Kate

by Janice Thompson

  “Well, in the nursery rhyme, a spider frightened Miss Muffett away,” Sydney reminded her. “Not the curds and whey. And certainly not a…well, a you-know-what.”

  Mr. Hampton turned and gave her a warning look. He put a finger over his lips, then whispered, “Don’t even use the r-a-t word. And please don’t talk about spiders either. I’m having enough trouble keeping my customers without worrying them even more!” He nodded in the direction of the man and woman, who stood on the other side of the room, looking at the big machine that held the curds and whey.

  Kate apologized, then added, “I’m sure your customers won’t be gone for long. You have the best cheese in the state, Mr. Hampton. My mom has bought Mad River Valley Cheddar for as long as I can remember.” Kate raised her voice to make sure the man and woman heard her. Sure enough, the woman looked her way. “I love, love, love cheese!” She licked her lips. “Without Mad River cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches wouldn’t be the same!”

  “Cheeseburgers wouldn’t be as cheesy!” Mr. Hampton threw in.

  “String cheese wouldn’t be as…stringy,” Sydney added, then giggled.

  The woman in the white coat moved their way and nodded as she said, “Cream cheese wouldn’t be as creamy.”

  Kate turned to the man, who crossed his arms at his chest and remained quiet. Hmm. So, he didn’t want to play along.

  Kate decided to change the subject. “This cheese making stuff looks like fun. I wish I could make cheese at home,” she said with a sigh.

  “Why, you can!” Mr. Hampton said. “If you have a gallon of milk, you can make a pound of cheese. You would need the help of a parent—and it takes a couple of days—but it’s worth it. I can show you how to make your own cheese press, if you like.”

  “Would you, really?” Kate grew more excited by the moment. “Oh, I would love that. I think I’ll write my paper on that, then!”

  “Let’s finish the tour, and then I’ll show you a homemade cheese press,” Mr. Hampton said. He led the way into a large room with a huge rectangular contraption filled with what looked like thick milk.

  Kate looked at it, amazed. “Wow, this is huge.” She’d never seen such a thing!

  Mr. Hampton explained. “Yes, this is just like we talked about earlier. Once the whey is removed, the curds are pressed together, forming the cheese into shapes.”

  “Wow!” Kate began to videotape the process. She didn’t want to miss a thing. Something caused her to turn toward the woman in the white coat. She was whispering something to the man and pointing to the curds and whey. Hmm, I wonder what they’re talking about?

  Just then Kate saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned her camera toward the floor, just to make sure she wasn’t imagining it. At that very moment, Sydney screamed. Kate jolted and almost dropped the camera.

  “It’s a…a rat!” Sydney jumped on a chair and began to squeal.

  Sure enough, the brown furry critter headed right for them! He was moving so fast Kate could hardly keep up with him. For a few seconds he disappeared from view in her video camera lens, and then she caught a glimpse of him again. Oh, gross!

  The woman began to scream at the top of her lungs and fainted. Her husband caught her just before she landed on the floor. He fanned her with the creamery brochure and called, “Abigail! Abby, wake up!”

  The rat scampered close to the woman and Kate gasped. What’s going to happen next? She whispered a quick prayer.

  Holding a tight grip on the camera, Kate continued videotaping the vermin. Thankfully, he scurried to the other side of the room, leaving the woman alone. But something about the little critter seemed…odd. It ran in circles. Round and round it went, in a never-ending cycle. Maybe it had had too much cheese! Something was definitely wrong with it.

  Mr. Hampton came around to their side of the room and his eyes grew large. “No! Not again! We took care of this. I promise! Mad River Valley Creamery doesn’t have…” He didn’t say the word. He didn’t have to.

  The rat finally stopped running in circles and took off under the vat of cheese. The woman regained consciousness, and Kate turned her camera in that direction. The woman began to cry out and her husband hollered, “Turn that off! I don’t want you videotaping my wife!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean any harm.” Tears sprang to Kate’s eyes. The man headed her way. When he got close, he grabbed her camera and shut it off, then pressed it back into her hand.

  “Get on out of here, kids…before I lose my temper. Or maybe I’ll just call the police and tell them we were being illegally videotaped!”

