For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
It is dark, so completely dark as we drive up to this large, old country house. The road into this place looked like it hadn’t been used in many years. The car lights shine on the front of the house as we pull up. It has a large wrap around porch which has definitely seen better years. The window shutters were broken, some were missing completely. But amazingly none of the windows were broken, at least at the front. The house was 2 1/2 stories tall, it was probably a real beauty in it’s day. No one has lived here since the original owner, Mrs. Baker, died suddenly in the 1930s.
The great grandson of Mrs. Baker, John Baker, has hired us to look for the gold that his great grandmother hid somewhere in the house. Probably just a tale handed down in the family and there is nothing hidden here at all. But, we are getting paid to look around so that is what we will do. John said that 2 relatives have died looking for this mysterious gold. But that doesn’t bother us, does it Muffin? Meow. What do you mean, speak for yourself? You’re not scared, are you? She just stares at me with half closed eyes. I know that look. She thinks I’m crazy.
Well Muffin, worried or not there it is, our big chance to become famous and…meow. No, we’re not going to die, you worry too much. We’ll be famous, we’ll be rich, we’ll be…meow? No, not dead, stop saying that. Okay now, come here and let me strap on your headlamp for you. There. Now I’ll take the backpack and my flashlight. Let’s go. It’s cloudy tonight making it even darker than normal. And there is no electricity in this house which is why we need the flashlights. The steps were all broken so we had to be careful. The house looked to be a light yellow with white trim. The front door was large and solid wood.
John had given me the keys to the house but…the door was open! Hmm, that’s odd, I said to Muffin. Meow. No, we’re not going back to the car. Someone probably forgot to close the door the last time they were out here. In we go. It’s even darker inside than outside. I shine my flashlight around the large room. It doesn’t look like anything has been touched since the 1930s, and yet, people have been here looking for that gold. So why is everything so neat? Yet everything was covered with a thick layer of dust, except the floor which was not only dust free, but had highly polished oak flooring. Very strange.
John had given me a rough floor plan of the house. Off to the right is the door to the kitchen. Probably full of mice in there, I said. Muffin was gone into the kitchen like a silver streak. That should keep her busy while I look around in here. Something else odd, there was a big armchair in one corner that didn’t have any dust on it either. Apparently that was Mrs. Baker’s favorite chair. I sat on the chair and looked around the room. There was a large stone fireplace next to the kitchen door. On the other side of the fireplace were stairs going up to the second floor, and next to that another doorway which led to the dining room.
Above the fireplace mantel was a painting of Mrs. Baker when she was quite young. She was very pretty with long light brown hair and wearing a white dress. Nothing unusual about the painting. Just as I stand up I hear a noise outside and Muffin comes running in and over to the window. I join her. Meow! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing!
To be continued.
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
to be ‘meow’ is cool 🙂 I agree with Muffin 😀
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Thanks so much for reading!😁😸🕵️♂️
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👍👍👍 keep going….
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Thank you Nina!😀😺🕵️♂️
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Don’t tell me I have to wait a whole day before I know how it ends!😱
Well done Steve, this is a really good idea! I love it!👏👏👏
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Thanks so very much Ross!! Might have to wait more than a day even! I’m terrible!😀😺😲😳
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Nooo! I can’t!!😱😱😱
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Originally I thought of doing just one chapter each week. But I will be doing it more often. Just depends how quickly I can write. Chapter 2 will be out for sure on Friday.😀😺😳😬
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In fact, you must also have time to write😅
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I’m almost done 2 more chapters, just need a little work on them. I want to try and stay ahead a bit if I can.😁😸
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Good idea! Suppose there are some particularly persistent readers who want to read the sequel a little more often than once a week …😅😂😂😂
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Obviously I’m talking about a random reader …
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😂😂😂
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Yep, and some of them close by.😂😹😬
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That’s why I will do it more often. Otherwise I might get buried in the snow!😂😂😹😹🙄
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It could be a very actual danger😂
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That is so true!😂⛄😳
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Nothin’ but awesome!
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Thank you Lydia!😃😺🕵️♂️
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You’re welcome Steve!
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😃😃😺😺🕵️♂️🕵️♂️
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Incredible. Keeping us in suspense. This is great Steve.
