What's in a Smile

Chapter 11: The Chickadees

  After returning from the Mills I went up to my treehouse to write down what Mrs. Mills had said. In all the time that I have lived here I can only remember one stray dog. It turned out that the dog lived a few blocks away. Scott and I had returned the dog to its owner.

  I grabbed my gear and Sniffles and we headed back out. Next stop was Mrs. Weaver. She was an older woman who lived alone. Except for her chickens she didn't seem to have anyone close by. I knocked on her door. After what seemed like forever she answered. "Hi, Mrs. Weaver. I was wondering if you have a few minutes to talk?" "Of course, come in Kristina, come in."

  "Mrs. Weaver. I was wondering if I could talk to you about, well, about...," "My chickens?" Mrs. Weaver said before I could get the words out. "Yes, ma'am if that's okay." "Of course it is. I wondered when you were going to come by. That was a really bad day for both of us." Mrs. Weaver told me everything she could and I scribbled notes from time to time. "Was there anything strange that you can remember?" I asked Mrs. Weaver expecting her to say no. "As a matter of fact. There was a print." "A print?" I could feel my eyes widen. "Yes, it was strange. At first I thought a wild dog or something got my chickens, but I saw this paw print. It was huge. Didn't look like any print I've ever seen." "Do you think you could draw it, or describe it?" Mrs. Weaver drew me a picture of the print and the size. It was no dog, or Coyote. It was bigger then any print I have ever seen. I thanked Mrs. Weaver and I was off to the treehouse again.