For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Annelie gave me the names of the two officers involved in this case, and the coroner. However, the coroner died in an accident a week after the death of David. He was driving home and went off the road where there was a steep drop off around a curve. The attending officers said he likely fell asleep and crashed. Quite a coincidence to fall asleep right at that spot. The officers were the same ones that worked on this case. Another coincidence.
But a witness said another car forced the coroner’s car off the road. Two days later she was found dead, it was called a suicide. It was the same two officers in charge of that case as well. That is way too many coincidences for me. After breakfast Sky and I went to talk with the coroner’s wife. She did not live too far away. Her son and his wife were there helping her pack, she was going to move in with them. My police ID got me in to see her and I asked about her husband.
She said he had been very nervous and worried about something ever since doing the autopsy on David. She also said he had called her from work and told her to pack, that they were going on a little vacation right away. She had been wanting to go on a vacation for months and just thought he had finally decided to do it, perhaps to get away and just relax from his job for a while. She believed the woman who said she saw a car force her husband off the road.
Now she is scared, which is why she is going to live with her son. They apparently live quite some distance from here, he did mention the town, but I was not really interested in that anyway. I was just glad she was getting away from here. We left after asking a few more questions. Her son showed us to the door. “I am worried,” he said, “that is why I want to get my mother out of here quickly.” “That is a good idea,” I said, “her life is likely in danger too. I will try to find out who killed your father as well.” He thanked me and we left.
Back at the castle we discovered that Tuva and Mandi had gone into town to shop for groceries. Sigurbjorn and Kristina had looked around a little but wanted to wait until we got back before doing too much. Muffin took the opportunity to nap on a nice big comfy chair. Mandi had given me the old documents that told about the castle and the treasure legend. Everything was in Italian, in which Sigurbjorn is quite fluent, as is Muffin. The treasure legend had already been translated into English and Sigurbjorn said it was accurate.
I had already told her and Sky to memorize what they could, just in case something happened to those documents. There is also an old floor plan of the castle, but nothing that showed any hidden passages. However, one of the documents mentioned that there is one and the entrance is in the part that is being renovated. Work on that stopped when David was killed.
We went in to check that area and see if we could find this passageway. One room is completely empty and is going to be a library. “This seems to match the description given here for where the door should be for that passageway,” I said, “look around for anything that might indicate a door.” We looked but could not find a thing. Although the room was empty, there was a large painting hanging on a wall, in a rather odd spot. It did not move, however, likely why it is still there.
We all started down the hall to another room, all but Muffin who stayed behind. I went back to get her. The girls waited. And waited. Then they came back to see what was keeping us. But we were not there. They called, but no answer. “They must have found the entrance to the passage,” said Sigurbjorn, “but where?” Just then someone came to the front door, so the girls went to answer.
Sigurbjorn answered while the other two kept out of sight with guns ready. “Hi, my name is Alonzo,” he began, “I am Mandi’s brother, is she home?” “No, she went to town for some shopping,” said Sigurbjorn, “would you like to come and wait for her?” “You must be one of the PI people that Mandi talked about,” he said smiling, “but no, I cannot wait, I am on my way home.
To Be Continued.
Β©2022 Steve McLeod.
Curious!π€ He shows up out of the Blue Clear Sky?π€ I don’t know if I believe in all of the coincides! Where are and Muffin? Why isn’t anyone concerned that you went missing just when he shoes up?π€ This is all just too convenient π π€¨
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His timing was quite amazing, too good in fact. Definitely too many coincidences. Well, they were looking for us, but they needed to answer the door and see who was there. Of course the chapter ended right there. Yes, something just isn’t right at the moment. Mandi told us she had not mentioned to her family that we were coming, so how did he know? Hmm. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Indeed! Hmmm…. perhaps her mail is being read?π€
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That is quite possible. I will have to ask her if I ever find out where I am. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Just go to the last place you look and there you’ll be!!πππ€π€
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Good thing I have Muffin with me, at least 2 of us know where we are not. π€πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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But you’re there together π
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Well, hopefully we are. And how did we get here? And what will we find? How will we get out? Maybe we’re tied up in the cellar. Or in the dungeon. π€πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Ooooo…. A Dungeon?π³π² This is getting more interesting all the time!! But who would tie you up and why?π€
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That is a good question. Providing we are tied up. Maybe they just dumped us in “the pit”! Perhaps Alonzo and his friends did this? If he is behind David’s murder, then he would need some friends to help. Plus he would need money to pay the cops and the coroner to make false reports. And Mandi’s family is not supposed to be wealthy. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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These are all genuine possibilities! If you were tied up or just tossed on the pit, why haven’t you activated your emergency tracker? How in the world woukd they ever be able to subdue Muffin??π€π€π€π³π³
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Well, if we are tied up, then we couldn’t activate our trackers. Or if we are knocked out, the same would apply. π―πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Hmmm…. true I suppose? Baldwins scientists need to invent a tracker that activates as soon as a person is incapacitated!π€ That way you wouldn’t need to do it manually..π
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It would also be nice to know if it is actually working and not just hope it is working. Muffin’s collar tracker shows if it is working or not, and it is not. π€πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Maybe it could tell you by making your eye twitch??π
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I don’t like twitching eyes, drives me blinkers. Maybe my leg or something. Maybe an electric shock. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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That would work! Kind of annoying though π
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Yes, that’s true. It would have to be something not noticeable too so enemies would not know about it. π€πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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I know!! It could beep in your ear so only you can hear it!
