Pony Problems by Carolyn Keene

A pony on the front lawn? Impossible!
    Saturday morning after breakfast, Nancy was getting dressed when she heard a strange sound outside her window. Looking out, she saw the cutest, shaggiest little pony standing on her front lawn! “It’s Buttons!” she cried as she pulled her light blue T-shirt over her head and rushed down the stairs.
    â€œDad! Dad!” Nancy shouted from the front hall. “Come quick!”
    Join the CLUE CREW & solve these other cases!
    #1 Sleepover Sleuths
    #2 Scream for Ice Cream
    #3 Pony Problems
    #4 The Cinderella Ballet Mystery
    #5 Case of the Sneaky Snowman

    If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
    This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    ALADDIN PAPERBACKS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
    Text copyright © 2006 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
    Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Macky Pamintuan
    All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
    ALADDIN PAPERBACKS, NANCY DREW AND THE CLUE CREW, and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
    NANCY DREW is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
    Designed by Lisa Vega
    The text of this book was set in ITC Stone Informal.
    Manufactured in the United States of America
    First Aladdin Paperbacks edition August 2006
    10 9 8 7 6
    Library of Congress Control Number 2005938146
    ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-1815-8
ISBN-10: 1-4169-1815-9
eISBN: 978-1-439-10341-8

“I can’t believe you’re having a turkey sandwich again today.” Eight-year-old Nancy Drew shook her head at her best friend Bess. The two girls were sitting together at a long white table in the River Heights Elementary School cafeteria.
    â€œI like turkey,” Bess Marvin replied, slowly opening her brown bag and peeking in. “Hey!” Her blond hair swung into her face as she suddenly turned back to Nancy. “How’d you know I was having a turkey sandwich? My lunch bag was closed.” Bess pushed her hair out of her eyes.
    Just then, Nancy’s other best friend, GeorgiaFayne, showed up. George was also Bess’s cousin. Even though they were all in the same class, George had stopped to turn in an extra credit math assignment before coming to lunch.
    George plopped down on the bench across from Nancy and Bess. She dropped her lunch box on the table. “Nancy probably just guessed,” George said, pinning one brown eye on Bess. “I mean, you’ve had a turkey sandwich every day this week. Since it’s Friday, it’s easy to guess that you’d have it again today.”
    â€œNancy never guesses,” Bess reminded George. “She uses clues to figure stuff out.” The girls turned to look at Nancy, who simply smiled.
    â€œIt doesn’t take a detective to solve this mystery,” Nancy remarked. “Bess is the only one I know who likes ketchup on her turkey sandwich.” Pointing at the bottom of Bess’s lunch bag, Nancy showed Bess the light red stain on the brown paper. “Your mom must have gotten a little ketchup on the bag when she was making your lunch.”
    Bess turned the bag to look. “I love ketchup so much. Maybe when I finish the sandwich, I’ll eat the bag.” The girls laughed.

    Nancy winked. “The case of Bess’s lunch is now closed,” she said with a shrug.
    â€œNot much of a mystery,” George