The school bell rang, signaling the start of another exciting day at Brightwood Elementary. Elara, a girl with a knack for noticing small details, and her best friend Leo, who always had a smile, walked into their classroom.
Ms. Periwinkle, their kind teacher, stood at the front of the room. But something was wrong. Her usual cheerful smile was gone. "Children," she said with a sigh, "our beloved school mascot, Hoot the owl, is missing from his perch!" A gasp went through the room.
Elara's eyes darted to Hoot's empty perch in the corner. It was usually home to the fluffy, wise old owl. Next to it, a small, folded piece of paper lay on the floor. "Look, Ms. Periwinkle!" Elara exclaimed, picking it up carefully. It was a note!
The note had a riddle: "I have many pages but no words, many pictures but no sounds. I hold stories, old and new, for curious minds like you. Where am I?" Elara thought hard. "Pages... pictures... stories..." Leo chimed in, "It must be the library!"
The two friends hurried to the school library, a quiet place filled with towering bookshelves. They searched between the history books and the fantasy novels. Suddenly, Elara spotted something tucked behind a large atlas. Another note!
This note read: "I have a net but catch no fish, a basket but hold no fruit. I bounce and swish, and make the crowd cheer with a wish. Where am I?" Leo grinned. "That's easy! The gym!"
Off they went to the school gym, where the air smelled faintly of rubber and victory. They checked under the bleachers, behind the basketball hoops, and near the stage. There, sitting on the stage, was a small, feathered clue. Not Hoot, but one of his feathers! And another note!
The final note said: "I have many seats but no wheels, many snacks but no meals. I show you adventures, big and small, on a screen for one and all. Where am I?" Elara's eyes lit up. "The auditorium!" she exclaimed.
They raced to the school auditorium. The large room was dark and quiet. As they stepped onto the stage, a spotlight suddenly clicked on, illuminating... Hoot! He was sitting on a decorated podium, surrounded by colorful balloons and a banner that read: "Happy School Spirit Week!"
Ms. Periwinkle stepped out from behind the curtains, smiling. "Hoot wasn't missing at all! We moved him here for the Spirit Week surprise! You two solved the mystery perfectly!" Elara and Leo beamed. They had found Hoot, and helped kick off a week of fun! **Comprehension Questions:** 1. What was the school mascot's name? 2. Who first noticed that the mascot was missing? 3. Where did Elara find the first note? 4. What was the second place Elara and Leo went to look for clues? 5. What was the final clue that led them to Hoot? 6. Why was Hoot moved from his perch? 7. How did Elara and Leo feel at the end of the story?
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