and forgot to change it.”
Exactly what did Marie catch? To cast a little light on the subject, tap here for the answer.
The Neighbor’s
Garden
The girls volunteer for community service. Will they
discover a hidden truth about a neighbor?
“I don’t like the look of this place,” said Sage Matthews.
Noelle shrugged. “It’s just a little messy,” she said.
“That’s why we’re here,” said Hailey Ferris. “To help Mrs. Duncan
clean up her yard.”
“Messy?” said Sage. “Look at that garden. Who knows what’s
hiding under all those weeds.”
“We’re going to find out,” said Marie.
Sage turned to Hailey. “When your mom asked us to help out
your elderly neighbor, I was willing, but this place is really creepy.”
The girls had arrived at Hailey’s this Saturday morning dressed
in work clothes and carrying hoes and rakes.
“Mom says Mrs. Duncan just can’t get around like she used to,”
said Hailey. “She tinkers in her yard quite a bit, but she doesn’t have
the energy to control her weeds. She’ll really appreciate everyone’s
help.”
“Well, hello, girls!” said Mrs. Duncan when she met them at her
door. “Thank you so much for helping me. These old bones just don’t
move as well as I’d like them to.”
“We’re happy to help, Mrs. Duncan,” said Hailey. “Where would
you like us to start?”
“Oh, I don’t know. There’s so much to do. Anyplace you want to
work is fine with me. I doubt you can get everything done that needs to
be done, but anything you do will be a big help. I’m just happy to have
you here.”
“Why don’t we each just choose a section of the yard and work on
it?” said Marie. “I’ll take the lawn. Mrs. Duncan, if you’ll show me your
mower, I’ll make this lawn look beautiful.”
“And I can trim your bushes,” said Noelle.
“And I’ll start weeding in your garden,” said Hailey. “Sage, how
about helping me?”
Mrs. Duncan was happy with the arrangement, and the girls set
off to work.
“They all look like weeds to me,” Sage confessed when she saw the
garden.
“I’ll show you which is which,” said Hailey. “See these, with the
long leaves that look like grass? Pull those out. And the ones with
the thorns—pull those out, too. That’s why we brought these gloves.”
Hailey and Sage began weeding. Soon they heard the sound of
clippers snapping at branches and the roar of the lawn mower.
And then a scream pierced the air.
Noelle dropped the clippers. Marie turned off the mower. They
both ran to the garden.
There stood Sage, with a look of horror. She pointed at a mound of
dirt. At the head of the mound was a stake. On a plaque on the stake
was written “Angelica.”
Then she pointed at another mound, another plaque, and the name
“Rosemary.”
Finally, the girls understood the scream. They all turned to look
at a plaque at the head of a partially filled hole in the ground. On it was
the name “Sage.”
“What does this mean?” asked Noelle. “What do you know about
Mrs. Duncan, Hailey?”
“I don’t know,” said Hailey. “She always seemed like a nice lady.”
“I’m sure she is a nice lady,” said Marie. “This is not what you think
it is.”
What did Marie know? To dig up the truth, tap here.
The Original
Boston Brooke
No one expected to hear such an amazing story
from the new girl. But is it the truth or a big fat lie?
It was Saturday morning, and the first thing the people on Ivy
Street noticed when they went outside was the moving van parked at
the old Benson house.
Soon people began to gather. Some came to help carry in couches,
tables, beds, an organ. Some came just to meet their new neighbors.
But the kids arrived to see if there was anyone new their own age.
For some of the girls, there was.
“My
