Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The scritch-scratch of chairs being dragged across the linoleum floor filled room 3B, a familiar end-of-day symphony. Ms. Stevens, her usually patient voice tinged with the weary urgency of a teacher nearing the end of another school year, added her counterpoint, "Make sure that you grab your take-home folder from your cubby," she insisted. "It has your last progress report. Make sure that you turn in your Prize catalog form Monday morning. If you don't get that into me on time, you won't get your prizes at the end of the year."

Nancy Drew, methodical even at eight years old, carefully placed her chair on top of her desk, aligning it perfectly with the edge, before going to her cubby, where Ms. Stevens had placed her blue take-home folder sometime during the day, "Hey George, Bess?" she called out to her best friends, "Do you want to come over to my house? We can pick our prizes together?"

"Oh I hope I have enough points for the Princess Tea Party," Bess exclaimed. Nancy hoped so too, Bess had been saving her points all school year for it.

The final bell, a jarring clang that always seemed to startle Ms. Stevens more than the children, finally shrieked through the room. A collective sigh of relief, audible even over the remaining chair-scraping, filled the air. Nancy, her blue folder clutched neatly in her hand, waited patiently by her cubby as George and Bess retrieved their own.

"We'll have to ask my mom," George announced, shoving her folder into her backpack that was crammed with old assignments, "It's her turn to pick us up."

The final bell, a jarring clang that always seemed to startle Ms. Stevens more than the children, finally shrieked through the room. A collective sigh of relief, audible even over the remaining chair-scraping, filled the air. Nancy, her blue folder clutched neatly in her hand, waited patiently by her cubby as George and Bess retrieved their own.

"We'll have to ask my mom," George announced, shoving her folder into her backpack that was crammed with old assignments, "It's her turn to pick us up."

They navigated the chaotic hallway, a river of shouting, laughing children surging towards the exit. Nancy, ever mindful of her folder, held it securely against her chest, careful not to wrinkle the precious contents. Bess, practically skipping, chattered about the various prizes she'd seen listed in last year's catalog – "Do you think they'll have the glitter pens again, Nancy? Or maybe a new kind of slime kit?" George, meanwhile, seemed intent on spotting her mom's familiar minivan in the bustling school parking lot.

"There she is!" George yelled, pointing towards a silver minivan pulling into a vacant spot near the curb. They hurried over, weaving through parents and younger siblings.

"Hi, Mom!" George exclaimed, pulling open the side door. "Can Bess and I go over to Nancy's house? We need to pick out our end of year prizes."

Mrs. Fayne gave the girls a warm smile, "I'm afraid Georgia that you can't go to a friend's house until you get your room clean. You have your legos scattered all over the place."

"But Mom!" George whined.

"Maybe, if it's okay with the Drews, and if you get your room clean. You can have a sleep over tonight," Mrs. Fayne offered.

"But Mom!" George whined, her hopes of immediate prize-picking dashed.

Mrs. Fayne chuckled. "No 'buts,' young lady. Your room is a disaster zone. Now, if Nancy's mom says it's okay for you both to come over for a sleepover after your room is spotless, then maybe."

"What about me, Aunt Jane?" Bess asked eagerly.

"That's between you and your parents, Sweetie," Jane Fayne insisted, "But I'm sure that they'll allow it."

…

Nancy only lived a couple of blocks away from the school and therefore normally walked home. Clutching her blue folder carefully, Nancy began her walk, the warm afternoon sun a pleasant contrast to the chaotic energy of the school day. Her mind buzzed with two things: the prize catalog and the potential sleepover. She pictured the "Princess Tea Party" Bess wanted and wondered if there'd be anything for her – maybe a new junior detective kit? Or a book on ciphers? The thought of George wrestling with her legendary Lego sprawl made Nancy chuckle.

She let herself into her quiet house. "Hannah," she called out, "I'm home!"

"I'm in the kitchen, dear!" a warm voice replied. Hannah Gruen, the ever-present, comforting figure in Nancy's life, emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. Her smile was as comforting as the scent of freshly baked cookies that always seemed to emanate from her. "How was school, Nancy-dear? Is that your take-home folder?"

Nancy held up the blue folder, feeling its weight in her hands. "It's my last progress report, Hannah! And Ms. Stevens said we have to turn in our Prize Catalog forms on Monday, or we don't get prizes." She then launched into the exciting news of the potential sleepover. "George's mom said if her room is clean, and if it's okay with Mom and Dad, George can come over tonight for a sleepover! Bess is going to ask her parents if she can come over too. We wanted to pick out our prizes together."

