The sun shone over the old mansion, and the Potts family were soon up and about.
It was May's Birthday.
The Potts had another tradition for Birthdays; they made the Birthday girl-or boy, stay in bed all morning. They could decorate, and wrap presents for them during that time.
Andrew was given the honor of bringing up a tray of breakfast-toast, peaches and cream, sliced strawberries, and a glass of iced tea-to her.
The door was open. When Andrew knocked on the wall, May yawned. “Happy Birthday!” he grinned.
“Oh!” she wiggled under the covers, as he set the tray beside her on the bed.
“You are now eleven years old.” teased Andrew, “When are you going to retire?” they both giggled.
“I'm so excited! I can't wait to get out of bed.” she looked out the window. “You know what I've been wanting for years and years?”
“I don't know. What?”
“A spyglass. Like the ones on ships in the old days.”
“Have you ever told Uncle..., I mean Father or Mother?” asked Andrew.
“No. they wouldn't know where to get one. And besides, I'd have to tell them about my 'office' if I did.” she sighed.
“I see.” Andrew thought about this for a moment, then said, “Maybe, you could tell them you want to have a spyglass, and it will just be part of a collection you are going to start. And then you wouldn't have to tell them about your 'office'!”
“Maybe.” May took a bite out of the piece of toast, and looked at him curiously. “What were you doing in here the other day? I just realized that you never told me yet.” her green eyes stared at him.
Andrew felt trapped. “I..., I, I—“
“You'd better tell me.” she snapped.
“Alright. I confess, I was looking into your grate.”
“My what?” she stuffed a strawberry into her mouth.
“That.” he pointed to the metal grate on the floor.
“Why?” she peered over the bed at the grate on the floor.
Andrew hesitated. He knew he'd have to tell her eventually.
“I've been investigating around. That grate might lead to a tunnel, or a secret room. Something mysterious.” he leaned forward and made a scary face.
“Ooh! Don't do that!” she pushed hid face back. “That sounds exciting!”
“Well, I haven't gotten to look in it, because you came in when I was about to.” he got up.
“Meet me here tonight at about nine. That's when Mum and Dad go to bed. And then we can investigate.” she grabbed his arm. “And bring a flashlight, and...a rope!”
Andrew grinned. “Thanks!” then he ran downstairs.
When May finally was allowed to come out of her room, she let out an exclamation of surprise as she came downstairs.
The hall was decorated with light blue streamers, and balloons. There was a big present in the far corner, with an even bigger bow on it.
And standing at the bottom of the stairs, were her parents, and Andrew.
Meow. came a soft sound from the big box.
“Oh!” May hugged George and Amelia on her way to the present. She tore off the gift wrap, and uncovered a basket, lined with a soft blanket. But sitting, rolling, and mewing in it, were three white kittens!
“I love them already!Thank you, thank you!” she squeezed George's leg, and scooped up the kittens in one loving bundle.
“They're little now, but will be a big responsibility soon.” said George, stroking his chin.
“Yes. Your Father and I have decided that you are old enough now to take on the full responsibility.” Amelia knelt down to pet one of the white fur balls. Meeoow. it purred softly at her touch.
“I will. I'll do everything needed to keep them tame, and clean. I'll even teach them manners!” she giggled happily.
Andrew tapped lightly on her shoulder. “May, you haven't seen my present yet.”
“Where is it?” she asked.
“Come on.” he grabbed her free arm, and they dashed out the front door, May still holding a kitten, and around the house to the shed.
Andrew made sure that their Parents weren't following, and pulled open the creaky door.
Once behind the sheet, May couldn't believe her eyes. There on the coffee table was a set of china dishes, and on the wall hanging up, was a beautiful lace pink dress.
“Oh, my goodness!” she squeezed Andrew, and said, “How wonderful! You're the best boy I know!” May held the dress up, and turned it around. She arranged the cups and pretended to pour tea into them.
“Let's take the dress in, and you can try it on.” Andrew suggested.
“Alright.” replied May. She wadded it up in her arms, and followed Andrew out of the shed to the house.
Once inside, she proudly showed the new dress and dishes (Andrew had carried the china for her) to her parents.
“Hurry and try it on, dear.” said Amelia, and she waved her hand at the stairs.
May gave Andrew the kitten, and dashed up the stairs, but halfway up she remembered that she was big girl, and walked slowly the rest of the way up.