  Sydney turned on her heels and sprinted like an Olympic track star toward the door. Kate followed, shaking like a leaf.

  What a mean man! She never meant to do anything wrong! And how awful…to see another rat! Kate couldn’t figure out why, but something about that fuzzy little creature still puzzled her.

  “I’m never…eating…cheese…again…as long…as I…live!” Sydney hollered as she ran.

  Kate groaned, trying to keep up. So much for helping Mr. Hampton and the Mad River Creamery. Another rat had interrupted her plans. But who was behind all of this? And why?

  With the help of the other Camp Club Girls…she and Sydney would figure it out!

  Hickory Dickory Dock

  Kate and Sydney ran all the way back to the inn. When they arrived at the front door, Biscuit greeted them with wet, slobbery kisses.

  “D–down, boy!” Kate panted. “N–not right now.”

  Between the cold air and the excitement of what had just happened, she could hardly breathe!

  “Is everything okay?” Aunt Molly met them as they raced into the big room. Kate headed toward the fireplace to warm herself. “N–no,” she said through chattering teeth. “We saw another r–rat!”

  “Oh dear, oh dear!” Aunt Molly’s cheeks flushed pink. “That’s just awful! Was it inside the creamery again?”

  “Y–yes!”

  “Oh, how terrible!” Aunt Molly began to fan herself, looking as if she might be sick.

  Kate’s mother entered the room with a worried look.

  “Did I hear you say something about a rat?” When Kate nodded, she said, “Honey, I don’t want you and Sydney going back to that creamery. You’ll just have to write your essay paper on something else, Kate.”

  “But that’s just it.” Kate sighed and plopped down on the large leather chair in front of the fireplace. “It’s not dangerous at all. Something is definitely up. I can feel it in my bones!”

  Aunt Molly laughed. “Oh, you can, can you? Well, what do you feel?”

  “I’ll know more after I look at the videotape. Do you mind if I hook my camera into your big-screen TV, Aunt Molly? I want to see everything close up.”

  “Ugh!” Sydney grunted. “We have to see the rat on the big screen?”

  Kate laughed. “You don’t have to watch.”

  They gathered around the television as Kate hooked up her camera. When she hit PLAY, they all watched the action.

  “Here’s the curds and whey part,” Kate explained, pointing at the screen. “And here’s the part where—”

  Her mother and Aunt Molly screamed when they saw the rat run across the floor toward the woman in the white coat.

  “Oh, how awful!” Aunt Molly clasped her hand over her mouth. “That poor woman.”

  “That man who’s with her looks really angry,” Kate’s mother added.

  “Oh, he was.” Kate shivered. “But look at this.”

  She paused the video for a moment, focusing on the rat.

  “What?” Sydney drew near, looking at the television.

  Kate pointed at the pesky vermin. “Take a good look at this rat.”

  “Do I have to?” Sydney squeezed her eyes shut. “What about him?”

  “Something about him is…odd. First, he’s a little too big. Not your average-sized rat. Not even close!”

  “Well, on your Uncle Ollie’s big-screen TV, every
thing looks bigger than it is,” Aunt Molly explained.

  “Yes! Look at my ears!” Sydney laughed. “They’re huge. Someone please tell me they’re not that big in real life!”

  “They’re not, silly!” Kate groaned. “I know things appear larger than they are, but even so, this is one giant rat. And look at his fur. Have you ever seen rat fur so…furry?”

  Sydney came a step closer and looked for a second. “No. But I’m no expert on rats.”

  “I’ve seen a few in my day,” Aunt Molly said, drawing close. “And he does look a bit odd. Must be an interesting species.”

  “I know what it is!” Sydney said. “The rats at the creamery are well fed! That’s why they’re so huge!”

  “Could be,” Kate’s mother said. “I just know we don’t grow them that big in Pennsylvania!”

  “Or in DC!” Sydney added.

  “Most rats have really short hair,” Kate observed. “And most aren’t this color. This is more like the fur you’d see on a hamster or something.”

  “So, you think it’s not a rat after all?” Sydney asked. “Maybe it’s a giant hamster?”

