Table of Contents
The Cam Jansen Series
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Television Dog
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Gold Coins
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monster Movie
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Carnival Prize
Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey House
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Corn Popper
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of Flight 54
Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Haunted House
Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Triceratops Pops Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Catnapping Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Barking Treasure Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery
Cam Jansen and the School Play Mystery
Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Tennis Trophy Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Valentine Baby Mystery25th Anniversary Special
Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp MysteriesA Super Special
Cam Jansen and the Mystery Writer Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Sports Day MysteriesA Super Special
Cam Jansen and the Basketball Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery
DONT FORGET ABOUT THE YOUNG CAM JANSEN SERIES FOR YOUNGER READERS!
For Eileen and David Lesnick.
Hi, neighbors!
D.A.A.
To Rachel: CONGRATULATIONS, Grad!
J.A.
Chapter One
Im so proud of Ben, Mrs. Shelton said.
Me, too, Eric Shelton told his mother. Im very proud of Dad.
Grandpa Shelton, Mrs. Shelton, Eric and his twin sisters Donna and Diane, and Cam Jansen were sitting on folding chairs. Erics baby brother Howie was there, too. He was sleeping on his mothers lap. They were in a large open area in the middle of a college campus. A few thousand other people were there, too.
Are you sure Dads here? Donna asked. I dont see him.
I know hes here, Grandpa Shelton said. I drove him here early this morning.
He wouldnt miss his own graduation, Mrs. Shelton said.
And he wouldnt want to miss going to a restaurant to celebrate with us afterward, Grandpa Shelton said.
Hey, whats taking so long? a small boy sitting behind the Sheltons asked. Im hungry. I want something fun to do.
Oh, Harry, his mother said. Eat some animal crackers. Play with your toys.
The boy took some crackers and a toy train from a small shopping bag. He sat on the ground.
Choo! Choo! he said as he pulled the train through the grass.
Erics father has dreamed of this day for a long time, Grandpa Shelton told Cam.
He spoke softly. He didnt want to wake Howie.
Right after he graduated from high school, he joined the army.
Thats where we met, Mrs. Shelton said. I was also in the army.
She closed her eyes and smiled. Ben looked so handsome in his uniform. We got married as soon as we were discharged from the army. Then Ben got a job. He never had time for college.
Me, too, Erics sister Diane said. I dont have time for college. I dont even have time for third grade. After second grade Im getting a job. Ill bake cookies and sell them.
Oh, no, you wont, her mother told her. Youre staying in school.
Harry pulled his train through the grass and said, Choo! Choo! Then he stopped his train and called out, All aboard!
Your father had to make time for college, Grandpa Shelton whispered to Diane. He went at night, after work.
I dont see him anywhere, Donna said. I think were at the wrong graduation.
Hes sitting in front, Mrs. Shelton told Donna. Hes wearing a black cap and gown.
Mom! Donna said, and pointed ahead. Millions of people up there are wearing black caps and gowns!
Millions? asked Mrs. Shelton, smiling.
Well, a lot. Im going up front to look for Dad.
Me, too, Diane said.
Ill go with you, Grandpa Shelton told the twins. I want to take Bens picture.
Grandpa Shelton took his camera from the small shopping bag he had brought to the graduation. Then he hurried down the aisle with Donna and Diane.
Eric looked in the bag.
Grandpa has something wrapped in silver paper.
Mrs. Shelton said, Thats a gift for Dad.
Do you know what it is?
Mrs. Shelton shook her head. She didnt know.
Do you know how many graduates there are? Eric asked.
Mrs. Shelton shook her head again.
I dont know how many there are, Cam said, but I know how to find out. We just have to count the number of names in the printed program.
Eric opened the graduation program and started to count.
Then he stopped.
Did you already look at the program? he asked Cam.
Yes.
Eric laughed.
Close your eyes and say, Click! Look at the pictures you have in your head of all the names on the program. Then tell me how many graduates there are.
Cam closed her eyes. She said, Click! Then, with her eyes still closed, she said, There are six pages of names. Each page has four columns.
With her eyes still closed Cam counted the names in the first column.
One, two, three... eighteen, nineteen, twenty.
Cam Jansen has a photographic memory. After she takes just one look at something, she remembers it perfectly. Its as if she has a mental camera and pictures in her head of everything shes seen.
Cam says, Click! whenever she wants to remember something. She says its the sound her mental camera makes.
Six pages of names with four columns on each page, Cam said. Thats twenty-four columns. There are twenty names in each column.