The Case of the Missing Lunchbox

Sam walks to school with a big smile. His backpack feels very heavy on his shoulders. He is excited for his favorite lunch today.

Sam gets to his classroom and finds his cubby. He hangs his backpack on the silver hook. He does not see that one zipper is halfway open.

The clock strikes noon and it is time for lunch. Sam reaches into his backpack to grab his blue lunchbox. His hands find nothing but his notebook and folders.

Sam looks all around his desk and under his chair. He finds a yellow ruler and a red pencil. He cannot find his blue lunchbox anywhere.

Sam asks his friend Leo if he saw the lunchbox. Leo says he saw something blue on the ground by the school bus. Sam starts to think about where he walked this morning.

Sam goes to the tall Lost and Found bin near the office. He digs through soft sweaters and fuzzy hats. His lunchbox is not in the bin.

Sam walks back down the long hallway toward the exit. He looks down and sees a tiny trail of cracker crumbs on the floor. He follows the crumbs to the big front doors.

Sam pushes the heavy doors open and steps outside into the sun. He looks at the sidewalk where the bus dropped him off. He sees a blue shape near the green grass.

There it is! The blue lunchbox is sitting right under the big oak tree. It must have tumbled out of his open backpack when he ran to school.

Sam zips his backpack tight so nothing else falls out. He sits with his friends and opens his lunchbox. He is very happy to find his sandwich and apple inside.