The haunted house mystery
The Haunted House Mystery
Chapter One
When chocolate chip cookies started to disappear from homes and grocery stores in Petal City folks asked themselves if the old Strawberry Mansion on the outskirts of Petal City might once again be the sight of criminal activity. The old house had been used in the past as a hideout by criminals escaping the long arm of the law. The cellars underneath the mansion made a great hiding place for stolen loot.
People whispered among themselves, about seeing strange characters hanging around the mansion late at night. Wally Rooster reported seeing a strange van unloading boxes as he was preparing to go to work.
“It was too early for honest people to be about. I must wonder if I didn’t come upon chocolate cookie thieves hiding their merchandise in the mansion cellars.”
Why wasn’t more done to catch the thieves? Chocolate chip cookies were an important part of the diet in Petal City. In fact, they were so important that Henrietta Teddy Bear, who disapproved of anything that made life enjoyable, tried to have them banned a few years ago. Petal City councilors came close to voting for a ban on the making and selling of cookies. Fortunately for cookie lovers, the mayor voted down the proposal after his son Willie suffered severe chocolate chip cookie withdrawals.
Henrietta had the final word in the controversy when she told anyone who would listen that Petal City would come to regret the decision not to ban the notorious cookies.
“Mark my words, no good will come of this. You will regret the day you did not listen to me.”
Two years later, Henrietta’s granddaughter Theodora was the first to report the newest chapter in the saga of chocolate chip cookies in Petal City. Monday morning, she came into the sheriff’s office and informed Officer Hot T. Dog of the theft of her newly baked cookies.
“I made forty-eight chocolate chip cookies and placed them on my kitchen table while I watched “As the Hen Turns.” When I went back to check on them, they were all gone.”
Sheriff Dog was used to receiving complaints from Theodora Teddy Bear. She came in once a week to tell him about something the neighborhood kids had done to her garden. He suspected the young scamps had found a way of stealing her chocolate chip cookies to get even with her. Before he could say anything, Theodora informed him that Tessa Bear’s cookies had suffered the same fate.
“If you took the time to investigate the matter sheriff, I believe you would find there is a crime wave going on in Petal City. Someone is after our chocolate chip cookies.”
“Now Theodora, I am certain there is a simple explanation for all this. Don’t get yourself all worked up. Give me time and I’ll find out what’s going on. Go home, bake more cookies, and keep a closer eye on them.”
“Do you think all I have to do is sit around and bake cookies all day? The citizens of Petal City elected you sheriff to protect them from criminals, and I have to say you’re not doing too good a job, sheriff. My aunt Henrietta will have something to say about this.”
With these words, Theodora Teddy Bear left sheriff Hot T. Dog’s office in a huff. The sheriff was still shaking his head when Rosebud walked in behind her.
“What’s up sheriff? I came to see if you had any crime solving, I could help you with. Theodora Teddy Bear almost knocked me down.”
“Sit down Rosebud and I’ll get you a glass of honey juice. Theodora was here to tell me about a crime wave in Petal City. It seems chocolate chip cookies are disappearing from kitchens all over town and she does not think I’m doing a respectable job of bringing the thieves to justice. She threatened to talk to her aunt Henrietta.”
Rosebud smiled in sympathy. Everyone in town knew and feared Henrietta Teddy Bear, especially when she got a bee in her bonnet about one of her pet peeves.
“Much as I hate to admit it sheriff, Theodora could be on to something this time. Bonnie Cow told me her chocolate chip cookies went missing yesterday and Billy Goat’s store was robbed early this morning. He doesn’t have one chocolate chip cookie left on his shelf.”
“Who would want to steal chocolate chip cookies?”
“Autumn Rose and I aren’t busy right now. We could investigate this for you.”
“Where would you begin your investigation?”
“I was thinking we could visit Dr. Rabbit the dentist, see if he’s got more patients than usual. We could also go to Doc Grey Owl’s clinic, see if some of his patients have reported tummy aches in the last few days.”
“Those are good places to start Rosebud. The only problem is that I can’t spare any officers to help you and Autumn Rose. I had to assign them to keep an eye on the cows at Farmer Brown’s place. There was a big traffic jam there this morning. Someone broke a fence and cows escaped. Volunteers are trying to round up the strays.”
“Pete Elephant is in town this week. He could help us.”
“I’d think twice about asking him Rosebud. Remember the last time he helped us? Rory Rabbit’s Garden was a shamble after we had to dig Pete from the hole, he fell in. Don’t get me wrong, I like Pete, but you must admit he is big.”