"What's this about a sleepover?" a voice called out from behind her. Nancy whirled around just in time to see her mother step out of the music room.

"Mom, you're home!" Nancy called out, wrapping her arms around her waist. Kate Drew was a freelance investigative reporter who had been away working on a story for the past week.

"It's good to be home, my little detective," Kate laughed, returning the hug. "And what's this I hear about a sleepover? Sounds like quite the celebration for finishing school, almost."

Nancy pulled back, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "George's mom said if she cleans her room, she can come over tonight! And Bess is going to ask her parents. We want to pick out our prizes together from the catalog." She held up the blue folder for emphasis.

"Well, that sounds like a lovely idea," Kate said, looking from Nancy's eager face to Hannah, who smiled knowingly from the kitchen doorway. "We'll have to confirm with Mrs. Fayne and Bess's parents, of course. But first," she gently took the folder from Nancy's grip, "let's see this important report."

They moved into the living room, Nancy practically bouncing with anticipation. Kate sat on the sofa, and Nancy perched on the armrest beside her, craning her neck to see. Kate opened the flap of the blue folder. Inside, neatly stapled, was Nancy's final progress report for the year. Below it was a single sheet of paper – the prize catalog order form.

"Alright, let's see how our star student did," Kate murmured, her eyes scanning the report. Nancy, meanwhile, had already snatched the order form, eager to see the categories and point values.

"My points total is here!" Nancy exclaimed, pointing a small finger at a number near the bottom of the progress report. "I've been saving my points all year so I can get the Detective Kit!" She announced, flipping the catalog open and pointing to one of the prizes. "It has a magnifying glass, and fingerprinting kit, and a hat, just like Sherlock Holmes! It's 200 points and I have 568 points."

Kate's eyes widened slightly as she saw the number of points. "Five hundred and sixty-eight points, Nancy! That's absolutely wonderful!" she exclaimed, her smile beaming with pride. She quickly scanned the rest of the progress report. "And all excellent marks, of course. Ms. Stevens says here you're a natural leader and very attentive in class. I'm so proud of you, sweetie."

Hannah, who had drifted closer, peered over Kate's shoulder. "My goodness, Nancy-dear, that's quite the haul! You've certainly earned that detective kit." She winked at Nancy, always supportive of her adventurous spirit.

"See!" Nancy said, full of triumphant energy, her finger still on the picture of the impressive detective kit. "I told you I was going to get it! And Bess will definitely get her Princess Tea Party. She has almost as many points as me."

"Well, with that many points, you could probably get the detective kit and quite a few other things, too," Kate mused, looking at the catalog. "But we can look through that tonight, after we confirm with Mrs. Fayne and Bess's parents about the sleepover."

Nancy's excitement surged anew. "Can you call them now, Mom? Please? While George is cleaning her room?"

Kate chuckled. "Alright, alright, my little planner. Let me just settle in. Hannah, do you mind making a quick call to Mrs. Fayne for me? And then to Bess's parents? Just to see if their plans align."

"Of course, dear," Hannah replied, already heading towards the phone in the hallway. "Nancy, why don't you put your folder and catalog on the kitchen table for safekeeping, and then you can tell me all about your day while I start dinner."

Nancy nodded eagerly, carefully placing her precious blue folder and the catalog down. She knew Hannah's calls were usually quick and efficient. While she recounted the highlights of her day – a particularly funny moment during story time, the challenge of a new math problem – she kept one ear open, listening for any snippets of conversation from the hallway.

A few minutes later, Hannah returned, a wide smile on her face. "Good news, Nancy-dear. George's mom said if her room is spick and span, then she's welcome to come over. And Bess's parents are delighted for her to join too, provided she finishes her chores. Mrs. Marvin will bring them over around five. And Mr. Drew has agreed to pick up pizza on his way home."

...

Finally, at five o'clock sharp, the doorbell chimed, sending Nancy practically leaping to the door. "They're here!" she shrieked, skidding to a halt just as Kate opened it. Bess, with her curly blonde hair and bright eyes, stood on the porch, a small overnight bag clutched in her hand. Beside her, George, looking a little more subdued but still excited, held a similar bag.

"Nancy!" Bess squealed, and the two girls embraced in a whirlwind of giggles.

"Hi, Mrs. Marvin!" Kate said warmly, greeting Bess's mother. "Thank you so much for bringing them over."

"It's no trouble at all, Kate," Mrs. Marvin replied, smiling. "They've been counting down the hours. Have a wonderful time, girls!" With a final wave, she headed back to her car.

