Samar Sleuth

- Leone Castell Anderson

“I’m Samar Sleuth, the new Sherlock Holmes,” Samar announced as he and his sister, Sadia, packed their backpacks for school. “I’ll ask the right questions and follow clues, just like Sherlock.”

“If you say so,” said Sadia.

“I’ll solve mysteries, just like Sherlock!” said Samar.

“If you say so,” said Sadia.

At that moment, their mom came rushing into the kitchen. “I’m running late and can’t find my car keys! Has anyone seen them?”

“Sounds like a job for Samar Sleuth,” said Samar. “Let’s see. You sat at the table to eat breakfast.” He lifted his mom’s cup. Her saucer. Her plate. No keys.

Samar noticed his mother’s handbag. “Let’s see. Did you check all the pockets of your bag?” he asked.

His mom dug deep into each section of the bag. She shook her head. “Not here.”

“The keys must have fallen, then,” Samar said. He dropped to the f loor and crawled around, carefully inspecting every inch of the kitchen. No keys. He moved into the living room and slowly scanned the room. “Hmm,” he said. “Where could those keys be?” He pulled the cushions off the couch.

That’s when Samar heard it. The clank of the garage door opening, followed by the roar of the car’s engine. Samar ran to the front door. Mom was already backing out of the driveway.

“I’d left the keys in the car!”