Andrew grinned at his new sister, and set the kitten back in the basket.
A minute later, May stood at the top of the stairs, and called out for them to see.
They had sat down in the parlor, and when they heard May, came into the entry to see her.
Andrew's jaw dropped. He hadn't exactly thought of her as a girl, girl. And he was surprised at how good she looked in the pink lacy dress.
May swished down the stairs, and they all sat back down in the parlor to talk.
That night, May waited in her bedroom for Andrew.
At exactly 9:00 Andrew peeked into the hall. Everything was still and dark, except for a small lamp flickering on a corner table.
He was still fully dressed, and grabbing the flashlight off his dresser, and with a rope in his other hand, he tiptoed down the hall to May's door, and knocked as quietly as he could.
May opened the door, and said, “Come on.” she closed it again once he was inside.
Her room was lit, and the curtains on the window were drawn.
Andrew set down the rope, and kneeled on the floor in front of the grate.
“Here we go.” he was a bit nervous, but reached for the grate and pulled it open.
“This is so exciting!” May wiggled with excitement.
Pointing the flashlight down into the dark hole, Andrew followed the beam with his eyes, straining to see what he could.
It just looked like a deep dark hole. Maybe six feet deep. He couldn't see any walls, so he guessed it was very wide.
“You going in?” asked May.
“I don't know.” Andrew looked in a few seconds more, then he reached for the rope, and began to let it down. “I'll check it out first, and then you can come down.”
“Alright.” May looked in after Andrew.
It was dark, and smelled musty. Andrew clicked the flashlight on.
There was a wall. It was brick, and a passageway behind him led somewhere. He looked up and said to May, “Come on down. It's safe.” he held the rope for her as she cautiously climbed down, putting her feet up against the wall.
“Ooo it's really dark down here.” she slipped her arm in his and stayed close to him.
Andrew had to find out what that frame thing was, and headed in the direction he thought was the hallway.
There it was! The same frame looking thing. But what was this? A handle. But, why was there a handle on this side, and not the other?
“Hmm, that's awfully strange.” Andrew turned his head sideways, and studied it.
May was looking all around. It was indeed like a room.
“H-hey! W-what's that over there?!” May pointed a shaky finger behind them.
Andrew turned around to see where she was pointing.
Suddenly, they heard a step in the hall above them.
“Oh, great!” Andrew headed for the rope, and gave May a boost up it.
“What about that thing?” May pulled herself up into the room, and held the rope for him.
“We'll have to find out later.” he glanced over his shoulder as he climbed up.
Sliding the grate back into place, he quickly jumped behind the bed, and May slipped under the covers.
Silence.
They heard a sound in the hall again, and something fell over, making a terrible clatter.
Andrew ventured to look out the door. Just as he looked out into the hall, the door to his Parent's room opened, and Amelia, with her robe on, and holding a candle in her hand, walked out and down the stairs.
The clattering noise was, as it seemed, downstairs. Andrew followed Amelia down the stairs. At a safe distance though, so as not to be seen by her.
She had gone into the kitchen, and a second later came rushing out, and bumped right into Andrew!
“Oof!” Amelia stopped herself from falling over by holding onto the door frame.
“What is it?” asked Andrew.
“Someone just broke into our kitchen window, and I can't tell if they took anything. I'm going to call the police though.” she walked around him, and went to the hall phone.
George had come to the top of the stairs to see what had happened, and saw Andrew standing in the hall.
“What are you doing out of bed, son?” he started down.
Andrew suddenly remembered that he wasn't supposed to be caught downstairs. “I-I came to see what happened.” he gulped, hoping he could get out of it.
“Well, it's over now, so go back to your room.”
“Yes, Sir.” Andrew hurried back upstairs, and shut himself in his room.
“Phew! That was so close.” he stood with his back against the door, and let out a long sigh that he had been holding in.
There was a knock at his door.
Andrew jumped. “Who is it?”
“It's May.” she whispered loudly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. We'll have to meet again some other time to investigate more.” he whispered back. “I almost got caught down there.”
“Okay. Good thing you didn't.” she whispered back. “Goodnight!”
“Goodnight.”
May tiptoed back to her room and shut the door.
Andrew got under his covers, and stared up at the ceiling.
So much had happened, and all so suddenly. He didn't know if he would be able to sleep that night. But he eventually did.
