Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, Mr. DeLorca’s over-sized pelican, Shakuntala, proved that she was truly a hero when she rescued Mia Duomo from falling off of the roof of the City Hall. Mia was able to safely return to the ground followed by Bonnie Whiteside who had begun to see the consequences of her wicked and foolish plan. Just as she was being arrested, Miss Whiteside confessed that she had posed as the ghost of Theodosia Westwick in order to scare people away from the hotel on Rosebud Hill. The museum curator explained that when her brother-in-law had been mayor of Vista Falls, he secretly arranged for an illegal sale of the abandoned courthouse so that she could open an elegant hotel in the middle of town. When Miss Whiteside and her husband, Russell Barrymore, were about to start to transform the courthouse into a hotel, the land on Rosebud Hill was developed as a convention center and hotel complex. Miss Whiteside convinced her husband to take a job as manager of the new hotel so that she could gain easy access to it. Recalling the local legend of the frightening Woman in Gray, Miss Whiteside created the ghost costume and set about to “haunt” the hotel in order to make room in town for her own business. Showing that she truly regretted what she had done, Miss Whiteside said she feared that Mr. Barrymore had set the fire at the hotel and asked the police to treat him with kindness when they found him. Once Miss Whiteside had been taken away, Mrs. Conn and her friends discussed that they felt sorry for Miss Whiteside. Concerned about the fire at the hotel, Sarah wondered if they could go to Rosebud Hill to see what was happening. Did they go? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 40:
Of Shep and Sheridan

Nancy studied the sky. “There seems to be less smoke. Do you think the firefighters have put out the fire?”

“Let’s go see!” Sarah said quickly. “Mrs. Conn, can we?”

Mrs. Conn bit her lip and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know. It could be dangerous.”

“If it’s dangerous, they won’t let us get close, Mrs. Conn.” Sarah said rationally.

“Yes, I suppose that’s true. Very well, let’s go see if they’ve put out the fire.” Mrs. Conn said.

“At the very least, we can walk to Rosebud Hill,” Eben nodded.

“The firefighters will keep us out of harm’s way.” Annie agreed.

“Well, then,” Mr. DeLorca began as they walked. “This seems like the perfect time for me to bring up something that’s been on my mind since we first met Mia Duomo…”

“Me?” Mia’s eyes brightened. “Something to do with me? How lovely!”

“I say, yes, I imagine that it would be lovely for you.” Mr. DeLorca coughed.

“What have you been thinking about? How I’m so light that a pelican can pick me up in her beak?” Mia asked.

“No, no, not at all. However, I would like to point something out about that. Let’s just observe for a moment that Shakuntala is an unusually large pelican.” Mr. DeLorca said happily. “So, for that reason, she’s very strong.”

“But, I’m still also very light.” Mia squinted.

“Very well, if you like.” Mr. DeLorca said.

“Something’s been bothering me, Father.” Eben said.

“Eben, dear boy, I’m about to tell a story.” Mr. DeLorca frowned.

“This won’t take but a moment.” Eben laughed. “How is that you can carry that giant bird on your shoulder? I mean, really, she’s enormous.”

“Eben you know that we DeLorcas have very strong shoulders—at least on the one side.” Mr. DeLorca smiled.

“Oh, yes, that explains why I can never find a jacket that fits.” Eben chuckled.

“Now, may I finish what I was saying?” Mr. DeLorca continued.

“Yes, especially if it’s about me!” Mia smiled.

“It is, in a way. Let me begin by telling you a story about a sheep I knew in Londonderry.” Mr. DeLorca said eagerly.

“A sheep?” Mia Duomo pouted.

“I promise it relates, and such.” Mr. DeLorca nodded.

They continued walking as Mr. DeLorca began his tale.

“In Londonderry, you see, our home is very near to a lovely pasture where many sheep wander and graze—or whatever it is that you call it when sheep are eating.” Mr. DeLorca began. “I had the great fortune to be introduced to a charming sheep named, most appropriately, Shep.”

