Andrew raised an eyebrow. “It was a big cake! You know it’s not good if we have too much cake around here. We might go into a sugar coma.”
“How about the other leftovers?”
“We’ll be having chicken salad for lunch, if that counts.”
“I’m sorry we had to leave. Poor Peggy was nearly killed crossing the street.”
“Intentionally?”
“I can’t imagine so, but I would like to ask the man who helped her out of the street a few questions. His name is Oliver.”
Andrew stared at me for a moment. “Is that all, or are you planning to turn this into a case?”
“Of course not! I must admit that I nearly mowed down scouts yesterday myself. I can’t help but wonder if U.S. 23 had the green light when she crossed. Peggy seems confused about it.”
“Yet she remembered the name of the man who helped her?”
“Yes, he’s a scout leader for the Bonfire Boys.”
“Well, that sounds more like it.” Andrew winked. “I’ll meet you back here for lunch if there isn’t a crime spree before then.”
I finished the last of my coffee and was out the door to Eleanor’s house.
Eleanor opened her door with a huge smile. “What a wonderful day to be alive!” she exclaimed, rubbing suntan lotion on her ample body. “Why don’t we lounge on the deck before we head out for the day?”
“Because you’ll get red as a lobster.”
“But I have sunscreen on.”
“Your fair skin hasn’t changed.” I pivoted to my good hip. “I think we should pay Stuart a visit this morning.”
“Do you know where he’s staying?”
“He always stays at the Days Inn.”
“He should stay at the Tawas Bay Beach Resort. It has a lovely view of the bay.”
“It’s also considerably more expensive during the busy season,” I pointed out. “Where is Wilson?”
“His granddaughter Millicent picked him up not long ago. They’re going fishing today.”
“That sounds like something Andrew might enjoy.” I frowned. “Of course, he might have other plans, and Wilson and Millicent might want to have some alone time.”
“Let me call my husband and see what he has to say.”
Eleanor called her husband and smiled when Wilson obviously answered. “Would you care to have Andrew along for the fishing trip?” She then shook her head. “I see. Well, we’ll have to call Andrew and see what he has to say.”
When Eleanor ended the call, I asked, “What did he say?”
“That he’s accompanying a troop of Bonfire Boys fishing at the Singing Bridge.”
I frowned. “Why doesn’t he take them fishing off the dock?”
“I doubt any of them can see over the sides.”
“I know, but… .”
“Give Andrew a call and ask him to pick up more minnows. You can never have enough minnows.”
I shook my head, but called Andrew. “Does fishing with a bunch of scouts interest you, Andrew?” My brow arched. “Good then, meet Mr. Wilson at the Singing Bridge.”
“Don’t forget to tell him to bring extra minnows,” Eleanor whispered in my ear.
“I almost forgot, could you pick up some minnows?”
I ended the call and grabbed a Diet Coke on our way out the door. “It sounds as if we have the men out of our hair for the day,” I said.
I rapped on the Stuart’s door, but a hulking man answered it. “Why are you pounding on my door at this hour?”
“It’s ten o’clock,” I said. “Is this Stuart’s room?” The man slammed the door in my face as a response.
“I’m over here,” Stuart said as he opened the door across the hall.
“Oh, silly me,” I said as Eleanor and I hurried into the room.
Moraine sat on the bed finishing off a doughnut and I zoomed in on the open box of Tim Hortons.
“Go ahead, Mother,” Stuart said with a laugh.
Eleanor and I stared at each other and then raced to the box. I grabbed a peanut crunch and she carefully selected a glazed sour cream doughnut.
“I thought you had a speaking engagement today, Stuart?” I asked.
“I did, but the scouts decided to go fishing today.”
My face dropped for a moment. “Are all the scouts fishing today?”
“Yes. At Singing Bridge, I was told.”
“That’s not big enough for all the scouts. We should go there and convince them to fish on the dock instead.”
“What’s your sudden interest in where scouts go fishing?”