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Um, let’s skip the trumpet in the ear idea and go back to leg twitches. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Good idea!! You could blame it on your bad back!ππ
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Now there’s a thought! Back twitches! It would drive me crazy, but it would work. ππ―ππ§π΅οΈββοΈ
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And it would look completely normal for you!!π²π²ππ
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But my adversaries wouldn’t know that. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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You coukd tell them if they notice!π
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Forget it, they can guess! Why should I help them? π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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That’s why you’re the pi!!ππππ
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That’s why I keep things to myself! π―π΅οΈββοΈ
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That could explain the unusually high casualty rate among the team members…π€ππ
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We haven’t lost anyone in ages! Tell me tomorrow if you can name any one person! π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Oh sure!! Bring my old faulty memory into this!! How could you??π²π²ππππ
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Easily! ππΉπ΅οΈββοΈ
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All to easy!π
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That’s what I said! ππΉ
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Oh yeah… I remember that now π
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What do you remember?π€
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I forget!ππ¬ππ
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What did you forget? π€π§
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I can’t remember π€π
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Then how do you know you forgot?π
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That’s a good question but I can’t remember the reason why….
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That’s proof you didn’t forget anything.
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Oh that’s good!! At least I didn’t forget something then!!πππππ
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Did you enjoy your extra hour of sleep last night?
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Yes I did!! And I went and had breakfast at Kerbey Lane cafΓ©!!π
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I didn’t get my extra hour, I woke up at 5 which is my normal 6 and couldn’t get back to sleep. Sigh!!!!!!!!!! ππ§
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Perhaps tonight?π€ it can take a day or two to acclimate!ππ
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Too late to get my extra hour, it’s only a one night a year coupon. π€ππ§
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Yep! And you have to give it back in the spring!ππ
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That’s okay, by then it’s last year’s model anyway. ππΉ
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Ok but it can affect the trade in value!ππ
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Good point, likely won’t get my pumpkin points back either. ππΉ
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Very likely!ππ
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Oh well. I must get to bed, early morning in the morning for my early morning shopping in the early morning.
Good night Dusty! Sleep well and I will be back with more amazing chattering on the morrow! πππ΄π΄
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Good Night π΄ π₯± π π
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Good morning Dusty! I’m here! The new chapter is out! ππππ
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Good Morning!π
I’ll brb!
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Okie and dokie!
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Ok I’m back!!ππ
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Me too! Still working on a few comments, but I’m here! π
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That’s ok… take your time!π
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Where should I take it? π€π°οΈ
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I’d get an extra hour of sleep!! But that’s just me!ππ
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Oh, good thought, I will turn my clock back tonight! ππΉπ°οΈ
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Exactly!! Good Plan!ππ
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I thought so! I always have good plans. They don’t always have good outcomes, but they are good plans! ππΉ
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That’s the most important part!!ππ
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That is what I think so too so! π
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Feeble minds and all of that stuff!ππππ
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I don’t get the connection. π
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That’s the feeble minds part of it!!ππ
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Are you trying to tell me something? π€π
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Ah…. yeahππ I have a feeble mind?π€
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You should never admit to that, think positively positive in a positively positive way! As they say in the old country, “a rock can never be a tree.”