“He did find the carrot thief and that made Rory happy. I’ll ask Autumn Rose to keep an eye on him.”
“Well, I suppose Pete can help. Just try to make sure he doesn’t fall into any holes.”
Rosebud’s younger sister Autumn Rose and Pete Elephant were playing Old Bear Maid when she walked into the offices of the Bear Detective Agency.
“There’s no time to play cards. Sheriff Dog needs our help to find missing chocolate chip cookies.”
Pete Elephant looked at his friend with a worried frown on his face.
“Are you sure the sheriff asked for my help Rosebud? He wasn’t too happy with me the last time I worked on a case with you. I’m still paying for that big crane he had to use to get me out of the hole in Rory Rabbit’s Garden.”
“I told him Autumn Rose would keep an eye on you, Pete. Besides, we can use your trunk to sniff out clues. Autumn Rose, I want you to visit Theodora Teddy Bear. She’s the one who complained to the sheriff about her missing chocolate chip cookies. She can fill you in on what’s going on.”
“No, no and no! I am not going to Theodora Teddy Bear’s house and nothing you say will make me change my mind. She still looks at me funny every time she sees me and accuses me of eating all her jellybeans at the last church supper. She put a curse on me; I just know it. I haven’t been able to eat jellybeans since.
“You can’t eat jellybeans because they give you a tummy ache. Either you visit Theodora Teddy Bear, or you can see Dr. Rabbit the dentist. I hear he has a special on teeth pulling this week.”
“That’s not fair Rosebud. Fine, I’ll see Theodora, but she better not mention those jellybeans again. Where’s Pete going?”
“Pete and I are going to visit the dentist’s office then see Doc Grey Owl to find out if they have any information that could help us. Then, we’re going to the old warehouse down by the pond. I heard Sammy Skunk hangs around there and he usually knows everything that goes on in Petal City. Do you know where our pea shooters are, Autumn Rose?”
“The sheriff didn’t give them back to us after we shot up the side of his car by mistake last month. He said we’d have to get proper training at the pea shooting range before he’d give them back to us.”
Pete Elephant offered to load his trunk with peanuts and use them as weapons if needed.
“That’s a good plan, Pete. We’ll stop by Duck’s Candy Store on our way to the warehouse and get a package of his peanut butter nuts. Autumn Rose, we’ll meet you here at six, see what information we produce.”
“Please be safe Rosebud and you too Pete. See you later.”
Theodora Teddy Bear was baking another batch of chocolate chip cookies when Autumn Rose knocked at her door. Frustrated at the distraction, Theodora glared at the small bear and asked her what she wanted.
“I hope it’s not more jellybeans Autumn Rose. I am still waiting for you to return those you took from my jar at the last church supper.”
Drawing herself up to her full height, Autumn Rose informed Theodora she was here on official detective business.
“Rosebud, Pete Elephant and I are helping the sheriff solve the mystery of the disappearing chocolate chip cookies and I told you I would bring you some jellybeans as soon as I paid my bill at Penny Duck’s Candy Shop.”
“Well, all I can say is he’s certainly chosen a strange group to help him. Come into the kitchen. I’m baking more chocolate chip cookies, and I hope this time my family can eat them in peace. I’ll be happy to share my information with you and Rosebud. Sit down and I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Autumn Rose tried not to sniff the wonderful odor of chocolate chip cookies that filled the kitchen and couldn’t help thinking it would be nice if Theodora offered her cookies. As if she had read her mind, Theodora placed a plate of cookies in front of her and told Autumn Rose to taste them.
“It’s a new recipe I found in the latest issue of “Bear’s Good Cave Keeping.” What do you think, are they as good as my usual chocolate chip cookies?”
Her mouth full of delicious cookies, Autumn Rose smiled her approval.
“That’s good to hear. I’ll enter them in the Petal City fair this year and finally take the first- place medal away from Susie Hen. She’s had it for the last five years for her shortbread cookies. Now let me see what I can tell you about those missing chocolate chip cookies. You know, none of this would have happened if the city council had listened to my aunt Henrietta and enforced the ban on chocolate chip cookies she requested. I don’t believe for a minute the mayor’s son suffered from chocolate chip cookie withdrawal. He was just trying to get out of going to school that day.”
Autumn Rose took out her notebook and waited for Theodora to give her some useful information. This might take some time because once she started talking, Theodora had a habit of going from one subject to another without much rhyme or reason.
