The Brooch

My Only Hope

Maple had finally reached her destination, Orange Haven. It was like a big sister town compared to Ponchas Avenue Row.

And just like Ponchas, every Sunday, was like a ghost town. Well until noon that is... If the towns folk weren't congregated in church, then they were out fishin. Or some even hiding under their covers and snoozing till noon. There was never a soul roaming after eight and before noon. And if they were.... well... And Maple was just fine with that.  At least for that particular Sunday.

It was bad enough to her that she had skipped Sunday school, but worse if  her Mama's friends, prior to service, happened to have seen her roaming around.... oh the gossip it would have been. Moreover, Mama Woods ears would be burning. Maple could hear it now. 'Why Miss Scarlet, do you know where yo child is? We seen yo perfect little angel runnin round. And on today of all days and and of all places? Gasp!' And none for ware, the least lovely part of Orange Haven. Oh my!'

"Oifft!" Maple groaned at the thought.

In fact that neck of woods, Maple had currently been in, was anything but a haven. Where she was, you might as well call the ghost town of all ghost towns. But Maple didn't have time to fret! All she knew was she needed help. And she needed it the sooner the better.

She didn't have time to be seen. Nor did she have time to be chased back to Ponchas, with her reprimanding Mama's tongue wagging all the way.
Maple decided she would face that wrath later.... much later...
                           Uncle Jeffy

Arriving at what looked to be an old rundown building, Maple breathed a sigh of relief. It appeared to be vacant and deteriorating but Maple knew different.

In fact, She was so anxious to get inside that she jumped off her bike while it was still moving. Leaving it on the side of the building. In haste, She ran and leapt up the creaky old steps....

"Uncle Jeffy!" Maple quickly called out knocking on the bolted door! "You in there? Open up! It's me, Madge."

She heard no response... but she kept going. Tapping on the window pane, she called out again.

"Hey Unk! Cmon, open up will ya? I know you're in there! It's the third Sunday of the month! And I know what that means. So you knows I knows ya here... So let me in!"

But it seemed only the sound of the wind could be heard. "Hey! Where are ya? You sleepin or some em?"

Silence... "Dangit!" Maple pouted. "Maybe for the first time, he ain't here." Maple mumbled.

Just as she started to defeatedly walk away, all of a sudden she heard a slight sound. It was like the wooden floor inside delicately creaked. Maple did her best to peek in the window to look around the dark room... But still she saw nothing but old crates and heard no more stirrings... Right as she was just about to give up, right at the corner of her eye, she saw something shining in the rear corner of the room.
"Hmm." She moaned.

In that instant, she walked away from window. Taking her time, she turned away and started back down the steps, she uttered.

"Well shucks! Guess no ones in there?" She said out loud on her tippy toes still waiting for the door to suddenly pop open. She purposely projected her voice. "Don't that beat all, I took a chance and risked Mumma's wrath to come here. And on a Sunday, no less... and no one's here. Oh well... guess I'll be on my merry ole way then..." Maple exasperated. "And my oh my, it's a darn shame I missed my favorite Uncle. Boy do I miss my favorite Uncle Jeffy..."