“My Mr. Wilson is there for one, and it’s not very accommodating for someone in a walker,” Eleanor said.
“I should head over there, too then.”
“Me, too,” Moraine said. “I’d hate to be left out.”
Eleanor and I beat Stuart and his wife to the Singing Bridge. Wilson was setting up the fishing poles from the comfort of a lawn chair.
Stuart and Moraine arrived and stood with us.
“As I was saying,” Wilson said. “The old bridge had battle plates for the road surface at one time.”
“I bet that make a racket,” a scout leader noted.
“The bridge made a high-pitched hum and people began to say it was singing.”
“Thus the Singing Bridge name,” another leader said.
I stayed in the background until the scouts moved to put their lines into the water.
“Hello again, Stuart. As you can see, our plans changed slightly,” one of the leaders said.
“That’s fine, Oliver.” Stuart shook his head at me. “This is my mother Agnes and her friend Eleanor,” Stuart told Oliver.
“We’d like to ask you a few questions if we could, Oliver,” I said.
“Certainly. Well, I’ve been a scout leader for going on five years now.”
“That’s not exactly what we wanted to know,” I began. “Are you the same Oliver who pulled Peggy to safety after she was nearly struck by a car last night?”
“That car just missed her,” he said.
“Oh, so the car didn’t run her down then?”
“It would have if I hadn’t pulled her out of the way. I didn’t know she'd take a fall like that and hurt herself.”
“How do you know how badly she was injured?” Eleanor asked suspiciously.
“I took Peggy to the hospital.”
“Getting back to the incident last night … did you get a good look at the driver?” I asked.
“No, but I could see he was texting while driving. I’m shocked he didn’t kill someone with the way he was swerving.” Oliver cleared his throat. “How do you know Peggy?”
“She’s a friend of my daughter Martha. It’s too bad Peggy’s troop won’t be at camp this year.”
“Why would you think that?”
“She’s too injured to take her troop is all I meant. I’m not certain that my daughter Martha plans to take the scouts in her place. She’s the assistant leader.”
“I wouldn’t count her out just yet.”
“You know, I wouldn’t mind coming along with you on your camping trip,” Stuart said, “providing my mother doesn’t mind.”
“I don’t think she’d mind,” Andrew said from behind me, a minnow container in his hand.
“Count me in, too,” Wilson said. “I bet Frank and Bill would love to come along, too. I’m sure us old timers could help the scouts earn their wilderness badges.”
“I could teach them something, too,” Andrew said.
“Like what? How to be a shark lawyer … just kidding.” I winked.
Oliver scratched his arm. “That sounds great. I think it will be a good experience for the scouts to interact with you senior men.”
“What about us women?” Moraine asked.
“We should get going, Moraine,” I said. “Too much testosterone for me here.” I winked again. “Besides, I bet Martha will be calling me soon. I may need help convincing her to take the scouts camping.�
��
“Consider me there.”
Before I drove off with Eleanor and Moraine, my cell rang. “Mother, can you come to the campground? I really need you right now.” Martha abruptly ended the call before I could ask a question.
“We better hurry to the campground. Martha sounds as if she needs our help.”
Chapter 4
I skidded to a stop at Martha’s camping site and hurried to her side where she was pacing by the picnic table.
I grabbed her shoulders. “What’s wrong Martha?”
Martha flailed her arms until I released her. “What are you doing, Mother?”
“Trying to calm you down. You seemed quite rattled on the phone. What’s wrong?”
Martha went back to pacing. Leotyne rushed over from her camp site, her long black skirt flowing behind her. She thrust a small bottle into Martha’s hands. “Drink this; it will calm you down.”
Because Leotyne resembled a witch — complete with pointy nose — I asked, “Is that a potion?”
Leotyne stomped her pointy-toed shoe. “No, vodka.” She cackled.
“I think I made a mistake. How on earth will I be able to handle ten girls at the camp by myself?” Martha sighed.
“I have no clue why you’d volunteer for something like that, but it’s too late to back out now. The scouts are counting on you!”
