Mara Louis; Girl of Mystery

by Timothy Paterson

enough to keep the center open for many years to come. Pastor Mike had Big Mike’s journals published, with all proceeds going to the center. He dedicated them to Mara Louis and sent her a set when they were published six months later.

  The Case of the Lost Child

  Three hours after Mara, her family and Tony left Virginia City, they were checking into the motel near the Grand Canyon. When Mr. Louis told the desk clerk his name, he took out his credit card to pay for the rooms. The clerk told him to put away his credit card. “Your rooms have already been paid for” she told him. Then she handed him an envelope full of meal coupons. “These coupons should cover all of your meals while you are here.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Mr. Louis. “Who paid for all of this?”

  “Dr. T.J. Paterson has paid all of your expenses,” said the clerk. About that time, Mara walked up to the front desk and had overheard the end of the conversation. She told her dad that Dr. Paterson was the archaeologist from Northern Arizona University. “He was the person in charge of the Grand Canyon excavation.”

  When the clerk realized who Mara was, she handed her an envelope with her name on it. While Mara’s parents and Tony waited impatiently, Mara read the letter aloud.

  “Dear Mara,

  “When I heard that you and your family were visiting here on vacation, I was very pleased. I wanted to thank you again for finding that lost cave in the canyon. As you may have read, in the newspapers, it is one of the greatest discoveries of the century. We are learning so much about the Anasazi culture that we did not know. Some of the seeds from the cave were planted and have already sprouted. Soon, we will be able to learn about the crops from hundreds of years ago.

  The Grand Canyon National park has had a very large increase in visitors, because of your discovery. This, in turn has done a world of good to our economy in Northern Arizona.

  It is my pleasure to pay your vacation expenses. It is only a small token of what we owe you. Please plan to visit the Grand Canyon museum and see the newest exhibit.

  Sincerely,

  Dr. T.J. Paterson, PhD”

  Mara’s parents and Tony were very impressed that Dr. Paterson was so impressed with Mara’s abilities. Mara became self-conscious when she saw everyone staring at her and she decided to change the subject. “Let’s get checked into our rooms, so that we can go swimming,” she said.

  After they had unpacked, and Tony and Mara had changed into their swimsuits, everyone went down to the pool, where Mara and Tony went swimming and Mara’s parents read the newspaper by the side of the pool.

  A couple of hours later, after changing into some cooler clothing, they went to an authentic Mexican restaurant for lunch and then drove around, looking at the sights. They even did a little shopping.

  That evening, they went out to a drive-in movie, and when they returned to the motel, they turned in for the night, as it was late, and they had to be up early in the morning.

  That night, after she fell asleep, Mara had a very disturbing dream. In her dream, Mara saw a small girl who was four of five years old, trapped in some kind of storeroom. The girl was very frightened and was crying. She was speaking Spanish and was calling out to her mother and father. Mara also saw pictures in her dream. She saw ice cream, bags of chicken feed, a large pile of junk, and several old buildings. Several names flashed through her mind as well, including Carlos Sanchez, Johnnie Yazzie, Gisela, Albuquerque, and Mendoza.

  When Mara woke up, she was crying because she felt so bad for the little girl who was lost or trapped in a storeroom. Mara quickly wrote down everything that she could remember, in her notebook, before she forgot any of the details.

  Just as Mara was putting away her notebook, her mother knocked on her door and told her that it was time to get up and head for the canyon.

  After a quick breakfast, they drove to the Grand Canyon. It was seven o’clock when they arrived. They had been advised to go to the bottom of the canyon early, because it got quite hot by mid afternoon. The four of them were each given a donkey to ride. Tony was a little wary of riding a donkey, but he reluctantly mounted up on one.

  When the park trail guide was ready to take them down the trail, Tony’s donkey decided that he did not want to move. Mara rode her donkey over to Tony and talked softly to the donkey, and patted it on the neck. The donkey perked right up, and began moving down the trail. Tony just stared at Mara with his mouth hanging open. Mara was constantly amazing him.

  Three hours later, they reached the bottom of the canyon. In a short while, they reached the cave that Mara had discovered. It was roped off, but the guide allowed the four of them to enter the cave and walk around, and look at the cave drawings.

