and the mystery continues...

For two whole days now, Audrey wondered about who belonged to the other end of that lock of hair.
It seemed that whenever she opened her new old book, it would open to page 408 every time. Staring down at that lock of hair, the added treasure just forged a mystery in her mind’s eye. It called out to her, just for her to solve. "I must investigate this!", she thought.

Audrey picks up the phone to call Alisha . . . "Leash, what do you say . . . let’s go ask Sarah if she knows any history behind this book! At least she can tell us where she got it and who she bought it from! What are you doing this afternoon?" Alisha, just waking up, whispers, "What book?"
"What do you mean, what book? , Have you no memory left in that tight head of kinky curls, girl?"
You know, the book I bought at Bertha’s, the one with the lock of hair!", Audrey huffed, in reply. Alisha, not interested, says, "I have to go into Fredericton today to check on ole’ Aunt Nellie, and then I was hoping, you and I could go to the mall!"
"Oh, Leash, I can’t stand the suspense any longer, you go on ahead, see your Aunt Nellie . . . Why do you call her Aunt Nellie, anyway, she’s not really your aunt, is she? Your mom said, she only had one sister and its surely  not Nellie!
The last time I went with you to see that ole’ bitty, she yelled at me for not putting my tea cup in the sink! I think she's a little touched!"
Go ahead without me, I’m going to have lunch at Sarah’s, I mean, Bertha’s, and I’m going to get to the bottom of this, once and for all!" , Audrey exclaimed.
"Alrighty then, I guess I’ll see ya in the funnies!", Alisha replied comically.

Audrey was somewhat glad Alisha wasn’t coming with her. This mystery needed the utmost attention and Alisha wasn’t really "into" the past like she was, she thought.
So, off to Bertha's she went.

Fairview Avenue was so crowded that morning that Audrey had to find parking two blocks away. As she was walking with her book in hand toward Bertha Gray’s Tea House, she bumped into her teacher from grade school, Mrs.Magillicutty. "Mrs. Magillicutty, is that you," Audrey asked with excitement in her voice. "Why, Audrey Hurley, is that you?", the old women asked with the same excitement.
"Yup, it’s me, still curious as ever!" "My, have you grown since 8^th grade, Audrey! I didn’t think girls grew after fourteen, but I’ve been wrong before!" , Mrs. Magillicutty said.
"Well, either I’ve grown, or you shrunk!", Audrey replied, then laughed out loud.
"What are you reading there dear? , Mrs. Magillicutty asked. "Well, I’m not quite sure, the title has been worn away, and the only face pages left are this old print. I bought it from Bertha’s, and I guess Sarah purchased it from somewhere else, and I was just on my way over there to find out where she got it, Audrey replied, while handing her the book.
"Careful, Mrs. Magillicutty! There’s a small lock of someone’s hair in there, under the chapter on "Courtship,"Audrey said with anticipation.

"Well, well, will ya looky here, your right!", the old women exclaimed. "Years ago, young girls used to put a lock of their beau’s hair in all kinds of books, usually under a special chapter or beside the verse of a love poem, in hopes some divine intervention would turn their attraction toward them"
Really? , Audrey laughed with question, then continued . . . "Did boys ever put some girls locks of hair in a book?" "Oh, I suppose they might have, and even mothers put their babies hair in books too . . . but being that you found this one under the chapter of Courtship, I’m thinking it was probably a girl, but it could be a boy, for that matter."
Audrey thought she could have narrowed it down to either or, but she really wasn’t convinced to which, yet.
The two chatted a little while longer, about the weather and life and all the superficial things you could possibly think of asking your old eighth grade school teacher.
Audrey was really glad she saw Mrs. Magillicutty. It made her reminisce about all her old friends from school for the rest of the way.

Audrey opened the front door to Bertha Gray’s Tea House and upon entering, noticed Sarah wiping down the check out counter. "Hey Sarah, been busy today?"
"Sarah replied," No, it’s been slow as molasses!"
"Well, good.", Audrey said with relief. " I was just hoping you could lend me an ear . . . Remember this book you sold me?"
"Oh yes, but I can’t give you your money back sweetie, but if you want, I can give you a credit," Sarah stated with a bit of reservation.
"Oh no, no,  Sarah, I don’t want to return it, I want to ask you where you got it and if you knew anything about this guy . . . opening the first page to the written name, reciting his name out loud and clear, Walter Dudley Bullard"
"Let me see . . . Walter Bullard, thinking she might, but then again, not sure, replied, Nope, can’t say I ever heard the likes of him, dear."
"Well darn, where did you get the book from, maybe that would help?"
" Help with what honey?"
Audrey handed her her treasure.

Sarah opened the book, and of course it opened to page 408 and then Audrey said, "See . . . I want to find out who this little lock of hair belongs to. Someone placed it here between the pages of this chapter on Courtship, and I was just so curious as to who it could have belonged to, who was in love with whom, and if Walter had a love he’s yearned for, if, even this Walter guy was involved!"

Sarah resumed wiping and said, " I can't imagine all this curiosity but I purchased the book from that antique fair they had last month in Jacquet River. The man that sold it to me, I believe, is the same man that works as a volunteer for the Police department during the county fairs. I’ve seen him several times before and he is quite a distinct character, with his shiny bald head and friendly smile. He’s about my age . . . but never mind trying to figure that out . . . my lips are sealed!" "Do you know his name, Sarah", Audrey asked with even more expectation. "Well, let me think...I think his name is Sonny.

To be continued...

 

Copyright 2007
Kimmy Van Kooten