‘The Riddle Griddle Radio Show, 1947’

ON Monday morning Penny was the first pupil in class. After saying “Good morning, Mrs. Fritz” to her teacher, she rushed to the bookcase near the portrait of George Washington.

The shelves were filled with books for students to choose from if they finished their work early. Last week Penny had finished her Weekly Reader and math test early and picked a collection of poems by the man who wrote the Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin stories. His name was A.A. Milne.

Penny remembered one poem in particular. She didn’t recall its title, but she was sure that the poem held the answer to the riddle. She looked at the shelves. She checked every book. Where was the one she wanted? It was not there.

Just then the bell rang, and Mrs. Fritz told everyone to take their seats. Penny sighed and sat at her desk in row two. Her friend Joanne sat in front of her. Another friend, Robby, sat across the aisle. “Do you have the A.A. Milne book of poems?” she asked each one. They both shook their heads no.

“Penny King,” Mrs. Fritz said, “will you please lead the class in the Pledge of Allegiance today?”

“Yes, Mrs. Fritz,” Penny said. She stood, faced the flag, placed her hand over her heart and recited with the class:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Penny recited the words, but she was thinking about finding that book and making sure of the answer to the riddle. She was thinking about going downtown to the radio station and being declared a riddle griddle winner!

Wednesday: Will Penny find the book of poems?

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This story will be on The Times’ Web site at www.latimes.com/kids.