Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives

Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives

                                                                                  Chapter 1

                                                                                   Changes

     Annie Adams grew up in a small town in Kentucky called Hopskinville.  A town that most people never heard of.  But that fact didn't bother Annie.  She loved her Aunt Anne and Uncle Bud Colliers farm, where she had lived since the age of two years old, when her parents were killed in a car accident.

     Aunt Anne was her mother's sister.  She was a loving, caring person.  She was also big on good manners, responsibility, and church on Sundays.  Anne was a tall thin woman with long dark hair, which she wore in a twist at the back of her head.  The corners of her dark brown eyes crinkled up when she laughed, which was often.

     Annie looked nothing like her.  She had shoulder length reddish brown hair, moss green eyes and freckles over her nose and cheeks, like her mother had had.

     Uncle Bud was about three inches shorter than his wife.  His hair was light brown and receding rapidly.  His laughing eyes were deep blue  and he was stocky of build.

     Uncle Bud had taught Annie how to ride Molly, the dapple gray mare that lived in the barn out back.   He took care of Molly, the cows and the green beans.  The vegetables he sold at market on Saturday mornings.  Uncle Bud was just as nice as aunt Anne was, and both of them loved Annie as if she were their own daughter.

     While Bud took care of the farm, Anne  sold eggs from her laying hens, vegetables from her large garden, and some of her beautifully made quilts on tables out by the side of the road in front of her house.  She did give her quilts to family and friends, and some to the nursing home in town.

     Annie was just finishing up sixth grade at the Hopskinville grade school five miles down the road.  She was a good student; always made the honor roll, which made her aunt and uncle very proud.

     Annie was looking forward to a fun summer of swimming, movies and barbeques with her friends.  So when she alit from the school bus on the 3rd of June, she  was thinking of how perfect her life was here in Hopskinville, as she waved goodbye to  the other students on the bus, and skipped up the gravel driveway to her two story home.   Annie was about to learn how quickly her life could change.

     She opened the screen door and threw her bag pack on the sofa, and hollered to her aunt that she was going to say hello to Molly.  "Okay!"....Her aunt said, ...."But Don't be too long.  Your uncle Bud and I have some news!"  "Alright!"  Annie said, not paying too much attention to what her aunt had said.

     She ran around the house to the pasture beside the barn where Molly would be this time of the day.  The mare whinnied and trotted up to the fence when she saw Annie coming.  She patted her muzzle and pulled an apple from the pocket of her jeans and held it out for Molly to nibble.

     While Molly ate, Annie looked over her shoulder at the big white house, it's paint peeling badly, and looking very weather beaten, and smiled.  Then she glanced over the fence at the corn fields, and the rolling lush green hills beyond them.  Annie heard a hawk squawking over head and gazed up at the bright blue sky, the fluffy white clouds drifting lazily by.  "This is the best place on earth Molly."  Annie said, stroking her neck.  The mare whinnied, as if in agreement.

     "Time to come in!"  her aunt called.  "Gotta  go Molly.  We'll take a ride later."  She promised, waving and running back to the house and in the screen door, which banged behind her.  Her aunt and uncle were sitting at the kitchen table just beyond the living room.  auntie Anne had a large manila envelope in her.

     "Come sit with us hon," her aunt said patting the seat of the chair next to her.  Uncle bud smiled nervously as Annie took her seat at the table.  She didn't notice the apprehension on his face.  Annie took a cookie from a plate on the table.  Setting by it was a cold glass of milk; her normal after school snack.

     While chewing on her cookie, Annie asked, "What's up?"  She knew something was, because uncle Bud was usually still in the fields at this time of day.  Uncle Bud and aunt Anne glanced anxiously at each other, and Annie stared suspiciously at both of them.  Then her aunt spoke.

     "Well, sweetie...." her aunt started...."Your mom and dad...." she pulled a few stapled sheets of paper out of the envelope, as she spoke.  "Your mother, specifically left some instructions for your continued education when you reached the age of thirteen, which you will be on May 30th this year,"  her aunt said with a small smile.

     Annie cocked her head at her aunt in confusion, while uncle Bud gave his wife an anxious look.  "What are you talking about?"  Annie asked in a tense voice; she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. 

     Her aunt Anne cleared her throat and smiled.  "Your mother's wish was that you go to a....well, I guess the right word would be....a private girl's school when you began 7th grade." She said, smiling again.  But it was a forced smile just like uncle Bud was wearing.  Annie stared blankly at her for a moment and then asked, "Where is it?"

     Suddenly, Annie felt like there was no air in her lungs.  But she took a deep breath, and looked expectantly at her aunt.  "It's in Connecticut honey."  "Oh."  Annie said in a weak voice.  Her anxious hear was racing now.  Both her aunt and uncle were looking very sober now. 

     Annie knew that Connecticut was a long way from Hopskinville.  "What if I don't want to go....?"  Annie suddenly wailed. ...."Do you want me to go away?"  She cried more loudly, as tears welled in her eyes.  Auntie Anne went to her and hugged her tight; her eyes too, swimming with tears.

     Uncle Bud wiped his eyes on his sleeve and turned his head.  "Oh, no honey, we don't.  But it was your mother's wish.  And it's all paid for."   As if it being paid for made the situation any better.  Annie thought bitterly.

     "But my friends, Jeanie, Kenny and Molly."  Annie said in between sobs.  "You don't have to leave until September 1st. dear.  You will have all summer to spend with your friends...."  She said, stroking her niece's hair, trying to comfort her. ...."You'll be home for Thanksgiving, Christmas and every summer. ...."  Annie continued to sob as her aunt talked.

     "And Connecticut is a beautiful place.  You'll meet new friends, and the school offers language courses.  That will be fun, won't it?"  aunt Anne said, trying to sound upbeat. "Nothing is as great as Hopskinville.  Annie said stubbornly.

     "It's going to be okay honey, you'll see,"  her aunt said, trying to soothe her.  "We'll talk more about this later when you've calmed down a bit.  Now then,...."  aunt Anne said, taking a tissue from  box that uncle Bud handed her and wiping Annie's eyes.

     Annie, with a lot of effort, suddenly straightened in her chair, squared her shoulders, sniffed and jutted out her chin.  She needed some time alone to think about what she had just heard.  She told herself she would hide in her room and cry a little more, before she had to, "talk about it later."

    ( Dear Readers, I've started a second story.  I wanted to finish the first chapter tonight, but the time got away from me.  I hope you enjoy it.)