Annie and her friends were happy that the case was solved, and uncharacteristically, they really could wait a while to have another one. "These past weeks were so stressful." Annie told Beth as they were getting ready for bed the night of the capture of the thieves. "Yeah. I'm not anxious to go through all that frustration again....at least for a while." Beth agreed.
"Christmas is coming up in only a month. And I just want to go home and spend it with my family and friends there, with only good times and no drama." Annie stated firmly. "Me too." Beth said. Annie switch off the table lamp, looked over at Beth and said, "Goodnight Beth." "Nighty night." Beth said. "And I'm going to dream about Christmas snow," she added. Annie chuckled. "I'm dreaming about a green Christmas where uncle Bud is barbecuing on the back patio." Annie giggled this time. "May both of our dreams come true," Beth ended, as both girls drifted off to sleep.
How does the old saying go, "Life happens when you're making other plans." Annie, Beth and their friends would soon find out what the full impact of that adage means.
December came in with two or three inches on the ground and very cold temperatures. But by the week before Christmas, the snow was almost gone and it was unseasonably warm. So it seemed there would no problem with the students of Ridgemont going home for the holidays. Nearly all the students were going home for Christmas. No matter what Annie told Beth about barbecuing in the back yard, she secretly hoped her home town would have just a bit of snow on the roof tops to make it look festive.
Ridgemont and Ridgewest's holidays started on the twenty second of December and the students were due back on the second of January. It was hard for Annie and her friends to say goodbye to Collin, Zack, Jamie and Charlie. The group had become such close friends. As the buses pulled up to the curb to take the students to the airport, (Parents or guardians were picking up the students that lived in the area) Annie, Trisha, Katie, Daphne and Patti said their goodbyes with hugs and see you laters. Beth and Annie were taking the same plane to Henderson Kentucky, so they would say their farewells there.
Collin, Zack, Jamie and Charlie ran over the bridge to say their goodbyes. Annie knew she would miss Collin, but she reasoned, after all it was just a couple of weeks.
Annie and Beth gave each other big hugs and promised to keep in touch, while Beth's parents and Annie's uncle Bud and aunt Anne looked on. Annie had gotten her wish. The area was just a dusting of snow on the roof tops and the grass and the light poles that were decorated with large red bows.
Uncle Bud pulled into their driveway and Annie barely waited until the truck stopped before she jumped out and ran to the barn to say hello to Molly. "That girl!" Aunt Anne said with an amused look on her face. Uncle Bud chuckled and shook his head. "I wonder if she bought an apple with her?"
Molly was very glad to see her. Annie patted her neck and kissed her on the nose, then she pulled a bright red apple from her coat pocket and offered it to the gray mare, who gobbled it up in a couple of bites. Annie giggled. "Aren't they feeding you?" Molly whinnied, as if she was answering Annie's question.
"I'll see you later Molly. I'm starving!" Annie gave her another kiss and ran back around the house and in the front door, the screen door making it's familiar bang. Annie closed the inside door smiling broadly. It was good to be home. Uncle Bud had a crackling fire going in the stone fireplace, which sent a comforting warmth throughout the room.
A huge fir tree sat beside the hearth, boxes of decorations sat expectant on the floor next to it. "Dinner in an hour!" Aunt Anne called from the kitchen. Annie could smell the aroma of pot roast cooking, which also included onions, potatoes and carrots; her favorite meal. "Okay Auntie." Annie called, running upstairs to her room.
Annie took a minute to take in the instant welcoming mood of her room. She patted her quilted bedspread, homemade by her auntie, hugged a stuffed dog, she named Brownie, and then with a giggle, she tossed her coat on the old wooden chair that sat under her desk. Annie sighed happily and sat down at her desk.
She took out her cell and called Jeanie to tell her she was home and make plans to see her and Kenny, who was presently visiting her. Jeanie had a surprise for Annie. She told her that she and Kenny were invited for dinner and that she would spend the night unless Annie had other plans. Annie laughed, "You are my plans."
Annie made a quick call to Collin as she had promised him she would, so he would know she had made home safely. The two of them talked for a few minutes and then Annie ran downstairs to wait for her friends. She didn't have to wait long. About five minutes later Kenny was banging on the door. Annie and Jeanie squealed when they saw each other and hugged tightly. Kenny was a shy kid, so he just gave his friend a one armed hug.
"Hey auntie!" Annie called, "How many minutes till dinner?" "Around fifteen." Auntie called back, while checking her roast. "Okay. Come on! I've got loads to tell you." She told her friends. And all three raced up stairs, Kenny took two at a time. Annie and Jeanie flopped on the bed and Kenny took the chair at the desk, and Annie began to tell them of her adventures with the Mystery Club Detectives.
Jeanie and Kenny were a great audience, oohing and aahing at all the right places. Kenny gave Annie an odd look when she mentioned Collin and her friendship with him. But Annie didn't notice. She of course didn't tell the details with a boy in the room. She would reserve that for when she and Jeanie were alone later that night. Annie reasoned there were just some things girls kept between themselves.
After everyone had gorged themselves on the wonderful dinner that aunt Anne had prepared, Uncle Bud and Aunt Anne, Annie, Jeanie and Kenny decorated the tree with ornaments, popcorn, ( pop the old fashioned way over the dancing flames in the fire place), and strings of red cranberries draped around it.
Then Uncle Bud pushed a switch for the multicolored lights, turned off the ceiling light and everyone gasped at the beauty of it. Aunt Anne made hot chocolate and then started a conversation about her days at Ridgemont. Kenny went home about eight o'clock with a promise from Annie that the girls would hang out with him the next day.
Annie and Jeanie said goodnight to her aunt and uncle and scooted upstairs to her room to share secrets and play board games before turning in for the night. The girls woke up to a new fall of snow in the morning. Aunt Anne had prepared a breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast with a side of hashbrown potatoes. "That's makes a little over a foot and a half of snow now." Uncle Bud said. "The forecasters say we'll have another two feet by Christmas," he added.
Annie gasped and her green eyes widened. Uncle Bud saw the stress on her face and the stern look from his wife, and back tracked. "Although, nobody knows for sure. Those guys are wrong more than they're right," he said with a small smile. "I hope it doesn't affect me getting back to school." Annie fretted.
"Oh, I doubt there will be a problem with that," uncle Bud tried to say in a sure voice. But Annie didn't think he sounded so sure about it.
YOU ARE READING
Book 1-Annie Adams and the Mystery Club Detectives
Mistério / SuspenseAnnie 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...
