"Are we allowed to go see the school grounds?" Annie suddenly blurted out. Mrs. Sarber sighed then said, " You are allowed outside yes...." The girls cheered...."But there are boundaries." She told the girls firmly. "Okay." Both girls replied.
"The wooded areas are completely off limits. There is absolutely no crossing the river." Mrs. Sarber said sternly. "Yes ma'am." Annie said. Beth nodded in agreement. "If you two want to hit a tennis ball back and forth for something to do, you can check out balls and rackets at the office."
"Thanks Mrs. Sarber." Annie said, smiling at her. "Yeah, thanks." Beth echoed. Mrs. Sarber bent down to their level and said, "You can call me Ruthie. Everyone does. Since I'm not head mistress or a teacher, it's allowed." "Okay, Ruthie." Annie said, smiling again.
Ruthie gave them a smile back and then left. "She's cool!" Beth said. "Yeah, she is. I can't wait to see that scrap book." Annie said excitedly. "Me to," Beth agreed. Miss Leighton is really nice too," Beth said, following Annie out the door.
"Yeah. So far so good." Annie agreed. "You want to play tennis?" Beth asked, as they neared the office. "What say we check out the grounds first, then if we want to play, well, we can." Annie said in her soft southern drawl. Beth giggled. "I've been meaning to tell you, I just love your accent."
"Thanks. But I have a feeling that soon I'm going to feel like the only southerner in an all northern church." Annie said with a smirk. Beth laughed out loud, then said, "You do know that girls from all over the U.S. come here. So there's no way, you'll will be the only southerner here."
"You're right...." Annie admitted...."But I'm also incredibly clumsy. And I run into things all the time." Annie grumbled. "How's the eyesight?" Beth asked, trying not to laugh. "No excuse there. It's 20/20." Annie said, still feeling self conscience. Beth stopped in her tracks and faced her friend.
" Annie. You are the coolest girl I've ever met. And you're so brave...." Annie cocked her head at her and gave her a skeptical look...."You are!...." Beth said passionately...."Like speaking up to the stewardess on the plane about our seats, and introducing yourself and me to Ruthie when we first met her. Cool and brave. That's a great combination. You will make a lot of good friends here Annie Adams. Trust me." Beth said confidently.
Annie blushed and grinned. "Thanks Beth. And if I am cool, I'm not the only one...." she said, nodding at Beth. Now Beth was blushing. Annie chuckled. "Okay, enough of this, let's go see what trouble we can into." Annie said mischievously. Beth laughed. "Don't let Ruthie ever hear you saying that. She may think she has another Sara, Josie, Claire and Emily on her hands." Both girls laughed again and headed out the door.
The girls headed to the edge of the narrow river first, bending down to give it a closer look. Annie thought it looked more like a wide stream. It was only about fifty yards across. The bright sunlight caused the clear blue green water to glisten like diamonds. The blue sky and the white clouds drifting by above them were reflected in the fast moving water."
"I wonder how deep it is." Beth said, squinting her eyes. "I wouldn't want to find out. It's current looks pretty strong." Annie said with a shiver. "Don't you like the water?" Beth asked her. "Yes. But I want to know how deep it is and fast it's moving before I jump in, or in my case, before I trip and fall in." Annie said, starting to walk away.
"Beth followed beside Annie and looked over her shoulder. "That's the boys school." She said pointing. "Yeah. My uncle Bud told me all about it. He went there when he was our age. It's just like ours, except for the ballet studio." Beth giggled. "I hope they wouldn't have one of those. How did your uncle know what the girl's school looked like?"
"Because he met my auntie Anne there. They had dances at our school, where they invited the boys of Ridgewest." Anne said knowledgeably. "Dances?" Beth said anxiously. Annie grinned at her. "For girls and boys fourteen years and up." Annie reassured her.
"How do you know so much?" Beth asked her. "My auntie told me." Annie said simply. "Well, I'm glad we're only thirteen. I don't think I could dance with a boy." Beth said, turning red just thinking about it. "I'll bet we'll feel differently in a couple of years." Annie said with a smirk. "Maybe." Beth said, but not convinced.
Suddenly, someone called to them from several yards in front of them. Annie and Beth gave the girl a wave back. She had long wavy auburn hair, that swung from side to side while she walked. As she got closer, Annie could see that her eyes were hazel blue. She was a couple inches taller than she or Beth.
"Hi." The girl said when she reached them. "Hi." Annie and Beth chimed. "My name is Trisha Jean Walker." She said in a strong sure voice. "I'm Annie Adams and this is Beth Crosswell. Annie said pleasantly. Trisha smiled, showing her straight, very white teeth. Annie vowed silently to brush hers more often.
"You checking out things?" Trisha asked them. "Yeah. We just started." Beth said. "Can I come along? I don't know anyone. My first year." She said with a shrug. "Sure." Annie said readily. "It's our first year too." Beth said with a smile. "What dorm room are you in?" Annie asked her.
"Number 2," Trisha said, as the three of them began walking again. "We're in 1." Annie said happily. She really liked Trisha already. From the grin on Beth's face, she thought she did too. "That's great! Now I won't feel so alone here." Trisha said gratefully.
"You can come see us anytime." Beth said, looking at Annie for an agreement. Annie grinned, "Of course you can...." Annie said, and then added, "Beth and I met at the airport before boarding our plane. We were friends before we landed." Annie said laughing. Beth smiled. "It" always better when you have a friend, so you don't feel alone."
The girls were at the tennis courts now, on the other side of the school. "I guess the courts are being used." Beth said, pointing to two older girls batting a tennis ball back and forth across the net.
Both girls had blond hair, one a little darker than the other. One girl's hair was so short it looked like a boy's cut. The other's hung to her shoulders, and she wore a head band, no doubt to keep her long bangs out of her eyes while she played. They both wore white tennis outfits.
The long haired girl hit a tennis ball over her opponent's head, and the girl went to retrieve it. The long haired girl took the opportunity to pull up her sock while her partner was fetching the ball and turned to see Annie and her friends, standing, watching.
"Nice Hit!" Annie called, in her southern drawl. "Oohh Patti! Just listen to that accent would you!" The long haired girl called to her friend as her partner threw back the ball. "Where are you from?" Patti asked, in a very poor imitation of a southern accent. "Kentucky." Annie said, a pleasant look on her face.
Beth and Trisha were scowling at the two girls on the court. "Why Daphney, she's straight out of "Gone with the Wind." Patti said laughing. Daphney laughed too, and with a superior look at Annie, Beth and Trisha, they continued their game.
Annie turned to Beth with a sly smile on her face. "I don't think we can include Patti and Daphney in the group of friends that we're gonna make here." Now it was Trisha and Beth who were laughing as they walked away.
YOU ARE READING
Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives
Misterio / SuspensoAnnie Adams was orphaned at two years old. Her mother's last wish was that Annie be placed in the care of her mother's sister and her husband. Annie was very happy with them on their farm in Hopskinville Tennessee. But at age thirteen Annie learn...
