The Case of the Missing Stuffies

Luna woke up smiling. Then she froze. Her favorite stuffy, Mr. Biscuit, was gone.

· 1 ·

She searched under the bed. She searched in the closet. Nothing but dust bunnies.

· 2 ·

Luna grabbed her notebook. Every adventurer needs a notebook. This was officially a case.

· 3 ·

She ran next door to Bazo's house. Bazo opened the door with a smirk. "Mine's gone too."

· 4 ·

"Partners?" Luna asked. Bazo cracked her knuckles. "Partners."

· 5 ·

They knocked on every door on the street. Twelve kids. Twelve missing stuffies.

· 6 ·

Luna wrote it all down. Bazo squinted at the list. "Somebody big is behind this."

· 7 ·

They found one clue in the grass. A tiny tuft of stuffing. It led toward the park.

· 8 ·

More tufts. More clues. The trail wound past the pond and into the old oak woods.

· 9 ·

"This feels like a trap," Luna whispered. Bazo grinned. "Good. I like traps."

· 10 ·

They tiptoed past glowing mushrooms. Something rustled. Something giggled.

· 11 ·

A tiny door sat in the trunk of the biggest tree. Stuffing was caught in the hinge.

· 12 ·

Luna knocked. The door swung open. A staircase spiraled down into warm golden light.

· 13 ·

Down they went. Down and down. Bazo counted ninety-nine steps before she stopped counting.

· 14 ·

At the bottom was a giant room. And stuffies. Hundreds of stuffies. All sitting at tiny tables. Mr. Biscuit waved at Luna. He was holding a teacup. Luna's mouth dropped open.

· 15–16 ·

A door opened. Out swept a tall figure in a velvet robe. The Stuffy Queen herself. "You found us," said the Queen. "No one ever finds us. Tea?"

· 17–18 ·

"Why did you take them?" Luna asked. The Queen sighed. "They needed one night off. Just one."

· 19 ·

Bazo crossed her arms. "They belong with us." The Queen nodded. "I know. They miss you too."

· 20 ·

Mr. Biscuit hugged Luna's leg. The stuffies lined up, ready to go home.

· 21 ·

The Queen smiled. "Come visit anytime. But knock first, brave detectives."

· 22 ·

Luna and Bazo climbed back up with arms full of fuzzy friends. The sun was rising.

· 23 ·

Luna closed her notebook. Case solved. Bazo grinned. "So… what's next?" The End.

· 24 ·

Stuffies are vanishing all over town! Luna grabs her notebook. Bazo cracks her knuckles. Together, these two brave girls will follow the clues wherever they lead — even straight to the top.