It was a Friday morning at Shadowglen Elementary. Waylon and his friends on the LIT squad just got done with car duty and headed to the gym.

Fridays were a big day at their school because everyone was ready for the weekend. And most importantly, Fridays meant the Cool Cat Award. Waylon and the LIT squad entered the gym and sat with their class. 

In case you don't know, the Cool Cat Award was the coolest thing. You got an award from your teachers or specials teachers and they said who was the best kid in each class that week. 

Principal Young announced the names of the Cool Cats and students walked up on stage and took a picture with the bobcat, the school mascot.

On this Friday, the music was playing, the excitement felt like electricity going through a lightbulb. Coach and Principal Young were at the front of the gym waiting to get started.

Principal Young had a nervous look on her face. She was concerned because the bobcat wasn't there.

Without the bobcat, we couldn't have Cool Cat Friday. She had already waited 10 minutes and they had to get started.

“Scholars, we have to cancel Cool Cat Friday because the bobcat is missing," Principal Young said sadly.

"What the sigma?" the students groaned. They were disappointed.

"Please stay calm and go with your teacher back to your classroom." 

The students walked back to their room. Waylon went with Mr. Mathews back to the 4th grade pod. When they got there, Principal Young was waiting for them.

"Scholars, I don't know any other grade that could help solve this problem. You all are so smart and we need your help. Please find the missing bobcat."

Mr. Donaldson told everyone  to split up to look for clues. He said, "See what you can find. Let's meet back in the pod in 1 hour!"

Ms. Moore's class went to the front office to look for clues. They found the stack of Cool Cat awards. On top of the stack, they saw a strange note. It said, "Where's my award?"

“I wonder who wrote that note,” the students said.

Ms. A's class was going to look in the cafeteria for clues. She was walking backwards and talking to the class about how to look for clues, and all of a sudden she tripped on something. It was a broom, laying in the middle of the floor.

"That's strange. Why would this be left out?" Eliaz wondered out loud.

Mr. Mathews class went to look in the restroom near the cafeteria, maybe something happened when the student who dresses as the mascot was getting ready. Mr. Mathews told Xavier and Gio to check the boys’ room. When they went in, they saw the student that dresses as the mascot, but no mascot uniform. 

The student was looking for the costume but couldn’t find it.  He told Xavier and Gio, “I set the costume down and went into the stall to use the restroom. I heard the door open, and close really quick. It was so silent, I couldn’t see or hear who it was. When I came out of the stall, the costume was gone and all that was left was the mascot’s shoe- they must have dropped it when they look the costume.”

The boys told Mr. Mathews the  about the shoe. 

“Hmmm, this seems like a clue,” said Danielle.