Free Thanksgiving Thief by Carolyn Keene Page A

we should go around chasing birds, trying to steal their feathers.”
    â€œThat wouldn’t work, either,” said Mary, “even if you could catch one. No, it has to be one that the bird left behind, just so it can be used in a ceremony.”
    â€œBirds do that?” Nancy said.
    â€œThat’s what one of our legends says,” Mary told them. “A bird will drop a feather somewhere, making a connection with the earth, and then we’ll pick it up and put it in our headbands and use it when we’re celebrating something important.”
    â€œOh, I love that story,” said Nancy.
    â€œSo do we,” Bess and George chimed in.
    â€œNo one else in the pageant will be doing anything like this,” Bess said. “All the Pilgrims are making their hats and bonnets out of black construction paper! How boring!”
    All of a sudden, the girls heard a loud gasp coming from the kitchen.
    â€œWhat was that?” Mary asked.
    Nancy looked at Bess and George. “It was Hannah! Let’s go see what’s happening. Come on!”
    Hannah Gruen was the Drews’ housekeeper. She had been with the family ever since Nancy’s mother had died five years before. Nancy waspositive that Hannah was the best cook in River Heights. She was also sure that Hannah gave the best hugs.
    When the girls got to the kitchen, Hannah was just getting off the phone.
    â€œAre you all right?” Nancy asked.
    Hannah turned and looked at them. “I just got off the phone with Mr. Madison,” she said sadly. “It looks like Thanksgiving won’t be the same this year!”

“Oh no!” Bess cried. “It’s my favorite holiday!”
    â€œMine too,” said Nancy. “Hannah cooks a great meal, especially the pumpkin pie.”
    â€œForget my pumpkin pie this year,” Hannah said. “There won’t be any.”
    The girls looked at one another.
    â€œWhy not?” Mary asked.
    â€œSomebody destroyed all of Mr. Madison’s jars of pumpkin puree,” Hannah explained. She shook her head. “Who would do such a horrible thing?”
    Mr. Madison was the father of Katherine Madison, who went to school with the girls. Mr. Madison was also one of the chefs helping toprepare the Thanksgiving feast. It always took place in the school gymnasium, right after the pageant and before the food fair.
    â€œWell, I’m sorry to hear that we won’t have pumpkin pies at the feast, Hannah, but what does that have to do with your pumpkin pie?” Nancy asked. “Won’t there still be cans of pumpkin puree at the market?”
    Hannah stared at her. “Nancy Drew, are you telling me that you believed all these years that I was making my pumpkin pies from canned pumpkin?”
    â€œYes,” Nancy replied, blushing.
    â€œThat’s what my mother does,” said George. “I thought everybody did.”
    Hannah shook her head in disbelief. “I only use Mr. Madison’s fresh pumpkin puree. That’s why my pies have won so many awards,” she said. “Mr. Madison uses the puree when he bakes his pies for the feast, and then he sells the remaining jars at the food fair afterward.”
    â€œWell, this is terrible, then,” Nancy said, “because your pies are the best!”
    â€œWe may not be smelling pumpkin pies this year,” Bess declared, “but I’m smelling a mystery.”
    â€œThat’s for sure,” Nancy said. “Let’s get our bikes and head over to the school so we can talk to Mr. Madison.”
    â€œWould you like to come with us, Mary?” Bess asked. “The Clue Crew always welcomes other detectives.”
    Mary looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. “I can’t,” she said. “I promised Mom I’d clean up my room.”
    Hannah turned to Nancy. “That’s not a bad idea,” she said.
    â€œI promise I’ll do it as soon as I’m back,