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So a feeble mind can’t be strong! I get it!!π³ it actually makes perfect sense!!π²π²π²
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Very good, very good! ππ
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It suddenly all makes sense!!ππ
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As they say in the old country, “time will always smack you on the head, just as blue sky will rain on your picnic!”
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It’s like you’re a Tibetan Munk!!π³π²
You have the perfect saying for every occasion!!π³π²π²π²
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As they say in the old country, “wisdom flows like a river and pine cones fall on your head.”
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Ohhhhh…. I am so freaked out by how you do that!!!πππ
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It’s a gift.
Well, tis time to wind the clock and get to bed.π₯±
Before I kick my toes and hit me head.
Good night Dusty! π΄Sleep well and we shall chatter again tomorrow! πππΊπ°οΈ
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Good Night O wise master π΄ β¨οΈ π
Sleep Well and may the sleep be with you!!πππππ
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I sure hope so, I’m tired tonight! π₯±π΄π₯±π΄
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Good morning Dusty! How’s things? Watching TV? Swimming? ππ€π€
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Watching TV, the election results. Trying to not fall asleep. I had a very restless night last night
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Yes, same here for me last night. Had a nap this afternoon, but it didn’t help much.
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The time change I think has me all goofed up!
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It does affect people, that’s for sure. For me it is just a pain problem these days.
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I understand that. My mind was just too busy ladt night for some reason.
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Yeah, I have had that problem at times too. That really messes up sleep.
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I had better go read today’s chapter before I forget! Brb!
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Okie and dokie!
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Hello again! Good chapter! Lots of info to digestπ
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Yep, lots of info and trying to put it altogether so it makes sense. I figure all of this must connect somehow. π€πΌ
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None of it is happening by accident. Why did Alonzo stop by that day??? He wanted to talk to Mandi for some reason or to know where he coukd find her to kill her!π€π€
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Yes, I don’t think he really wanted to talk with Mandi. Perhaps he wanted to see who was home that day. Or find out where she was, like you said, to kill her. Though it seems his aim was to kill Tuva, perhaps hoping that would make us leave. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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But that was taking a big risk if killing Mandi in the process… but that means that Mandi isn’t a key part of whatever he’s trying to accomplish…π€
So, maybe getting Mandi to see that he doesn’t care what happens to her could help with her opening up and providing more Info?
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Yes, if Alonzo is the beneficiary in her will, then killing Mandi would be a bonus for him. Unfortunately I can’t use that with Mandi just yet since she has never said anything about Alonzo being involved. She just keeps saying he never comes around, yet obviously he does. When the police brought her home after the accident, it seemed like she had been coached to say what she did. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Hmmm… Alonzo has to have some type of leverage on her…. if you can find that it could solve the whole case!π€
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Yep, I would say that is true. Blackmail can make people cooperate when they don’t want to, but they don’t see a way out. But what could he be holding over her? We will need to find out from her. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yep! That’s the button that will get the train rolling!
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I hope so. Right now everything is a bit mixed up and yet I think it all mixes together somehow. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Kinda like them coffee flavored cupcakes π§ π
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I made some more yesterday, except, I had everything nearly done mixing and I remembered I had no baking cups for them and I don’t have the right kind of baking pans to just use them as is. So I had to hastily make a cake instead. But my cake pan is just a little too small, so the cake got rather thick and took a lot longer to bake. But it turned out good in the end. ππΉβ
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Yum π π now I’m gonna have to fight off that craving now!!π
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Sorry about that. But it is soooooo delicious. Just don’t think of how soooooo delicious it is and you’ll be okay. Yummmmmy delicious! πππ
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πππππ
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Did you bite your tongue? π€
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I think I did!π¬
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Speaking of biting my tongue π π¬ I think it’s time for this Dusty pair of boots to go to bed π π₯±π΄π€
Good Night Steve π΄ π₯± π π β¨οΈ
Talk again tomorrow
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Good night Dusty! Hope you sleep better tonight! More chatter tomorrow for sure! πππ₯±π΄π΄π°οΈ
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Okie Dokie!π
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Good morning Dusty! πββDid you sleep better last night? Busy day? π€π
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Not really… and nope!
How about you?
