Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives

Continue Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives

                                                                                          Chapter 7

                                                                            The Boys of Ridgewest

     That night after dinner, Annie, Beth, Trisha and Katie sat in Annie and Beth's dorm talking about their unexpected and extraordinary deal sheriff Cooper had made with them earlier that day.  "I still can't believe it!"  Katie squealed, shaking her head.  "Sheriff Cooper actually ask for our help."  "I know.  Incredible, right?"  Beth agreed.

     "Where do we start?"  Trisha asked excitedly.  Annie yawned.  "What say we discuss it after church tomorrow," she said, glancing at her alarm clock, then leaning over the bed to set it for 8:00 am.  "We have to be up and ready to leave at 9:00.  There's no one we can listen in on, or talk to tonight.  Everyone is getting ready for bed."

     "And besides, I have to check my e-mails.  According to aunt Anne, I have a lot of them to answer before I sleep.  And thirdly...."   "We get it!" Trisha interrupted.  Come on Katie, let's go."  Katie hopped off the bed and followed Trisha to the door.  Trisha halted in the doorway.  "By the way, did you two  know we have chapel with the boys at Ridgewest?"  She said with a smirk.

     "I've got to read my entire welcome packet."  Annie said, looking up at her over her lap top.  The girls said goodnight and left.  "I hope that's a very large church."  Beth said, grabbing her pajamas from under her pillow.  Annie laughed as she signed on to her computer.  "I'm taking a shower."  Beth announced from the open bathroom door.

    "Okay.  But don't be too long and don't use all the hot water."  Annie called to her.  "I've got to take mine tonight too, you know."  "I won't."  Beth said, closing the door.

     Annie's mouth dropped open when she saw the forty some e-mails waiting to be answered.  "I have definitely got to check this thing more often."  She said, shaking her head.  "Do I even know this many people?"  She said out loud in amazement.  Number 1 on the list was from her pastor back home; a short message saying he hoped she liked her new school and that he and the congregation were praying for her.

     Annie smiled.  And then sent a short message back that she liked her school and had made good friends already.  She thanked he and the congregation for their prayers and sent her love.  There were several messages from her auntie, telling her to respond by such and such a time or she was calling her headmistress to ask her if Annie was alright.

     Annie wasn't worried because she had talked to her aunt today, but she sent a message of love to her and uncle Bud and said she would fill her in on her new church sometime tomorrow.  Most of the other messages were from Kenny and Jeanie.  The rest were just advertisements.  She sent off greetings to her friends, telling them about her new friends, and briefly about the resurrection of the Mystery Club Detectives.  She admonished them not to tell aunt Anne and uncle Bud.

     She sent them her love, and promised to check her e-mails more often.  Then she sent a PS, saying she missed and loved them bunches.  Beth came out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later holding a fluffy towel and drying her short blond hair.  "Your turn."  Beth said, flopping down on her bed.

     Annie closed her lap top, yawned and stretched, then grabbed her pajamas from her dresser drawer and headed off to the bathroom.  She tripped over a rug on the way but caught herself before she fell.  Beth let out a soft giggle.  It only took Annie ten minutes to take her shower.  Beth was already under her covers reading her Bible when Annie came out.

     "I'm so tired."  Annie groaned, crawling into bed and pulling her quilt up under her chin.  "We had a busy day."  Beth said, a smile in her voice.  Annie yawned again.  "Can I cheat a little?"  "Huh?"  Beth asked, with a cock of her head.  "Will you read me a psalm?  I just know I couldn't see the letters right now.  I promise I'll stay awake that long, if it's a short one."  "Sure.  What are friends for."  Annie smiled sleepily.  "Thanks."

     Annie and Beth were up at 8:00 getting dressed for church.  Annie wore a yellow dress with tiny white polka dots and tan colored sandals.  Beth was dressed in a blue skirt and a frilly white, short sleeve blouse, and blue strappy sandals to match her skirt.  They each ran a comb through their hair, picked up their Bibles, ready to go. 

     They had barely reached the door when someone knocked.  Annie opened it to see Trisha and Katie standing there grinning at them.  "You two look nice."  Katie praised them.  "You both do too."  Beth said with a smile.  Trisha was wearing a lavender dress with white sandals.  Katie's dress was forest green and her sweater was snow white.  She wore white loafers on her feet.  Both girls held a Bible in their hands.

     Annie locked the door on their way out.  Keys were given to all the residents since the robbery.  The girls made their way down stairs to the front doors, where the buses were waiting to take them to the Waterbury International Church.  Annie glanced across the river and saw four buses in front of the boys' school as well.

     Boys of all sizes were boarding their buses too.  Annie could hear their laughter, whoops and hollers, clearly, as if they were all here on this side of the river.  She shook her head in amusement.  The girls weren't anywhere near that noisy.