The Missing Book by Lois Gladys Leppard Page A

take you,” Mr. Shaw said, holding up a leather strap. “Your mother took the cart and I am repairing the other harness, so we can’t use the wagon.”
    â€œOh, shucks! What am I going to do?” Mandie said, blowing out her breath.
    â€œMaybe you’ll have time to read your lesson tomorrow before your class begins,” her father suggested.
    â€œI might,” Mandie said, disappointed. “I’ll be up on the road waiting when Joe comes by in the morning. If we hurry maybe I’ll get to school early enough.”
    Mr. Shaw’s blue eyes smiled down at Mandie’s blue ones as he said, “And if you don’t get it read in time, I’m sure Mr. Tallant will forgive you if you explain.” He reached to push back a lock of his red hair as the wind ruffled it.
    â€œOh, if Joe has it, why didn’t he bring it back to me? He knows I have homework,” Mandie said with a loud groan.
    â€œMaybe he will yet.You just got home,” her father reminded her. “Go get the rest of your homework done just in case Joe does bring the book.”
    â€œYes, sir, I suppose I’d better,” Mandie replied.
    She returned to the house and quickly did her other homework, still hoping Joe would come by. But by bedtime that night Joe had not shown up.
    The next morning Mandie was up early and rushed through breakfast. She had been up at the road waiting for Joe for at least thirty minutes before he finally came.
    Mandie hurried to meet him. “I was hoping you’d come by early,” she told him as he reached to take her books. He always carried her books to school and then home in the afternoon.
    â€œEarly? Why?” Joe asked as Mandie started down the road.
    â€œI don’t have my reading book and couldn’t do my homework. Do you have it?” Mandie asked, looking up at him as her short legs tried to keep up with his long ones.
    â€œYour reading book? No, I don’t have your reading book,” he replied.
    â€œDidn’t I give it to you with all my other books when we left school yesterday?” Mandie asked.
    â€œWhy, no,” Joe said. “I gave you all the books you gave me.”
    Mandie blew out her breath. “Then I must have left it at school, because I didn’t have it when I got home.”
    â€œYes, it must be at school,” Joe agreed.
    When they got to the schoolhouse, they found they were early after all. Mr. Tallant, the schoolmaster, was at his desk, but the only other pupil there was Faith.
    â€œGood morning. Y’all are early too,” Faith greeted them as Mandie hurried down to her desk.
    â€œYes, I’m looking for my reading book,” Mandie told her. She quickly went through the books in her desk. “It’s not here.” She looked over at Joe.
    He shrugged. “I’m sorry, but I have no idea where it is.”
    Mandie explained her dilemma to Faith, who immediately held out her reading book. “Here, use mine,” she said. “You’ve got time to read the assignment before we begin class.”
    â€œThank you,” Mandie said gratefully, taking the book and quickly turning to the appropriate page.
    By the time all the other pupils had arrived, Mandie was finished with the lesson and gave the book back to Faith. Now she was prepared for today. But what would she do about homework for tomorrow?
    And where was her reading book? What had happened to it? It had to be somewhere, but where?
    When school was out for the day, Faith again came to the rescue. “Mandie, why don’t you come home with me and do the assignment in reading out of my book?” she said as she left the schoolhouse with Mandie and Joe. “Your mother is there again today working on the needlework. You could go home with her.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea, except my father will be wondering where I am if I don’t get home on time,” Mandie told her.
    â€œI could go by your