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Slept good last night, but I’m still tired tonight. It usually takes me more than one night to catch up. ππ₯±Plus I spent all afternoon outside working on the rest of my bird feeder set up. Got it done though, but wanted to do a couple other things as well, just wasn’t enough energy for that too. π―But, I’m ready for the snow tomorrow, as far as feeders are concerned. π¬π
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That’s good!! Did it rain today while you were working?
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No, it rained last night, but nothing today except some flurries. Snow coming tomorrow, maybe a lot.
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I’ve seen the forecast… it’s a whopper that’s for sure!! βοΈ
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Yep, the first big one of the season. This will make it look like, like, like…winter! π―π¬π―π¬
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π³π²π² you said it!!π²π²
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Of course it was me that said it, you were expecting it was the mice? π―π―π―
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Maybe??ππ
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I think Muffin was after a mouse last night. I got up once and she was lying in a spot just looking at or for something! πΌπ―
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It’s that time of year they like to come in from the cold.π₯Άπ₯Ά
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Yep, and I have heard it running around in the walls lately, so just a matter of time before it comes inside.
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Yep!! They need to eat too!!πππ
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Eat or be eaten, that is the question. Got that from a play back in high school. How’s that for memory? πππ
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Did they have schools way back then??π€π€π€
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Yep, it was a little one room cave schoolhouse. πππ
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Oooooo….. with hammers and chisels and everything??π€π€
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What? You guys had chisels? Wow! We used dirt tablets and could magically wipe it away when we were done! π
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Well my school was in town… so yeah we had all the cool stuff!!ππ
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Wow, you lived in town too! Cooool. We had to walk ages to get to school. ππ
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No I lived in the country and had to ride a bus every morning and afternoon.. but that’s nothin compared to a 5 mile walk uphill both ways like you!!π€π€
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Now that’s the truth, and sometimes the snow was up to our necks. Don’t get deep snow like that anymore. π―π¬
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I know!! It never snows like that anymore!!
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So true, so true. Muffin has her nose buried, cold weather coming. π₯Ά
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With a cats wet nose she could get frost bite on nose if she doesn’t bury it!!π₯Ά
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That is true. I thought you were getting a doc down there? And coming back in the cold of winter yet! π₯Άπ―π―
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Well… I need to stay with the one up there for now… hopefully it will all go well.
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I’m sure it will, you seem to have a decent doctor there.
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It’s all about continuity!
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Oh my, I hope it’s not serious. π¬
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One can never say for sure!
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Oh before I forget. I most likely won’t be on line tomorrow night. I’m going to a restaurant for supper. I’m told that they have Frank Sinatra impersonators that sing while you’re eating.
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Wow, AI’s that sing now! Probably have to give them tips or something. π€ππΉ
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I don’t know… I guess I’ll find out when I get there!!ππ
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Give em a quarter, that was big money back then. ππΉ
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Good point!! Maybe I’ll give him a whole dollar??π²π²
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He would probably think you were a millionaire or something!
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Maybe back then I could have been…. long ways from that these days!!
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Well, they say a million doesn’t go far these days anyway, just not enough to live on. On the news they were talking to a young woman, 29, who was living paycheck to paycheck. She was only making $30,000 a month.
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I feel sorry for her!πππ
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Yep, at the start I had to read it since I thought she was like a lot of younger people having a tough time. I could live quite nicely on her income. ππ
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Yeah… me too…
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Well, I must say it’s time to say what I think it’s time to say at this time.π₯±
Good night Dusty! Sleep well and will chatter again, um, Friday! ππ΄π΄π
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Yep! Good Night π΄ π₯± π π β¨οΈ
Sleep Well….
TTYAST!
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I knew there was trouble ! …Now Muffin and you have disappeared ! Perhaps that picture is really the β key β to the secret passage ! Hmmm…thankful that Muffin is there with you ! Besides Muffin was there not another person or two to go with you ? Watch out ! π€π΅οΈββοΈπΌπ―π³βοΈ
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Yes, we were all together, but Muffin stayed behind when we left that room, so I went back to get her. The girls were not far away in the hall. Whatever happened, it happened fast. Yes, I think that picture had something to do with it. Perhaps this is good, or not. But the fact that Alonzo arrived right then is rather curious. The next chapter should be interesting. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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So many coincidences and so many suspicions! I have to say, that you do disappear frequently in these stories and it is not a good thing. Maybe you found who is working with Alonzo.
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Well, sometimes those disappearances have been a good thing. We’ll see what this one brings. At least I have Muffin with me this time. π€π©πΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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