It was May's Birthday.
The Potts had another tradition for Birthdays; they made the Birthday girl-or boy, stay in bed all morning. They could decorate, and wrap presents for them during that time.
Andrew was given the honor of bringing up a tray of breakfast-toast, peaches and cream, sliced strawberries, and a glass of iced tea-to her.
The door was open. When Andrew knocked on the wall, May yawned. “Happy Birthday!” he grinned.
“Oh!” she wiggled under the covers, as he set the tray beside her on the bed.
“You are now eleven years old.” teased Andrew, “When are you going to retire?” they both giggled.
“I'm so excited! I can't wait to get out of bed.” she looked out the window. “You know what I've been wanting for years and years?”
“I don't know. What?”
“A spyglass. Like the ones on ships in the old days.”
“Have you ever told Uncle..., I mean Father or Mother?” asked Andrew.
“No. they wouldn't know where to get one. And besides, I'd have to tell them about my 'office' if I did.” she sighed.
“I see.” Andrew thought about this for a moment, then said, “Maybe, you could tell them you want to have a spyglass, and it will just be part of a collection you are going to start. And then you wouldn't have to tell them about your 'office'!”
“Maybe.” May took a bite out of the piece of toast, and looked at him curiously. “What were you doing in here the other day? I just realized that you never told me yet.” her green eyes stared at him.
Andrew felt trapped. “I..., I, I—“
“You'd better tell me.” she snapped.
“Alright. I confess, I was looking into your grate.”
“My what?” she stuffed a strawberry into her mouth.
“That.” he pointed to the metal grate on the floor.
“Why?” she peered over the bed at the grate on the floor.
Andrew hesitated. He knew he'd have to tell her eventually.
“I've been investigating around. That grate might lead to a tunnel, or a secret room. Something mysterious.” he leaned forward and made a scary face.
“Ooh! Don't do that!” she pushed hid face back. “That sounds exciting!”
“Well, I haven't gotten to look in it, because you came in when I was about to.” he got up.
“Meet me here tonight at about nine. That's when Mum and Dad go to bed. And then we can investigate.” she grabbed his arm. “And bring a flashlight, and...a rope!”
Andrew grinned. “Thanks!” then he ran downstairs.
When May finally was allowed to come out of her room, she let out an exclamation of surprise as she came downstairs.
The hall was decorated with light blue streamers, and balloons. There was a big present in the far corner, with an even bigger bow on it.
And standing at the bottom of the stairs, were her parents, and Andrew.
Meow. came a soft sound from the big box.
“Oh!” May hugged George and Amelia on her way to the present. She tore off the gift wrap, and uncovered a basket, lined with a soft blanket. But sitting, rolling, and mewing in it, were three white kittens!
“I love them already!Thank you, thank you!” she squeezed George's leg, and scooped up the kittens in one loving bundle.
“They're little now, but will be a big responsibility soon.” said George, stroking his chin.
“Yes. Your Father and I have decided that you are old enough now to take on the full responsibility.” Amelia knelt down to pet one of the white fur balls. Meeoow. it purred softly at her touch.
“I will. I'll do everything needed to keep them tame, and clean. I'll even teach them manners!” she giggled happily.
Andrew tapped lightly on her shoulder. “May, you haven't seen my present yet.”
“Where is it?” she asked.
“Come on.” he grabbed her free arm, and they dashed out the front door, May still holding a kitten, and around the house to the shed.
Andrew made sure that their Parents weren't following, and pulled open the creaky door.
Once behind the sheet, May couldn't believe her eyes. There on the coffee table was a set of china dishes, and on the wall hanging up, was a beautiful lace pink dress.
“Oh, my goodness!” she squeezed Andrew, and said, “How wonderful! You're the best boy I know!” May held the dress up, and turned it around. She arranged the cups and pretended to pour tea into them.
“Let's take the dress in, and you can try it on.” Andrew suggested.
“Alright.” replied May. She wadded it up in her arms, and followed Andrew out of the shed to the house.
Once inside, she proudly showed the new dress and dishes (Andrew had carried the china for her) to her parents.
“Hurry and try it on, dear.” said Amelia, and she waved her hand at the stairs.
May gave Andrew the kitten, and dashed up the stairs, but halfway up she remembered that she was big girl, and walked slowly the rest of the way up.