“I remember, Shep.” Eben nodded.

“Let your father finish, dear.” Mrs. DeLorca said. “And do watch out for that tree root. Don’t twist your ankle.”

“As I was saying,” Mr. DeLorca cleared his throat. “I was introduced to Shep. This was well before we’d met Shakuntala and, frankly, I was looking for an animal companion to carry on my strong shoulder. I can report with much sadness that sheep do not enjoy being picked up and carried nor are they designed to be shoulder pets, but that’s a story for another time. Yes, perhaps over a nice slice of yam pie. Though not very portable, Shep was a delightful sheep and indeed had the most beautiful fleece—that’s what they call wool while it’s still on the sheep, you know—of any of the sheep in Londonderry. So often was Shep applauded for his fine fleece that he began to strut and prance about to show everyone just how beautiful he was.”

“Oh, now I can see why this reminds you of me.” Mia Duomo cooed.

“Yes.” Mr. DeLorca nodded. “Indeed, after awhile, the other sheep and the few humans that took the time to pay attention to the barnyard goings-on grew tired of Shep’s constant calling attention to himself.”

“Wait a minute…” Mia Duomo raised an eyebrow.

“Really, the poor thing became so out of control that few of the other sheep would have anything to do with him.” Mr. DeLorca continued. “That is until Shep met Eben’s dog, Sheridan.”

“You took my dog to a sheep farm?” Eben asked.

“I did. You were at work. Do you think we just sit around and wait for you all day?” Mr. DeLorca said happily. “Sheridan is a very modest dog, and while quite a handsome terrier in his own right, showed Shep that he didn’t have to show off. Shep began to realize that Sheridan was right and soon the other sheep began to like him again. It was all very magical that. Yes, Magical Shep and such.” Mr. DeLorca sighed.

“Then what happened, Mr. DeLorca?” Isaac asked.

“They agreed to share Mrs. Conn’s building with Miss Duomo.” Mr. DeLorca nodded.

“Huh?” Sarah asked.

“Oh dear, I skipped ahead. But, that was the point. Yes. That’s where I was going with this. Mia Duomo, like a handsome sheep, you’ve shown that you actually do have a sense of humility.”

“Thank you.” Mia nodded slowly, unsure if that was actually a good thing.

“And, so, if you’re still interested in staying in town, we’d like to share the building on the corner with you.” Mr. DeLorca smiled.

“You would?” Mia asked.

“Yes, we would.” Mrs. DeLorca answered for her husband. “The building is so large that Joel and I would have space for our workshop, Eben could use the front of the building for gallery space and you could rent the offices upstairs for whatever it is you wanted to do.”

“How wonderful!” Mia exclaimed. “I’d like that very much. I could open a little style business. People could come to me and I could help them pick out clothes and give workshops and classes to encourage them to be beautiful both inside and out!”

“That sounds like a fine idea, Mia.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.

“Thank you, Mrs. DeLorca.” Mia Duomo said softly.

“You may call me Joan.” Mrs. DeLorca answered with a smile.

“Oh, this is just the most beautiful day after all!” Mia grinned. “But, wait, Mrs. Conn would have to agree. It is her building.”

“It’s not my building any more.” Mrs. Conn winked. “I’ll happily sell it to the DeLorcas for all of you to share. I think it’s a fine idea.”

“How grand! Well, are all of you ready for me to be a resident of Vista Falls?” Mia asked.

“We welcome you, Mia.” Annie answered joyfully.

“The spiders don’t like it.” Eugenia Victoria said flatly. “But, I do.”

“What about you Miss Trotter?” Kathy asked. “Are you happy that Miss Duomo will be staying?”

Violet Trotter took a deep breath and shut her eyes. After a few seconds, she began to laugh. “Honestly, I think I would miss that meddling model if she moved. So, yes, welcome to Vista Falls!”

