The Mushroom Mystery

by Agnes Lester Brown

  When he returned to his seat, he smiled broadly. “It’s a yes,” he said. “But only if there’s accommodations in town for a few hundred delegates.”

  Lori had difficulty concealing her joy. She had just bought Fennelmoore some time. She covered her mouth to hide her smile while trying to look serious and business-like. She looked around and saw Nick standing behind the reception counter.

  “Nick, come over here, please!”

  Nick walked up to them, smiled courteously at Matt, and shook his hand as he introduced himself. No matter how hard she tried, Lori could no longer keep her excitement inside, and she bubbled over. “Nick, you have to set aside all your available rooms, then find some additional accommodations too.” She pointed at Matt. ”There’s a huge mushroom event coming to town!

  Nick burst out laughing. “We’re serious!” Lori insisted and stood up. “Now, can we go somewhere to discuss this?”

  For the next few hours, the three of them sat in Nick’s office planning the Mushroom Convention. At first Nick seemed skeptical, but as Matt explained the history of the convention, it became clear that this was a highly respected and well-known event in academic circles.

  “Lori, when you first said ‘mushroom event,’ I had this vision of lots of people eating mushrooms,” Nick said, sounding sheepish. He looked at Matt. “I now see this is a serious business. We are going to pull out all the stops to make it a success.”

  Matt confirmed that his professor would be arriving in a few days’ time to look at the facilities and oversee some of the arrangements.

  “What’s his name? Will we call him ‘Professor Mushroom’?” Lori teased Matt.

  Matt laughed. “His name is Professor Justus Sproutley, and yes, he’s the world’s authority on mushrooms. He’s a likeable, down to earth guy without any airs.”

  “Now where have I heard that name before?” Nick said, frowning. “It seems to ring a bell.” He held up his hands. “Not that I know anything about mushrooms, apart from when my wife puts then in a stew.”

  It was already late evening when Matt, Nick, and Lori finished their first planning session for the convention. One wall in Nick’s office was filled with diagrams, to-do lists, and spreadsheets detailing all the arrangements to be attended to. Nick agreed to take charge of all the logistical arrangements, Lori offered Jasmine’s help with communications and Hazel’s help with the catering. Rosie would be the technical assistant making sure the computers needed for registration and word processing ran smoothly.

  Matt sketched out a convention program that included field visits to spots where mushrooms were likely to be found. Lori called Mayor Riley and made sure the town council was on board. She stood back, observing the wall, and nodded to herself. It all looked very promising. Matt walked with Lori to the front door of the Inn.

  “It’s really dark out here,” Matt said as they stood on the sidewalk. “Shall I walk home with you?”

  Lori look at the tall, handsome man awaiting her answer. This is business. Nothing more. She folded her arms. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, I’m sure.” They said goodbye, and Lori walked home alone, kicking herself for rebuffing him. In all honesty she would have liked his company.

  Lori was excited to tell the family about the latest developments. At least they had a fighting chance to prove to the mayor there were better options for Fennelmoore’s salvation than than turning it into a stupid theme town.

  Everyone was gathered in the kitchen when Lori entered. “Good news!” she exclaimed as she sat down and took the steaming mug of chamomile tea Aunt Hazel offered her. “It’s a long story, so stay with me here. The mayor has agreed to hold back on his ghost town plan for two weeks.” Everyone sighed with relief. Their secret would be safe, at least for the time being.

  “So what’s the alternative?” Aunt Hazel, ever the mother, was thinking ahead.

  “Hopefully something that requires working with computers, so I can do something useful,” Rosie said.

  “Let the child finish!” Fae said.

  “I know this is weird, but in a nutshell, a mushroom convention will be held here in a weeks’ time. A few hundred people will be coming here from all over the country.” Lori looked around the table, gauging her family’s reaction. They didn’t seem too perturbed, so she continued. “And I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve offered the family’s help with the organizing.”

  Everyone started babbling with excitement.

