Beyond the Border - Part 3

Good morning, Faithful Friday Fiction Fans,

This morning is cloudy. It's sprinkled a little, but the birds are still singing. It rained Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The fun finally came out Wednesday evening, and then it was out most of yesterday. Yay! But now we get clouds and rain again for today and tomorrow. Anyone have a boat? We might need it. ;)

This week started out very nice. We went to my brother's on Saturday and got to enjoy time with them. Then on Sunday we went to church!!!! Oh, it was wonderful to see people again! Yes, we'd seen some of them last Wednesday, but not everyone.

I've been working on Secret Project this week. I have the cover for Book 1 done. And no, I'm not going to show it to you  . . . yet. Book 1 is also formatted. Book 2 is ready to be formatted and the cover finished. I'm back to writing the prequel. My original thought was to have it be 5k words. But it wasn't working. Sorry, you'll have to settle for longer. ;) I can't wait to share these stories with you all! If any of you are possibly interested in helping spread the word about these later, just let me know.

Here are you weekly hints.

• Aunt Bertha is in there! She plays a more prominent role in Book 1, but she's in Book 2.
• I got to use my Montgomery Ward catalogue. :)
  

Okay, here is part 3 of this story. I hope you enjoy it.

Beyond the Border

Part 3

    “Only pull what you know are weeds, Catherine,” Eleanor reminded. “We don’t want to pull up any flowers by mistake.”
    Catherine nodded and knelt in the grass. “Smell them, El; they smell like . . . home.” And she buried her nose in a pansy.
    “I know.” Eleanor quietly began pulling weeds as she blinked back tears at the thought of Mama. No matter where they had lived or where they had traveled, Mama always had a pot of pansies.
    It was exciting to see the garden take on a neat and tidy appearance. The longer they worked, the more nimble their fingers became at pulling only the weeds. Soon the flowers were freed from the weeds and given more space to breathe and grow. The weeds were piled in a heap, and at last Eleanor sat back to wipe her hot face.
    “It looks so much better, Catherine.”
    “Uh huh. Can we start on another one?”
    But Eleanor shook her head. “No, we should get back and sit in the shade a little while, or someone will notice how hot we are.”
    “What do we do with the weeds?”
    That was a puzzle. Eleanor remembered Miss Gray had put the weeds in a basket, but what she did with them after that, she didn’t know. “Let’s put them in the hole under the porch. They can’t grow there.”
    Quickly the girls stuffed the weeds through the lattice and then scurried back to the bordering bushes. Both were red faced and damp from sweat, and four hands were dirty. But the flower garden looked lovely.

*

    The next day there was only a little time to slip through the bushes and pull weeds in another garden. Once again there was no sign of Miss Gray.
    “What if she’s sick, Eleanor?” Catherine asked on the third day. “Maybe that’s why she hasn’t come outside.”
    Eleanor gave no reply but pulled a few more weeds in silence. Stopping, she sat back on her heels and looked at the house. There was no sign of life. “Maybe–” she hesitated and looked all around. “Maybe I should knock on the door.”
    Catherine gasped.
    “She probably isn’t home.” Though she said the words as firmly as possible, there was a slight quiver to her words. “If we don’t see her tomorrow, I’ll knock. But Catherine, we should see if we see any light in the windows at night.”
    Suddenly both girls turned their heads and looked above the bushes to the orphanage. It had never occurred to them that someone looking out of the girls’ room on the second floor could see right over the bushes and into Miss Gray’s yard.
    Neither one spoke.
    Should they go back to their hiding place and stay there day after day? Should they knock on the door and find out if Miss Gray was all right? What should they do?
    “Come on.” Eleanor beckoned to her sister and slipped away from the house and behind the shelter of a lilac bush which would shield them from anyone looking out the orphanage windows. “Catherine,” she said soberly, “we’ve forgotten something.”
    Catherine started to look around, as though wondering what had been forgotten.
    “We’ve forgotten to pray.”
    “No, we haven’t,” protested the younger girl. “We pray before we go to bed, and Mrs. Cobell prays at meal times.”
    “I don’t mean that.” Eleanor gently stroked a green leave on the bush. “I mean like we used to pray before Mama died. About everything. We didn’t pray about coming over and helping Miss Gray, but I think we should pray now.”
    Catherine nodded at once.
    Together the sisters knelt in the grass, folded their hands and bowed their heads.
    “Dear Jesus,” Eleanor began, “we’re sorry for not asking You if we should come here and help Miss Gray before. You said we are to take care of the widows, though I don’t know if Miss Gray is a widow, but she’s all alone. But we also don’t want to get in trouble for helping. And we don’t know if Miss Gray is sick or not. Please help us know what to do.”
    “And Jesus,” Catherine added, “if Miss Gray is sick, please don’t let her be sick like Mama was because . . . well, because I think I like Miss Gray. She has the same flowers as Mama.” Her voice died away in a sniff.
    “Please show us what to do. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.”
    They didn’t think anyone heard them but God, but someone did. On the far side of the house, a window was open. A soft breeze stirred the curtains and brought the sweet petition into the room.
    A ringing bell sent both girls racing for the bushes.

