Smart Sindara Goes Back to School and there is a mystery to solve.

Title: Sindara Goes Back to School and there is a mystery to solve.

It was the first Monday of January, and the crisp Harmattan breeze swept through Lagos as Smart Sindara, stood in front of her mirror. Her afro was perfectly fluffed, and her favorite purple polka-dot backpack was ready to go. It was the first day of school after the Christmas holiday, and Sindara couldn’t wait to see her friends. But this year felt different. She wasn’t just excited about school—she was on a mission.

During the break, rumors had spread that something strange had happened at school. A teacher had mysteriously left, and the school’s prized Golden Achievement Trophy—the one they’d won for excelling in academics and sports—had vanished. Without it, the school couldn’t compete in this year’s district events.

Sindara loved mysteries, and this one was too big to ignore. “This year, I’m not just going to school,” she whispered to herself, grabbing her notebook and glittery pen. “I’m solving a mystery.”

A Strange Welcome

As Sindara arrived at school, she was greeted by the usual buzz of students chatting about their holidays. But there was also something new: a large banner near the school entrance that read, “Welcome Back to school!” Below it, however, was a hastily taped note: “Golden Trophy Still Missing!”

Sindara’s best friend, Ada, ran up to her. “Did you hear? Mrs. Adebayo, the teacher in charge of the trophy, left suddenly during the holidays.”

Sindara raised an eyebrow. “That’s strange. Did she say why?”

Ada shook her head. “No one knows. Some say she took the trophy with her.”

Sindara’s mind began racing. “Or someone wanted it to look that way.”

The First Clue

During lunch, Sindara and Ada sat under their favorite mango tree, poring over everything they knew. “If Mrs. Adebayo didn’t take the trophy, someone must have hidden it,” Sindara said, sketching a rough map of the school. “We need to look for places where no one would think to check.”

Ada leaned in. “What about the old storage room behind the science lab? It’s always locked.”

Sindara nodded. “Perfect. Let’s check it out after class.”

That afternoon, the girls sneaked into the storage room, using a hairpin Ada had learned to twist open locks. Inside, they found a dusty cardboard box filled with papers. Among them was a note scribbled on the back of an old exam paper: “If you want the gold, follow the stars.”

Following the Stars

“What does that mean?” Ada whispered, staring at the note.

Sindara smiled. “It’s a riddle! ‘Follow the stars’… it has to mean the school’s astronomy lab.”

The two friends made their way to the lab during the next break. The lab was quiet, with rows of telescopes lined up by the windows. Sindara scanned the room and spotted a star chart pinned to the wall. On it, a small red circle marked a specific spot: the janitor’s closet.

“Why would the janitor’s closet be marked?” Ada asked.

“Only one way to find out,” Sindara replied.

The Rooftop Discovery

Inside the janitor’s closet, they found another note taped to the back of a broom: “Look up, and you’ll find what you seek.”

Ada gasped. “The rooftop! That’s what it means!”

The girls climbed the staircase to the rooftop, their hearts pounding with excitement. Hidden behind a large water tank, they found a dusty black trunk. Sindara pushed it open, and there it was—the Golden Achievement Trophy, shining as brightly as ever.

“We found it!” Ada exclaimed, hugging Sindara.

The Big Reveal

Their celebration was short-lived. As they turned to leave, a shadow fell across the rooftop. It was Mr. Okoro, the new sports coach.

“Well, well,” he said, his arms crossed. “You girls are clever, I’ll give you that.”

Sindara stood tall. “Why did you hide the trophy, Mr. Okoro?”

He sighed. “I thought if the trophy went missing, the school would focus more on academics than sports. But I didn’t mean for it to cause so much trouble.”

Sindara shook her head. “Sabotage isn’t the way to make change. You should’ve spoken up.”

The girls reported everything to the principal, and the trophy was returned to its rightful place. Mr. Okoro apologized, and Mrs. Dada, the principal, promised to balance academics and sports better.

A Bright Start to the Year

At the next assembly, Sindara and Ada were recognized for their bravery and quick thinking. The entire school cheered as Mrs. Dada presented the trophy, shining brighter than ever.

As they left the stage, Ada grinned. “You just can’t resist a good mystery, can you?”

Sindara laughed. “Not when it’s this much fun. Now, let’s get ready for the next adventure.”

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Happy new year.