The Great Sock Mystery

Every town has a hero, someone brave and bright. In Jack's town, Super Jack made everything right! He had a cape, a mask, and the fastest wellies in town. When trouble came calling, he never backed down!

One morning, the Mayor rang. "Jack, help! It's a shock! Someone's been sneaking away with our socks! Not whole pairs of socks, just one from each pair! We're all wearing odd ones. It's really not fair!" Super Jack stood tall. "I'll find who's to blame! This sock-snatching scoundrel will soon know my name!"

It was true! All the town had odd socks on their feet. The postman wore stripes with spots, what a treat! The Mayor wore one red sock, one full of holes. "Where do our socks go?" cried all the town's souls. "One sock, odd sock, where did it go? Down the plughole? We don't know!"

Super Jack searched for clues on the floor. A fluffy bit of wool. Then he found something more! A tiny wet footprint, then another one too. "Someone's been this way. But who could it be? Who?" Then from inside the washing machine came a sound. "Sniff, sniff... ATCHOO!" What was hiding down there?

Jack peeped in the pipe and wriggled inside. Round a twist and a turn, he went for a slide! He popped out the other end. What a surprise! A room full of socks stretched before his eyes. Socks on the floor and socks on the walls. Socks hanging from the ceiling like bats in the halls!

Right in the middle, wrapped up in a sock, Sat a fluffy small creature with a red nose to knock! It looked up at Jack with big, worried eyes. "Oh no," it whispered. "You've found my surprise." "Who are you?" asked Jack. "What are you doing in here?" The creature sniffed loudly. "I'm the Sock Goblin, my dear."

"It's cold down here, and I'm chilly all day. I take just ONE sock to keep the cold away. I thought no one would mind if I took only one. I didn't know I'd upset everyone!" The goblin sniffed, and its red nose went pink. Jack stopped and thought. "Hmm. What do I think?"

"Superheroes catch baddies," Jack thought with a frown. "But this little goblin just needs help in town. It's cold and it's lonely, with nowhere to stay. I think I can help in a much better way!" He smiled at the goblin. "Don't worry, my friend. We'll find you a home where the cold has to end!"

Super Jack raced out and called to the crowd. "People of the town!" he shouted out loud. "Bring all your odd socks, your old socks, your torn! Bring socks with holes and socks that are worn! We'll make a warm home for our friend down below. So hurry along! Let's go, go, go!"

Everyone came running with socks by the sack. They brought wool and needles and baskets piled high. Grandmas knitted socks. Grandads sewed with care. The Mayor made hot chocolate for everyone there. They stitched and they knitted, they snipped and they tied. The Sock Goblin watched with its eyes open wide.

By teatime, the goblin had the cosiest home! A sock-covered chair and a sock-covered throne. A sock duvet, sock curtains, a rug on the floor, And a little sock hat with a bobble to adore! The goblin snuggled in, warm as could be. "Oh, thank you, Super Jack! You've been so kind to me!"

"I promise," it said, "I'll take no more socks!" Then it snuggled down deep in its warm woolly box. "Well... hardly ever," it whispered with glee. Jack laughed. "You'd better behave, don't you see?" So if one sock vanishes, wherever you go, "One sock, odd sock, where did it go?" Just ask the Sock Goblin. Now you know!