    At the supper table, Eleanor noticed the smudge of dirt on her sister’s face. Why hadn’t they paid more attention and come back before the bell rang? Someone was sure to notice.
    Almost as thought reading her thoughts, Julia started right in. “I can’t believe Mrs. Cobell would allow someone as dirty as you are, Catherine, to come to the table. Why, you have dirt on your face! Or did you get in a fight and bruise it?”
    Catherine kept her head down and said not a word.
    “And you, Eleanor, you look like you’ve been out playing in the dirt all day. Your hair is a mess and you have dirt down the side of your face. Ugh! I don’t know why I have to sit next to you.”
    “Maybe so you can, oh so kindly, point out all the things they are doing wrong, so you’ll look good,” Alex replied sarcastically.
    Julia tossed her head. “They need someone to point out their errors. Who knows where they came from. They were probably found in an alley from the grungy way they always look.”
    A sniff came from Catherine, and a tear dropped on her plate. Eleanor opened her mouth to defend her little sister, but before she had a chance to say a word, Alex draped an arm around Catherine’s shoulders and spoke in a low voice.

Have you had lots of rain this week?

Are you excited about Secret Project?

Would go with the girls to help Miss Gray?

Beyond the Border - Part 2

Hello, FFFs,

How can it be Friday again already? It was just Friday!

Well, the big news from this week is that the Show-Me state opened up! Maybe not completely and totally like it was before, but we got to go to church on Wednesday night! It was SO nice to see folks again! There were more people than are usually there when there's no Awana or children's church.

This week I've been working on different projects like editing, formatting, planning, and blog posts.

I'm feeling like I have nothing to say this morning. Why, I don't know. It's cloudy, windy, and in the low 50s. I have things to work on, so maybe I'll just let you read this next part of the story.

Beyond the Border

Part 2

    That evening Eleanor found one of the older girls alone in the hall. Kate was the closest Eleanor and Catherine had to a friend at the orphanage. “Could you, I mean, would you show me–” She stopped and bit her lip and stared down at her shoes.
    “I will if I can,” Kate said. “What do you need?”
    Her kind words and manner erased the butterflies in Eleanor’s stomach. “Catherine ripped a tiny hole in her sleeve today, and I don’t know how to mend it.”
    Kate smiled. “Why don’t you show it to me.”
    When the torn dress was shown, Kate pulled out a small mending basket from under her bed. “This won’t be hard. See, I’ll show you how to fix it.”
    Under Kate’s instructions, Eleanor soon had the small rip mended. “Thank you,” she whispered.
    “You’re welcome, Eleanor.”

*

    The hot summer sun shone down from a bright blue sky. Puffs of dust rose with each bare foot that slapped the ground in the noisy game of ball. Sheltered in the shady hollow, Eleanor sighed. She was hot even in the shade. If only there was something to do besides watching the others or staring at the old house next door.
    “El, why doesn’t Miss Gray come outside and pull more weeds?”
    “Maybe it’s too hot.”
    Angry shouts drew the girls’ attention to the ball players. A group of boys stood shouting and gesturing. Several girls edged up closer to the tumult, and Eleanor saw Julia arguing with Benji. From the crowd came Alex, holding Victor tightly by the hand. The little boy was crying. They came close to the bushes where the girls were sitting, and stopped.
    “Stop crying, Victor. You aren’t too small to play; those guys just want their own way. See,” he held out a ball, “this is my ball, and I’ll teach you how to catch. Now, you stand over here, so if you miss a ball it will get stopped by the bushes, see.”
    “I might break a window,” sniffed the little boy, pointing to the house.
    “Aw, you can’t throw that far yet. I can’t even throw that far. Besides, I’ll catch your balls. Now dry your eyes and lets get busy before Mrs. Cobell comes out to settle that mess over there.” And he jerked his head toward the heated argument that looked like it might turn into a fight.
    Thus urged, Victor, who was only six, scrubbed his face with his hands and nodded. Alex was eleven and one of the older boys, and Victor looked up to him.
    Eleanor looked at Catherine and smiled. The boys weren’t too close to their hiding place, but close enough for the girls to enjoy their game of catch. The tumult among the other children was quickly forgotten.
    Alex was very patient with the younger boy and started off close to him. Then he moved a little farther away and continued to throw the ball and praise his catches. “You’ll soon catch well enough to be the catcher.”
    “Throw me a fancy ball, Alex,” Victor begged. “I know I can catch it now.”
    Alex hesitated. “Well, if you’re sure you’re ready for it.”
    For answer Victor held his hands out in front of him to catch the ball.
    “All right,” Alex laughed. “Here goes.” With that he drew his arm back and let the ball fly. “Oh no.”
    His groan almost made Eleanor wish she was out of the bushes and could see what was happening. Then the thud of the ball told her. It had gone over the bushes.
    Quickly, without giving herself time to think, she slipped from the hiding spot and into the yard beyond the bushes. The ball lay in the grass a few feet away. Darting forward, she snatched it up and threw it back over the bushes before creeping back into their shelter.
    “Hey,” Victor said. “She threw it back!”
    Alex had come running over and picked up his ball. “Thank you!” he called.
    Eleanor looked at Catherine, and both girls pressed their hands over their mouths to keep back the giggles.
    “Come on, Victor,” Alex said, “maybe we’d better do something else for a while.” Together the boys walked away, leaving the bushes to the girls.
    When it was safe to talk without being discovered, Catherine whispered, “He’s nice.”
    Eleanor nodded and looked toward the silent house. Now that she had ventured once beyond the border, she had a longing to do it again. “I wish we could help Miss Gray weed her flowers.”
    “Oh, El, could we?” Catherine loved flowers, and there was not a single one to be had at the orphanage. “Couldn’t we just go pull some weeds? No one told us we couldn’t leave the yard, did they?”
    Eleanor thought hard. No, that had never been a rule. “Miss Stroder said we weren’t to leave the yard alone.”
    At that Catherine’s face lit up. “Could we do some now?”
    “I don’t know. What if the bell rings and we are over there? We might not make it back without someone noticing where we came from. But perhaps we can tomorrow. And maybe Miss Gray will be there, and we can ask her if we can help.”
    With that Catherine had to be satisfied, but she couldn’t help remarking almost to herself, “It would be fun to weed the flowers and not let her know who did it.”

