The Mystery at Cherry Creek

Chapter 4: Old Newspapers

The past couple of days none of us were able to go back downtown again, as we were fully invested in renovating the motel. In fact we were so close to being done that we should be able to open early next week. Today was Saturday and I was anxious and curious to see how the town was reacting because, if I'm correct today is the day that Mitch from the flower market said was "the binding". I had been waiting these past few days just to be able to see what everyone in town was doing, were they celebrating or all in hiding? From the research that I had done so far on my phone the binding wasn't some supernatural phenomenon that all the web was talking about. However, I did find records of missing girls who went missing on this exact day in the past 100 years. At least that's all that the online records show. Going to the town library would definitely help my research because I'm sure that there are more old files that I could access there. Currently all I have about this peculiar superstition is what Mitch said, and if I want to be more credible for the piece I'm writing than I'll need more information. After some slight persuading I was able to borrow the keys to my dads hatchback.

The drive through town was definitely an odd one. All of the houses that I passed had that unmistakable yellow rose either attached to their mailbox or perched by the front door. It seemed like the only people in town not buying into this binding crap was us. Last night while we are all re-painting one of the motel rooms I had tried to tell everyone about it and of course, they made fun of me and my dad said he thinks "I read way to many Nancy Drew books growing up".

The people bustling about downtown were more lively than I'd seen them during my first encounter with them earlier in the week. There was even a couple of street vendors selling sweets and a live band that was set up playing music in the park. If it wasn't for how gruesome the binding really was I'm sure this would look like any other celebration for a town event. With the knowledge about what it was though, it made it very odd for people to be celebrating the possible disappearance of another girl during the night. I decided that before I went to the library to study old newspaper articles, it wouldn't hurt to maybe interview a couple of townspeople? Who am I kidding I just wanted to stop by the free Cotten candy. I believe that sugar really can fix anything.

As the kind vendor handed me the mountain of pink fluffy clouds on a tiny white cone I noticed Genevieve from the coffee shop talking with her husband and another family. Since she was so kind to me the other day at her shop I was hoping maybe she would be willing to talk about the binding as well.

"Hello Genevieve! How are you" I ask politely. Despite being someone that normally doesn't speak unless spoken too I really have willingly talked to a lot of people recently...must be something in the water making...

"Hello Claire! I was just catching up with the McGeorge's, you know what you should meet them too" Genevieve says as she warmly brings me into their conversation. "This is Evelyn McGeorge she actually runs the bike shop just a little bit past old man mountain.We actually we're both on the varsity cheer squad here together or senior year, if you can believe a couple of old gals like us!" Genevieve exclaims as she gestures to the middle aged woman in front of me. At least she seems to be middle aged. I found it quite odd how she said that were on the same cheer team in high school despite how physically different in age both Evelyn and Genevieve looked. Not to be over critical but when you looked at Evelyn there were definitely signs of aging, she had a couple of wrinkles and laugh lines. Even in her straight black hair there were a couple of grey hairs. Genevieve looked to be in her early-mid thirties as she didn't really have any signs of aging. I guess they should put her picture on one of those phony "dermatologist hate her ads".

"Oh Gen that was years ago! I'm sure she doesn't want to hear all about our glory days" Evelyn laughs. She then turns to her two daughters, " my oldest here is Holly she is about to turn 17 and then my youngest is Fallon and she is 15" she expresses with pride. Both of them looked so put together, it may of had something to do with the excitement for this festival that they were dressed so nicely. But they also seemed like the type of family to look posh, making all of their neighbors jealous with how nice their lives and home looked.