Chapter 4: A New Family and A New Life

  Fall leaves came, and with them the beginning of Winter.
  The Potts (Andrew's new family) packed up, and returned to their old mansion again.
  The first snow came.
  Amelia was knitting in the Living room, and May was doing a puzzle on the floor, while George read his newspaper.
  Andrew had not yet explored the inside of the house, and since he wasn't allowed to go out in the bitter chill, decided this was as good a time as any. There were a few things that he had brought with him that he decided would be of use in solving some of the mysteries of this old house.
  One of these things was a journal. It would serve as a sort of account book to jot down anything he wished to investigate.
  His list went something like this:
       
         Solve these things-


the boy in the picture- SOLVED- figure out how he died


the barn- INVESTIGATE'

  He would need to work on the barn mystery when the weather was more agreeable. Andrew walked past the stairway and towards the dining room door, when he suddenly stopped.                                                                                                                                                                        
  Something had caught his eye that he had not noticed before. What was this? A crack in the wall? Or was it a frame? It appeared to be painted over whatever it was, and Andrew could not make out what it was.                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Just then May skipped up to him. “Want to play a game?” He turned around with a start, and not knowing what else to do he agreed, and led her back to the living room.                                                                        
  His mind was on the strange crack he had discovered behind the stair, and he lost twice a game of 'Go fish'.                                                                                                                                                                          
  “Where did you learn to play card games?” May was exasperated. “I've never won one before, and now it seems I can't stop winning!”                                                                                                                                  
  “Sorry. I'm just preoccupied I guess.” Andrew looked out the window.                                                                    
  “Let's have some hot cocoa.” Amelia walked over to the doorway. Leaning out into the hallway she called, “Mary, would you make us some hot cocoa?” then she sat back down in the easy chair and resumed her knitting.                                                                                                                                                          
  “Do you like to paint Andrew?” asked George. He folded his newspaper, took off his reading glasses and looked at Andrew.                                                                                                                                                            
  “A little. I didn't do it much at my home.” replied Andrew.                                                                                                
  “I have some paints that I never got a chance to use. How would you like to have them?” he smiled at the boy.                                                                                                                                                                          
  Andrew eagerly accepted the offer and soon, with Amelia's help, had newspapers and paintbrushes spread out in a corner of the living room.                                                                                                                  
  He had forgotten about his discovery from earlier, by the time Dinner time was there.                                                        
  He ate a hearty meal, and went straight to his room. Once there, he remembered it. “Bother.” he knew better than to go back down now, for the Potts had a strict rule about coming back after saying goodnight. So, he stayed upstairs.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     
  The next day was a cold and rainy day. So, Andrew decided that after breakfast he would investigate some more.
  During breakfast George asked Andrew, “Andrew, how would you like to be a part of our family?”Andrew wasn't sure what his Uncle meant
  “We want you to be our son. We would all love you to be.” Amelia smiled and glanced at George, who nodded.
  “I...I don't know.” struggled Andrew.
  “Oh, we know this is very sudden. I mean, you're still getting over your own Parents' death, but we hope you'll think about it.” Amelia put her napkin on her plate, and rose.
  “I will.” replied Andrew.
  “That's fine.” smiled George, and getting up from his own chair he walked past Andrew, and gave him a manly pat on the back, then followed Amelia out of the dining room.
  May had a letter to write, and left him also.
  Once alone, he exited the dining room and crossed the hall.
  There it was.
  He wanted to find out how big it was, so he dashed upstairs and into his room. Digging into his drawers, he pulled out some measuring tape, and dashed back downstairs.
  He measured it from top to bottom-4' 5''. Side to side-3'. Now he stood back and looked it over more carefully. It looked like a miniature door, just without a handle or hinges.
  Tapping it, he got a hollow sound. Then he tapped the wall beside it, getting a solid sound. Andrew scratched his head.
  Looking up at the ceiling, he remembered that some of the bedrooms had vents or grates in the floor, and guessed that May's bedroom was directly above.
  Peering into the bedroom he found it empty. He quietly entered May's bedroom, and looking around noticed a large grate in the middle of the floor. He looked around to make sure he wasn't being observed, then pulled on the metal grate.
  It was a big job, but he finally loosened it and slowly lifted it open. Laying it on the floor, he looked into the darkness below.
  He heard a step on the stairs. Quickly but quietly he closed the grate, and stood up, turning around he saw May.
  May came into the room. She looked at him curiously. “What're you doing in here? I was looking for you.” she took his hand, and not waiting for a response, she brought him down to the parlor.
  Seating herself at the writing desk in the corner by the doorway, she asked him to help her spell a few words in her letter.
  Andrew wanted to get back to his project, but thought he should read a book downstairs, so he wouldn't look suspicious.
  George and Amelia came in, and approached Andrew.
  “We've talked it over with our lawyer, and now we have the papers for your adoption.” George held out a couple of papers that were stapled together at one corner, and Andrew looked at them for a second.
  “I was thinking, Uncle George, I have enjoyed living here and I like you all very much. And I think I'd like to be your son.”
  His Aunt and Uncle must have been holding their breath, because at that moment they let out sighs of relief.
  May jumped out of her chair, and gave his neck a tight squeeze. “I was hoping you would say that!” everyone folded Andrew in a huge group hug. Even Mary their maid gave him a hug.
  “Congratulations!” she said.
  Andrew grinned so hard that day, he thought his mouth would fall off.
  Uncle George took the family to town, signed some papers, agreed to some terms, and made Andrew an official member of the Potts family. What joy Andrew had that day. He wanted the whole world to know about his new family.
  His life had changed. Now he would call his Uncle “Father”, his Aunt “Mother”, and May “Sis”.