*

    Their chores were light the next morning, and the two girls slipped outside and over to their special bushes before it was too warm. They expected to see Miss Gray outside, for it was cooler, and clouds stretched lazily across the sky. But she wasn’t there.
    Almost timidly, Eleanor crept out and looked around. No one was to be seen, and she motioned to her sister. “Maybe she went away for a few days,” she whispered.
    Hand in hand, the girls crossed the yard, their bare feet marveling at the feel of grass instead of dirt and rocks. Reaching the flower garden near the wide porch, the girls stopped and looked around. All was quiet and still in the yard. No curtains moved in the windows, and the two young orphans squeezed hands.

How was your week?

Would you go pull weeds in someone else's garden?

Have you ever had a secret hiding place in a bush?

Beyond the Border - Part 1

Good morning and happy May!

Yeah, I know, I can't believe it's May either. We thought April would drag with having to stay at home and not going to church, but it didn't. Thankfully. It just vanished and left completely befuddled about what day and month it is. ;) Our state is opening up on Monday! Yay!!!

This week has been good. I've gotten some things done and worked on that needed done and worked on for quite some time. Like organizing some files on my computer. I still have more to organize, but at least the desktop doesn't look as bad. ;) I'm also slowly working on updating things on my Read Another Page website. Right now all the newsletter sign up forms have been updated and should look good on a computer or a mobile device. I still have more updates to do like adding audio books and my three newest Christmas Collection books from December. Yeah, I'm a little behind the times.

I haven't written quite as much this week because I reached my 30k goal on Monday and the end of the Secret Project (at least until my editor has read it) on Tuesday. But I did work on the prequel for this project on Wednesday and Thursday.

Anyway, this story was written for a "title challenge" that some other writer friends and I decided to do. We all had the same title and anyone who wanted to wrote a story to go with the title. Then we had readers (not the authors) vote on aspects of the story and their favorite. This title was for March and this story ended up with the most points of the 4 stories entered. I hope you enjoy it.

Beyond the Border

Part 1

    Eleanor slowly parted the branches and peered out. “She’s there,” she whispered.

    The tall bushes which formed the border of the orphanage yard shook a little, as though a light breeze stirred them, as seven-year-old Catherine wiggled closer to her sister to see too. “What’s she doing?”

    “Weeding probably.” Eleanor was nine.

    All was quiet in the little sheltered nook as the two sisters, much alike, with brown eyes and mousy brown hair braided in two braids watched the woman next door with interest. The little hollow among the branches was the sisters’ favorite hiding place, away from the noise and commotion of the other orphans. They had discovered it only a week after they had arrived at the orphanage left there by a kind policeman who had found them hungry and alone after their mother had died.

    Since it was summer and there was no school, the children at the orphanage had plenty of time to play in the yard after their chores were finished. The children all worked in the large garden, kept the home clean, and helped in the kitchen. Eleanor and Catherine didn’t made friends easily and were often left to their own devices when play time came. This didn’t bother them, but if Mrs. Cobell saw them alone, she would deliver a lecture on participation.

