Chapter 2

Missing Manuel

Sofia was excited to see all the pretty notebooks.

“Mamá,” she said. “How many can I have?”

Mamá looked at the school supply list. “Tres.”

Three notebooks! That meant she could have the rainbow, the silver, and the green!

Mamá read item after item from the list. Everyone was busy picking things out.

Sofia took a break and looked around. Something didn’t seem right.

Sofia counted the kids. She came up with three cousins and two sisters. There should be seven kids, not six. She counted the kids again. Oh, no!

“Manuel!” Sofia shouted. “He’s not here!”

“Where is my little Manuel?” Tía Carmen cried.

Sofia’s family ran around the store. They called Manuel’s name.

They rushed around so fast that Hector bumped into Alonzo. Then Alonzo bumped into a shelf of crayons and paint bottles.

Crayons and bottles rolled everywhere! Sofia, Hector, and Alonzo tried to clean up, but it was a big mess.

A store employee came by. “Don’t worry. I’ll get someone to help,” she said.

“Gracias,” Sofia said.

Sofia’s family kept looking for Manuel. They were very worried.

Then they heard a voice over the loudspeaker. That gave Sofia an idea.

“Could we ask the lady on the loudspeaker to help find Manuel?” she asked.

“¡Claro!” Tía Carmen said. “Follow me!”