  “Ooh, mushrooms.” Fae smiled broadly. “Can I speak at the conference? I can teach them a thing or two about mushrooms!“

  ”They’ll need some PR, for sure, and that’s right up my alley!“ Jasmine said. ” Rosie and I will set up a website and a Facebook page.“

  ”Absolutely!“ Rosie gushed and opened her laptop.

  ”I’ll have to work out a menu,“ Hazel said with a mock sigh. “How many vegetarians will be attending?”

  Lori held up her hands. “Remember, this is an academic conference, not a witches’ gathering. Gran, it’s best you stay at home and hold the fort.” She looked at the herb sachet Fae wore on a horsehair string around her neck and her oversized purple dreamcatcher earrings. “We all know you’re the best there is when it comes to mushroom potions, but this is not the place for it.”

  Fae fumed. “So I’m being pushed aside again. Just the old hag in the family?”

  Lori gently touched her Granny’s shoulder and Rosie took her hand. “You know that’s not so, Gran,” Lori said. “If ever there was a witch convention in town, you’d be the president. But the town’s reputation and future are at stake, and we have to play the game.” She gave Gran’s shoulder a little squeeze.

  ’How did you come up with this bright idea?“ Hazel asked, leaning forward.

  Lori felt herself starting to blush. ”Well, when I was out walking this morning…“

  ”Yes, yes, you met this hunky guy,” Jasmine prodded her on.

  “His name is Matthew, or Matt…”

  “Ooh! They’re already on a first-name basis!” Rosie teased.

  “Cut it out!” Lori’s face was now a deep shade of red. “Anyway, he’s a doctoral student in botany and mentioned that his professor was looking for a place to host a mushroom convention, so I, or Fennelmoore, rather, volunteered.” Lori looked at her granny, expecting a snarky comment. Fae however was quiet, listening intently to the conversation. Lori continued. “An advance delegation, including Matt’s professor, will arrive tomorrow to help with the planning. I thought it would be good if we invited him and Matt for coffee, since we’ll be working closely with them.”

  “I hope no one realizes we’re witches,” Hazel said. “No one should do any witchy stuff over there, okay?”

  Rosie waved her hand dismissively. “We’re hardly witches. Really, when did any of us cast a spell or use a potion on anyone?”

  Jasmine studied Rosie’s newly dyed blue hair and dark makeup. “True. I like your goth style, and that red heart tattoo on your back is real cool, but all that’s hardly witchy.”

  “She has a tattoo?” Hazel sat open mouthed in surprise. “And when did that happen, young lady?”

  “Everyone has tattoos, Mom!” Rosie protested. “It’s time you get one too, you’ll look so cool!”

  “Don’t worry, Aunt Hazel,” Lori said. “I know what you mean. There are people in town who’d be up in arms if they knew there were witches living among them. But no one will suspect a thing as long as we keep a close watch on Granny.” She gave Fae a stern look, and Rosie and Jasmine giggled. ”We all know Gran’s wicked sense of humor when she’s had a glass or two of wine. Remember what you did at the mayor’s fancy dress party, Gran? You made his wife’s costume see-through just because you were bored!“

  Fae took great pleasure when anyone mentioned the incident and crowed with laughter. ”Clever of me to wear a witch’s mask!“

  ”That could have gone terribly awry,” Hazel cautioned. We don’t need any mishaps with th
is project. There’s a lot at stake here.”

  It was past twelve when everyone went to bed. Lori lay awake for another hour, wondering whether she should tell Matt she was a witch. She thought about their meeting, how the sun lit up his copper hair and his long, slim fingers when he took of his gloves. She wondered what his hands felt like. Were they rough from working with soil, or smooth like an academic’s, used to working with books. “That’s not important, it’s business,” she reminded herself as she drifted off.

  Chapter Five

  As Lori opened her eyes after a fitful night’s sleep, Matt was already sitting at the desk in his room at the Misty Hills Inn, composing the final email he needed to send. Yesterday felt like a dream to him. His morning expedition into the fields outside Fennelmoore yielded more than a few specimens of rare plants he’d been searching for. And then later in the day, out of the blue, all the worries he’d had about organizing the mushroom convention were lifted from his shoulders in the space of a few hours.

