The Mystery of the Missing Marbles
A mystery story about fairness and understanding before accusing.
It began on a Monday. The big glass jar of marbles in Grade Five, the one that held a hundred and twenty, was suddenly missing eight. By Wednesday, it was missing fifteen. Mr Davies frowned. “Somebody is taking them,” he said.
Three friends, Zara, Luca and Ming, decided to investigate. They made a notebook with a title in capitals: “The Marble Case.” They listed suspects. First, they thought of Dylan, who was always rolling things across the floor. Second, they thought of the new girl, Sofia, who kept to herself.
They watched the jar at lunchtime from behind a bookshelf. On Thursday, a boy tiptoed up to the jar. It was Dylan. They held their breath. He lifted the lid, took one marble, and put it back. Then he walked away with a puzzled look.
“That is not stealing,” whispered Ming. “He just looked.” They crossed Dylan off the list. On Friday, they watched Sofia. She did not go near the jar all day. She sat by the window, drawing in a small book. Another suspect gone.
On Monday, the jar was missing twenty-two marbles. The friends were baffled. Zara noticed something odd. A tiny trail of marbles led from the jar to the corner, behind a cupboard. They peered into the gap, and there, nestled in a woolly nest, was a family of mice.
The mice had been dragging the marbles into their nest, and using them like toys. The friends giggled. A mother mouse sat among the glass balls, nibbling a crumb. Her babies tumbled over each other. It was not a crime. It was a very silly case.
They reported to Mr Davies. “The culprits are mice,” said Luca. Mr Davies chuckled. “Then I owe Dylan and Sofia an apology,” he said, “since half the class has been whispering about them.” The friends looked at their notebook, and felt a bit guilty.
They helped to move the mice to a quiet spot in the garden, with a little box and some seed. They gave each baby a tiny glass marble to take along, because it seemed only fair. Then they apologised to Dylan and Sofia, too.
“It is okay,” said Sofia. “I drew you a picture.” It showed the three friends crouched behind a bookshelf, looking suspicious. They all laughed. The case was closed, and a new friendship had begun.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Investigating means gathering facts, not jumping to conclusions.
- Accusing someone without proof can hurt them.
- Saying sorry quickly helps to repair a mistake.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Who did the friends suspect at first?
- Who was really taking the marbles?
- Why is it important not to blame someone without evidence?
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