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Short Story 571 – The Missing Cupcake (Int)

George was a very special private detective. He was not like other detectives who wore suits and carried big magnifying glasses. George was a little quirky and always carried a strange looking hat. His office was small but colourful, filled with pictures of unusual clues and funny hats.

One bright morning, a worried woman called Mrs. Green. She wanted George to find her missing cupcake. Yes, a cupcake! Mrs. Green loved baking and she made the best chocolate cupcake in the town. One day, she put her cupcake on the kitchen table and went to answer the phone. When she came back, the cupcake had vanished!

Mrs. Green looked very sad. “Who could take my cupcake?” she asked George desperately. “I don’t know,” George replied. “But I will find out.” He pulled out his notebook and started asking questions.

First, he looked around the kitchen. There were crumbs on the floor, but no footprints. George examined the table closely. There was a tiny bite mark on the cupcake. That was good news – the cupcake was definitely eaten by someone. But who?

George remembered that earlier, a strange rabbit had been seen in the garden. It was a funny rabbit, with big ears and a shiny nose. Mrs. Green had told George that her rabbit liked to play near the garden wall. Could the rabbit have taken the cupcake?

No, that didn’t seem right. Rabbits don’t eat cupcakes, George thought. He decided to look for more clues. In the living room, George saw his reflection in the mirror. He then looked at his own hat. It was a funny hat with a big feather. Maybe the person who took the cupcake left something behind?

George looked carefully at the window. Outside, he saw a tiny trail of chocolate on the garden wall. That was strange. Someone had licked the cupcake and then sneaked out. He followed the trail to the garden. Suddenly, he heard a soft crunching sound.

There, behind some bushes, sat Mrs. Green’s cat, Whiskers. Whiskers looked very full and happy. On the ground, George saw a piece of paper. It was a note!

The note said, “Thank you for the cupcake! It was very tasty. Sorry for taking it.” At the bottom was a paw print. Very clever, George thought. Whiskers had taken the cupcake and enjoyed it.

George smiled and picked up the note. He went back inside and told Mrs. Green the good news. “Your cupcake was eaten by Whiskers,” he said. Mrs. Green laughed happily. “Oh, Whiskers loves sweet things!” she said.

From that day, George became even more famous. Not just for being a quirky detective, but for solving the mysterious case of the missing cupcake. And Whiskers? Well, he never stole a cupcake again, but George always kept a small cake for him, just in case.


Vocabulary Notes

Detective
Definition: A person who investigates and solves crimes or mysteries.
Example: George was a very special private detective.
Similar words: investigator, sleuth, detective officer, inspector
Note: A detective is often someone who looks for clues to find out what happened.
Related word: Detect (to discover or identify) — “George decided to detect what had happened to the cupcake.”

Famous
Definition: Well known, celebrated.
Example: From that day, George became even more famous.
Similar words: celebrated, renowned, well-known, admired
Note: When someone is famous, many people know about them because they have done something notable.
Additional example: She is a famous singer.

Clue
Definition: Information or a sign that helps to solve a problem or crime.
Example: George examined the table closely. There was a tiny bite mark on the cupcake. That was good news – the cupcake was definitely eaten by someone.
Similar words: hint, sign, indicator, trace
Note: Clues help detectives understand what might have happened.
Related phrase: Follow the clues.

Trail
Definition: A path, track, or mark left by someone or something to follow.
Example: He saw a tiny trail of chocolate on the garden wall.
Similar words: track, path, route, mark
Note: In the story, the trail was chocolate on the wall, which helped George follow where the cupcake eater went.
Additional example: The dog followed the trail of footprints.

Note
Definition: A small piece of paper with writing, usually a message.
Example: He saw a piece of paper. It was a note!
Similar words: message, reminder, memo, letter
Note: Notes can give important information or clues.
Additional example: I left a note on the door.

Full (as in “looked very full”)
Definition: Completely filled or containing as much as possible.
Example: Whiskers looked very full and happy.
Similar words: packed, stuffed, crowded, brimming
Note: When something is full, it has no space left.
Additional example: The glass was full of water.

Sneak
Definition: To go somewhere quietly and secretly.
Example: Someone had sneaked out.
Similar words: creep, slip, slide, steal away
Note: To sneak is often done secretly to avoid being seen.
Additional example: The cat tried to sneak into the room.

Happily
Definition: In a happy or joyful way.
Example: Mrs. Green laughed happily.
Similar words: joyfully, cheerfully, gleefully, merrily
Note: It describes a feeling of happiness or pleasure.
Additional example: They danced happily through the park.

Enjoy
Definition: To take pleasure in something.
Example: The cupcake was eaten and enjoyed.
Similar words: like, love, appreciate, relish
Note: When you enjoy something, it makes you happy.
Additional example: I enjoy reading books.

Clever
Definition: Smart, quick to understand or solve problems.
Example: Very clever, George thought.
Similar words: smart, witty, bright, sharp
Note: Clever people or ideas are smart and quick in thinking.
Additional example: That was a clever trick.

Story written by ChatGPT-4.1 nano AI

Image created by Grok 3 AI

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads

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