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This was my comment. I think I might have added the wrong email. 😆
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That’s why it came in as someone new! Anyway, thanks again Tiffany!!😃😺🕵️♂️
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😆
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😀😀😺😺
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Thank you so much Tiffany!😃😺🕵️♂️
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Hopefully I can get caught up with these delightful stories! Can’t wait to finish them all! 🙂
Love the pic of Muffin and Buster!
Muffin makes the best sleuth with her sarcasm! 😹
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Muffin is undoubtedly the star of these stories!😺 And now her new sidekick as well.😺😺 Glad you like them Renee! Have a great day!😁🌧
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Happy new year!!
Congratulations from Japan
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Happy New Year to you as well!! Thanks so much!😁😸⛄🌲
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ありがとう😊😊
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😃😺⛄🌲
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Love it ! Am waiting patiently for the second chapter…
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Thanks! Chapter 2 will be coming.
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Congratulations on your First book 📖 Chapter!
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Thank you very much Yonnie! Chapter 2 comes tomorrow. Have a great day!😃😺⛄📘
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You are certainly welcome Steve!! Look forward to reading it!
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Thank you!!😁😸
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You both are welcome !!!😊🐱🙏
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Great start!! Now I can’t wait until later today to read the next segment!! Cool!!
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Thank you Dusty!! Um, sorry to disappoint you, but Chapter 2 comes out tomorrow. I was only going to do 1 chapter each week, but thought that would be a bit long to wait, so I will be doing a chapter Monday, Wed and Friday. Unless I can learn to write faster!😂😹🙄✍
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Okay… Good Idea though… keep them wanting more!! Too often they get used to it and indifferent every other day they need to pay attention! How did you get so smart anyway?🤔🤔
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Yep, that’s what I was thinking too. Comes out too often and people stop reading.
Cheerios.😂😂😹😹🙄
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Yep! Plus I like the way you setup the next episode! Makes you want to not forget to come back.. Good Job!😉😁
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Yep, have to make sure to stop at just the right spot each time, or people mind think it’s the end! If all goes well, there will be several of these mysteries throughout the year.😀😀😀🕵️♂️🕵️♂️🕵️♂️
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👍👌
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😀😀😀😀😀
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Wow! The story is intriguing😍 Steve, you got amazing story telling skills. Love the way you imagine and tell us the story. Felt so real. Love the Muffin part and her sarcastic expressions😜😂 Enjoyed reading it 😸Lol.. Have a beautiful day Steve ✨🤗
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Thanks so much for your encouraging words Simon!😃 Muffin helps to bring a little humor to the story.😂😹 Hope your day is going well!😁😸
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Days are awesome, a solitude life with no one to question 😉 It’s different 😀
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Sounds great Simon!😀😀
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Indeed Sounds too great, but tastes too spicy 🥵 Crazy people here, if i were a scientist i will take these people as my samples. All are crazily eating spicy foods, and never touch water. They got used to it. For me whatever they are eaitng is like a magic show😂😂😂 You know even on bakery they sell spicy snacks. Nothing sweet except some sweet pastry, i don’t see anyone buying that except me 🙄🤔 hmm.. so strange…
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I haven’t checked yet, but are you writing a post about this? 🤔That would be so much fun!😄 Poor Muffin is having a hard time sleeping, I’m laughing so much I’m shaking the whole chair.😂😾 Thanks Simon! Hope you get home without burning up!😄😸
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Hahaha poor Muffin 😜 i must write a detailed story about it 🤪🤪😂😂 before that my story needs an end… Waiting to write a suspenseful clima X☺️
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I’m a terrible person, I’m slow at reading your story, but I am catching up!😀😀
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Hahaha that’s totally fine Steve, It’s nothing like you can enjoy much, quiet boring scenes 😉😜
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Not boring, I’m just slow, I’m a terrible person!🤪😁🙄
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Oh no you are not ✨😁
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😁😀😁😀😁😀🙄
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I enjoy the pictures you add to the story. I’m excited to keep reading📚🙋
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Hi Michelle! Glad to hear you are enjoying both! I hope you will continue to enjoy my mystery stories. Have a great day!😃😺🕵️♂️🕵️♀️
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Ohh this is good!! Off to find part 2 😁😁
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Oh this is so good!! I’m off the find part 2 😁
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Glad you enjoyed it! I think your comment came in twice. Have fun reading!😊😺🕵️
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Oh I had a feeling that was going to happen. Ooops 🤪
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😂😹
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