Detective Dot and Beru's Backyard Adventure

**Beru and the Backyard Mystery**

Dot giggled as she ran across the sunny backyard, her curly hair bouncing. Beru, her big, friendly rottweiler, followed close behind, his tail wagging like crazy. Dot’s mom was nearby, pulling weeds in the garden while Dot’s baby sister, Polka, napped on a blanket under the shade of the big oak tree.

“Let’s play detective, Beru!” Dot said, holding up a magnifying glass she had found in her toy box that morning. Beru gave a happy bark, which Dot took as a “Yes, let’s!”

But just then, Mom called out, “Dot! Look at these muddy paw prints everywhere!” Dot turned and saw them—big, messy paw prints across the patio, on Mom’s garden gloves, and even on Polka’s blanket.

“Oh no!” Dot said, looking at Beru. “Was it you, Beru?” Beru tilted his head, looking confused. “Hmm,” Dot said. “I guess we have a mystery to solve!”

Dot crouched down to look at the muddy prints. “These paw prints are bigger than Polka’s hands, but smaller than Beru’s paws,” she said thoughtfully. “That means it wasn’t Beru!”

Beru sniffed the prints and let out a soft “woof.” He bounded toward the bushes near the fence, with Dot following close behind. “What is it, Beru?” she asked.

Suddenly, they spotted it—a little raccoon peeking out from the bushes, its striped tail sticking out behind it. “It wasn’t Beru who made the mess—it was *you*!” Dot exclaimed, pointing her magnifying glass at the raccoon. The raccoon froze for a moment, then scampered up a tree with a mischievous squeak.

Dot laughed. “Mystery solved, Beru! Let’s tell Mom.”

Dot and Beru ran back to Mom to explain. Mom smiled. “Good work, detectives. But next time, let’s keep that raccoon out of Polka’s things!”

Dot grinned, hugging Beru. “Being detectives is the best!” she said, and Beru barked in agreement.