“Where was I? Oh yes, the recent theft of chocolate chip cookies. The first I learned about was when I baked some cookies yesterday, left them on the kitchen table to cool down and found them missing when I came back twenty minutes later. My son Freddy loves my cookies, so I asked him if he had taken some from the table. He said he didn’t even know I was baking that day. Then I talked to Tessa Bear next door, and she told me the same thing happened to her, twice in fact. She was frustrated because Chester, her husband, was looking forward to eating her cookies. He was so upset at their disappearance that he went to bed without supper two nights in a row. As if this wasn’t bad enough, Dan the Duck reported seeing strange lights at Strawberry Mansion on Moonlight Lane. I can’t help wondering if it might have something to do with the theft of chocolate chip cookies. Well, even if it does, I doubt Sheriff Dog will investigate the matter. He never listens to anything I tell him, just like his father Hamburger Dog the lawyer. Couldn’t tell that old hound anything. He thought he knew it all.”
As Theodora paused to catch her breath, Autumn Rose got up from the table, thanked her for the information and the cookies and left before Theodora Bear could start talking again. Once she was safely on her way back to the office, Autumn Rose called Rosebud on her celery phone and told her sister she had valuable information to share with her and Pete Elephant.
“Pete and I are on our way to see Sammy Skunk. You did a great job Autumn Rose. Talk to you later.”
Rosebud and Pete were soon at the old warehouse by River Bend Road. They found Sammy Skunk sitting on a pile of boxes eating his lunch. He wasn’t happy to see them.
“What are you two doing here? Did Harry Goat tell you I stole his lunch? He gave it to me.”
“We didn’t come here to talk about Harry Goat’s lunch. We want to know if you can give us any information about the missing chocolate chip cookies.”
“Why do you always come to me when something goes wrong in Petal City? Everyone knows I don’t like chocolate chip cookies so why would I know anything about their disappearance?”
“I didn’t accuse you of stealing them, Sammy. Pete and I just want to know if you’ve heard anything about their disappearance.”
“You haven’t heard this from me, but Pocko the Lip is planning a party on Saturday for Norman the Silencer and Emi the Chirp. He loves his chocolate chip cookies, and he wants to impress Norman and Emi. He hopes they will join his gang.”
Sammy was angry with Pocko for inviting Norman the Silencer and Emi the Chirp to a party and forgetting his birthday a month ago. Sammy hoped Rosebud and Pete Elephant would find Pocko and send him to jail.
Rosebud thanked Sammy Skunk for his information.
“Pete and I won’t tell anyone what you told us, Sammy. If you did steal Harry Goat’s lunch, watch out for his brother Mack. I heard he’s been taking boxing lessons from Koko Kangaroo.”
Once back at the office, Rosebud and Pete listened as Autumn Rose told them what she had learned from Theodora Bear.
Rosebud was interested in the lights that Dan the Duck had seen at Strawberry Mansion. As Autmn Rose feared, her sister wondered if it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the old house.
“Rosebud, you know Dan the Duck is not a reliable witness to anything, especially when he’s had a few drinks of Kick a Poo juice. That place has been empty for ages.”
“Which would make it a good hiding place for someone stealing chocolate chip cookies. Come on, we must tell the sheriff about this.”
Sheriff Dog was sitting at his desk when the three detectives walked into his office.
“I hope you’re bringing me good news. Chocolate chip cookies are disappearing in even greater numbers in Petal City. I’ve been asking myself if Henrietta Bear was right to ask for a ban on them.”
Rosebud told the Sheriff that she and Pete had spoken to Sammy Skunk and felt he was hiding something.
“He did tell us that Pocko the Lip is planning a party for Norman the Silencer and Emi the Chirp. Pocko never has enough cookies, and he wants to impress Norman and Emi, so they’ll join his gang. From experience with Sammy in the past, I think he’s part of Pocko’s gang. I don’t know why he’d tell us about the party Pocko is planning. Theodora Bear told Autumn Rose about lights Dan the Duck saw at Strawberry Mansion. I think this needs to be further investigated.”
Sheriff Dog got up and gave Rosebud, Autumn Rose, and Pete Elephant a hearty handshake and a cup of honey tea to thank them for their excellent work.
“I agree that we need to keep an eye on Strawberry Mansion. Would the three of you agree to keep watch there tonight?”
Before Autumn Rose could refuse, Rosebud agreed to the sheriff’s suggestion. Autumn Rose got up from her chair and headed for the door. No way would she spend the night at Strawberry Mansion, and she made her feelings clear to everyone in the room.