    It was Catherine who had first discovered the shelter in the bushes. Upon closer examination, the girls found that both of them could fit comfortably, and the branches sheltered them from observation. Together they would sit like two little gray birds and watch the rowdy play of the other orphans on one side, or would gaze at the large Victorian mansion on the other and imagine what it would be like to live there.

    For two weeks the house stood empty. No curtains hung in the windows and the gardens were overgrown. Then a change happened. A woman arrived at the house. Soon curtains hung in the windows, and the large front porch was swept.

    “Do you think she’s the housekeeper?” Catherine had whispered.

    “Maybe. She doesn’t look rich enough to own the house,” Eleanor replied. “I wonder who else will live there. I wish we could.”

    Eagerly the girls watched and waited, but no one else arrived. Now, from their hidden room, they watched the woman working in the flower garden near the porch.

    “Perhaps the others will come after everything looks nice.” Catherine hugged her knees and glanced at her sister.

    “What others?”

    “Why, the ones Miss Gray is preparing the house for.” And Catherine pointed toward their neighbor.

    “How do you know her name?”

    “I don’t. But she always wears gray. Like we do.”

    Eleanor didn’t have a reply for this, and she had to admit that it was easier to think of the lady next door with a name than to always be referring to her as “that lady” or “the lady next door,” which got cumbersome after a while.

    The sudden ringing of the bell startled both girls, and they quickly but carefully scrambled from their hiding place and joined the other children heading toward the house and supper.

    After washing their hands, Eleanor and Catherine filed into the dining room and stood behind their chairs at their assigned table. The other children found their tables and all waited. Mrs. Cobell said grace and then, at Mrs. Cobell’s nod, the children hurried to sit down and begin eating.

    “Catherine, your sleeve is torn,” Julia criticized. “What were you doing? Mrs. Cobell won’t be happy. And where were you, Eleanor, when we were picking beans this morning?”

    “Miss Stroder told me to help wash the windows.” Eleanor stole a glance across the table to Catherine. Her sleeve was torn a little, right at the shoulder. It was just a small tear, and she wondered if one of the older girls would help her mend it before tomorrow.

    Julia went right on talking. “Someone moved into that ugly old house next door. I heard Mrs. Cobell talking with Miss Stroder and Mrs. Cobell this morning. They wanted to buy the house so we could have more room, but this other lady had inherited it or something, and she’s moved in. Mrs. Cobell talked to her about selling it and the lady refused! You’d think that she wouldn’t want such a large place for just one person. I mean, what is she going to do, sleep in a different room each time?” She laughed scornfully.

    “Maybe she has servants,” Alex ventured with his mouth half full.

    “Ha!” Julia sniffed. “And don’t talk with food in your mouth, Alex, it isn’t polite.”

    “You do it.” Alex retorted as Julia took a bite of her bread.

    “Do not!”

    Eleanor had a hard time not joining in the laughter that echoed down the table at Julia’s denial around her bread and butter. Alex had been right. Julia did talk with food in her mouth quite often.

    “That was mean, Alexander Luntz!” Julia threw her napkin at him and glared.

    Eleanor felt a kick under the table and glanced up quickly. Catherine had dropped her eyes to her plate and the laughter died at the table.

    “What is the meaning of this commotion?” Miss Stroder’s voice was firm. Only silence greeted her question. “Is no one going to talk voluntarily? Do I need to withhold cake from the entire table?”

    “No, ma’am,” Alex spoke up quickly. “It was my fault. I was teasing Julia. I’m sorry.”

    For a moment Miss Stroder stood silent. “What did you say?”

    Alex dropped his eyes to his plate. “I’d rather not say, Miss Stroder.”

    “He said she talked with her mouth full of food too,” piped up Victor. “And she said she didn’t while she was eating her bread.”

    “I think,” Miss Stroder said quietly, “that there needs to be less talking and more eating at this table. Is that understood?”

    “Yes, ma’am.”

    Eleanor returned to her supper. Beside her, Julia muttered something under her breath but didn’t talk any more.

Did your April drag or fly?

Who do you think Miss Gray is preparing the house for?

Did you enjoy the first part of this story?

This Week

Good Morning, FFFs,
I don't have a story for you today. Sorry. I was going to get the next story ready this week, but things changed so I completely forgot about it until yesterday and I didn't have time right then, so  . . . Next week I should have something for you.

But don't go away unless you only come here to read stories. ;)

Here's an update on my week.

