The Secrets Of River Lake

chapter 5

....On the outskirt of river lake some water disposal men are loading five mobile toilet on a big municipal car and replacing them with new ones.Hailey and Cynthia are on their way to Cynthia house with the magic pebble after putting away the funnlecake money in Hailey home. She stached it in an old butter tin under her bed.that is were she keeps her money for her mother. She confided in Cynthia before closing the door and covering the window so no one could see
  Hello,the men greet
Aloha, they return the Greet
  "I don't think I would be so friendly if I had to work on Saturday,Cynthia mumble and in the same breath.isn't that Pluto pack over there?.
It is indeed coco,spot and wink. But Pluto isn't with them.
  "Where's Pluto?" Hailey asked
"Good afternoon to you too, Hailey."
  Hailey slap her hand over her head. How is it possible that she always forget to be polite if she is worried? Hanging her head,she says"sorry
He just dissapeard. We haven't seen him since the big fight with sunshine, "wink says, for once not wiggling his tail
  "I hope he's alright, Hailey says. "the last time I saw him he was limping".
   "Listen." Coco trots closer and drop his voice, " it is a good thing we saw you two. If you want some free advise, after dark tonight
   "Why? What's going on?"
"There are some things that even dogs can't tell human children.just take my advise young one
   With a wiggle of his short tail and nose to the ground, shorty trots off toward the center of river lake. The other two dogs follow suit.
Hailey and Cynthia feel unsettled. What could possibly make coco say that they must stay indoors after sunset? Let's worry about that later,"
   Out of breath from walking unusually fast, Cynthia open the Gare of her house. She is happy to see her mother James parked in the shade of the apple tree. Before they walk u0 the short driveway, Cynthia takes a quick look around to see if anyone is watching them.coco warning has made her very worried for the safety of the pebble
   Beatrice is in the kitchen doing some heavy ironing. A heap of damp clothe is waiting their turn in a big wicker basket. "Cynthia, where have you been? "Look, it is almost three"
  "I was with Hailey."
How are you Susi?" Beatrice ask and give Hailey a grizzly hug, before Cynthia can answer Beatrice says, "your food is in the kitchen
  But Cynthia has the magic stone on her mind. "Where's quill?". She asks.
  "Sleeping"
And dad?"
  Watching the game in the lounge. Go in and say hello to him
"Come, Beatrice gestures to Cynthia
"Yes, my child, how are you?" Cynthia father SATs without looking at her
  "I'm fine,thanks" she says shyly. She is a little nervous around other people's Fathers, because she's no longer used to having a father in the house
  "Hi, dad"
" child.... You mustn't stay out during mealtimes. You know how your mother worried",Cynthia father says his eyes still glued on the screen.

...............
The sky is awash with a deep red ckor. A cloud of smoke hang over river lake
  "Nathan, she calls and hurries to him
"Yes, my girl?"he asks with a silly smile on his face. Hailey notices that he was a fine man
Hailey can smell beer and ciggrates breath.he seems to become very difficult once he is drunk.but he is friendly enough and start walking to her house. On a fairly quiet stretch of the way, a stone comes flying out of a shack and it hits Nathan on his shoulders. He grab the stone
  "You little brat!" He shouts.
"Sorry, Henry, we didn't mean to hit you, henry," one of the boys apologize
  It was an accident really, Nathan," Hailey pleads with him. I should watch my temper." He hands the rick back to the boy. Hailey cannot suppress a  smile
  "Now what was I saying about your father? Oh yes,that he would be proud of you if he knew that you found the pebble"
Hailey freezes.she look Nathan in the face and searches his expression.how can he know about the pebble? They have been so careful Always to keep it hidden.
Nathan carries on waling as if nothing unusual has happened. "How do i know about the stone? Is that what bothers you?" He ask when it is clear that Hailey is lost of things about you," he says and pats her on her head