Barista's Missing Library Book

Beri Bear was polishing the bottom of his boat and watching Barista, his goofy kitten friend, cavorting over the bow. They were waiting for Galley Goosey to come visit. Today was library day! Each week, the three friends traveled to the local library to get a new book for the week. Beri was so excited. He wanted a new mystery book to read since those were his favorite kind. Galley liked anything historical and Barista loved adventure stories, especially any books with a cat as the hero.

Barista, lying across the bow of the little red shell, was more interested in watching his friend turn the polishing cloth first to the left, then to the right. Repeatedly, the cloth circled, first one direction and then the other. The motion was almost more than the kitten could endure. Sitting up, he wiggled from head to tail as he readied himself to pounce on top of it. Just then, Beri looked up. Caught in the act, Barista could only pretend he had no interest in the cloth by rolling over on his back and sticking all four paws up in the air. Beri laughed at him, knowing Barista could barely resist jumping on anything that moved.

"Barista, are you ready for our library trip?"

"Yup yup!" replied the kitten, as he now turned himself upside down on one of the oars.

"You need to go get your book and put it with mine," said the bear, pointing at the dock where he had placed his library book safely on top of a big box.

"I will," said the kitten, now trying to walk upside down the length of the oar. "It's in the house on top of the mantel."

"Are you sure?" asked Beri, remembering that was where he had left his book. He did not remember seeing another one there. "You better go find it. Galley will soon be here and then we must be off to the library. You don't want to be late, do you?"

The kitten, finally reaching the dock, scratched behind his ear with a paw. "Ok. Ok. I will go get it!" With that said, the kitten dashed across the dock and into the little red house at the other end.

At that very moment, Galley Goosey swooped down to the dock, flashing her wings in a blur as she came to a stop. Today she carried a blue backpack, since it was difficult to fly and hold a book in your wings at the same time.

"Are you ready for the library trip? she asked, smiling as she put her book with Beri's.

"Yes! I am so excited. I just love going to the library!" said the bear, sighing with pleasure at the thought. "They called and told me a new delivery of mystery books came in this week and I can't wait to see what they have!" The bear practically shivered with delight.

"I know. I heard they also received a new batch of history books about the Civil War. They are so good to read. In fact, they make me feel I was born too late." replied the goose, as she sashayed around the dock, holding a stick in her beak pretending it was a parasol. "What I would give to have been a southern belle."

Beri laughed at the goose's attempt at a waddling waltz. "One day we will go to a ball. It would make a fine ending to a Virginia trip. Then, you can be a southern belle, a real Georgia Goose!"

Suddenly, they could hear Barista yelling from the house. "My book is gone. It's missing! I can't find it anywhere. Oh. Oh! Oh! Someone must have taken it!"

Beri and Galley looked at each other, dumbstruck at the thought of someone stealing a library book. They both ran to where the kitten was sitting.

"Are you certain you left the book on the mantel, Barista? We know you forget where you put things once in awhile," stated Galley, with a stern look.

"No. No. I know I left it there. I looked in my room. I looked in the kitchen. I looked in the attic!" sobbed the kitten.

"The attic?" chorused the two friends.

"Why would it have been in the attic, Barista?" asked Beri, a puzzled look on his face.

"Because, I like to read in the attic," cried the kitten. "It's quiet. It's peaceful. Sometimes, I find good things to eat." Barista's penchant for eating strange things was not new to Beri and Galley. They had seen him eat a button, a dust bunny, and a piece of candle wax before; therefore, they were not surprised at the kitten's statement.

"Well. I don't believe anyone would have stolen your book, Barista. You must have left it somewhere else. Come on. Hurry. We will help you find it". With that, Galley led them into the house.

"Now, where did you last have the book?"

The kitten thought for a second and said, "I had it in the kitchen!" Barista ran into the kitchen, but the book was not there. He looked in the cupboards. He looked in the stove. Galley looked in the refrigerator and Beri looked under the table. The book was nowhere to be found.

"I know I had it in here. Maybe I did forget to put in on the mantel, but this is where I finished reading it," said the kitten tearfully. He looked around the room, hoping to see the book sitting on a shelf or even stuck in the cookie jar.

"Now, this is a real mystery!" said Beri. "If the book was in here, then where is it now?" He walked around, pondering where a book might decide to go if no one was reading it. He paced back and forth. He walked around and around the table. He walked to the window that overlooked the backyard. Moreover, guess what he saw?

Sitting at the picnic table in the backyard was a stranger and the stranger was reading a book!

"Ahah!" said Beri. "I think I have solved the mystery of the missing book!" Grabbing Barista by the paw, the little bear led his friends into the backyard. The stranger looked up and smiled.

"This is a great book! Do you have any more books like this?" asked the stranger, waving the book in the air. Dressed in a brown suit of feathers, with a pair of huge glasses perched on his beak, was an owl.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Dudley Owl, the new teacher. I just moved into the house across the street. I came over to meet you when I just found this lovely book sitting on the windowsill. I could not help myself and just had to read it right away. I do love adventure stories!" said the bird happily. "Where can I find another book as good as this one has been?"

Beri, Galley and Barista grinned at their new neighbor. There was nothing better than finding someone else who loved books as much as they did. With Barista scampering in front, Beri and Galley clasped hands with their new friend and off to the library they went.