Saturday– I spent the morning outside burning sticks and cleaning up piles of sticks and leaves from the yard of the empty house next door. Yes, Operation Clean Up the Neighborhood is still going on. I also helped my dad wash off some rocks since we are doing some new landscaping and moving some river rocks from one place to another. The rocks were covered with dirt and seed shells from being near our bird feeders.
After lunch my brother called to see if we wanted to come over and eat supper with them. Since we hadn't gotten to see the kids much and my parents had only gotten to hold their newest granddaughter once, we were delighted to accept. It was a fun time out at their place in the country. I played ping-pong with my oldest niece and nephews. We ate supper, held the baby, and enjoyed home made ice cream for dessert.
My youngest nephew (age 2 1/2) said the cutest thing and gave my favorite alliteration yet. :)
I was walking outside with my oldest niece, 2nd nephew, and youngest nephew. Sissy and FB were walking and Busters (little guy) was stuck walking behind his siblings. Suddenly he said in a disgusted little voice, "BehBeh MY favorite," and pushed his way up beside me. Of course Sissy tried to get him to say she was his favorite, but he was having none of it. Pulling away from her, he walked to the other side of me and said, "I BehBeh's best buddy." :)

Sunday– It was another quiet day. We watched some teaching videos this week, and then I read.

Monday– My Best Friend emailed and wanted to know what I wanted to do for my birthday. After some talk we decided to head to a state park (Nature Center not open but the trails are) and go hiking, eat a picnic lunch, and roast s'mores. And we decided to do it that day since it was nice and there was rain forecasted for my birthday. We got the hiking and the picnic in, but there was no place to build a fire and have s'mores. So we went and got ice cream instead.
I did get my 1k written.

Tuesday– Working on things I didn't get done on Monday. Like getting something ready for the next week, and writing.

Wednesday– My birthday. And my mom's and her younger sister's birthday. We have so many April birthdays. I counted at least a dozen that I know of. I might have missed one on my dad's side of the family. It was a rainy day. I worked on things in the morning, then after lunch I donned my rain coat grabbed my umbrella and went down to my BF's house. We built a small fire in her small grill on the porch and enjoyed the cool weather, the rain, and s'mores. Then we sat on the porch swing and talked. I was down there for two hours.
We had roast and potatoes for supper and a moist, almost gooey, chocolate chip cake. Yummm! Don't worry, I did write.

Thursday– More work on things. I got next week's blog post done for Read Another Page, reviewed a book, read some, and walked. I didn't feel like writing, but I wrote some, and then after supper my brain must have kicked into gear because I wrote over 1,200 words before I quit. And after I went to bed my brain kept spinning. Now I need to write again. :)

Today– Cleaning the house this morning, and then I'm not sure what. I have several things I should work on, and a book to read, and a story to write. I'm sure I won't be sitting around wishing for something to do. ;)

How was your week?

Has anyone ever told you they were your best buddy?

Did you get outside at all?

Florida - Part 6

Hello, FFFs,

This week has been cooler. It even dropped below freezing one night. But now it is starting to get warmer. We've had sunshine this week. It's amazing how wonderful the sunshine is when you've had so many cloudy days.

Did you all have a good Resurrection Sunday? We did. It was quiet. We watched last year's Easter sermon from someone we really enjoy listening to, then we joined a live service and got to listen to our pastor's son-in-law preach. We knew my brother and his family were watching too, and some others, so that was nice.

As far as writing goes this week, it's been good. Twice I have written 2k words in a day. And so far I'm around 18,400 words written for Camp this month. I think I need to up my goal again. Should I just move it to 30k since I still have two weeks left? I figured that if I finish this Secret Project before the end of the month (not sure if I will or not), then I'll just write something else. ;)

Well, I hope you enjoy this final part of this story about Ria's gift. Make sure you read the note after the story because I'll tell you what really happened to my grandma.

Florida

    Lydia gave a gasp that was almost like a scream. Her eyes widened as she looked around, and then whispered, “Where . . . where is he?”

    But Ria shook her head. “I don’t know. Come on.”

    All that day Ria and Lydia kept glancing into corners, under desks, and behind doors. Chris, Dave, and Walt joined them in the lunch room, for it was too cold to walk home, and it wasn’t long before Ria told them of the empty aquarium tank.

    “Maybe he got out and is wandering around the school looking for his lunch,” Dave whispered. “Oh!” He jerked his leg. “Something’s biting my foot!”

    Lydia did scream that time, and sprang up from the table knocking over her chair.

    The cafeteria grew silent, and all eyes turned in their direction.

    Ria looked under the table and then kicked her cousin. “There’s nothing there, Dave, and you know it,” she said. “Sit down, Lydia, he’s only trying to scare us.”

    Dave’s eyes widened. “I thought there was something biting my foot. Maybe it was just my shoe.”

    Walt and Chris exchanged glances, and Ria was sure Dave would catch it from the rest of the gang if he didn’t behave. Of course Dave wouldn’t care. Of all the gang, Dave was the most likely to cause trouble in some way or another. But Ria didn’t think about Dave and his joke much, she wanted to know what happened to Florida.

