For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
That high pitched scream we just heard was me. Muffin had come flying down the stairs and jumped onto my back, holding on with all 18 claws! That made me drop the coffin lid on my fingers. So all of this naturally made me scream. Sigh. Must you do that Muffin? Would you mind unhooking yourself from my back and let me know what the problem is as well? She climbs onto my shoulder and doesn’t say a word, just points her tail toward the stairs. Okay, let’s go take a look. Up we went back to the kitchen with Muffin on my shoulder looking backward in case someone tries to sneak up on us.
Hmm, no one in the kitchen, but the back door is now unlocked which means someone was in here. I locked the door again which made Muffin feel better so she jumped down and started looking around again. I decided to check the front door as well to make sure it was still locked. Okay, it was, so off to the dining room next. There was a nice big oak table, still set with dishes like someone was planning to have a dinner tonight. Except everything was covered with dust. There was a beautiful chandelier above the table, and, what’s this? The spot where Mrs. Baker usually sat at the head of the table was dust free. Just like her chair in the living room. And again there was no dust on the floor in here either.
The dishes were beautiful blue and white china and they looked to be hand painted. Each one of the plates was just slightly different in the pattern which was kind of odd. I picked up a plate to get a better look. Hmm, very heavy for china. There was a maker’s stamp on the back but I couldn’t figure out the name. There was a large oak buffet against one wall and a small plant stand by the window, with a live plant! Now that is very odd since I was told no one ever comes out here anymore.
Back in the living room I sit down in that big armchair and look around. Nothing seems abnormal or out of place. Above the fireplace mantel hangs that painting of Mrs. Baker. I go and take the painting down. On the back is her name, Lydia Baker. I wonder why John never told me her name? I put the painting back. Oh well, guess I should go check upstairs. I wonder where Muffin is hiding? I call her, but no answer. Very odd, so I go looking for her. Can’t find her anywhere, did she go upstairs by herself? I start up the stairs, then stop suddenly.
The woman in the painting, wearing the same white dress, was standing at the top of the stairs. And…she’s holding Muffin! If she didn’t have Muffin I would think I was seeing things. Muffin isn’t moving. The lady then laid Muffin gently on the floor and said just one word, “fireplace”. Then she turned and walked away. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could, but she was gone. I looked down at Muffin, just lying on the floor. I picked up her limp body and started to rub her little head. It can’t be possible, it just can’t! Then she opened her beautiful eyes. Muffin! What happened? Meow, meow!!
To be continued.
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
its wonderful to read and very suspenseful!
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Thank you very much for your kind words!
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my pleasure!
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Poor Muffin.
So you did use my name!?
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Did I do that?🤔🙄
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Yeah silly!
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How about that. Just wait, there’s more.🤪😜🤪😜😊😛😊😛
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Okay I’m waiting.
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That’s good.😀😀😀😀😀😀
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Thanks!
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I’m welcome.😁😁😁😁
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Lol
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Oooo I can’t wait for the next chapter. I want to know what’s in the fireplace. This is great!
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Thanks so much Tiffany! Glad you are enjoying this!😁😸
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You both are very brave. I’m a scary cat (get it!) 😆, but I love a mystery
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hehe! Thanks! I waiting to find out what happens at the end, since I haven’t written it yet!😂😹🤔
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😆
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😱😱😱
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Very interesting ! Looking forward to what happens next…your array of birds are so pretty !
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Thanks, glad you are enjoying it!
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very suspenseful!
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Thanks!
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welcome!!
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Fun read, you have a way with suspense.
