It was a dark gloomy day. The kids at Westwood Middle School were not very happy. The gym basketballs were all flat and they couldn’t play. So one kid had to find out for himself what happened.

Xavier the little seventh grader was the kid who had to find the person who did it. He just loved basketball. Xavier went to go check the basketballs. There it was a clue right on the basketballs! There was a greasy fingerprint on a basketball. He went to go get the principal to get some suspects. The one’s Xavier wanted was Scarlet, the neat freak, Jamal, the kid who loved fried chicken, and Steve the messiest kid in school. He noticed that they were all wearing gloves. Xavier also noticed that today’s lunch was fried chicken.

During the little meeting Xavier asked them” what did you have for lunch today?”

They all answered” fried chicken” very sorrowful.

Then Xavier asked” Did anybody not eat the lunch.”

Jamal answered “I brought my lunch and I forgot that we were having fried chicken.”

Then Xavier said “Take off your gloves.” He couldn’t believe it. Scarlet had greasy fingers. Xavier asked “Scarlet did you eat the fried chicken?”

“No! … I mean no,” said Scarlet. I would never eat such a greasy thing,” said Scarlet disgusted.

“Then why do you have greasy fingers then?” asked Xavier.

“Because inside these gloves was grease and I was cold so I just put on the gloves,” said Scarlet. Xavier also saw that the messy kid Steve was really clean.

“Steve did you clean up before you came?” asked Xavier.

“No… Why would I do that,” said the worried looking Steve.

Because maybe you were all greasy and you left some marks on the aired out basketballs,” said Xavier.

“NOOO,” said the screaming Steve.

“I got evidence Steve, right here on this basketball. Why did you let all the air out of the basketballs?” said Xavier.

“I didn’t mean… I mean I didn’t,” said the crying Steve.

“Sorry Steve, if you confess now I won’t make you have detention but just to say sorry to the other kids,” said Xavier.

“Fine… I really did it because the other kids didn’t pick me to be on their team. So I flattened the basketballs.

“I’m sorry I thought it was you two,” said Xavier.

“It’s ok Xavier, we know how much you love basketball,” said Scarlet and Jamal.

“Scarlet, it was Steve’s gloves you put on,” said Xavier.

“Well, do you want to go play basketball now because I herd that the principal is going to make Steve air up the balls,” said Xavier.

“Ok,” said Scarlet and Jamal. And that’s how Xavier caught the guy who flattened the basketballs. THE END.

By Gabriel N.