    Before the week was over ,everyone in school knew the alligator had disappeared, but no one knew where or how. Everyone went around cautiously, wondering if they would suddenly find an alligator behind a door or under a desk. Questions abounded. Did he die and get taken away and disposed of? Had he climbed from his home, wandered out an open door, and frozen to death in the cold winter weather? When asked, all the teachers shook their heads and could offer no explanation. A few looked nervous. The principal had been sick in the hospital for several days over the time Florida had vanished, so Ria knew he hadn’t done anything.

    “I just don’t understand it,” she said to Chris and Lydia as they trudged home through the snow. “How could an alligator just disappear like that? Did someone break into the school and take him away?”

    “Beats me.” Chris kicked aside a clump of snow. “No one seems to have a clue what happened. Maybe it wandered outside.”

    “But then,” Lydia said, “wouldn’t someone have found it dead? Florida wasn’t exactly small enough to fit in a cigar box now.”

    Chris had to agree with that, and nothing more was said.

    But Ria kept wondering.

*

    “Mr. Mulford!” Ria called, almost running down the hall about a week later when she caught sight of the returned principal.

    Principal Mulford, an older man with iron gray hair and a slight limp from the last war, stopped and waited. Though firm and even stern when need required, he wasn’t intimidating.

    Slightly out of breath, Ria blurted out, “Do you know where Florida is?”

    The principal glanced around quickly and then said slowly, as though he was expecting a joke of some sort. “Yes.”

    “Oh, where?”

    “Down in the southeastern part of the United States.” He looked down at Ria and added, “You should already know that, Ria.”

    Ria burst into a merry laugh. “Not that Florida; I know where the state is. I meant my alligator that Tom sent me. The one who came to live here.”

    Understanding filled the principal’s face, and he chuckled. “I was beginning to think either I had missed something on the news or you had failed in geography,” he said. “The alligator. Yes, I know where it went. Doesn’t everyone?”

    “No, sir. Chris and I have asked everyone at school, and no one, not even the teachers know. Please, what happened to him?”

    “The Kansas City Zoo took him. He was growing too large for us to keep him here, so I called an old friend of mine who works at the zoo. He came by sometime when I was in the hospital. My wife brought him over and let him in the school, and I thought she was going to tell Mr. Beemer. She must have forgotten.” He shook his head. “So, don’t worry about your alligator, Ria. He’s gone to a good home. Now you’d better hurry along to class or you’ll be late.”

*

    Dear Tom,

Florida is now in the zoo. Can you imagine that tiny thing you sent me months ago growing up in a zoo? I still find it hard to believe, but the girls at school are relieved, since everyone was wondering what had happened and were half expecting to find an alligator anywhere around school. Now, please don’t send me any more alligators! And don’t try any snakes, or birds, or other live creatures. Perhaps you should stick with things like shells, or postcards.

Love, Ria

Historical Note:
My grandma really did receive a baby alligator in the mail from her brother who was stationed down in Florida. The mailman really did stop and watch while she opened it because he was curious. My grandma's alligator grew and they had to use some of their ration coupons to buy meat for it. The local school that my grandma attended finally agreed to take the alligator and keep it in one of their aquariums. Then one day, my grandma, just like Ria, stopped to see her pet, and found he wasn't there. She doesn't know what became of him. It was winter at the time in Indiana, and she wondered if he'd gotten outside and died. Whether she knew at one time and has just forgotten (she's 91), or whether she never did know, we aren't sure.

Did you have a good Easter Sunday?

Did you enjoy this Ria and the Gang story?

I'm not sure what to post next week, any suggestions?

Florida - Part 5

Good morning, FFFs,

The weather has been crazy here! We had two days of low 90ºs and then it dropped and last night it was just above freezing. What are we having? Spring? Summer? or back to Winter? I'd rather have spring a little longer, thank you very much.

Camp NaNo– I'm trying to write. Some days are wonderful and I get a thousand or 1,500 words written. Other days it's a struggle to get a few hundred words written. But so far I've managed to get something written every day this month. And I'm still on track to reach my 15k goal. I would really like to up that goal to 20k, but we'll see how the story goes. I have ideas for future scenes, but I can't write them out of order very well.

I know this introduction isn't very long, but I don't have a whole lot to say. So you can go ahead and read this next to last part of the story. I hope you enjoy it!

Florida
Part 5

    Late Saturday afternoon found Ria hiding over at Corporal's house. “I just had to escape!” she explained, dropping onto the couch in a limp heap. “Kids have been over there since before breakfast. We have a few moments of quiet and then another knock comes. Chris says I should have sold tickets.” Shaking her head, she sighed. “I think I need a schedule of who can come over and when. You know, visiting hours or something.”