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Thank you Nancy!😁😸
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Hahaha, Poor Muffin, and Lydia Baker was that Ghost isn’t it 😁😜. You said you’d post on Monday right? 🤔 Wait I’m not on Monday but I’m reading Monday Post on Thursday, Which means you were there on a Monday 😳 That’s really Strange 🤔 Time to tune my brain to think better. Too much work and the days ran so fast😒🙄 Have a beautiful day Steve✨🤗💐
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Thanks for reading Simon! Can’t give away secrets!😄🙄I post Monday, but by the time you get it then it’s Tuesday, how did Thursday get in there? Thursday should be Wednesday so that Friday is Saturday. Right?🤔🙄🤪You’ll soon be home and back to normal again.🤪🤸♂️😜Enjoy your evening!😀😺⛄🌲
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Hi Steve, That’s completely washed my brain out🙄 can’t read again 😳 Hope you accomplished your Mission 😂🤪 Yeah back to home, back to healthy food.🤗 must take care Steve 😸 Thanks, Have a beautiful day
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Oh, was that a bit confusing?🤔🙄🤪 That’s me, I’m like that all the time.😜😀😀 Guess that’s why Muffin sighs so much now!😂😹🙄
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I totally get it now. Muffin agrees it seems 😉
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Yep, the worst thing now is she is saying she’s the brains in this story so she wants to be treated like a queen.😳😽😂😹
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There she is😉 Demanding the respect isn’t it🐱 i think I’m a part of it too, you should treat me like 🙄🤔😒 Forget it! I’m invisible ☃️😜
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I think she wants first mention in the book deal!😂😹Invisible? You want to be a ghost?😳😳
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Book deal🤔 Gud choice 🐱 invisible like a ghost 🙄☃️ definitely no.☺️
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😂😂😂😹😹😹🙄
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Missed to mention the story’is awesome 😍😍😍 Looking forward for next part ✨🤗
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Hey Simon, thanks so much! Next part is ready!😀😀😀😀
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I’m waiting ✨😍
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Did you miss it?🤔🤔 It came out yesterday which was the day after Monday preceding Friday which is tomorrow today which brings us back to yesterday.😵🙀🤯Anyway, chapter 4 is there and waiting, chapter 5 tomorrow which is Friday though for you it will be Saturday.😂😂😹😹🙄
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Oh I’m really a slow reader 🤪 Should finish your balance. Will do it this night 🤗 I’m going to be a night owl today 😂
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Wow, staying up late!😲 Don’t worry about it Simon, you’re doing a better job than me,😀 I still need to read a lot on your blog to catch up.😁🙄 Sigh.🤪😜
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I’m traveling back ✨ on a train and I’m not getting sleep 🙄 I wonder is this a train or a washing machine. It shakes, i mean it. 😳 Why it is shaking so much🤷. Have to read so many blogs. Which left pending after new year, which because i got busy. So i must get back.😉
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On that train again, now I know why you’re not sleeping! Hmm, are trains supposed to shake like that? 🤔🙄I have never been on a train so don’t know. Oh well, have fun!😳😂
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Now you remember, Luckily my last travel was so smooth, this time no luck can’t sleep 😳 Sigh… Should get used to it 😉
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Well, when you get home then you can sleep. A lot.😄😄😴😴
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Uhhh, can’t be, need to go office 🙄 that’s a different story 😸
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What?😲 No day off to sleep??😳😳
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Who pays you to sleep ✨😳😒 Definitely not my company. Can’t blame them. Good opportunities my profile weightage been increasing 😉 but it comes with a pain, like these 😉
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Well, it’s nice to know you’re in high demand though!!😃🥳 Not like me, sigh.🤔🙄😳😂😹
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Now you are kidding me 😂😂😂 Lol. My company is giving me an inspiration that I’m so demanding, but in reality nobody is 😂😂😂
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I think you really are Simon! You just showed how valuable you are to the company with this project!😃😺No, I’m not teasing this time.😀 I wouldn’t even know how to get started. I’m a dough headed bobble berry.😂😂😹😹
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Thanks for the kind words Steve, I wish i could hear This from my boss, but that’s never going to happen. He is a crazy guy. ☺️ But you are so kind. Why don’t you come as my boss 😍☺️
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I could never be your boss, I don’t even know what I’m doing!🤔🙄🤣🤣
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It’s simple, that’s what my boss do 😂😂😂 see u already act like my boss now 🤪
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😁😂😁😂😁😂
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Hi Simon! I see you nominated me for the Mystery blogger award!😃🤸♂️🤸♂️ At least I think it was me, if not don’t tell me!😂🙄 But you didn’t ask 5 questions.🙃☹
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Thanks for noticing that part 😜😂 I’m going to do that first thing now. Yes i nominated you. Guess I’m gone crazy already without much sleep.🙄 🤪
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What was in the coffin?? Come on!! I’m dying to know! hehehehe!
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It’s a secret. Can’t tell secrets.😂😂😹😹🙄
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Yes you can!!! I do it all the time! ah oh! wait I mean I won’t tell anyone else!!
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Wouldn’t be fair. Just have to wait for that day! Poor Muffin, she doesn’t like that coffin.😂🙀
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Nice quiet place to take a nap!! Kinda cushy too!😀😉😊😂😂
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So true, not many people would want to disturb you!😂😂 Muffin doesn’t agree!🙀💀👻
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Just tell her she’s a fraidie cat!! hehehe 😂😂😂
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Riiiiiight. I’m trying to get back to walking normally, remember?😬😳😼
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hahahaha! 😂😂😂😂 Yes I remember!