Soon, they had reached the top of the hill. There they saw some of the volunteer firefighters that were helping the Vista Falls Fire Department put out the blaze at the hotel.

“I’m afraid you all will have to stay back here,” a firefighter named Paul told them.

“Thank you, sir.” Mrs. Conn said. “Can you tell us what’s happening?”

“We’ve managed to put out the fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The hotel had an excellent fire evacuation plan. The back part of the building is pretty badly damaged, but, soon they’ll be able to re-open.”

“I’m so glad no one was hurt.” Mrs. Conn sighed with relief.

“The hotel owners are calling around to other hotels in the area to try to find places for the guests to stay.” Paul continued.

“I can take about ten or twelve at my inn. Maybe more if people don’t mind sleeping on couches,” Mrs. Conn volunteered. “Free-of-charge.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Paul nodded.

“Not at all.” Mrs. Conn blushed. “In fact, maybe we can call Claude Jaquith at the park and ask if he’d let us have a picnic for the people who have been displaced in the fire. Everyone can come down to Cascades to eat and relax until their new rooms are ready this evening. I’ll supply the food.”

“Uriah, maybe Fritz and Nora can help us bring over some of the games and sporting equipment we have stored at the mansion.” Annie suggested.

“A good idea,” Uriah nodded.

“Do you think Fritz and Nora would do some magic tricks for the kids?” Annie asked.

“I think they’d love to.” Mrs. Conn said.

“Joel, Eben and I can help.” Mrs. DeLorca volunteered. “If people have lost personal items or clothing in the fire, we can make a list and go out and get them what they might need.”

“Great idea!” Mrs. Conn said.

“And, I would be happy to talk with everyone to make them feel better and more cheerful.” Mia Duomo offered.

“Isaac, Kathy, Sarah and I can help with that, too.” Nancy said.

“And me,” Eugenia Victoria said shyly. “I can show them how my spiders can do tricks.”

“Everyone will like that.” Mr. DeLorca said sincerely. “Shakuntala would help with that, but I fear she’d eat your eight-legged friends.”

“That wouldn’t do.” Eugenia raised her eyebrows.

“Not for the spiders, no.” Mr. DeLorca shook his head. “Shakuntala will just have to stay by me. Perhaps she can help carry luggage or other very, very heavy things.”

Mia opened her eyes wide, but said nothing.

“You’re all very generous.” Paul exclaimed.

“Thank you.” Mrs. Conn blushed. “We only want to help.”

Within minutes, they had all hurried off to organize what they needed to help the people from the hotel. Mia Duomo even called the police station to make sure that Bonnie Whiteside was all right. They were all relieved to hear that Bonnie’s husband had been taken into police custody.

“I hope they get the help they need.” Mrs. Conn said seriously.

Later that afternoon, with Mr. Jaquith’s permission, they held a big picnic in the park for everyone from the hotel. Soon, the people began to relax and feel safer. They ate and had a good time.

Eben and Mrs. DeLorca took several of the children in the group on a long walk along Old Martin Creek.

Though she didn’t say anything to Eben at the time, Mrs. DeLorca found something very strange while they were walking. She simply picked the object up and put it in her purse. Later, alone, she examined what she had found.

It shimmered in the afternoon sunlight—that silver locket that Mrs. DeLorca found. Shaped like a heart, the locket was inscribed with words that had become slightly worn-off with age. Mrs. DeLorca read them aloud. “To Theodosia. With love…Mordecai.”

“How did this get out here?” Mrs. DeLorca asked aloud.

But, as Mr. DeLorca would say, “that’s a story for another time.” Come back on August 13, 2008, for a new season of The River Road Adventures!

Do you think Mia Duomo has really changed her selfish ways?

Voting results for how the story continues:

Vote!

River Road Ch. 40: Do you think Mia Duomo has really changed her selfish ways? With Shakuntala’s continued influence, Mia can be a helpful person. 77.8% Yes. Mia has learned a lot. 22.2% No. Mia will always be self-centered. 0.0%   Version 2.03