birdbath as she could see it clearly out of her bedroom window. As darkness grew, Kayla told herself that she was not going to sleep until she found out who is leaving her the mysterious messages. She looked and watched and watched and looked. Her eyes grew tired and began to close. Kayla shook her head to awaken her eyes but found that they were closing to no surprise.
Kayla awoke the next morning in her bed; apparently, her mother or father had put her there. She remembered quickly what yesterday’s message had said. She flew out of her room down the stairs saying a quick “hi” to her family as she fled.
Out the back door to the birdbath Kayla ran and looked down near the flowers to find a message in the sand. She opened it quickly and read what it said:
By the rose bush near the garage,
You will find your second surprise.
There you will uncover no mirage,
But instead something that’s just your size!
Kayla ran toward the side of the house where the garage and rose bush were plainly in sight. She searched on the ground here and there, but found nothing anywhere. Kayla reviewed the message once more and looked up at the roses blooming galore. Tied to one rose was a small box covered in newspaper. Kayla removed the ribbon being careful not to prick herself with the thorns of the bush. She removed the old newspaper and opened the box. Inside was a rose encased in a glass snowball. Kayla shook the ball and snow drifted around and around. The rose sparkled as the snow settled to the bottom. There was no signature and no note this time; but Kayla guessed that the next surprise would be here in time.
Kayla saw Sean later that day. She showed him the messages and gifts that she found. Sean acted surprised and denied leaving the gifts when questioned by his friend. He said, “Really, not me. You know I wouldn’t give a girl gifts! Yuck!” Kayla was not completely satisfied, but never knew Sean to give her or any other girl gifts. The thought left her mind and they went to the park to play.
The next morning could not come fast enough for Kayla. Her parents were accustomed to her flight out the back door and the inevitable quick “Hi” or “Bye.” Kayla ran toward the family garage and bush of roses. She carefully looked around the thorny plant, but did not see anything but black ants crawling around the bush. Kayla looked and looked and looked some more when out of the corner of her eye she spied the note she was looking for. Kayla swiftly untied the note and read to herself the following quote:
This is day three
Of gifts to you from me.
I hope that you are enjoying
Solving clues that can be annoying!
Kayla read the word “over” and turned to find a map on the other side of the note. She read the directions and followed them at the same time. Kayla walked to the front porch of the family home and read to walk up the steps near the little gnome. Kayla knew where the ornamental gnome decorated their home. She climbed the stairs and headed to the gnome. Kayla saw nothing nearby and wondered where was her surprise.
In a flash, Kayla remembered that the head of the gnome was like the top of a cookie jar. She twisted the head and off it came. She looked deep inside and found her next surprise. Kayla reached in and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie baked in the shape of a heart.
It was wrapped in plastic and still quite warm—perhaps a clue that her secret admirer lived nearby. Hum?
Sean and Kayla went to the zoo later that day. There were many things to look at and learn as the zoo was always fun. They had a great day, but grew quite tired in the afternoon. Sean and Kayla returned home and both rested before supper.
It was now the morning of the fourth day leaving three mornings left until Valentine’s Day. Like every morning this week, Kayla ran out the door barely able to speak. Out the front door she quickly walked and went to the gnome whose head she did pop. As before and without surprise, Kayla read this note from inside:
We’re halfway to Valentine’s Day
But please don’t you cry;
For still headed your way
Is another big surprise!
Kayla found another map with directions that started at the gazebo in their backyard. She loved the gazebo, which was painted yellow and white. Flowers of every color grew by its side. Birds, squirrels and chipmunks played all around the gazebo.
Kayla arrived at the gazebo as birds and animals moved away. The directions told her to walk around the gazebo five times starting at the open gate. On her fifth time around, Kayla read to face the direction of the shed and walk 10 paces straight ahead. Kayla did as she read and found herself at the back of their shed. She looked around and soon found a little box taped to the head of the plastic fox. Kayla open the box as was her part to find a Cupid doll with an arrow and heart.
Kayla smiled at her new surprise and ran back home. She placed her Cupid gift with her other surprises. Kayla was very excited and could hardly wait for Valentine’s Day in hopes that she will find who left her such gifts divine.
The fifth day of Kayla’s mysterious adventure arrived. She ran once again out the back door to the shed to find another message near the fox’s head. She opened the note and read with surprise:
Today it will not be hard,
To find your surprise.
Just run to the front yard,
Look for something that cries!
Not hard? Something that cries? Kayla scratched her head and said, “What is in the front yard that cries?” She walked steadily toward the front of her house as she rubbed her cheeks like a teeny mouse. Kayla stood still and then turned around. She slowly turned full circle over and over again. “Something that cries?” she thought. Suddenly, Kayla stopped dead in her tracks and faced a weeping willow tree, an undeniable fact.
Kayla raced to the weeping willow and looked all around, but found nothing anywhere even on the ground. She eyed the bark and looked between the roots then all of a sudden jumped right out of her boots. Tied to the first fork up in the tree was a box wrapped in cloth really easy to see. Kayla climbed the tree and grabbed the box.
Kayla opened the box and inside did find a golden wrist bracelet from somebody kind. Kayla placed it on her wrist and it fit just fine. She saw Sean riding his bike and ran to show him what she got. Sean looked surprised and told Kayla it was really “awesome.” Kayla eyed him carefully, but did not utter a word. She had her suspicions and wanted to query, but decided not to question her friend.
The