“In case you forgot, you were the one who brought it up at the hospital last night.”
“It’s your duty as assistant scout leader.”
“I didn’t sign up to take over like this. You know I can’t handle this, mother.”
“You certainly can, and I think this camping trip is just what you need.”
“Yes. My Mr. Wilson, Jack, Andrew, Stuart and Bill are going with the Bonfire Boys,” Eleanor informed Martha.
Martha’s eyes widened. “Good! That means you and my mother can come with me and help out. It’s all for the scouts, remember? You don’t want to disappoint the girls, do you?”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Moraine said. “I’ll come along too.”
“Count me in,” Leotyne said with a malevolent smile. “I can tell scary camping stories.”
“You can come along, but how about we don’t cause the girls to have nightmares,” Martha replied.
I sat at the picnic table. “Because most of the men are coming along, I should ask my friends to join us.”
“Whatever it takes to get me through this,” Martha exclaimed. “Don’t forget Rosa Lee. She’s good with plants. That knowledge has to count for something.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “You must mean her vast knowledge of—”
“Agnes Barton, you know Rosa Lee has done quite well growing herbs and flowers as well. She also has the best garden in town,” Eleanor scolded.
I frowned. “I’m quite handy myself, I’ll have you know.”
“I know that, Agnes, but you haven’t had the time to devote to your garden that you used to,” Eleanor reminded me.
“You’re right. Time certainly has never been on our side when we’re on one of our little adventures.”
Martha clapped her hands. “So it’s settled then. Our bus is leaving at two.”
“That early?” I asked.
“Please don’t tell me you can’t be there.”
“I only wondered if I had time to get my friends on board for the camping trip.”
“We had better get moving then,” Eleanor said.
Elsie opened her door when we arrived and we found Marjorie, Elsie and Bernice stuffing clothing into military-issued duffle bags.
“Well, I see your husbands have been alerted about the camping trip.” I laughed.
“Yes, and I couldn’t be more tickled that we’ll be going with the girls,” Marjorie exclaimed. “I was a scout leader when my children were young.”
“Good, at least someone will know what they’re doing.”
Eleanor elbowed her way from behind me. “Don’t listen to Agnes now. She’s being a grumpinski.”
“I am not being grumpy about it. I’m just worried about looking after the scouts. What if we misplace one?” I fretted.
“No need to jinx us,” Marjorie said as she sipped her lemonade.
“I hope you don’t plan to pack any extra ingredients for your lemonade, Elsie,” I remarked.
“Lemons?” Elsie asked confused.
“She must mean the sugar.” Marjorie winked.
“I mean no bourbon, scotch, vodka, tequila—”
Eleanor huffed. “Really, Agnes?”
Bernice chuckled without disturbing a single one of the cat hairs clinging to her shirt.
“We’ll be on our best behavior if you girls do the same,” Marjorie grinned.
“I wonder if we’ll need uniforms,” Elsie mused.
I sighed. “I don’t think so. Where would we get a uniform, anyway?”
“Leave it to us,” Elsie began. “What time is the bus leaving?”
“At two.”
“Agnes, you had better call Martha. We don’t even know where we’re supposed to meet the bus,” Eleanor said.
I called Martha for the rendezvous point. “The Walmart parking lot. We have permission to keep our cars parked there until we get back.”
Bernice elbowed me in the ribs. “See you girls at two.”
I slammed on the brakes, stopping the bus as it slowly moved from the Walmart parking lot. I signaled the driver with a wave of my hand until he opened the door. “I’m sorry we’re late.”
“What are you doing, Mother?” Martha asked from where her station wagon was parked. “That isn’t our bus.”
“Nope, this bus is heading to the casino,” the driver said before shutting the door with a slam.
I felt like a complete idiot as I moved the car and parked alongside Martha’s wagon. I took a peek in the back seat and asked, “Where are the scouts?”
“They’re at McDonalds getting ice cream cones.”
“You do know you’re supposed to watch over them don’t you?”