  He closed his laptop, drew the curtains open, and looked out the window at the street below where he’d agreed to meet Lori in two hours’ time. She’s an intriguing girl. When they’d met out in the field, he was hoping to get acquainted so she could show him around and introduce him to more areas in the forest where he could find the species he was looking for. She seemed to have a liking for nature, and plants. But she’d almost literally run away from him, only to call him out of the blue a few hours later about the convention. What strange serendipity.

  When he exited the front door of the Misty Hills Inn Lori was already waiting for him. She looked radiant with her subtle red lipstick and tweed jacket to guard against the chilly morning air. Her wavy hair matched the color of her dark brown eyes. As he approached, she stuck out her hand. Matt smiled, remembering how she’d refused his hand the day before, and shook. “Good morning, Lori. Ready to go meet my professor?”

  Lori nodded. “My car’s right here,” she said, pointing to the family’s old blue station wagon parked a few yards away.

  It was an hour’s drive to the next town’s bus station. Tiny Fennelmoore had no public transport, and it took them an hour to reach the bus station at Bayleaf, a neighboring town.

  During the journey, Matt struggled to make small talk with Lori, who was evasive whenever he tried to initiate a conversation. Yesterday’s meeting had been all business, and it was easy to talk to her then. He sensed she was a private person who didn’t share much about herself with people she’d only just met. Eventually he gave up and they drove on in silence.

  Lori tried to decide whether she should spare Matt the shock of finding out at a more inopportune moment that the Whitewoods weren’t ordinary women. He’ll be meeting the family soon, visiting Whitewood Manor, or accidentally see what they’re up to at the Potion Portal. Or someone may just drop something in conversation.

  Finally, as she finished parking the car in front of the bus station, she worked up the courage to speak.

  “Since we’re going to be working together for the next few weeks, there’s something you should know about me.”

  Matt looked at her in surprise. “Sure, Lori.”

  Lori stared hard at the car parked in front of her, bit her lip, and hesitated before she spoke. “I’m… I’m… allergic to chocolate.” Lori didn’t know where that came from, and she cringed back in her seat. What was she saying? She absolutely loved chocolate! Matt looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue. Lori gave a small shrug. “That’s all,” she said and started getting out of the car, ignoring Matt’s confused expression. They sat down next to each other on a gray plastic bench to wait for the professor’s bus. For a minute or two, another awkward silence hovered between them, and then Lori changed the subject. “So tell me a bit more about yourself. Where did you grow up? Somewhere with lots of mushrooms, I imagine?” she said.

  Matt sensed her uneasiness and played along. “I’m from a dead ordinary Midwestern family. Because I was an only child, I lived in a dream land of fairies and magical creatures and created my own fantasy worlds when I was a kid. That’s probably why I still love reading science fiction.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be a scientist, and scientists are skeptical about that hokey?” Lori asked.

  Matt corrected her. “Scientists are often interested in both. The beauty of nature is that it’s both science and mystery.“

  Lori listened, but remained unconvinced. Her past experience told her differently.

  Matt continued. “Maybe that’s why I studied natural sciences and became a botanist. I only became interested in mushrooms after I met Professor Sproutly a year ago.”

  He looked past Lori out the window. “Oh, there he is, getting off the bus as we speak.” As they walked outside Lori wished they could sit and talk some more. She was now seeing a different side of Matt the convention planner, and she was intrigued by this thoughtful, intelligent character.

  Professor Justus Sproutley looked exactly as Lori had imagined. He had a gray, carefully trimmed beard, wore pastel brown colors, a bowtie, and a fedora he removed as he got ready to greet them. In his other hand he carried a well-worn leather satchel. Lori waited patiently while Matt said hello to the man who was clearly his mentor, judging by his respectful behavior. “Professor, this is Lori Whitewood, who kindly arranged for our convention to be held in Fennelmoore.”

  “Delighted to meet you, Lori.” He cocked his head to one side. “What is your last name again?”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir. My last name is Whitewood. Is this your first time in Fennelmoore?”

