Detective Nigel Puddleton adjusted his hat, slightly crooked, like his sense of justice, and stared at the crime scene. A single crumb. One lonely flake of pastry on the polished oak table of Mrs. Gable’s kitchen.

“Gone,” whispered Mrs. Gable, wringing her apron. “My prize-winning sausage roll. Vanished! I baked it for the village fete tomorrow. It took me three hours, two secret herbs, and one very confused pig.”

Nigel nodded gravely. “Fear not, madam. No pastry is too flaky for justice.”

He began his investigation. First suspect: Barry the Baker. Barry claimed he was kneading sourdough at the time. “I swear on my sourdough starter!” he cried. But Nigel noticed a tiny smear of sausage fat on Barry’s apron. Suspicious… or just bad laundry?

Next, Doris the Dog-Walker. “I only walk dogs,” she insisted, “not stolen snacks.” But her terrier, Mr. Wiggles, kept licking his lips and avoiding eye contact. Nigel made a note: “Dog looks guilty. Or just hungry.”

Then there was young Timmy from next door. “I didn’t take it!” he squeaked, hiding behind a garden gnome. But Nigel spotted a crumb in Timmy’s pocket, and the gnome was wearing a tiny paper crown, just like the one Mrs. Gable used to mark her special bakes.

Just as Nigel prepared to arrest the gnome (he’d seen stranger things), a loud squeak came from under the sofa. Out waddled Mrs. Gable’s prize pig, Percy, mouth full of pastry, cheeks bulging like a furry chipmunk.

“Percy!” gasped Mrs. Gable. “You escaped again!”

Percy burped. A puff of sage and regret floated through the air.

Nigel removed his hat and bowed. “Case closed. The true criminal was… hungry.”

Mrs. Gable sighed. “Well, at least he has good taste.” She patted Percy’s belly. “But no more sausage rolls for you, young man!”

The next day at the fete, Mrs. Gable entered a second sausage roll, and won first prize. Percy sat in the corner, wearing a tiny dunce hat and chewing sadly on a carrot.

As for Nigel? He opened a bakery-slash-detective agency. His first rule: “Never trust a pig with a paper crown.”

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Vocabulary Notes

Vanished
Meaning: Disappeared suddenly or completely; no longer visible.
Example: “My prize-winning sausage roll. Vanished!”
Similar words: disappeared, gone, lost, evaporated, spirited away
Usage tip: “Vanished” often suggests mystery or speed, something didn’t just leave; it poof!, was gone.

Suspicious
Meaning: Having or showing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving dishonestly.
Example: “Suspicious… or just bad laundry?”
Similar words: doubtful, questionable, shady, fishy (informal), wary
Usage tip: You can describe a person (“He looked suspicious”) or a thing (“That noise sounds suspicious”).

Gravely
Meaning: In a serious or solemn manner; with deep concern.
Example: “Nigel nodded gravely.”
Similar words: seriously, solemnly, earnestly, thoughtfully
Usage tip: “Gravely” is more formal than “seriously” and often used in dramatic or important situations.

Wringing
Meaning: Twisting and squeezing (usually hands or fabric) tightly, often due to anxiety or stress.
Example: “Mrs. Gable, wringing her apron.”
Similar words: twisting, squeezing, clutching, fidgeting
Usage tip: “Wringing one’s hands” is a common phrase showing nervousness or worry.

Burped
Meaning: Made a short, loud sound from the stomach through the mouth (usually after eating or drinking).
Example: “Percy burped. A puff of sage and regret floated through the air.”
Similar words: belched (more formal or medical), let out a burp, hiccuped (different sound, but sometimes confused)
Usage tip: “Burped” is informal and often used humorously, especially when animals or children do it!

Story written by Qwen AI.

Image created by 1min.ai.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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