Where Is Rachel’s Present?

It was Rachel’s birthday.

Her mother gave her the blue sweatshirt with a big teddy bear on it that Rachel had wanted. Her brother Matt gave her a new journal to write in.

Then Rachel opened the envelope that said, “To Rachel from Dad.” There were two pieces of paper inside. One was a note.

“Dear Rachel,” the note said,

“I’m sorry I have to be away on your birthday. I had Matt make up a crossword puzzle to tell you where to find the special present that I got for you.

Happy birthday, Dad”

“A crossword puzzle!” Rachel said. And she took it out of the envelope. “But there aren’t any clues on it.”

“I’ll give them to you,” Matt said.

Rachel got a pencil.

“Ready?” Matt asked.

“Yes,” Rachel said.

“First clue. Number 1, down.” Matt said. “The room where cooking is done.”

“That’s easy,” Rachel said. And she printed “k-i-t-c-h-e-n.”

“Right!” Matt said. “Next. Number 2, across. Where cans and boxes of food are kept.”

Rachel frowned. She thought for a minute.

Then she said, “Oh! I think I know!” She counted the spaces to see if she was right.

And then she printed p-a-n-t-r-y.

“Good for you,” Matt said. “That was a hard clue. Are you ready for the next one?”

Rachel nodded.

“The shelf that is the opposite of top,” Matt said.

“I can’t put the answer,” Rachel said.

“Why not?” Matt asked.

“You didn’t tell me where it goes.” Rachel said.

“Oh! Sorry,” Matt said. “Number 3, down.”

Rachel printed the answer in the right place.

“Next clue,” said Matt. “Number 3, across. If it’s not in front, it’s ...”

“Behind!” shouted Rachel. And she put it in the puzzle.

“Last clue,” Matt said. “Number 4, across. Another name for hot chocolate.”

“Oh! Oh!” Rachel jumped up and ran to get her special birthday present. It was a necklace with a heart on it.

“Oh my, how beautiful!” Rachel said. “I love it!”

Do you know where Rachel found her present?

Answers to puzzle: 1 down, “kitchen”; 2 across, “pantry”; 3 down, “bottom”; 3 across, “behind”; 4 across, “cocoa.”

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Sue Alexander enjoys solving crossword puzzles and making them up for others to enjoy. Her latest book is “Behold the Trees.” This story will be on The Times’ Web site at www.latimes.com/kids.