Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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

Welcome to Vista Falls Junior High! Each week on Wednesday morning, we’ll post a new chapter of an exciting mystery story. At the end of each chapter, you’ll get to pick from three choices which allow you to decide what will happen next! Come back the following Wednesday to see how your vote changes the story.

Vista Falls Junior High centers around six mystery-solving teenagers from Vista Falls: twins Vera and Lucy; their cousin, Kate; shy Delia; brave Ward; quirky Rick; and intelligent TJ. Joining the teens on their many adventures are their former elementary school art teacher, Mr. Jeff Dinello; Vista Falls Chief of Police, Sam Colbert; Officer Jenny Littlepoole (Sam’s new bride); and Director of the Trotter Wildlife Sanctuary, Claude Jaquith.

When last we saw our friends, Sam Colbert and Jenny Littlepoole had just been married. Everyone had gathered at the Vista Falls Museum for the wedding reception. After all of the trouble that they had encountered prior to the ceremony, all of the guests were rejoicing that Sam and Jenny were finally wed. Mr. Dinello noticed that one of the guests—a woman whom he’d never met—seemed not as happy as everyone else. In fact, she looked quite sad. Who was she? Why was she sad? Let’s find out as we start the tenth season of Vista Falls Junior High!

Chapter 1: The Depressed Guest
By Joseph Crisalli

Jeff Dinello looked up. The woman had moved across the reception hall and was leaning against one of the tall, stone columns that lined either side of the beautiful room. She was frowning.

Puzzled, Mr. Dinello wondered how anyone could look so unhappy in a room filled with so many overjoyed people. The very thought of it made Mr. Dinello frown himself.

“What’s wrong, Jeff?” Claude Jaquith asked as he rolled his wheelchair over the Mr. Dinello’s table. “Didn’t you get enough wedding cake?”

“I did,” Mr. Dinello chuckled. “I had more than enough cake. Too much, in fact.”

“That’s one of the best things about wedding receptions.” Mr. Jaquith smiled. “It’s an excuse to eat cake.”

Mr. Dinello nodded.

“Seriously, is something troubling you? I thought you’d be happy to see your best friend married.”

“I am.” Mr. Dinello nodded. “I’m thrilled. It isn’t anything about Sam or Jenny. It’s not even about the kids or anyone we know.” Mr. Dinello gestured toward the woman leaning against the column. “It’s her.”

“Oh,” Mr. Jaquith nodded. “Do you know her?”

“No.” Mr. Dinello shook his head. “I don’t. I’ve never seen her before.”

“Nor have I. She doesn’t look like she’s having a very good time.” Mr. Jaquith added.

“No.” Mr. Dinello sighed.

“She’s very pretty. She looks a bit like Jenny Littlepoole.” Mr. Jaquith commented.

“She does. I wonder if she’s one of Jenny’s cousins from out of town.” Mr. Dinello said.

“There’s only one way to find out.” Mr. Jaquith smiled.

“What might that be?” Mr. Dinello asked.

“Go talk with her.” Mr. Jaquith chuckled.

“Come with me.” Mr. Dinello said.

“Sorry, I can’t.” Mr. Jaquith shook his head. “I promised Vera, Ward and Kate that I’d go out to the reflecting pond with them. They wanted to look at the floating candles that Mrs. Conn put in the water for the party.” Mr. Jaquith squinted at Mr. Dinello. “Besides, when have you ever been shy?”

“True.” Mr. Dinello smiled. “Have fun with the kids. I’ll see you later.”

With that, Mr. Dinello took a deep breath and stood up. Mr. Jaquith was mistaken. It wasn’t that Mr. Dinello was shy. That wasn’t why he had asked Mr. Jaquith to go with him. It was simply that Mr. Dinello had a strange feeling. He couldn’t explain what it was. He felt that something was very wrong.

Still he walked over to the woman and introduced himself.

“Hi,” Mr. Dinello said, extending his hand, “I’m Jeff Dinello.”

“You were the ‘best man’ at the wedding.” The woman answered, not shaking Mr. Dinello’s hand. “Are you related to Sam Colbert?”

“No.” Mr. Dinello shook his head. “Not exactly. We’ve been friends all of our lives. We grew up together.”

“How sweet.” The woman answered flatly.

She was tall with pale skin and red hair. Her green eyes –the color of freshly cut grass—fixed on Mr. Dinello with a look of disinterest.

“Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?” Mr. Dinello asked.

“Neither.” The woman shrugged. “I don’t know either of them. I don’t even know why I’m here except that I promised my mother I’d come. She’d over there standing by that large arrangement of flowers.” She pointed. Mr. Dinello looked and nodded.

“I didn’t catch your name.” Mr. Dinello said.

“I didn’t offer it.” The woman sighed. “Oh, why not? My name is Margaret. Margaret Pipkin.”

“Nice to meet you. So, you’re here with your mother? How does your mother know Sam and Jenny?” Mr. Dinello asked.

“Aren’t you full of questions?” Margaret answered.

“And, aren’t you full of mystery?” Mr. Dinello smiled.

Margaret did not smile back.

“Excuse me, please.” Margaret frowned again. “But, I’m terribly bored.”

With that, she walked away.

Mr. Dinello stood with his mouth open and watched as Margaret walked away.

“How incredibly rude.” Mr. Dinello muttered. He wanted to follow Margaret and tell her that she was being very rude. But, would that be rude, too?

What should Mr. Dinello do?

Follow Margaret and let her know what he thinks?
Just let her go?
Go out to the reflecting pool and tell his friends what happened?

Email your thoughts!