Andrew grinned at his new sister, and set the kitten back in the basket.
A minute later, May stood at the top of the stairs, and called out for them to see.
They had sat down in the parlor, and when they heard May, came into the entry to see her.
Andrew's jaw dropped. He hadn't exactly thought of her as a girl, girl. And he was surprised at how good she looked in the pink lacy dress.
May swished down the stairs, and they all sat back down in the parlor to talk.
That night, May waited in her bedroom for Andrew.
At exactly 9:00 Andrew peeked into the hall. Everything was still and dark, except for a small lamp flickering on a corner table.
He was still fully dressed, and grabbing the flashlight off his dresser, and with a rope in his other hand, he tiptoed down the hall to May's door, and knocked as quietly as he could.
May opened the door, and said, “Come on.” she closed it again once he was inside.
Her room was lit, and the curtains on the window were drawn.
Andrew set down the rope, and kneeled on the floor in front of the grate.
“Here we go.” he was a bit nervous, but reached for the grate and pulled it open.
“This is so exciting!” May wiggled with excitement.
Pointing the flashlight down into the dark hole, Andrew followed the beam with his eyes, straining to see what he could.
It just looked like a deep dark hole. Maybe six feet deep. He couldn't see any walls, so he guessed it was very wide.
“You going in?” asked May.
“I don't know.” Andrew looked in a few seconds more, then he reached for the rope, and began to let it down. “I'll check it out first, and then you can come down.”
“Alright.” May looked in after Andrew.
It was dark, and smelled musty. Andrew clicked the flashlight on.
There was a wall. It was brick, and a passageway behind him led somewhere. He looked up and said to May, “Come on down. It's safe.” he held the rope for her as she cautiously climbed down, putting her feet up against the wall.
“Ooo it's really dark down here.” she slipped her arm in his and stayed close to him.
Andrew had to find out what that frame thing was, and headed in the direction he thought was the hallway.
There it was! The same frame looking thing. But what was this? A handle. But, why was there a handle on this side, and not the other?
“Hmm, that's awfully strange.” Andrew turned his head sideways, and studied it.
May was looking all around. It was indeed like a room.
“H-hey! W-what's that over there?!” May pointed a shaky finger behind them.
Andrew turned around to see where she was pointing.
Suddenly, they heard a step in the hall above them.
“Oh, great!” Andrew headed for the rope, and gave May a boost up it.
“What about that thing?” May pulled herself up into the room, and held the rope for him.
“We'll have to find out later.” he glanced over his shoulder as he climbed up.
Sliding the grate back into place, he quickly jumped behind the bed, and May slipped under the covers.
Silence.
They heard a sound in the hall again, and something fell over, making a terrible clatter.
Andrew ventured to look out the door. Just as he looked out into the hall, the door to his Parent's room opened, and Amelia, with her robe on, and holding a candle in her hand, walked out and down the stairs.
The clattering noise was, as it seemed, downstairs. Andrew followed Amelia down the stairs. At a safe distance though, so as not to be seen by her.
She had gone into the kitchen, and a second later came rushing out, and bumped right into Andrew!
“Oof!” Amelia stopped herself from falling over by holding onto the door frame.
“What is it?” asked Andrew.
“Someone just broke into our kitchen window, and I can't tell if they took anything. I'm going to call the police though.” she walked around him, and went to the hall phone.
George had come to the top of the stairs to see what had happened, and saw Andrew standing in the hall.
“What are you doing out of bed, son?” he started down.
Andrew suddenly remembered that he wasn't supposed to be caught downstairs. “I-I came to see what happened.” he gulped, hoping he could get out of it.
“Well, it's over now, so go back to your room.”
“Yes, Sir.” Andrew hurried back upstairs, and shut himself in his room.
“Phew! That was so close.” he stood with his back against the door, and let out a long sigh that he had been holding in.
There was a knock at his door.
Andrew jumped. “Who is it?”
“It's May.” she whispered loudly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. We'll have to meet again some other time to investigate more.” he whispered back. “I almost got caught down there.”
“Okay. Good thing you didn't.” she whispered back. “Goodnight!”
“Goodnight.”
May tiptoed back to her room and shut the door.
Andrew got under his covers, and stared up at the ceiling.
So much had happened, and all so suddenly. He didn't know if he would be able to sleep that night. But he eventually did.
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