“Of course I do. They’re with your friends.”
I merely nodded as I took in Martha’s ensemble, which was comprised of a dark green button up top with matching shorts. I had to smile at the knee-high socks and brown shoes. “Lovely uniform, Martha.”
Martha shot me a look. “I can’t wait to see you in yours. It was nice of Elsie to find more Bonfire Girls’ uniforms at the last minute.”
I gritted my teeth, but Eleanor threw an arm around my shoulders. “I can’t wait.”
“You won’t have to wait long; there’s Elsie now.”
Elsie marched at the head of the line, with the scouts walking behind and Marjorie and Bernice pulling up the rear. It made me smile to see my friends so happy about this trip. I had to admit it was a flashback to my youth, when I was a scout and went camping with my troop. I only hoped this time it wouldn’t result in threats of being tied to a tree and covered with honey.
“Where’s the bus?” a little girl with pigtails asked.
“Oh, be quiet, Fern. How many times does our leader have to tell you that it’s running late,” Yasmine grumbled.
“That’s not very nice, young lady,” I said.
“How many old people are going on this trip?” Yasmine asked.
Martha forced a smile. I knew she had to be angry from her cross-eyed look. She hadn’t done that since she was a child. “Here’s the thing, Yasmine … either they go or none of us go camping.”
Yasmine folded her small arms across her chest. “You can’t do that unless my mother says it’s okay. She’s financing this trip.”
“Oh? I thought the sales of the granola bars did that,” I said quietly.
“Don’t ruin the trip for everyone,” Martha said as she then pointed to the bus turning in. “Take Eleanor inside and change into your uniforms,” she said as she handed us a bag. “I’ll make sure the bus doesn’t leave you behind.”
Eleanor and I walked over to the McDonalds, ch
anged in the restroom, and hurried back. “The Bonfire Girls must have made more money than I thought. They have a specialty bus!” I pointed out.
“The side of the bus is even painted with the Bonfire Girls logo,” Elsie exclaimed.
I turned to glance at her. “I had no idea you were such an expert, Elsie.”
“You have no idea how many of those granola bars I’ve bought the last few days.”
“I’m now the most regular senior on the block.” Marjorie added with a twinkle in her eye.
Thankfully Marjorie didn’t expand on that. Instead, we handed our duffle bags to the driver, who put them in the compartment below the bus.
“Why are there only five girls?” I asked Martha. “I thought you said ten.”
“I did, but another leader decided to take on extra scouts. Peggy was worried I wouldn’t be able to handle more than five.”
“Did you tell her we were coming along?”
“You can tell her yourself; there she is,” Martha pointed out.
Peggy was struggling to roll her bag to the bus with her arm in a sling. Eleanor and I hurried to help her.
“I thought Martha was going in your place?” I asked.
“Yes, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t coming along. It won’t hurt to have another adult along.”
“I suppose not, but my friends Elsie, Marjorie and Bernice are coming, too.”
“We’re outnumbering the scouts now,” Eleanor said.
“Believe me, there will be plenty of scouts to watch over. Have you met the girls yet?”
“Not officially.”
“Girls, come over and introduce yourselves,” Peggy said.
“They already know I’m Yasmine,” the girl who was quite rude with us said.
“That’s not how Bonfire Girls introduce themselves,” Peggy scolded.
The girls introduced themselves as Fern, Yasmine, Kenna, Nadia and Hailey.
“I’m Agnes, and this is Eleanor, Elsie, Marjorie and Bernice. I believe you already know Martha, your leader.”
“She’s not our leader,” Yasmine replied quickly.
“She is for this trip,” Peggy said. “Let’s get settled on the bus before the other troops arrive.”
We boarded the bus and Yasmine sat next to Peggy, and Martha next to Fern. I assumed that was because they didn’t get along. Yasmine was an instigator so far and I hoped that she’d change her ways by the end of this trip. Perhaps all they really needed was to get to know each other better. I’d make sure it happened somehow.
Camping Caper Page 3
