Free The Mystery at Maypenny's by Julie Campbell

though you absolutely believe every word you say. He said a disclaimer—that’s what he called it—would make his arguments all sound less convincing.”
    Before Honey could say anything more, Mr. McLane, Brian’s social studies teacher, walked out onto the stage. Trixie had been too busy talking to Honey to pay any attention to the stage. Now she saw that the front curtain was down so that only the narrow front part of the stage could be used. There was a small table with two chairs on either side of the stage, and a lectern and microphone had been set up in the middle.
    Mr. McLane turned on the microphone, tapped it to make sure that it was working, and then began to speak. “I’m glad to see that so many of my fellow teachers allowed their classes to attend this afternoon’s debate,” he said. “I think that hearing both sides of the International Pine issue will be very educational for all of us.
    “There’s another reason that I’m glad to see so many students here this afternoon,” Mr. McLane continued, with a smile. “As you know, I am also the coach of the debate team here at Sleepyside Junior-Senior High. The debate season will be starting in a couple of weeks. I sincerely hope that many of you watching the debate today will try out for the team. I feel that the debate today will be excellent training for any kind of public speaking you might be called on to do, whether you become a teacher, lawyer, politician, or business person.”
    “Do you think detectives need public speaking experience, Honey?” Trixie whispered.
    Honey clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. “It certainly might be helpful for all those times when we have to talk our way out of trouble with our parents and Sergeant Molinson for getting involved in solving mysteries,” she whispered back.
    On stage, Mr. McLane cleared his throat. “So much for my little commercial,” he said. “Before we get started, I want to tell you something about the structure of a debate, since many of you have never attended one before.
    “First, the definition of terms: The issue to be debated is called the ‘resolution.’ In this case, it is ‘Resolved: That the International Pine Company Be Allowed to Expand their Factory Operations Within the Town of Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, New York.’
    “Two students, Brian Belden and Mark Nelson, will take the affirmative side of the question. Two other students, Todd Maurer and Jim VerDoorn, will take the negative.
    “Each side will have the chance to present its case and to present a rebuttal of the other side’s case. Ordinarily, a regulation debate would take a full hour. Today, however, to give you time to get to your next classes, each speech has been cut down so that the total time will be only fifty minutes.”
    Mr. McLane looked off into the wings and beckoned. Brian and the other three debaters walked out, sat down at the tables, and laid out their notes and papers.
    “You may begin, gentlemen,” Mr. McLane said. He turned and walked off the stage.
    The students, many of whom had never seen a debate, were unsure how to react. There was a smattering of applause, which did not really take hold, followed by nervous giggles.
    Finally, Brian got up and walked to the microphone. “Good afternoon,” he said. “My partner and I are pleased to be here today to address the resolution. The question of whether or not International Pine should be allowed to expand in Sleepyside is not an easy one. Certainly there are arguments—strong arguments—on either side. What my partner and I hope to prove, however, is that the economic advantages to the community outweigh whatever ecological loss is involved in the conversion of this small parcel of land from natural to industrial use.
    “I think it’s important, as we begin this debate, to have in our minds some very important facts and figures,” Brian continued. “These are statistics that represent the economic status of Sleepyside. To