smile.
Then Ms. Spencer stood up. She patted Emily on the shoulder. “Good for you, Emily,” she said. “And you, too, Nancy. Now we’d better get started with Secret Santa.”
She sent Emily and Nancy out into the hall for a few more minutes. Bess and George were waiting right by the door.
“We heard the whole thin
g,” Bess said.
“I can’t believe she stole your gifts!” George said angrily.
Nancy glanced at George. It wasn’t like George to be so upset.
“I think she felt left out,” Nancy said. “Anyway, she’s sorry. So let’s not tell anyone.”
“Why not?” Bess asked.
“Because if Brenda finds out, she’ll put it on the front page of her newspaper,” Nancy said. “And I know how that feels!”
Bess nodded. “All right,” she said.
“Oh, okay,” said George.
A moment later Ms. Spencer came to the door. She thanked Mrs. Oshida for watching the class. Then Ms. Spencer called everyone inside.
“Your gifts are on your desks,” she told the class.
Everyone rushed into the room. Nancy was so excited. This was the first day she would get a Secret Santa gift! And she couldn’t wait to find out who her Secret Santa was.
She ran to her seat and opened her present. It was a necklace. It had colorful fruits dangling all along the chain.
The little card attached to it said, “Merry Christmas. With love from your Secret Santa—George.”
“George!” Nancy cried out. “You were my Secret Santa?”
George hurried over to Nancy’s desk. “Yes! Do you like the necklace?” George asked.
“I love it! It’s great!” Nancy said, giving George a hug. Then Nancy thought for a minute. “No wonder you were so upset when my presents were stolen.”
George nodded. “I spent a long time making your card. Hey, there it is!”
Nancy looked down and saw what George was pointing at. On her chair was the red glitter card that George had made. But the candy was missing from the front.
A small note taped to the front said, “I’m sorry I took this. Sorry I ate the candy, too.”
“Oh, well,” George said. She looked angry for a minute, but then she smiled. “At least she gave it back.”
Nancy laughed. “Thanks, again,” she said, giving George another hug.
Then George went to see what Bess had gotten from her Secret Santa. Nancy watched from her seat. Almost everyone was happy, including Jason Hutchings. He was throwing his squishy baseball back and forth with Mike Minelli.