Who Broke Lincoln's Thumb? by Ron Roy Page B

“Hey, there’s a red mark here, right near where it broke!”
    â€œWhat kind of red mark?” Marshall asked.
    KC looked closely at the strange red mark on the white marble. She gently touched it with her finger. “I can’t tell what it is,” she said. “Just red.”
    KC snapped a picture. “Okay, I’m coming down!” she called over her shoulder.
    A minute later, she was standing next to Marshall.
    â€œThanks a lot,” she told Stub and Ralphie.
    â€œCan I have my picture back?” Ralphie asked.
    â€œOh, can I keep it for now?” KC asked. “I’m sure the president will want to see it. He might send you a thank-you note.”
    â€œOkay!” Ralphie said with a big smile.
    KC and Marshall raced toward the White House.
    Twenty minutes later, they rushed through the private entrance. Out of breath, they hurried down the corridor to the president’s living quarters. A tall marine guard stood at attention next to the door.
    â€œHi, Arnold,” the kids said.
    The marine looked down at them. “Hi, guys. What’s up?”
    Marshall said, “Lincoln’s thumb is—”
    â€œNine inches long!” KC interrupted. She gave Marshall a look.
    Arnold smiled at KC. “How do youhappen to know that?” he asked.
    â€œI’m studying the Lincoln Memorial,” she said. “Are my mom and the president in?”
    Arnold nodded and opened the door for the kids.
    They hurried inside and ran toward the library, where the president liked to relax.
    â€œWhy’d you stop me?” Marshall asked KC. “The missing thumb is huge news! If I don’t tell someone, I’ll bust open!”
    â€œI know, but the president should hear about it first,” KC said as they stepped into the library.
    â€œHear about what?” the president asked.
    President Zachary Thornton was sitting on a sofa next to KC’s mom, Lois. They were both practically buried in lists forthe big celebration that night.
    George, the president’s cat, was lying in the middle of the mess of papers.
    â€œOkay, Marsh, now you can tell him,” KC said.
    â€œWe were at the Lincoln Memorial!” Marshall blurted out. “And guess what happened!”
    â€œWe won’t have to guess if you tell us,” KC’s mom said, smiling at her daughter’s best friend.
    â€œOne of Lincoln’s thumbs is missing!” Marshall nearly shouted.
    The president and First Lady stared at the two kids.
    â€œHis thumb …,” the president said.
    â€œIs missing?” his wife added.
    â€œHonest, Mom,” KC said. “We went to take pictures for my report on DanielChester French. When we got there, Lincoln’s left thumb was gone!”
    The president blinked. “Just … gone? Like, broken off?” he asked.
    KC nodded. “There’s just a short stump now,” she said.
    The four stared at each other. Finally, the president jumped from the sofa and hurried out of the room. George the cat meowed and hopped down to the floor.
    â€œSit, kids,” KC’s mom said. She made room on the sofa. “This isn’t a joke, is it?” she asked. “You’re not just teasing, are you?”
    â€œCross my heart!” Marshall said.
    â€œI even took a picture,” KC said. She pulled her camera from her pack. She clicked a button, and the image of Lincoln’s left hand with its missing thumbshowed up in the small screen.
    â€œOh my,” KC’s mom breathed. The picture clearly showed that Lincoln’s left hand had no thumb.
    KC’s mom held the camera closer. “What’s that little red mark?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” KC said. “I looked at it, but—”
    â€œThe Park Service is on the case,” the president said as he hurried back into the room. “A couple of park rangers were cleaning the statue this morning. Maybe