“Now listen all of you. I agreed to interview Theodora Bear even though she’s been angry with me since the last church supper, but I will not, for any reason, spend the night at Strawberry Mansion. There have been too many strange things going on there lately and I just won’t go.”
“If that’s how you feel Autumn Rose, I certainly won’t try to change your mind.”
Autumn Rose knew she had to beware when Rosebud agreed so quickly to something she said. There had to be something more in her decision to go to Strawberry Mansion tonight. Rosebud was just as scared of ghosts as she was.
“What is it you’re not telling me Rosebud?”
“I went to Strawberry Mansion by myself last week. I wanted to investigate the strange noises everyone said they heard, and I knew if I told you, you’d be angry and tell me to stay home. I took my Sherlock Holmes investigating kit with me and when I came home, I found out I lost my magnifying glass. It must be somewhere in the garden, and I need to find it. Grandpa Bear gave me that kit last Christmas and I don’t want him to know how irresponsible I was.”
Autumn Rose knew how important the Sherlock Holmes investigating kit was to Rosebud. She agreed to go to Strawberry Mansion with her and see if they could find it.
“You don’t have to be scared Autumn Rose. I’ll be there to protect you.”
“Thank you, Pete Elephant.”
Chapter two
The trees cast shadows on the forest path as three figures approached Strawberry Mansion later that night. Rosebud was trying hard to be brave, but her knees shook whenever the wind sent an eerie whisper through the overhanging branches. An owl’s wings touched Autumn Rose’s cheek, and she jumped up in the air, landing safely on Pete Elephant’s back.
“What was that? I know it was a ghost. I want to go home right now.”
“Relax Autumn Rose. It’s me, Ollie Owl come to see what you are doing in this part of the forest.”
“Ollie!!! You scared me. We’re going up to Strawberry Mansion to see what’s going on there. People have reported seeing lights there late at night.”
“My friend Gordy Goose told me he heard music coming from the house three nights ago. Now Gordy has been known to stretch the truth a bit, so I thought I’d have a look for myself. You say someone saw lights?”
Rosebud spoke up before Autumn Rose really scared herself. As it was, Pete Elephant’s trunk was turning blue with fear.
“Autumn Rose don’t let your imagination run away with you. Remember that it was Rosie Donkey who told you about seeing lights and she’s not always a dependable witness.”
Autumn Rose knew what her sister was trying to tell her. Rosie got all excited because Paddy the Irish Setter told her about a pot of gold he had seen at the end of a rainbow on Craggy Mountain. After three days of digging and finding nothing, poor Rosie came back to Petal City with her tail between her legs. It had taken time for people to stop teasing her about her misadventure.
“Well, Rosie could be right this time Rosebud. I mean someone would need lights if they were going to play music, wouldn’t they?”
Ollie decided to step in before the argument between the two sisters got out of hand.
“I know Rosie Donkey has a vivid imagination, but she does mean well. As for the lights and the music, I think they both have a perfectly natural explanation and the sooner we find it, the sooner we can stop the rumors going around Petal City.”
“What do you suggest we do Ollie?”
“You and Pete Elephant check out the front of the house while Autumn Rose and I check out the back. That way, if anyone is hiding in the house, we can catch them.”
Rosebud and Pete agreed with Ollie and headed to the front of Strawberry Mansion. Ollie and Autumn Rose went back. A garden of overgrown weeds met their gaze.
“How will we ever make our way through this tangle of weeds Ollie?”
“Stay here while I fly over and see if I can spot an opening Autumn Rose.”
Autumn Rose wasn’t sure this was such a clever idea, but she hid behind a tree and tried not to shake too much while she waited for Ollie’s return. It seemed to take forever before she finally heard him flying overhead. Landing on a branch, Ollie told her he had found a fence just around the corner.
“If you follow a path cleared of weeds, there’s a gate that lets you into the back yard.”
“What reason would anyone have to clear a path down there?”
“It looks suspicious to me, Autumn Rose but this is the only way we can reach Strawberry Mansion. Come on, I’ll guide you from the air.”
Autumn Rose walked carefully down the path, trying not to see the shadows left by the tree branches overhead or hear the wind singing through the leaves.
“Are you there, Ollie? It’s getting darker and I am having a tough time seeing the path.”
“I’m right here, Autumn Rose. Keep going. There’s not much further to go.”
“Do you see any ghosts?”
“No, I don’t Autumn Rose. There’s the gate in front of you.”
