Lauren Solves a Case

I loved Nancy Drew books growing up.  I'm pretty sure I've read every single book in the series, as well as the old vintage, pre-updated books from the 30s, 40s, and early 50s.  The titian-haired (or blonde, depending on when the book came out), 18-(or 16)year-old and her "chums" as they were called were as cool as you could get.  They're strong, adventurous, feminine, and they don't need a guy to come rescue them.  And they have pretty much every skill on the planet mastered.  Many of the early books are stunningly well written (the original and unrevised version of The Bungalow Mystery stands out in particular -- the landscape imagery in that book is as well written as that in any modern book for adults I've read), especially when considering that they were written for children -- and when I wrote short stories as a child, my primary model was, of course, my Nancy Drew books.  So here is one of my clearly-modeled-after-Nancy stories (complete with the obligatory what-you-missed-in-the-last-couple-books summary) from when I was probably around ten. 

  Lauren Solves A Case
 
         Even though Lauren was only thirteen, people already thought of her as the "detective" of the seventh grade.  She'd solved the mystery of Karen's lost bracelet and she'd discovered the solution to the food that had curiously disappeared from the cafeteria.  So it wasn't surprising that, when Miss Frank, the second grade teacher, had a mysterious problem, she asked Lauren for help.
         "Lauren, you're so clever and smart, maybe you can figure out what's happening," began Miss Frank, who then told Lauren about the strange things occurring in her apartment.
        "You see, Lauren, little things are wrong and I can't understand why.  For example, every evening I polish my shoes, so even if I'm running late in the morning, I can always look sparkling and neat.  But for the last few weeks, no matter what shoes I pick out, they're all scruffed... as if somebody dumped them in the snow.  Plus, I like to be organized.  So after I've had my morning coffee, I always set up my coffee maker for the next day even before I come to school in the morning.... That way it's always ready the next morning.  But every day for the last few weeks, when I'm ready to turn on the pot in the morning, the pot's been cleaned."
         Lauren started to interrupt, but Miss Frank put up her hand like a traffic cop.  "I know, Lauren, you probably think I'm crazy, but to me these aren't small things.  Listen, there's more.  You know how I love to have flowers on my desk?  Well, every few days I have the florist deliver a few fresh flowers to my house.  Now, the florist is a really nice lady, and she swears she's delivering nice fresh flowers, and the apartment doorman is the one who puts them in my apartment, and he swears they look fresh cut when they're delivered.  But for the last few weeks, they've been totally brown and wilted when I come home.  And another thing, Lauren.  I've always loved plants.  The ones in my classroom are healthy, but at home, my houseplants are sick, too.  All of a sudden, their leaves are browning and they look awful.  But I can't figure out why.  I just know something really strange is going on, only I can't imagine what.  I mean, nothing is being stolen... just odd little things keep happening....
         "Please, Lauren,"  Miss Frank implored, "can you think of any explanation for all these strange occurrences... or maybe I really am going crazy?"
         Lauren thought about the problem for a few minutes and finally said, "Whatever is happening, Miss Frank, I know you're not crazy, and I know your apartment's not haunted.  There's always a logical explanation for things.  So I've got an idea."
         Lauren then suggested that, since she had Monday off for teacher conference day, she'd be happy to work on her homework at Miss Frank's apartment.  "I'll just do my homework on your computer and if anything strange happens, I'll be there to see it."
         Miss Frank was delighted with Lauren's suggestion, and so, on the following Monday, Lauren found herself studying quietly in Miss Frank's den.  
         As it turned out, by four o'clock that afternoon, the clever Lauren had not only solved the case of Miss Frank's mysterious occurrences, but she'd even written her usual "Detective's Report" for the teacher.  Miss Frank smiled as she read it that afternoon:

         Lauren's Report on the Case of Mysterious Occurrences
                   In Miss Frank's Apartment

I was doing my homework when I heard the key turning in the door and saw a pretty French girl, not much older than I, walk in with a broom, mop, and cleaning basket.

"Bonjour!  Je m’appelle Marielle Bonaly," she said, putting down her cleaning things. "You Lauren?" she said with a smile on her face, "They tell me that you are coming. I am cleaning now, okay?" she said, dragging her cleaning gear into the kitchen.  Marielle works for the company that does your cleaning, and I know you've never met her, because she's only been in this country a few weeks. 

She seemed very sweet, but still, since I promised I'd try to solve your mysterious occurrence problem, I decided I'd better keep an eye on Marielle just in case.

Just as I was debating about how I could spy on Marielle in the kitchen without looking too obvious, she came back through the swinging door from the kitchen carrying the removable coffee reservoir from your pot and efficiently emptied the new grounds directly into your big Ti plant, mixing them a bit with a plastic spoon.

Surprised, I asked, "Marielle... why did you just throw away the coffee?"  She told me that grounds are good for plants in her country.  As gently as I could, I told Marielle that your one plant was not big enough to handle all that coffee, and I asked if she could just leave the coffee pot untouched from now on.  She was a little hurt, but she agreed.  The mystery of the sick plant was solved.

While she continued to clean the kitchen, we talked a little, and suddenly she exclaimed, "Oh, I almost forget!" and quickly left the room, returning within moments holding the fresh flowers from the dining room.  With one fast move, she swept them into the freezer.  Flabbergasted, I asked her why she'd done that.  "It is good, the flowers, they should be cold.  I leave them in the fridge until I ready myself to leave.  They stay more fresh, like in a flower shop.  Do not worry yourself….  I'm going to take them out before I go so they will be here for Miss Frank.”

Well, I didn't have to be Sherlock Holmes to realize that I'd just stumbled onto the solution to another of your mysterious occurrences.  This time I told Marielle that she had a wonderful idea, but that if she would put the flowers into the refrigerator side instead of the freezer side, they'd last longer.

As it turns out, your shoes look like they've been rained on because Marielle is so efficient that she's been cleaning the soles of your shoes every day, and swiping the tops as well, just for good measure.  All your shoe cleaning was being methodically undone.  I showed Marielle where your shoe polish was and how much nicer it made shoes look than soap and water.

I think this logically explains all of your "mysterious occurrences."  Also, I hope you're not angry with Marielle.  I'd like to say that Marielle is not only a really hard worker, but one of the nicest new friends I've made in a long time.  She's agreed to help me with my French (as you probably know, I need a lot of help).  Also, though she's only been in this country a few weeks, she's very smart and a good learner....  I promise you, she won't make any mistakes again.

Respectfully submitted:  Lauren

         "Lauren," exclaimed Miss Frank when she'd finished reading, "Of course I'm not angry with Marielle.  She sounds great.  And I can't tell you how grateful I am for all your discoveries.  I feel so much better knowing the reasons for everything.
         "And you know what else, Lauren," said the smiling teacher, giving the young girl a gentle hug, "It really is true, what everyone says about you.  You're not only clever and smart and a great detective, but you're a very nice and special person as well."