  “That’s just it.” She drew in a deep breath as she thought about it. “Hamsters are smaller than rats. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s not a typical rat, that’s for sure. I’ll have to get on the internet and research all different types of rodents.”

  “Doesn’t sound like much fun to me!” Sydney said. “We’re on Christmas vacation, Kate. Remember?”

  “I know, but this is really going to bother me if I don’t figure it out!” Kate backed up the video and watched it again. With a sigh, she said, “Something about this frame really bothers me. After all, rats are very agile. This one isn’t.”

  “Agile?” Sydney groaned. “I’m gonna have to look that one up in the dictionary, Kate. Why do you always use such big words?”

  Aunt Molly laughed. “I hardly use that word myself!”

  “Oh, sorry.” Kate giggled. “I just meant most rats move fast and can make quick turns. This one…” She stared at the stilled photo again. “This one makes choppy movements. Jerky. You know what I mean?”

  “Maybe he’s had too much cheese.” Sydney laughed. “That would do it. Once I ate too much string cheese, and I could barely move at all!”

  “You should see me after I’ve had a big slice of cheesecake,” Kate’s mother said with a nod. “I just want to curl up in a chair with a good book!”

  “Yeah, but this is different. He didn’t look like he’d eaten too much. He was…” Kate couldn’t think of what to say next. “He’s shaped weird.”

  “Yeah, a little.” Sydney shook her head. “But can we stop looking now? I’ve had enough of rat talk!”

  “Right, right.” After a moment’s pause, Kate added, “Oh, I just had an idea!”

  “What?” Sydney’s brow wrinkled. “What are you thinking, Kate Oliver? What are you up to?”

  “Well, I was just thinking this would be a great project for McKenzie,” Kate explained. “She loves to search for clues. I’ll send her a picture of this…creature. She can research it for us.”

  “Okay. That’s a good idea.” Sydney began to pace the room as she talked. “Let’s send out an email to the girls and ask them to meet us in the chat room tonight at eight o’clock our time. That will give us plenty of time to hang out with your family first. What do you think?”

  “Perfect.”

  “In the meantime,” Kate’s mother said, “we’re still planning to go to rent a family movie and order Chinese food. Does that sound good?”

  “Great! What movie?” Kate asked.

  “We thought you girls could decide,” her mother said. “So be thinking about it.”

  “Oh, I know!” Sydney clasped her hands together. “Let’s rent the Nancy Drew movie. That’s one of my favorites!”

  “Ooo, perfect!” Kate agreed. “That should put us in the mood for solving a mystery!”

  A short time later, everyone gathered around the television to watch the movie and eat Chinese food. Kate started with a big plate of moo goo gai pan, then refilled her plate with General Tso’s chicken and pepper steak. Between bites, she commented on what they were watching on Uncle Ollie’s big-screen TV.

  “See, Sydney! See how good Nancy is at solving crimes? See that part where she kept searching for clues, even when it seemed impossible? We’ve got to think like that!”

  “You want to be like Nancy Drew, eh?” Her father flashed an encouraging smile. “Well, you’re certainly adventurous.”

  “And you know a lot more about technology,” Sydney added. “Back when the Nancy Drew books were written, cell phones hadn’t even been invented.”

  “No computers either,” Kate’s dad threw in. “And the internet was unheard of!”

  “Wow!” Kate could hardly imagine a time without computers and internet. She glanced at her smartwatch, thankful for modern-day technology.

  As soon as the movie ended, she glanced at the clock. “Oh, it’s ten minutes till eight! Time to meet with the Camp Club Girls in our chat room!”

  Sydney tagged along on her heels until they reached their room. Using her dad’s laptop, Kate signed online in a flash and went to their website chat room.

  As usual, Bailey was already there. The words, Hey, what’s up? appeared on the screen.

  Kate: We need your help.

  A couple minutes later, all of the girls arrived in the chat room. After explaining what had happened at the creamery, Bailey typed, LOL…I just watched Ratatouille! I have rats on the brain!

  Kate: Oh, that is ironic! Didn’t the rat in that movie work in a restaurant?

  Bailey: Yes, he was a great chef.

  Kate: Well, maybe the rats we saw at Mad River Creamery really want to become cheese-makers!