Autumn Rose heard a creaking noise and saw an old gate open before her as if by magic. She hesitated to go in until she saw Ollie waiting for her under a tree.
“Come over here, Autumn Rose. I saw a light in the attic. Someone is in Strawberry Mansion.
“Do you see Rosebud and Pete? I hope no one hurt them.”
As she finished speaking, they heard a big crash and screams coming from inside the old house. Autumn Rose and Ollie ran inside and found Pete Elephant standing in the middle of the living room surrounded by remains of the ceiling. Rosebud told him he should have listened to her when she told him to wait outside.
“I told you the attic floor was old and not safe. I was going to open the front door for you, Pete. Why couldn’t you wait? You scared me and you could have been hurt.”
Pete Elephant hung his head in shame.
“It’s not easy being so big, Rosebud. I only wanted to help you. I am sorry.”
Autumn Rose, knowing how sensitive Pete was about his weight, brought everyone’s attention to the chest lying on the floor.
“Where did that come from?”
While Rosebud and Ollie inspected the chest, Autumn Rose dried Pete’s tears and told him he had done an excellent job.
“We would never have found this chest without your help, Pete, and it could turn out to be important.”
“I suppose you’re right, Autumn Rose, but I don’t think Rosebud will ever want me to be part of one of her investigations again.”
“Rosebud has a good heart, Pete. You scared her and that made her angry.”
Rosebud walked up to Pete and Autumn Rose and told Pete he had found an important clue.
“This chest contains chocolate chip cookie crumbs; proof someone is hiding them here. Ollie and I want to check the house, see if we can find anything else. Autumn Rose, you, and Pete stand guard and warn us if anyone comes.”
“Are you sure you want me to help, Rosebud? I really made a mess of things.”
“You’re an important part of the team, Pete. When I heard the ceiling crack and saw you falling, I was scared. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
“Thank you, Rosebud. I promise to be more careful from now on. Come on, Autumn Rose. I saw a great place where we can stand guard. No one suspicious is going to come by us tonight.”
As they were leaving to assume their posts, Rosebud’s celery phone rang.
“Rosebud, this is Sheriff Dog. I just found out that Pocko the Lip is headed to Strawberry Mansion with Sammy Skunk and Tommy the Horse.”
“We found a chest containing chocolate chip cookies in the attic. That’s proof Pocko and his gang are using Strawberry Mansion as their hideout.
“Do you want to come back to town and my officers, and I will go to Strawberry Mansion? This could be dangerous Rosebud.”
“No, Autumn Rose, Pete, Ollie and I are already here.”
“I’ll place extra officers on the streets of Petal City in case anything happens here. Call me if you need help and be careful.”
When she hung up the phone, Rosebud told the others what Sheriff Dog had said.
“We need to be even more careful now. Ollie, you know Strawberry Mansion better than any of us. Where do you think we should stand guard?”
“I am going to keep watch from the tree over there and I think it would be a good idea if you and Pete kept watch on the front door while Autumn Rose guarded the back door. Don’t worry, Autumn Rose. I can see the backyard from the tree, and I’ll be right there if you need help.”
“Have you seen anything suspicious going on?”
“No, I haven’t Rosebud but that doesn’t mean things are going to keep quiet all night. After Pete found that trunk, I did a bit of investigating on my own and found more cookie crumbs in the attic. Someone is using Strawberry Mansion to hide cookies.”
“Stay where you are!! Why do you invade my home and my garden? Did I invite you to come here?”
The voice drifted down from the treetops and when the three friends turned around to see who had spoken, they found themselves looking at a woman dressed in white with flowing blond hair drifting down her back. When they tried to run away, she lifted a hand, and they were unable to move.
Since he was the biggest, Pete felt it was his duty to speak to the ghost. The others hid behind him for protection.
“We believe your home is being used to hide stolen chocolate chip cookies. We are here tonight because we want to catch the culprits.”
“This is my home, and I will protect it from intruders.”
“Honoria, you were always stubborn. Listen to what these youngsters are telling you.”
“Malcolm, I do wish you would warn me when you are near.”
The new voice materialized into the form of a man wearing a Pickle army uniform. He turned to Pete and told him he was Honoria’s husband.
“I built Strawberry Mansion for Honoria, but the war came, and I had to leave her. I am afraid she has never forgiven me.”
Honoria snorted her disapproval, reminding Autumn Rose of Henrietta Bear and her frequent snorts of disapproval.