    The older man chuckled. “Well, I must say an alligator in town is a novelty. Don’t worry, the newness will wear off, and thenmost folks won’t even remember you have a creature from Florida.”

    “But what do I do until then?” Ria wailed. Glancing out the window toward her house next door, she saw more people approaching the porch. “I don’t think the line is ever going to end. Mr. Beemer, he’s the science teacher at school, came by earlier. He gave me some suggestions on how to feed Florida. Did you know that alligators can get really big?”

    “Yep. What are you going to do when he outgrows that pail?”

    “Uh, we do have an old washtub that I can move him to.” Then Ria’s eyes widened. “Will he get too big for that?”

    With a grin, the older man nodded. “I reckon so.”

    “Then, I . . . I don’t know. Mom can hardly stand the sight of him when he’s this little. Uh oh. Here comes Walt. I told Chris and Ray where I was going in case I was needed.” She stood up slowly. “Thanks for letting me hide out here, Colonel.”

    The old man smiled. “You’re welcome here any time, Ria. You know that.”

    Walt knocked on the door and then stepped inside. “Ria, you’re wanted. Someone from the paper wants to take your picture with Florida.”

    “Goodness me! I’ll have to send a copy of the article to Tom and tell him what a fuss he’s caused in Plainville.” After another long sigh, she waved to Colonel and went back home with Walt.

*

    For weeks the excitement of a real live alligator kept the Mitchelll home busy. The picture and article came out in the local paper and brought even more visitors. There were friends and relatives, schoolmates, strangers, and even some people who were just passing through town. During all the commotion Florida continued to eat and grow and never seemed disturbed by all the fuss. Ria’s suggestion of everyone bringing a piece of meat for the alligator had also made it into the paper, and contributions for Florida’s meals poured in.

    But like all novelties, the excitement wore off after a time, and the visitors dwindled until only the gang and a few friends stopped to see him. Florida outgrew his milking pail home and was settled in the larger washtub Chris had discovered in the attic. With the lack of visitors came a lack of meat, and some of the family’s food stamps had to go to purchase meat for their somewhat unwanted pet.

    “Now he’s eating our steaks,” Chris grumbled as he looked down at Florida who was enjoying his supper.

    Ria nodded. “I know. What are we going to do with him, Chris? I wish we could send him back to Tom.”

    As the days grew colder, some place had to be found for Florida to live, for Mrs. Mitchell put her foot down about him living in the house any longer.

    “Absolutely not,” she said. “I didn’t mind so much when he was smaller, but that creature is growing so quickly I can almost see him do it! I’m afraid you’ll have to find somewhere else for him to live, Ria.”

    Fiddling with her fork, Ria stared down at her potatoes. “I’d be happy to send him somewhere, because he is a lot of work, but where can I send him?”

    “Would they take him at the school?” Mr. Mitchell asked. “They have aquariums with fish and turtles in them. Why not an alligator?”

    At that, Ria looked at her brother quickly. “Perhaps they would! Chris, let’s ask at school tomorrow.”

*

    After some talk, the high school agreed to take Florida off Ria’s hands. Soon he was established in his own aquarium, and Ria stopped by almost every day to see him. It was a relief not to have the gangly, growing creature at home any longer. In one of her letters to her brother Ed, she wrote,

    “Florida seems to enjoy his new home very much. Since the walls are glass, he has a much better view than he did before. The other kids enjoy watching him. Well, some do. Some of the girls hurry past his home with averted heads. It’s silly, really–being afraid of Florida, I mean. I wonder how large he will grow. Tom said he’s seen some really big ones.”

*

    One Monday morning, on her way to class, Ria stopped short and stared. Florida wasn’t in his large, glass aquarium.

    “Florida?” She began to look around, half expecting to see her alligator emerge from a closet.

    “Come on, Ria, we’ll be late for class.” Lydia hurried up behind Ria and tugged at her arm. “What are you looking for anyway?”

    “Florida isn’t in his home anymore.”

    Lydia gave a gasp that was almost like a scream. Her eyes widened as she looked around, and then whispered, “Where . . . where is he?”

Where do you think Florida is?

Have you been writing?

What's your weather been like?

Florida - Part 4

Good morning, FFFs,

Has life changed drastically for you with the coronavirus? The biggest change for me is no church. I miss the fellowship.

My niece, Kinsley, was born last Friday evening. She has a round face and dark hair. So cute. The other kids are in love with her.

I'm doing Camp NaNo and so far I'm making good progress on my Secret Project. I have ideas for it, I just don't know how they all fit together. ;) But so far, when I get stuck I lie on the floor, stare at the ceiling and think about the story until the next scene pops into my head. I know it sounds odd, but it's worked so far. :)

I'm also working on getting some of my longer kindle stories formatted for 4x6 paperback. I can't wait to get the proof copies! So far I have three non-Christmas books formatted that size, and am working on another. I'm wanting to publish "Choices for Max" and "Mystery at Random"  as small books.