  By twelve thirty p.m., they were back where they started, at the top of the canyon. They proceeded to the museum. When they finally got to the newest exhibit, Mara was surprised to find her name in print. There was a plaque at the exhibit that read: “This exhibit would not have been possible without the help of Mara Louis, a very special young lady.”

  The exhibit consisted of artifacts that were found in the newly discovered cave, along with several photographs of the cave and the Indian maiden. Tony pointed out a photo of Mara standing with Dr. Greathouse and Dr. Paterson at the cave. “Look Mara, you’re famous. Well, more famous, that is.”

  After the four of them left the museum, they returned to the motel, where Tony and Mara went swimming again. They were all tired from the trek to the Grand Canyon. After dinner, they watched a movie in the lobby of the motel and then returned to their rooms and went to bed.

  Mara fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She had the same dream as the night before, except that this time, Mara felt a sense of dread, as if the little girl’s life was in serious danger.

  The next morning, Mara awoke feeling sad. She could not tell her parents about the dream, because she did not have many details. She knew that the vision was about Albuquerque, New Mexico and that was where they were going for the last part of their vacation.

  It was late afternoon, when they checked into a very nice hotel in Albuquerque. That evening, while Mara and Tony swam in the hotel pool, they befriended a Hispanic boy who called himself CJ. CJ was fourteen, almost the same age as she was and one year younger than Tony was. The three of them had a great time. CJ told Tony and Mara that his mom worked as a maid in the hotel and he was allowed to swim there sometimes.

  At nine o’clock p.m., CJ’s mom told him that it was time to go home. After CJ pretended not to hear her, she got angry and said “Carlos Jose Sanchez, you get out of that pool this instant”. CJ reluctantly got out of the pool, and told Tony and Mara to meet him at the video arcade on the second floor the next day. Mara and Tony agreed to meet him there at 9 a.m. the next day.

  When Mara and Tony were on their way back to their rooms, a while later, Mara had a nagging feeling that she had knew CJ from somewhere. Suddenly, it came to her. “Carlos Sanchez” Mara shouted. This made Tony jump and he turned to her and asked, “Are you all right Mara? Were you out in the sun too long today? What in the world are you shouting for?”

  Mara explained the dream that she had the past two nights. Tony agreed with Mara that they should meet with CJ the next morning in the arcade to see if they could find more clues.

  The next morning, Mara woke up from the same dream feeling sad again. She knew that she had to help that little girl. At breakfast, when Mara’s mother suggested that the four of them spend the day sightseeing, Mara protested. She said that she and Tony wanted to spend the day swimming and going to the arcade with a new friend that they had met in the hotel. After some pleading, Mara’s parents finally gave in, as long as they did not leave the hotel, and that they checked in with the front desk every few hours. Mrs. Louis told Mara that they would be gone most of the day, and that if she needed anything, she would have her cell phone
with her.

  After Mara’s parents left the hotel, Mara and Tony went up to the arcade on the second floor and started looking for CJ. When he showed up, Mara asked him if he knew anyone named Gisela, or Johnnie Yazzie.

  “I don’t know anyone named Gisela, but I have a best friend named Johnnie Yazzie,” said CJ. “His grandmother is a cook here at the hotel, and we both hang out her a lot, while our parents are working. In fact, here he comes now”

  A boy about their age, walked up to them and CJ introduced him to Mara and Tony. “How did you know about Johnnie?” asked CJ.

  Mara and Tony explained to them about Mara’s dreams and visions as well as her most recent dreams. When Mara mentioned the images that she had seen in her dreams, Johnnie said, “That sounds like those old deserted buildings on the other side of town. They are scheduled to be torn down later this week.” CJ agreed and suggested that the four of them go there and try to find the girl, before she got hurt. When Mara agreed to the plan, Tony reminded her about what her mother had told them about leaving the hotel.

  “We’ll be back long before they return to the hotel,” said Mara. Tony did not like disobeying Mara’s parents, but he knew that Mara was going to go, either with him or without him; therefore, he agreed to go along, so that he