“The war between the Pickle army and the Tomato army. Sounds more like the making of a sandwich to me. We are discussing intruders, Malcolm, not your performance as a soldier. What are we going to do about them?”
“We are going to fight them my dear.”
Turning to Rosebud, Autumn Rose and Pete Elephant, Malcolm asked them if they were willing to help save Strawberry Mansion. After receiving their agreement, he told them of a stash of pickles and tomatoes in the cellar of the house.
“We can use them as weapons against these trespassers.”
“Sir, you have a good plan, but Pocko the Lip loves his chocolate chip cookies. He won’t give them up easily and someone could be hurt.”
“I don’t believe this Pocko will expect ghosts to attack him, Rosebud. Come on, let’s get ready to greet our unwanted guests.”
The cellar was dark and cold. Autumn Rose wasn’t sure she liked being there with two ghosts who argued all the time.
“Pete, do you think Pocko will be here soon? I don’t think I can be here much longer.”
“I know what you mean, Autumn Rose. I will never eat another pickle again.”
A noise outside warned the friends someone was coming. Each of them picked up a pickle or a tomato and got ready. The door creaked open and Pocko crept in, followed by Sammy Skunk and Tommy the Horse.
“I don’t like this, Pocko. It feels as if we’re being watched.”
“You have a vivid imagination, Sammy. I told you there was no one here. Come on, let’s get my cookies.”
Suddenly, a rain of pickles and tomatoes fell on Pocko, Sammy and Tommy followed by horrible screeches and moans. Half of Pocko’s dots fell on the ground as he ran away, trailed by Sammy and Phil. Honoria raised her arm and the three thieves couldn’t move.
“Help!!! Help!!! We’re being attacked by ghosts.”
“Be quiet Pocko. You stole chocolate chip cookies and hid them here in Strawberry Mansion. We found crumbs in the attic.”
“Rosebud! I should have known you were behind this. Why can’t we move? Get me out of here!”
Honoria and Malcolm stood in front of the meowing cat and smiled at him. Pocko felt the rest of his dots fall away. Sammy and Tommy shook with fear.
“I must thank you Pocko for bringing those chocolate chip cookies to Strawberry Mansion. I did enjoy eating them with my tea.”
Autumn Rose called the sheriff on her celery phone and told him they had caught Pocko and his friends.
“That is good news. I will be there in ten minutes.”
Pete Elephant felt sorry for Pocko. He knew chocolate chip cookies were not on the menu of Petal City Jail.
“Pocko, we would have shared our chocolate chip cookies with you.”
“I did not want to share cookies with anyone, Pete.”
Meanwhile, Rosebud and Autumn Rose were saying good-bye to Honoria and Malcolm.
“It was nice meeting you. I will never be afraid of ghosts again.”
“That is good news, Autumn Rose. Some of us are nice, you know. I hope you and your friends will come to visit us. We can’t leave Strawberry Mansion, and it would be nice to hear news of Petal City. I used to visit Dorothy’s Hat Shop and enjoyed ice cream at Millie’s Ice Cream Parlor.”
“They are both still there. Dorothy’s daughter Annie owns the shop and Matt, Millie’s son is now owner of the ice cream parlor.”
“My, time does fly, doesn’t it? Thank you for telling me about my two favorite places in Petal City.”
Malcolm told Honoria he could hear the sheriff coming and it might be a good idea if he didn’t see the two ghosts.
“People don’t understand us. It was a pleasure meeting you, Rosebud, Autumn Rose, and Pete Elephant. I hope to see you all again.”
Autumn Rose shed a tear as she watched Honoria and Malcolm fade away. Rosebud sniffled a bit and Pete hid his face behind his trunk, not wanting the two bears to see him cry. The sheriff came in at that moment.
“Pocko, Sammy and Tommy, my men will take you back to Petal City. What are all these pickles and tomatoes doing on the floor?”
“Pete found them in the basement, and we used them as weapons against Pocko and his gang.”
“You know, Strawberry Mansion was built by Colonel Malcom Van Duck for his wife Honoria. He left not long after they married to fight in the Pickle Wars against the Tomato army. I wonder if these pickles and tomatoes could be weapons, he used in that war?”
“We’ll never know, sheriff. It’s been a long night. The good news is that people in Petal City can enjoy their chocolate chip cookies in peace.”
As they got into Sheriff Dog’s car, Autumn Rose turned around and saw Honoria waving at her from an upstairs window. She waved back, silently telling Honoria she would be back to visit her.
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