The Secret of the Plum Tree
By Madeline Florio

Once upon a time in a town called Leafdo lived a pretty lady named Ethel Mertz. She lived in a lovely brick apartment with 18 floors and today she was going to visit her good friend and have tea. Ethel was listing to the radio when she heard that a tree was scaring people because they thought that it was haunted. It was a tree near by so it did not bother her to look at the tree. But first she postponed the tea party. Anyway what’s more important? Tea or solving mysterys? Well Ethel thought that it solving mysterys was more important. When she reached the tree she heard weird noises and saw wind circling around the tree she rook a picture of the tree before leaving it. Ethel turned around and went to the police office and showed them her picture. Well, actually before she showed them it she saw a face in the wind. She asked the police if they knew who it was. They said
       “Oh we know who that is! That is Professor Pippy P. Poopypants.”
       “Do you know where he lives?” asked Ethel.
       “Why, yes we do. He lived on 26 Maple Rd. Waffle Kentucky. The man was 103 when he died. He was the master of science subtraction, and baking. We don’t know how he died but some people say that they have answers. Most people think he got very sick. Ethel said thank you and went back to the house and in his lab. In it she saw a knife with scraps of leaves on it. Ethel drove back to the tree. She noticed  one leaf had a Chinese symbol on it. Ethel brings the leaf to the library. She asked the librarian if she knew what it meant. The librarian said
       “No I do not. But I have a good friend who is excellent at reading symbols.”
       “Can you tell me where she lives?” asked Ethel.
       “Yes here is a map.” Ethel thanked the librarian and went to the house where the expert at reading symbols person lives. She went inside of the lady’s house. She introduced herself as Ms. Alisa Eefel. She studied the sign for quite a while Then finally said
       “The sign means hiddin treasure.” Then Ethel said thank you again. She went back to the tree and thinking about what it meant. She started to dig rapidly. Then she felt a big bump. Carefully she pulled it out. It was a treasure chest! She opened it ans wowie wow woow! There was gold inside that thing! Now she knew why a ghost was scaring people. We did not want anyone to find the treasure. Now Ethel was rich! So, it was a happy ending!

THE END