For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Earl said he had never been out to their place but Harvey had talked about it so much when they first bought the place that he could picture it in his mind quite clearly. But he gave good directions to find the house, just follow the road out of town all the way down the valley. A great big white house with red trim, right by the river. I thanked Earl and gave him some coffee money. Should be easy enough to find the house, I said to Karin and the cats, so off we went. One strange thing however, was that Earl called them Harvey and Alice, but their names are Harold and Shirley. Maybe he just forgot and made up some names, said Karin. I don’t think so, Earl didn’t seem like the kind of man that would forget names easily. It was a nice scenic drive which Karin and I enjoyed. The cats were sleeping on the back seat the whole trip.
We should be getting close now and as we came around a curve we could see a white house in the distance. That must be it, said Karin. Good thing we saw it back there as trees blocked the view of the house from the road. We pulled into the driveway which was fairly long and stopped beside the house. It didn’t look like anyone had lived here in a long time. We went up to the front door and knocked but there was no answer. Meow, meow!=Back door open! The cats had gone around back to check things out. We followed Muffin back to where Mr. Cat was sitting watching the door in case someone came out. The door was wide open. I don’t like the looks of that, I said as I pulled out my gun. The cats were ready with their slingshots too.
We all went inside cautiously and I called out, asking if anyone was home. No answer. It was a rather large, old house and although it needed work on the outside, the inside was actually very nice. Someone must be living here, said Karin, but something seems strange about this place. I agreed. Sometimes you just get a “feeling” about a place. After checking around thoroughly we went back outside and started looking around the back yard area. There was a small garden shed, full of gardening tools. Meow, meow!=We find something important! We followed Muffin around behind the shed where there was…a grave! Just a simple white cross marked the grave with the name of Alice Cooper and when she died, 8 months ago. This is interesting, I said, why did the daughter say her mom’s name was Shirley? Yes, it looks like Earl was right after all, replied Karin. It did indeed.
Unless Harold/Harvey wanted to keep up their hidden identity for some reason. But why would they change their names unless they were hiding from someone, or hiding something. There was no sign of another grave anywhere around the property. I unlocked the garage door and inside was Harold’s truck, the only vehicle they had. Earl was right about the color and make of the truck too. It was something from the 1970’s. Hmm, that’s odd. What’s odd?, asked Karin. Well, a vehicle that old would likely need some work done on it now and then, but the guy at the service station had never seen Harold and his wife, though I think for now I will call him Harvey like Earl does. There can’t be more than a couple hundred people in that town and it’s also the only place to get gas. How come that guy never saw Harold before? Maybe he never looks after the gas pumps, said Karin. He was the only man there when we stopped to ask, I reminded her.
He must have met Harvey many times in the years they lived here. Then why would he say that he didn’t know them?, asked Karin. No idea, it’s just one more part of the mystery. We went back down to the river but there was no sign that anyone but us had been down there today. So we went back to the house. The phone wasn’t working, neither was the electricity. Hmm, that could mean he had them cut off deliberately, or he didn’t pay his bills, I said. Everything else seemed to indicate that someone is still living here. There was plenty of food. The fridge is still working, said Karin rather puzzled. That’s because it’s a propane fridge and stove, I told her. Someone had made breakfast this morning so Harvey couldn’t be far away, I continued, we may as well wait around for him. Meow, meow.=Not like it here, getting nervous. Meow.=Something not right, danger close by.
To be continued.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
Danger close by. That sounds suspicious I mean why is the house empty with plenty of food!!!!
YES! I am first!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I agree, that food isn’t there for the mice!
