Cam Jansen and the Graduation Day Mystery

Table of Contents

 

 

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE YOUNG CAM JANSEN SERIES FOR YOUNGER READERS!

VIKING

Published by Penguin Group
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First published in the U.S.A. by Viking,
a member of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2011

 

Text copyright © David Adler, 2011

Illustrations copyright © Penguin Young Readers Group, 2011
All rights reserved

 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA IS AVAILABLE

ISBN : 978-1-101-54790-8

 

 

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For Eileen and David Lesnick.
Hi, neighbors!

—D.A.A.

 

To Rachel: “CONGRATULATIONS, Grad!”

—J.A.

“I'm so proud of Ben,” Mrs. Shelton said.

“Me, too,” Eric Shelton told his mother. “I'm very proud of Dad.”

Grandpa Shelton, Mrs. Shelton, Eric and his twin sisters Donna and Diane, and Cam Jansen were sitting on folding chairs. Eric's baby brother Howie was there, too. He was sleeping on his mother's lap. They were in a large open area in the middle of a college campus. A few thousand other people were there, too.

“Are you sure Dad's here?” Donna asked. “I don't see him.”

“I know he's here,” Grandpa Shelton said. “I drove him here early this morning.”

“He wouldn't miss his own graduation,” Mrs. Shelton said.

“And he wouldn't want to miss going to a restaurant to celebrate with us afterward,” Grandpa Shelton said.

“Hey, what's taking so long?” a small boy sitting behind the Sheltons asked. “I'm hungry. I want something fun to do.”

“Oh, Harry,” his mother said. “Eat some animal crackers. Play with your toys.”

The boy took some crackers and a toy train from a small shopping bag. He sat on the ground.

“Choo! Choo!”
he said as he pulled the train through the grass.

“Eric's father has dreamed of this day for a long time,” Grandpa Shelton told Cam.

He spoke softly. He didn't want to wake Howie.

“Right after he graduated from high school, he joined the army.”

“That's where we met,” Mrs. Shelton said. “I was also in the army.”

She closed her eyes and smiled. “Ben looked so handsome in his uniform. We got married as soon as we were discharged from the army. Then Ben got a job. He never had time for college.”

“Me, too,” Eric's sister Diane said. “I don't have time for college. I don't even have time for third grade. After second grade I'm getting a job. I'll bake cookies and sell them.”

“Oh, no, you won't,” her mother told her. “You're staying in school.”

Harry pulled his train through the grass and said,
“Choo! Choo!”
Then he stopped his train and called out, “All aboard!”

“Your father had to make time for college,” Grandpa Shelton whispered to Diane. “He went at night, after work.”

“I don't see him anywhere,” Donna said. “I think we're at the wrong graduation.”

“He's sitting in front,” Mrs. Shelton told Donna. “He's wearing a black cap and gown.”

“Mom!” Donna said, and pointed ahead. “Millions of people up there are wearing black caps and gowns!”

“Millions?” asked Mrs. Shelton, smiling.

“Well, a lot. I'm going up front to look for Dad.”

“Me, too,” Diane said.

“I'll go with you,” Grandpa Shelton told the twins. “I want to take Ben's picture.”

Grandpa Shelton took his camera from the small shopping bag he had brought to the graduation. Then he hurried down the aisle with Donna and Diane.

Eric looked in the bag.

“Grandpa has something wrapped in silver paper.”

Mrs. Shelton said, “That's a gift for Dad.”

“Do you know what it is?”

Mrs. Shelton shook her head. She didn't know.

“Do you know how many graduates there are?” Eric asked.

Mrs. Shelton shook her head again.