Chapter 3

Barbie awoke the next morning to the ringing of the telephone. She groggily sat up and held the reciever up to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Barbie!" A familliar, British voice answered. "How are you?"

"Stacey!" Barbie said. "I was just about to call you!"

"What's up?"

"Did you hear about Allan? Somebody broke his leg."

Stacey gasped. "No! I didn't hear! What happened?"

Barbie swung her legs over the side of her bed and stepped into her slippers. "He said he found a mysterious green envelope in his P.O. box and then some guys jumped him and took it."

"Well, that's odd!"

"I know. It didn't make any sense to me, either. I was hoping you might have some ideas."

"Nope. Sorry." Stacey replied. "But if you want help solving this, I'd be glad to help you."

"Oh, would you?" Barbie beamed. "That would be great!"

"Sure. In fact, if you want, I'll come over in an hour or so and you can give me any other details."

"Sounds like a plan." Barbie stood. "I'd better get ready, then. I'll see you in an hour."

"Sure. Bye!"

Upon hearing the 'click' of Stacey's phone, Barbie hung up and rushed downstairs to get ready. She quickly ate some rice krispies and then dashed upstairs to get dressed. After deciding on a hip blue-and-pink knit dress, she brushed her teeth, applied her make-up, and styled her pretty titan hair. She had just finished when the doorbell rang.

That must be Stacey, She thought, as she rushed down to get the door. "Hello?"

"Hi, Barbie!" It was not Stacey at the door, but Barbie's 16-year-old cousin, Francie, and her best friend, Casey.

"Oh! Francie! What brings you out here?"

"Casey and I are going bowling and we were wondering if you and Skipper wanted to come along."

"Um... I'd love to, Francie, but I'm waiting for Stacey to come over..."

"That's okay," Francie's brunette friend replied, "You can bring her along, too."

Barbie thought for a moment. Bowling sounded like fun, and Francie really wanted her to come. Stacey and her could still talk if they went bowling, right? Who knew, maybe going out would help them find some clues.

"Alright. I'll have to ask Stacey what she wants to do, first."

"That's fine," Francie replied. "You can ask Skipper, too."

"Ask me what?" Skipper appeared, wearing a green jumper.

"Hi Skipper," Francie greeted. "Would you like to go bowling with Casey and me?"

"Gee, I'd love to, but I'm going over to a friend's house right now. Sorry." The little girl slipped on her shoes.

"That's okay. Have fun." The blonde cousin moved aside to let Skipper by. Outside, a red sports car pulled up.

"There's Stacey, now," Barbie said, slipping on some pink flats, "I'll ask her what she wants to do." She slipped past the two girls and met Stacey at her car.

"If I knew you were having a party, I would have brought my new record," Stacey joked.

"Francie and Casey want us to go bowling with them." Barbie said.

"Fab!" Stacey exclaimed. "I love bowling!"

"Alright then. I can give you the details on the way over." Barbie and Stacey walked up to the front steps where Francie and Casey were waiting.

"You coming?" Asked Casey.

"Yep. I just need to tell Mom." Barbie replied.

"Alright. Meet us in the car. Come on , Stacey." Francie turned and the three girls walked off towards Casey's white sports car.