Detective Apple Tree House

# No matter if you're young or old

# With good friends you'll never be alone

# Shining light on our joyful world

# Ain't nothing going to beat that place we call home

# First days, new days

# Are the very best days

# New things to discover

# New people to meet

# Fun days always

# Playing with your friend days

# Life is for the living down at Apple Tree House. #

"..And Kachika skipped away as merry as a cricket.

"And the fox ground his teeth with anger.

"The end."

I love Kachika,

she's clever.

Can we have another story?

It's bedtime for you, miss.

You are the most special girl in the whole wide world.

I love you.

But you have to say nighty-nighty to Kachika, as well.

All right, then. Nighty-night, Kachika.

-Kachika says goodnight.

-Night-night, Mum.

-I love you.

-Night-night.

-Kachika says goodnight.

Kachika says goodnight.

Bella! Time to wake up.

Mum!

Are you OK?

She's gone.

Who?

Kachika, my toy.

No way!

She's, like, your best toy ever.

What happened?

I'm not sure.

I went to sleep, and when I woke up she was gone.

That is bad.

My mum made me check my room.

I spent a gazillion hours looking for her,

but I still couldn't find her.

What could have happened?

I don't know.

Hm.

I know! I know!

Maybe, when you were asleep, Kachika was hungry,

so she went to the fridge and maybe there was no milk in the fridge,

so she went outside to look for more milk and ended up at a farm,

where she got some milk from a cow.

And now she's lost on a farm somewhere

and has forgotten how to get back home.

That's sad.

But, anyway, Mali and I were just about to play a detective game.

Care to join us?

Sorry, guys, I don't feel like playing.

I'll see you later.

Is everything OK?

Bella's lost her favourite toy.

We think she was hungry at night and decided to go to the corner shop for

some milk, but now she's lost.

I think that's unlikely.

Toys just don't get up and walk away by themselves.

I wish we could help her out.

There's an old African expression - an un-played drum never speaks.

What? Dad, what do you mean?

If you never play a drum,

you never ever get the chance to hear its lovely sound.

Look, if you don't help your friend,

you never get to see the good that comes from helping.

You're right. Maybe I can become a real detective.

And find Kachika.

A noble idea.

Sam, the toy detective.

-Yeah.

-What do detectives actually do?

It's all about solving the problem, isn't it?

-Then let's get solving.

-Yes!

Hey, it's Sam.

-It's Sam.

-DOORBELL AND KNOCKING

-I'm coming!

-Grandma Zainab, it's Sam.

Hi, Grandma Zainab.

Bella's got this toy called Kachika and she went to sleep with it

last night, but she can't see it.

When she woke up she couldn't see it and now it's gone.

Whoa. Slow down.

-What's the matter?

-I want to be a detective.

Oh. Doesn't that take years of expert training?

Since you're so good at solving problems, please, please,

please could you help me to train to be a detective?

Mali can help, too.

Mali's gone out with his mum.

But you're very kind, so I'll help.

Yes! Detective Sam to the rescue.

But what are we going to call the case?

How about the Missing Kachika Caper?

Perfect.

Er...

What now?

First, we need to work out what we know.

Maybe Kachika was hungry during the night

and went to a cow to get some milk on a farm,

and now she doesn't know the way home.

Or maybe it was a crime.

Second, never jump to conclusions.

-OK.

-Next, we need to examine all the clues.

Starting...

Um...

-..in Bella's bedroom.

-Correct.

Next, keep your eyes open and observe -

meaning look and learn.

Look out for clues that can help you answer questions and puzzles.

Use your eyes and ears and your nose.

Be curious.

Ask questions.

Talk to witnesses.

People who were around, people who may have seen something.

Remember, always keep your notebook with you.

You will need to write down everything.

These might be the important clues to crack the case.

Cool.

Being a detective can be fun and exciting,

but we mustn't forget we're trying to help Bella find her missing toy,

so...

Let's get solving!

Hello, Katie, we have come to investigate.

-Investigate?

-Bella's stolen...

-Missing toy.

-Ah, of course, come in.

Bella!

Coming.

Detective Sam at your service.

We will leave no stone unturned and we will find Kachika

and bring her back to where she belongs. So, Bella,

you had Kachika last night, is that correct?

Yes.

And you definitely checked your room?

Yes.

And who was the last person to see Kachika?

-Me and my mum.

-A-ha.

Is this correct?

-Yes.

-And you didn't see or hear anything suspicious

-when you left the room?

-No.

Who else has been in this room since last night?

Just Bella, Marbles and Dad.

Aha!

Ian.

So, where were you the night Kachika went missing?

Watching TV. The football was on.

And you couldn't figure out why she went?

Are we sure Bella hasn't taken it to school?

It's the weekend,

this has nothing to do with the fact that you didn't like the toy.

It is a noisy thing.

It drives me and Katie crazy, but...

Bella loves that toy.

I tell you what, I'm not sure that Marbles the cat is fond of the toy.

Marbles.

Bella's real cat.

Marbles.

So, Marbles, what do you know?

Come on, Marbles.

I'm not sure we'll get anything more from her.

But what if Marbles thought Kachika was her toy and took it outside?

Who would be most likely to have found it?

Kobi!

Dad.

Are you sure you haven't seen Kachika anywhere?

Yes.

And you've been working here all along?

Yes.

Sam has an interesting theory.

Hm.

After Bella went to sleep with Kachika,

Marbles may have taken Kachika away,

because she's jealous, or because Marbles think Kachika is her toy.

And if Marbles took Kachika outside,

it means you may have found it and tidied it away

with the rubbish or recycling.

Nope.

I'm afraid I've just done a big clear-out.

I still can't see anything suspicious.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help to you guys.

We need a rethink.

Yeah, it's like it just disappeared, but it can't have.

Hi, Mali.

-Oh, hey, Sam.

-Have you seen Bella's toy?

No, sorry.

SHE SNIFFS What's that smell?

Smells like Bella's mum's baking biscuits.

Shall we head over there?

Mm. Yes.

You guys came just in time.

I've made biscuits.

Mmm. Biscuits.

Yum.

Can I have some apple juice, please?

Girls, would you like some juice?

They've been awfully quiet in there.

We just need to think.

Maybe if I poured just a little bit of baby powder,

I could find some fingerprints.

Sometimes, detectives use fingerprints to catch criminals.

How much do I need to pour?

Er, what on earth is going on?

I think this has gone too far, girls.

Oh, sorry.

Sorry, but we just thought that...

I think it's time to tidy up.

Aw.

Kachika says goodnight. Kachika says goodnight.

-Kachika!

-In your room?

Kachika says goodnight.

Kachika says goodnight.

Kachika says goodnight!

I found her, I found her!

Kachika!

I thought you told me that you'd searched everywhere.

Sorry, Mum. Sorry, Grandma Zainab.

Thank you, Sam, for helping me find Kachika.

You're welcome.

Well, then, anyone for biscuits and juice?

I can't believe Kachika was in Bella's bedroom all along.

At least Dad didn't put her in the recycling bin.

THEY CHUCKLE

But I did mess up Bella's room with baby powder.

Katie was cross about that.

You cleaned it up.

And said sorry.

And solved the mystery of the missing toy.

That was fun.

So you'll be a detective again?

Yes, but next time, it'll be a bigger case.

Like if someone stole all of Katie's biscuits.

Or if my dad's wheelbarrow went missing.

You're a good friend, Mali.

And you're a great friend, Sam.