CHAPTER ONE-THE CREEK BED
It was day five of what seemed would be a boring and interminable summer.
Felix and Fredericka Parker, 13 and 14 year olds born just 13 months apart (Fredericka, aka “Freddie” would never let Felix forget who was the oldest) were walking along a creek bed on their Aunt Trish’s farm. Off in the distance they could see one of her handymen, Herb, plowing a field with a tractor.
“She has over 90 acres,” they said, Felix quoted with a bitter edge to his voice, “ No one for miles, you can have fun exploring nature they said!”
“So far I think nature is having a lot more fun exploring ME!” Freddie said grumpily, swatting way what had to be the largest horsefly she’d ever seen. She’d always thought she was a nature lover, even though she and Felix had been raised as suburbanites and their entire experience had been in picnicking in well manicured parks with merry-go-rounds , or “camping” at the biggest and swankiest lodge at Big Meadows with all the amenities including room service.
“I just CAN’T,” Felix continued, kicking at pebbles as they walked along. The Summer heat in Virginia was relentless, and they could feel the sweat trickling down their necks.
Aunt Trish didn’t have indoor conditioning but since her double decker farmhouse was built into the side of a hill on one side and had ceiling fans, it remained shadowy and cool indoors. She’d suggested they take a walk and enjoy the open air and sunshine.
But the open air smelled like cow patties when they were downwind of the herd, and the Parker kids didn’t like THAT either.
“We can at least wade in the stream,” Freddie sighed, kicking off her Crocs and mincing across the
Pebbles that the creek had tossed up, “Good way to cool off !
Remember what Aunt Trish said that Granny Parker always said, “When you are cool your whole body is cool!”
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Sounds like another amazing 5 star book by our momma fang PMattern.
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