Just as Bess and George stepped inside, Carson pulled up the driveway in his reliable old car, the scent of pepperoni and cheese already wafting through the air. He emerged from the car, balancing three large pizza boxes expertly.

"Pizza delivery, reporting for duty!" Carson announced with a grin, holding the boxes aloft.

"Yay, pizza!" George cheered, suddenly finding her voice.

"Perfect timing, Carson," Hannah said, emerging from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Dinner is served!"

The living room, which had been bustling with a quiet anticipation, now erupted with joyful chaos. Nancy, Bess, and George quickly deposited their bags in Nancy's room (which George proudly informed them was indeed "spick and span"), before racing back to the living room where Kate and Hannah were clearing the coffee table for the pizza boxes.

"Alright, girls," Kate announced, pulling open the first hot box, "who wants pepperoni, and who wants supreme?"

The evening was officially underway, a perfect blend of bubbling excitement, the comforting smell of pizza, and the promise of a night filled with secrets, stories, and, most importantly, the unveiling of prize catalog dreams.

Chapter Text

The last day of school was the best day of all, even better than the first day, thought Nancy Drew. The sun shone its brightest, painting golden stripes on the classroom floor, and a happy hum vibrated through Mrs. Steven's second-grade class. No more math worksheets, no more spelling tests, just a whole summer stretching out like a long, lazy cat in the sun! But the very best part of the last day? Prize Day!

 

Nancy, with her shiny red hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, bounced a little in her seat. Her best friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne, sat on either side of her, practically wiggling out of their skin with excitement. Bess, with her curly blonde hair and dimpled smile, hugged herself, dreaming of princesses. George, with her short, practical haircut and bright, curious eyes, kept tapping her foot, ready for action.

 

All year long, they had earned points by taking tests on the books they had read, and then they had turned those points in for a special prize. Nancy couldn't wait to get her detective kit.

 

Mrs. Steven clapped her hands, a gentle sound that made everyone jump a little, even though they were expecting it. "Alright, second graders!" she announced, her smile as bright as the sunshine streaming in. "It's time for Prize Day!"

 

She walked over to the art supply cupboard, opened it, and pulled out a large pink box, "Bess Marvin!" She called out.

 

Bess clapped her hand, "Oh, my Princess tea set!"

 

Bess practically floated to the front of the room, her blonde curls bouncing. Mrs. Steven handed her the pink box, which she held up to reveal tiny teacups with gold rims and a teapot shaped like a castle tower.

 

One by one Ms. Steven pulled a prize out of the cupboard and handed it to its owner.

 

Nancy waited eagerly for her name to be called, everyone else had gotten theirs. Only Ms. Stevens was closing the cupboard. What happened to her detective kit?

 

Nancy’s heart did a little jolt, like when she heard a loud thunderclap. "Mrs. Steven?" she asked, her voice a tiny squeak. "You didn't call my name yet."

 

Mrs. Steven turned, her smile a little less bright now. She looked back at the cupboard, which was now completely empty except for a few stray crayons. She even peeked inside again, just to make sure. "Oh, dear," she said, tapping her chin with a thoughtful finger. "That's very odd, Nancy. All the prizes should have been here."

 

Bess and George leaned closer, their eyes wide. "Her detective kit was really cool," Bess whispered to George. "It had a magnifying glass and a secret notebook!"

 

"It was the best prize!" George added, already looking around the room as if the kit might have just walked away on its own.

 

Nancy felt a wobble in her stomach. No detective kit? On the very last day of school? This was a puzzle, and it wasn’t math homework. This was a mystery.

 

"But I had enough points, didn't I?" Nancy asked, trying to sound brave, like a real detective.

 

"Of course, you did, sweetie," Mrs. Steven said, giving Nancy a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You read more books than anyone else in class! Your detective kit was definitely ordered and put aside." She frowned, looking at the now-empty cupboard one last time. "It seems... someone took it."

 

A gasp went through the room. Taken? But who would take a prize? And why would they take Nancy's prize?

 

Nancy’s eyes, usually sparkling with fun, now shone with a determined glint. No more wiggling! This wasn’t just about getting her prize anymore; it was about solving her very first real mystery. She already had a case, and she already had a suspect: someone. Now she just needed to find out who and why. Her adventure had just begun, even without her official kit, "It's a mystery!" She announced.

 

"How are you going to solve it without your detective kit?"

 

Nancy frowned, her bottom lip trembled slightly, "I... I don't know," she confessed.