  Bailey: LOL.

  McKenzie: Somehow I don’t think the rats are wanting to do anything but scare people! But it sounds more like someone is putting them up to it! What can we do to help?

  Kate: McKenzie, I’m uploading a photo of the rat. I want you to take a good look at it and compare it to other rodent photos you find online. This is a weird-looking creature. We need to know for sure what it is.

  Bailey: Icky!

  Kate: Alexis, would you mind doing a little research online? See if you can find out any information about Mad River Creamery. See if anyone might be holding a grudge against them.

  Alex: I’ll find out who their competitors are! And I’ll check to see if anyone is blogging about the creamery.

  Bailey: I’ll help with that. And I’ll see if any complaints have been filed against the company, or if the cheese has ever made anyone sick.

  Elizabeth: What about me? What can I do?

  Kate: Can you put a prayer request on our blog site? Please let people know how much we need their prayers. Also, ask them to pray for Sydney. She’s competing in a skiing competition at the Winter Festival this Saturday. If she wins, the prize money will cover the cost of her trip to Mexico this summer.

  All of the girls started chatting about Sydney’s trip. When they ended, Elizabeth suggested they all pray together. She typed her prayer for all of them to see.

  Elizabeth: Lord, please show us what to do. We don’t want to falsely accuse anyone. Please give us wisdom and show us who is doing this awful thing to the Hamptons. Help Kate and Sydney and keep them safe. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  As she signed off of the internet, Kate thought once again about Nancy Drew and the movie they’d just watched. If Nancy could solve a crime…surely the Camp Club Girls could figure out who was sabotaging the Mad River Creamery!

  The Rat Pack

  The following morning—bright and early—Sydney came in the kitchen door, her cheeks flushed pink. She shook the snow from her jacket and pulled off her scarf. “Oh, it’s beautiful out there!”

  “How far did you run today?” Kate asked. Seemed like every day Sydney exercised a little more and ran a little farther!

 
“Only two miles.” Sydney shrugged as she pulled off her scarf and gloves. “I’m out of shape. Been eating too much of your Aunt Molly’s good cooking. I’m really going to have to be careful once I get back home or I’m never going to stay in tip-top shape!”

  “Oh, posh!” Aunt Molly laughed. “As much as you exercise, you could stand to eat even more. Never seen anyone eat as healthy as you. Well, no one your age, anyway.”

  “It’s important! I want to do well in the competition on Saturday.” Her eyes sparkled as she added, “And, you know, I want to compete in the Olympics someday too.”

  “She’s already been in the Junior Olympics, Aunt Molly,” Kate explained. “Sydney is a serious athlete.” She stressed the word serious.

  “Well, that’s wonderful.” Aunt Molly patted her own round tummy and laughed. “I could stand to be more athletic. These days I just work out in the kitchen, not the gym.”

  “Cooking?” Sydney asked.

  “No, eating!” Aunt Molly let out a laugh that brought Uncle Ollie in from the next room.

  “What’s so funny in here?” he asked.

  “Aunt Molly is just telling us how she exercises,” Kate said with a giggle.

  “Aunt Molly…exercises?” Uncle Ollie looked at them with a funny expression, as if he didn’t quite believe them.

  Aunt Molly giggled and lifted a fork. “Like this.” Opening her mouth, she pretended to eat. “I exercise my jaw.” She closed her mouth and everyone laughed.

  “I hope I’m as funny as you when I’m…” Kate stopped before finishing.

  “When you’re old, honey?” Aunt Molly laughed. “It’s okay to say it. I’m no spring chicken.”

  “Did someone say something about old people in here?” Kate’s father entered the room, yawning. “I’m feeling old and stiff. These cold mornings are really getting to me!”

  “I could use a cup of coffee, myself,” Kate’s mother said, entering the room behind him. “Good morning, everyone!”

  “Good morning, Mom.” Kate reached over and gave her mom a huge hug. “We were just talking…”

  “About me being old,” Aunt Molly threw in. “But that’s okay. I don’t mind admitting it. Maybe I don’t work out as often as I should, and maybe I can’t ski like I used to when I was young, but I can certainly pay the entrance fee for Sydney to do so.”