The Case of the Vanishing Seed Packets

At the end of gardening club, Aisha placed six packets of sunflower seeds on the potting table in the school greenhouse. When she returned the next morning, the packets had disappeared. The club leader looked around the room. “I put them right here,” they said, puzzled. A narrow line of soil crossed the table and continued towards the open greenhouse door. Beside it lay a small, silvery feather. Aisha peered outside. The garden path was damp from overnight rain, but there were no footprints. From the far end of the greenhouse came a sharp rustle. A magpie hopped out from behind a stack of empty plant pots. It held a bright blue seed packet in its beak. The others were tucked beneath a loose piece of fabric nearby. The bird had dragged them there to explore their shiny wrappers. The club leader gathered up the packets and shut the greenhouse door. Aisha suggested putting the seeds in a plain, lidded tin next time. “Good thinking,” the club leader replied. “The magpie can admire the trowels instead.” Aisha laughed as the bird swooped up to the roof, leaving the seeds ready for planting.

Check your understanding

Look more closely