 

Nancy frowned, her bottom lip trembled slightly, "I... I don't know," she confessed. The golden stripes on the floor seemed to blur. How could she be a detective without a magnifying glass or a secret notebook?

 

Bess quickly wrapped an arm around Nancy. "Don't worry, Nancy! You're super smart! You don't need a kit to be a detective. You just need your brain!"

 

George nodded, already tapping her foot again, but this time with purpose. "And your eyes! And maybe our eyes too! We can be your detective team!"

 

Mrs. Steven smiled, her bright gaze reassuring Nancy. "That's right, girls! A real detective uses their brain more than any tool. And they pay very close attention to details. Let's think, what's the first thing a detective does?"

 

Nancy took a deep breath. "They look for clues!" Her eyes, though still a little wobbly, began to sparkle with that familiar determination. She didn't have a magnifying glass, but she had her own keen eyes! "Let's start with the cupboard!"

 

The three friends, now a tiny detective agency, carefully tiptoed to the empty art supply cupboard. George, being the most practical, bent down first. "It's super empty," she declared, peering into the darkest corners.

 

Bess, with her love for all things pretty, gasped. "Look!" she whispered, pointing just inside the cupboard door, near the bottom hinge. A tiny, iridescent feather, shimmering with all the colors of a rainbow, lay nestled in a dust bunny. "It's so beautiful!"

 

Nancy carefully picked up the feather. It was soft and sparkly. "This wasn't here before," she murmured, turning it over in her fingers. "Who has feathers like this?"

 

Mrs. Steven had overheard. "Hmm," she mused, walking over. "That looks like it could be from Penelope's craft box. She brought in a whole bag of decorative feathers last week for our art project."

 

Penelope Periwinkle sat three rows over, her blonde pigtails bouncing as she fiddled with a sparkly sticker on her desk. She was usually very quiet. Nancy looked at Bess and George, a silent question passing between them. Could quiet Penelope have taken the kit? It didn't seem right.

 

"Let's check Penelope's area," Nancy whispered, leading the way. They walked by Penelope's desk. Penelope looked up, her blue eyes wide, and then quickly looked away, hunching over her desk a little.

 

As they walked past, George, with her sharp eyes, noticed something. "Wait!" she whispered, tugging on Nancy's sleeve. "Look!"

 

Jammed right between Penelope's desk and the one next to it, was a corner of a familiar-looking box. It wasn't pink like Bess's tea set. It was a sturdy, dark blue box, just the right size for a detective kit. And peeking out from under a pile of papers on Penelope's desk was a small, plastic magnifying glass!

 

Nancy's heart did a happy flip-flop. "It's my kit!" she exclaimed, a little louder than she intended.

 

Penelope jumped, shaking her head violently, "No it's not," she insisted, "This is my detective kit. I ordered one too."

 

Mrs. Steven, sensing the tension, came over. "Now, girls, let's calm down a moment," she said gently. Her smile was back, full and warm. "Every prize has the name of the child who earned it. We keep a list, and the boxes are always labeled. Let's check."

 

She carefully pulled the blue box fully out from between Penelope’s desk and the one next to it. It was indeed a sturdy, dark blue box, just as Nancy remembered her chosen prize looking. On the side, near the brightly colored picture of a magnifying glass and a fingerprint kit, was a small white sticker. Mrs. Steven read it aloud: "Penelope Periwinkle."

 

"See," Penelope announced, "I told you it was mine. I need it for when I go to Camp Sleuth this summer."

 

Ms. Steven checked her clipboard, "It looks like you and Penelope ordered the same kit. This is Penelope's kit. In mysteries this is called a red herring. Who knows how long those feathers could have been in the cupboard."

 

Nancy felt a fresh wave of disappointment wash over her, heavier than before. Her shoulders slumped. A red herring? That meant they were back to square one, and her kit was still gone. George patted her arm. "Don't worry, Nan," she said, ever practical. "Red herrings just mean we have to look harder, right?"

 

"Exactly!" Mrs. Steven chimed in, bending down to Nancy's eye level. "Sometimes the best detectives have to start over. Let's think, Nancy. Where else could it be? When was the last time anyone saw it?"

 

Nancy shrugged, "I don't know," she confessed, "When did you put the prizes in the cupboard?"
"Last night," Ms. Steven confessed, "I picked up the prizes after dinner last night. I know I had yours then because that's when I put your name tag on it... "

 

"Where was this?" George asked, eagerly.

 

"Mr. Tots Toy Store," Ms. Steven explained, "That's where all of our prizes come from."