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Muffin really enjoys this new series, especially since she has a main role!😸😺
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Yes! And she is doing quite a good job in it! It’s fun to read!!😁😸🙀
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Yeah, she keeps telling me she’s the brains!🙄😽
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You must be wearing your shoes when you say that!😲😲😂😂 hehehe Although… kinda hard to tell her different! She’s gotta way of saying otherwise!!😂😂😂😂
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Fortunately she’s sleeping soundly right now, so no need to worry!😂😂😂😳😾
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Really?? You must be feeling better!! You are awfully brave with your words today!! 😲😂😹😁😉
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hehehehehehehehehe Wearing shoes.😂😂
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I thought so!! Better watch that puddle of water by the water dish!! One might slip! aciidently on purpose!!😉
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Already happened, stepped into the water, where did this come from? Muffin just sat there smiling.🤔😒😸😹
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Long arm of the law!! Or should I say the long arm of the cat’s tongue?? hehehe
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Sometimes I think she knows.🤔🤔🤪😜😹😹
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Yeah… I agree… 😉😂
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😼😼😼😼😂😂
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I thought the award explosion video she did was really cute with her and her sister! Her sister was adorable!!
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Which one? The last one with little sis? Yeah, she was great. Nice way to do it. Scary though, so I won’t try.😳😳📷
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Yep that’s the one! I agree! nice way to get them all in with one post!
I would never do it in front of a camera and then post it!😲😲 I would probably just sit and stare at the camera!! ahahaha!
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Yep, I could never do that, not a chance, not me, won’t happen.😬😬 Everyone would see me!!😲😲😲 Much too scary.😳😳😳😳
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I agree!! ah ah I mean about me!!😲😲😉😉
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Riiiiiiiight.😒😛
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No Really!! I mean yes really! ah ah I mean… oh well I’m dead already… your right!!😂😂😂😂
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I see you gave Lydia a cameo in your story!! How does she rate??😲😒🤔😉
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I needed a name for the evil Mrs Baker, her name was the first I thought of.😂😂😹😹
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Oooohhhh you are bery brave today!! Wow! leave me out of this one!!
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I already told Lydia, she thought it was funny.😂😹
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Did you tell her why you used her name??
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Yep, I said it was for the evil Mrs Baker.
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She must be off her game today… I didn’t see her letting that one pass… hehehe 😂😂😂😹😹😹
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I was surprised too, but there’s also something else…but you’ll have to wait.😁😁😁😁😁
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Ohhhh a teaser eh?? I’ll be waiting!! 😀😲😲😮😮😊😉
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hehehehehehehe! There are times a comin’! What’s in the coffin? Is Mrs Baker really dead? Do we find gold? All this and more coming up!😄😄🤪😜🙄
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I knew it!! Now your just trying to be mean and get me all excited! Oh well… I am!! So what?? I can’t wait to read it!!
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hehehehehehehehehe! Gotta take a break and do my exercises, back in a bit.😃😺⛄⛄🕵️♂️🕵️♂️
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Okie dokie!!
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YOU!!!!!!! Love the story!! can’t wait until tomorrow!😁
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Me? What did I do?🤔🙄🤪😜Thanks, glad you’re enjoying it! I’m already thinking about our next mystery! And I haven’t even finished this one yet. Having some trouble with the ending.😂😹🙄
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Why do you need an ending? just move from one to the next as part of the story!😉🤔 Just another to work as you solve another.
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I did think about running a continuous story looking for this gold and traveling all over to different locations.🤔🤪 But it would be a long story, I want to do a lot of traveling with our PI team!😃⛄🌴✈⛴🛸
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Either way they’ll be fun to follow along with!😉
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hehe! Thanks!😁😸🕵️♂️🕵️♂️
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👍😹😹
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Poor Muffin – I hope she wasn’t too traumatized! Although, I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
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Thanks for reading Ami!! Have a wonderful day!😁😸🕵️♂️🕵️♂️
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I love the suspense! I’m so glad poor Muffin didn’t become mincemeat!!! 😆
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Glad that you are enjoying the story Renee!😁😸😳
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Muffin knew everything! That’s why she stood on your shoulders – the claws, it’s because of the wind. Always listen to the cat’s voice 🙂
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Oh, oh, if I tell Muffin that, her crown will come out again!😺😸😻👑She thinks she is the queen! Thanks for reading!😁😸🕵️♂️🕵️♂️
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She is absolutely right 😀
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Probably true!😁😸👑
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probably ! pffff meow 😀
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I didn’t know cats only have 18 claws.🐈
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Yep, 5 on each front foot and 4 on the hind feet.😃😺🕵️♂️🕵️♀️
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