Penelope Barrows #2 The Case of the Red Sneaker

By CC Beechum

Take a trip to Chicago with Penelope and help her solve; The Case of the Red Sneaker.
I wasn’t making any plans. My plans had been made for me. I was going to Chicago for the summer. Chicago ugh! I mean most people go to the beach or to the mountains on summer vacation. Not me, I go to a big, hot city. I was going to spend my whole summer vacation in Chicago with my Aunt Susan and Uncle Joe.
Be on the lookout in summer 2012 for Penelope’s next adventure;
Penelope Barrows #3 The Case of the Poison Pen Letter

• Language: English
• Publisher: CC Beechum
• Release date: Jan 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466054202

CC Beechum

CC Beechum lives in Massachusetts. She taught middle school for over twenty-five years and conducted a drama club for middle school children for many of them. She received her undergraduate degree and her master's degree in Educational Administration from Worcester State College. CC is also involved in the arts and has enjoyed many shows as a stage manager, costume designer, and an actor for local production companies. Her first book is "Penelope Barrows #1 The Case of the Blowing Whistle," a children's novel. During her time as an educator she directed and adapted all of the plays in her book "Shakespeare for Kids," so she knows they work. She has published a second novel,"Penelope Barrows #2 The Case of the Red Sneaker,"available on Amazon Kindle, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble."Penelope Barrows #3 The Case of The Poison Pen Letter," is now available on Amazon.com and also on Amazon Kindle. CC's newest book, a resource book for teachers and parents is available on Amazon as well. Be the first to own, "Shakespeare for Kids," a book of his plays that you can perform with children, a must have for any creative teacher. Contact her @ [e-mail] or on her website,ccbeechum.com.

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Penelope Barrows

# 2 The Case of the Red Sneaker

C.C. Beechum

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 by C.C. Beechum

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Manufactured in The United States of America

It takes too long to begin, longer to keep going, and such a short time for it all to end!

C.C. Beechum

Chapter One

No School

I thought that fifth grade would go on forever. There were unending days of book reports, essays, and projects, relentless stories clearly written for adolescents with mischief in mind. The days leading up to summer vacation were carelessly crafted sunny days with the sun gleaming off of Mrs. Neederman’s chalk holder making us wish we were outside playing. At recess our jackets were strewn on the pavement with ease. I thought it would never end. On June 21st, I found out that I was clearly mistaken. It was over, school that is, and we were free for yet another summer vacation. We didn’t even have a party, new school rules and all that. I thought that they were dumb rules. Whoever heard of not having a party on the last day of school?

Mrs. Neederman announced to the whole class as we were saying our good-byes to each other, Everyone have a wonderful summer and stay safe. This was the best class that I have ever had the privilege of teaching.

We all knew that she said that to every class she ever taught, but it made us feel good all the same to hear her say it to us. We all hugged her and each other and ran out of the classroom door, some of us with welled tears in our eyes. Well, most of the boys didn’t hug her really, but a few did. We all got in line to leave for the last time until the next school year. She gave us our last piece of candy for the year too just before we got into line. It was a full size Hershey bar! Full size! I couldn’t wait to go outside so I could eat it. As I was standing in line I could hear all the plans the kids were making to see each other over the summer break. Most of the plans wouldn’t happen, but it was fun to make plans with each other nonetheless.

Here’s my number call me, we will meet on July 13th at the mall, Sara said to Mary smiling.

I wasn’t making any plans. My plans had been made for me. I was going to Chicago for the summer. Chicago ugh! I mean most people go to the beach or to the mountains on summer vacation. Not me, I go to a big, hot city. I was going to spend my whole summer vacation in Chicago with my Aunt Susan and Uncle Joe. The job that was promised to my Uncle Joe fell through at the last minute, and they never did move to New York. They stayed in Chicago, so I was off to stay with them. At least Chicago was near water so I could go swimming sometimes. My two cousins Bret and Billy were also there for the summer and I thought maybe we could have some fun, even if they were boys.

Chicago is the largest city in the state of Illinois. It has nearly 2.7 million residents, and it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populated city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. I read these facts on the Internet before recess and decided Chicago was boring. Chicago was incorporated as a town in 1833, more boring facts. I switched off the computer and hurried back to my seat. Facts can be tedious, especially on the last day of school.

Everyone’s backpack was overflowing with papers and books, and they were falling out everywhere. We had to clean out our desks and take home everything in it that belonged to us. Some stuff we threw away, but a lot we had to take home. I really didn’t have all that much stuff in my desk as I tended to keep it clean, but you should have seen Devon’s desk! His backpack was so full that he had to carry a bag besides carrying his backpack full of stuff. We also had to wash our desks and chairs. Mrs. Neederman gave us shaving cream to wash our desks. She squirted it right on our desks and then gave us sponges to clean it off with. I really didn’t think shaving cream would clean our desks, but boy was I wrong. Not only did shaving cream make our desks shine, it also smelled pretty good too. I thought that the job of cleaning the desks should belong to the custodian, but Mrs. Neederman said Mr. Murphy had an awful lot to do with the ending of school and all, so we had to clean our own desks. Some of the kids decided that shaving cream was a great thing to throw at each other, so that’s just what they did. Not only did their desks get clean, so did they! The room started to get noisy and the laughter rolled down the halls. Mrs. Neederman didn’t even get upset! I think she was just as glad as we were that school was over, but she never let on.

Walking home from school Ben ran up to me and pulled on my backpack just enough to make me get upset with him.

I ran after him yelling, Ben Walters get back here!

He ran all the faster and yelled, "Ha, ha, Penelope you’ll just