  “Whitewood. Interesting name.” He studied Lori for a moment. “Nope, never been here before, but looking forward to exploring your town. And by the way, please call me Justus. None of this professor business.” Lori smiled nervously. “I’ll try, Pr… I mean, Justus.”

  “Lori’s invited us to her home for coffee,” Matt said, looking at his watch. “Then we have a meeting with the mayor.“

  Justus seemed uneasy about Matt’s suggestion. ”Perhaps we should go to the hotel and…“ He looked at Lori. ”Is your family at home?“

  ”Just my Granny. My cousins are at work and Aunt Hazel is at our shop,“ Lori said as they walked to the car. Why would that matter?

  ”Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude,“ Justus said, all of a sudden looking like he was in a hurry. ”I’m sure we can socialize at your house when the convention is over and done with.“

  ”It’s really no trouble,“ Lori protested. ”We can just have a quick cup of coffee and then take you to the Inn." Justus nodded reluctantly, and they got into Lori’s car and drove off.

  “Make yourselves at home while I make coffee,” Lori said as she led her two visitors into the Whitewood Manor lounge. The men stood around looking at the photographs and books in the large wooden book case that took up an entire wall. “Someone is clearly an Agatha Christie fan,” Matt said. “There must be more than fifty of her detective novels here.“ He drew one copy from the shelf and paged through it while Lori excused herself to make coffee. Moments later, a loud tapping noise came from upstairs. Matt fumbled as he hastily put the book back onto the shelf, but a photo slipped from its pages. As the photo fluttered to the floor a voice spoke behind him.

  ”It’s fine, you can give that to me, young man.“

  Matt picked up the photo, glanced at it, and turned to see an older woman.standing in the doorway holding out her hand. He gave it to her, and she put it in her dress pocket without looking at it.

  Next to him, Justus lifted his fedora and held out his hand to Fae. ”Pleased to meet you ma’am. “My name is Justus Sproutley, and this is my student, Matthew Heath.”

  Fae ignored his hand and turned and smiled at Matt. “Well, well, I meet the mushroom expert at last. I’m Fae, Lori’s granny. Welcome Matt, please sit down. No, not than one,” she said to Justus as he was about to sit down too and waved him aside. “That rocking chair’s mine.“ He mumbled an apo
logy and retreated to the velvet-covered couch opposite Fae’s rocking chair.

  Lori brought the coffee in. “No doubt you two have met Granny Fae,” Lori said. After pouring their drinks, she started chatting to the two gentlemen about the convention. Justus was clearly delighted that the event was being held in Fennelmoore, and he spoke enthusiastically about it, peppering Lori with questions about the town and its people. Lori answered patiently but watched Fae out of the corner of her eye as her grandmother sulked in her rocking chair with her arms folded across her chest. It wasn’t like Fae to be a wallflower in conversations. She either joined in if she found the discussion interesting or left altogether if she found the company boring.

  From the ongoing conversations it was clear to Lori where Matt got his enthusiasm for mushrooms from. Professor Sproutley was an inspiring hive of information and spoke both eloquently and with authority, and it rubbed off well on Matt. Spellbound, Lori listening while the two of them talked about places they’d travelled in search of scarce types of fungi. ”I hope you’ll take us on a tour of the forests and point out where mushrooms grow,“ Justus said and then sipped his coffee. ”I’ve heard that Fennelmoore is one of the most unique places…“

  Fae’s sharp, snide voice cut him off mid-sentence. ”And how long, Justus Sproutley, are you going to sit there pretending you don’t know me?“

  Stunned, Lori stared at her grandmother regarding Justus with snake eyes. ”Gran, do the two of you know each other?“

  ”Like I could ever forget this lying two-timer,“ snarled Fae and pointed a shaking finger at Justus. She glanced at Lori. ”I bet he told you he’s never set foot in Fennelmoore. Well I should know better!“ Her voice started to quiver and tears started streaming down her cheeks. “Get out! Get out before I…” The next moment Fae raised her walking stick and swung it at Justus, whacking him hard on his arm and sending his coffee cup flying. Matt and Lori sat paralyzed, too stunned to react.