Andy and Dolores decided that she must be the new nursery school teacher at the Little Red Schoolhouse. That afternoon they rode their bikes down to the school to investigate. But because it was Saturday, the building was locked.

“Now what are we going to do?” asked Andy.

“Maybe the binoculars are inside,” said Dolores.

“I could look in the windows if they weren’t so high,” said Andy.

“Here,” said Dolores, cupping her hands. “I’ll give you a boost.”

Andy stood on Dolores’s hands and peeked in the schoolhouse window.

“There’s a woman in there!”

“Let me see!” said Dolores, dropping Andy to the ground.

Andy cupped his hands and lifted Dolores into the air. “That’s her!” said Dolores. She banged on the windowpane.

The woman came outside. “You’re the children who had the barn sale,” she said.

“You bought the binoculars,” said Dolores.

“But they weren’t really for sale,” said Andy. “They belong to my Granny Webb.”

“Oh, dear,” said the woman. “I met a man while I was walking to my car who offered to buy the binoculars from me.”

“Did you sell them?” asked Andy Shane.

“I did,” said the woman. “I don’t know the man’s name, but let me tell you everything I remember about him.”

Andy pulled out his notebook and made a new list:

“It’s Mr. Merry, the baker!” shouted Andy and Dolores together. They thanked the teacher and rode to one of their favorite places: the Merry Muffin Bakery.

“Hello, you two,” the baker said. “I was just using my new cookie cutters!”

“Did you buy a pair of binoculars?” asked Andy.

“From the teacher?” Dolores added.

“Because they belong to my Granny Webb,” said Andy Shane.

“Oh,” said Mr. Merry. “I just made a trade with the antique dealer next door. He had a rare cookbook I wanted.”

“So now he has the binoculars?” asked Andy.

“I’m afraid so,” said the baker.

Dolores and Andy walked into the dimly lit shop. There were the binoculars, sitting on a table. And right beside the binoculars was a case. Andy looked at the price tags. Even with the barn-sale money, he didn’t have enough to buy both of them.

“Well, at least you can buy back Granny’s binoculars,” said Dolores.

“True,” said Andy. “But now I’m right back where I started. I don’t have a present for Granny’s unbirthday.”

The shopkeeper was looking out the window. “How do you like that bike?” said the man.

Andy thought about his bike. It was a good bike. He had had it for a long time. But the seat was worn. Springs were popping out, and it was getting uncomfortable. Besides, he and Lucky Duck could walk to places together.

“Would you trade the binoculars case for my bike?” asked Andy.

Dolores gasped. She was used to seeing Andy on his bike.

“You’ve got a deal,” said the shopkeeper, holding out his hand. Andy shook it.

When Andy got home, he hung the binoculars back on the hook in the barn and went upstairs to his room to wrap his present.