The sun peeked through the curtains, making stripes of light and shadow on William's bedroom floor. Birds chirped outside his window. It was going to be a great day!
"Good morning, William!" Grandpa called from the kitchen. "Time for breakfast! And then," Grandpa lowered his voice to a stage whisper, "we have a mystery to solve!"
William zoomed out of bed, his monster slippers flapping. "A mystery?" he asked, his eyes wide. He loved mysteries almost as much as he loved birds and monsters.
Grandpa pointed to a note on the table. "This arrived this morning," he said, his voice hushed. "It's from the Volcano Witches!"
The note was written on bright pink paper in loopy handwriting. It said: "Help! Our chores have disappeared! Please come to the Erupting Volcano - we need your help! Signed, The Volcano Witches."
"Wow!" William exclaimed. An Erupting Volcano sounded like the best place ever for a mystery!
Grandpa packed a bag full of snacks (mystery solving was hungry work!) and they set off. They drove past the zoo, where William waved at the gorillas, and then out of the city towards the mountains.
The Erupting Volcano was even bigger and more exciting than William imagined. Hot steam shot up into the air, and the ground rumbled beneath their feet. Three friendly witches, with pointy hats and sparkling wands, greeted them.
"Thank you for coming!" said the first witch. "Our chores have vanished! Poof! Gone!"
"No more sweeping the volcano floor," sighed the second witch.
"Or cleaning the bubbling lava pots," added the third.
"We can't find them anywhere," they cried together.
"Don't worry," William said. "Grandpa and I will find your missing chores!"
They started by searching the volcano's base. Grandpa, who had once dreamed of being a pirate, looked for clues in the steaming cracks and crevices. William used his super strength to lift heavy rocks, hoping to find a hidden pile of chores.
"Look!" William shouted. He pointed to a trail of shimmering dust leading towards the volcano's peak.
"Volcano glitter!" gasped one of the witches. "Only found on mischievous lava sprites!"
The trail led them up a winding path, past bubbling mud pools and hissing steam vents. Finally, they reached a cave hidden behind a waterfall of sparkling lava. And there, inside the cave, were the lava sprites! They were having a giant pillow fight with…the missing chores!
"Hey!" shouted William. "Those are not pillows! Those are important chores!"
The lava sprites, startled, stopped their game. They looked sheepishly at William and the witches.
"We just wanted to have some fun," one sprite squeaked. "Chores are boring!"
"Chores might not always be the most exciting," Grandpa said gently, "but they are important. They help keep things clean and organized."
William nodded. "And besides," he added, "throwing chores around is not the way to have fun! Let's play a game of tag instead!"
The lava sprites loved the idea. Soon, they were all laughing and playing together, the missing chores safely gathered in a pile.
The sun began to set, painting the sky with streaks of orange and purple. The witches were overjoyed to have their chores back.
"Thank you, William and Grandpa!" they cried. "You solved the mystery of the missing chores!"
As they drove home, William snuggled sleepily in his car seat. Solving mysteries was hard work, but so much fun! And he learned that even though chores might not always be the most exciting, they were important.
"Good work today, William," Grandpa said, smiling.
William smiled back, his heart full of happiness. It was good to be a detective, especially with Grandpa by his side.