Good for you! I think you’re the last one playing now.😁🥇
LikeLike
Last one🤔🤔 What does that mean!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It means all your competitors have gone or given up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep! Lydia has gone and Eshal has given up😃😃 Now no one can stop me!!!!!! Mwahahahah😈😈😈😈
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better be careful, someone else might be sneaking up on you!🤪
LikeLike
That’s true at least I found out it was Simon😀😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, he’s a good competitor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Best😉😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh gosh, Steve—I just now sent you that same picture again🙀🤪🙄 disregard. And keep going!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops! Not a problem! Yes indeed, just getting started! Lots to come!😁👱♀️😼😼🕵️♂️🕵️♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Listen to the cats!! Run!!🏃♂️🏃♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
What?😲 Run from a little unseen danger?🙄 Not us! We’re not scared!😠 Meow, meow!=Speak for yourself, where keys to car?🙀
LikeLike
Thats right Muffin! Bite his big toe!! He needs some reminding of who’s in charge🙄🤨😉 hehehe
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hold the cat food and treats.😀🤪
LikeLike
Keep telling yourself that!🤠🤭
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do, I do!😛
LikeLike
How are your feet healing?😹🤕🦶🦶🤭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better than my head!😂😹🙄
LikeLike
Were you dancing in wet socks again?😉😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not exactly wet.
LikeLike
What exactly were they?
LikeLiked by 1 person
One was spread with margarine, one was standing in Muffin’s dinner.😬 It’s in Muffin’s post.🙄😹
LikeLike
Ahhh…. I’ve been busy with work. I’m sorry I haven’t read it yet. Figures! You and your crazy dances! 🕺😁😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What else to do?🙄🙄
LikeLike
So… tell me about the butter and how that got on your foot?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was out of bread.
LikeLike
Yep, when you have that kind of “feeling” seeing a house, you know something is not quite right 🤔 🕵️♂️ 🕵️♀️😼
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that’s true, and there’s just something really weird about this place.😳👱♀️🙀🙀🕵️♂️🕵️♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weird ! I wonder whether Muffin and Mr. Cat are right…there will be trouble ahead ! Glad you are all alert and ready for confrontation ! ☕️☕️🕵️♂️😮😮👩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we have to be ready for anything. But are we? Guess we will find out soon!😳👱♀️😼😼🕵️♂️🕵️♀️
LikeLike
Nothing like a good mystery, with danger thrown into it also. Keep alert for trouble, Steve, Karin, Muffin and Mr. Cat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, but I still think it should be a rather simple case this time. Hopefully.😳🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
🧐😳Danger close by, time for some action Muffin, and Steve ✨show them what you got.💪. Harold /Harvey must have some reason to hide their real identity and the guy you have met, why did he tell that he didn’t know them 🤔 very strange 🧐 now about we taste that plenty of foods on the house and wait for someone to return 😁 so who lives in the house 🤔 why did you left us with so many questions 😳😸😉 I’ll find out in it next chapter 😎have fun 🥳 amazing writing Steve 🤩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, lots of questions, but no answers,🤔 maybe we will have some answers next time or maybe just more questions.🙄 Maybe we should make some coffee?😄☕ There’s lots of coffee here.🤪 Good idea you had there, time for coffee break!😜☕☕ Thanks Simon, now time for bed and tomorrow is the next chapter!😳👱♀️😼😼🕵️♂️🕵️♀️
LikeLike
😸Yup a good time for a good coffee 🥳. I’m looking for some answers in it next part 😎😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking for answers too, but will we get them?🤔Depends on that Steve guy.😂😹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, did you find him in the mirror 😜🤔 Be careful with him 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I looked at that mirror this morning and scared myself so much I almost fell down!😂🤣🙄
LikeLike
Now I got it, so it’s him that actually makes you trip 😜🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep.😳😲🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Point! You should record them… never know.. could go viral!😁😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then everyone would know what’s going on.🤔😬
LikeLike
Good Idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is?
LikeLike
I thought so! Can’t wait to see you dance!😁😬😉🤭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too.
LikeLike
Might want tk warn muffin first so she can get someplace safe way up high.😬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, if I’m not safe then no one is safe!
LikeLike
I agree! 🤭😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I win again!!!! I think. Anyway, time to head off to that nice sleepy place again. Good night Dusty!
LikeLike
Good Night Steve!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You must learn to listen to the cats… the get info from the unknown through their whiskers 😸
And they probably ignored the food because they were in a rush after breakfast 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
But they can’t always be right. I need to be right sometimes too. Just never seems to work that way!🙄😂😹😹
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 then make it work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why didn’t I think of that?🤔😜😹
LikeLiked by 1 person