Oh, if you haven't already, head over to Read Another Page and try your hand at the games I created just for you! By doing so you can enter a giveaway.

The weather has been warmer. Still lots of clouds and rain, but mixed in with that is sunshine, so it hasn't been too bad. I got our yard mowed yesterday. Well, all except where the flowers were blooming. The grape hyacinths and wild sweet Williams are in bloom, so I mowed around them. Last Saturday my nephews and I went down to the creek and picked up 3 bags of trash. It still needs more clean up.

Here's your next part of this story. I hope you enjoy it!

Florida

    “Sure.” The door opened, and Chris appeared buttoning his everyday shirt. It always amazed Ria how quickly her brothers could change. “When word gets out that you have a pet alligator, the gang will be over, the kids from school will come see it, why you might even get your name in the paper if it gets mentioned to the right people.”
    “I’d still be lonely.”
    Chris looked surprised. “You would?”
    “Yep. All those people would come to see Florida, not me. I could hide in the closet, and they wouldn’t notice as long as the strange and exotic creature from down south was around to gawk at.”
    Laughing, Chris pulled her braid lightly. “You read too many books. Come on, I’ll help you figure out where to put him. Or is it a her?”
    Ria shrugged.

    After supper Mr. Mitchell stopped in the kitchen where Ria was drying dishes. “You know, Ria, you could probably ask the science teacher at school how to take care of an alligator.”
    Ria turned quickly. “I was going to do that today, Daddy, but with all the kids pestering to come see it, I didn’t get a chance to. I’ll do that tomorrow. You don’t think Florida will die before then, do you?”
    “No,” Mr. Mitchelll chuckled, “I don’t think Florida will die before then.”

*

    Mr. Beemer, the science teacher, told Ria things she could feed her new pet and asked it he might stop by and see him on Saturday. To this Ria agreed happily.
    Word of Ria’s alligator spread more rapidly than a brush fire in July. All day, schoolmates stopped her to ask if it was true. Did she really have an alligator at her home? Had one of the gang really sent it? Could they come see it?
    To everyone Ria had one answer. “Yes.”
    By the time school was out Ria wanted to hide. It felt like the entire school was following her to her house. Suddenly she stopped short and turned around, looking for someone.
    “Who are you looking for?” Chris asked. Somehow he’d managed to find his way to his sister’s side.
    “Ray. Well, I was looking for Al first, but then I remembered he graduated.”
    For a moment Chris scanned the crowd and then motioned to someone. A moment later Ray shouldered his way through the chattering crowd of schoolmates. “Ria wantes you.”
    Ria thought she heard a note of sadness in her brother’s voice. “I want you both,” she quickly said. “Tom said I wasn’t to let the gang torment Florida, but what about all these kids?” And she glanced at the crowd who were beginning to urge them to keep going and to ask what was taking so long.
    “Let them in a few at a time and tell them they can’t touch him.” Ray suggested.
    “And only let them stay a short time,” added Chris quickly.
    “I don’t know if Mom’s going to like this many people crowding into the house and then out again.”
    “She’s right.” Chris nodded, looking at their older cousin. Ray was only a year older than Chris, but he was also a higher rank in ROTC. “It’ll be a logistical nightmare.”
    After a little more talk, Ray climbed up onto a bench, whistled, and called for attention. “We know you all want to see the alligator, but so many of you at once might not be good for his temper. Besides, we have to figure out how to get you all in and then out of the house without Aunt Emma having a fit.” Ray smiled. “So, come over tomorrow sometime.”
    “And,” Ria scrambled up onto the bench beside her cousin, “if you want to see him eat, bring a small piece of meat.”
    There were some groans, and some unkind remarks about making them wait, but most of the kids didn’t mind a slight delay, and the crowd soon dispersed, except for the rest of the gang and all the younger siblings and cousins. Together they were enough to almost fill the Mitchell home.
    “Ria,” Dave asked, edging up to her as she accepted Ray’s hand to step down from the bench, “do you really have an alligator? A live one? Or is this some big joke?”
    “Come see.” Ria set off for home, flanked on one side by her brother and on the other by Ray.

    Later that evening as Chris and Ria sat in the living room playing Chinese Checkers, Chris said, “You know, Ria, that was a great idea about asking the kids to bring meat. I got to thinking, it’s going to take some of our food stamps to get meat for him. Maybe we should require a little bit of meat from everyone who wants to see him. Not much, just a small piece.”
    Ria moved a marble thoughtfully. “But won’t it make him sick if he eats too much at once?”
    It was Chris’s turn to look thoughtful. “Maybe. I don’t know. Maybe we should wait and see who comes with meat tomorrow.”

Do you think Chris was right about why Jack sent Florida?

Are you doing Camp NaNo?

What has your week been like?