The Bell Bandit

The next morning, Jessie and Grandma begin working on the new jigsaw puzzle together. Jessie notices that Grandma seems more herself this morning after sleeping 12 hours the night before. As Jessie and Grandma begin working on the puzzle, they realize how challenging it is and spend considerable time trying to spread the pieces on the table. Jessie realizes that all the pieces look the same and that she has never done such a challenging puzzle. Grandma suggests that they begin building the outer edges of the puzzle first.

Jessie asks Grandma to tell her the New Year’s Eve bell story as they work. She is careful not to mention that it is missing after Mrs. Treski told her and Evan not to say anything to Grandma that might upset her. Grandma tells Jessie that her great-grandfather put the bell on Lovell’s Hill to call the neighbors in case of emergencies. Jessie asks how her great-grandfather hung the bell because it must weigh “a thousand pounds” (56). Grandma tells her that it only weighs about 100 pounds and that she got it down by herself once for cleaning. Trying to broach the subject gently, Jessie asks if Grandma has taken the bell down recently, to clean it again or sell it.