Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (4 of 12)

      Kelly, her six-year-old sister, walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.

      “Good morning, sleepyhead,” said Ashley.

      “What would you like for breakfast, Kelly?” asked Ashley’s mother.

      “Maybe some pancakes,” said Kelly.

      “O.k.,” said Ashley’s mother. “Have a seat at the table and I’ll make the pancakes.”

      “Can you make them shaped like Mickey Mouse or triangles?” asked Kelly excitedly.

      “Now you’re pushing it,” said Ashley’s mother with a smile. “They’re just going to be regular pancakes, little miss!”

      Ashley got up to pour her sister a glass of milk.

      “What are you going to do today, Kel?” asked Ashley’s father.

      “I don’t know,” said Kelly. “Is Gram coming over?”

      “She’ll be over later this morning,” said Ashley’s mother.

      “O.k., maybe I’ll play with her,” said Kelly.

      “Ashley, why don’t you take your sister to the beach with you?” asked Ashley’s mother.

      “Mom,” said Ashley as she rolled her eyes. You know that Kel doesn’t like to just stay on the beach. I’ll spend the whole time chasing after her instead of reading my book!“

      “I’ll be good,” said Kelly. “I won’t run around like crazy. Please, please, please with sugar on top!”

      “Oh, o.k.,” said Ashley with a sigh. “But you’d better behave yourself!”

      “I will,” said Kelly. “I’ll be good.”

      “Thanks, Ashley,” said her mother. “Kelly, why don’t you bring a pail and shovel to make a sandcastle?”

      “O.k.,” said Kelly as she started to get up from the table.

      “Not yet, silly goose,” said Ashley. “You have to eat your pancakes first!”

Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (3 of 12)

      “Dad,” said Ashley. “What are the ‘Dog Days of Summer’?”

      “Well,” answered her father. “It means a really hot period of weather at the end of summer. The phrase refers to a very bright star, Sirius, also known as the ‘Dog Star’ in the constellation, Canis Major. In the summer, when the constellation rose and set with the sun, ancient civilizations believed that the heat of the star added to the sun’s heat and made it extremely hot. So, they called these days the ‘Dog Days of Summer’.”   Ashley’s father was a marine biologist at The Powers Institute of Technology, or The P.I.T. as he liked to call it.  

     “Oh,” said Ashley. “For a marine biologist, you sure know a lot about stars.”

     “I guess so,” answered her father. “When I was a kid on Long Island, I spent many hours looking at the stars through the telescope that my favorite Uncle Bill have me for my tenth birthday. He taught me all about the stars and constellations. Canis Major is right behind the Orion constellation.”

     “Can we look for the Dog Star tonight?” asked Ashley.

     “Sure,” said her father. “It looks like it’ll be a clear night. We’ll set up the telescope in the backyard.”

Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (2)

     Ashley changed into her navy blue bathing suit. She put on sun block before putting her shorts and T-shirt over her suit. She took her backpack out of the closet and put her beach towel and cell phone in it. She then put her notebook and pen inside because she never knew when she’d be inspired to write! She put her copy of To Kill a Mockingbird on top and closed the backpack.

     She went downstairs and into the kitchen. Her parents were sitting at the table reading the newspaper and drinking coffee.

     “Good morning,” she said as she sat down at the table.

     “Good morning,” said her father as he peeked over the top of his paper. “What do you have planned for today?”

     “Nothing much,” said Ashley. “Josh and I are just going to go to the beach for awhile.”

     “That sounds like a good thing to do on a summer day,” said her mother. “What would you like for breakfast?”

     “I think I’ll just have some cereal,” said Ashley. She got up to get her cereal bowl from the cabinet and the milk from the refrigerator.  She then took the box of Cheerios from the pantry.

Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (1 of 12)

     It was another hot summer day in Donnybrook, Maine. Twelve-year-old Ashley Enright looked out her bedroom window and saw that the ocean was as flat as glass. There wasn’t even the slightest breeze. She laughed to herself and thought, “I guess these are what they call the Dog Days of Summer.

     She used her cell phone to call her best friend, Josh Stewart.

     “Hi, Josh,” said Ashley when her friend answered the phone. “What were you going to do today?”

     “I don’t know,” said Josh with a sigh. “Any ideas?”

     “We could go to the beach for a while and read,” suggested Ashley.

     “Too boring,” said Josh. “Oh wait, I could bring my Dad’s metal detector and look for coins and stuff.”

     “O.k.,” said Ashley. “Why don’t you come over here and we’ll go to the beach at the end of the road.  Her house was the last house on Foggy Bottom Road and it overlooked a crescent beach.

Ashley Enright and the Independence Day Investigation (6 of 6)

    The next morning, Ashley called Josh and told him about the leather case full of letters.

    “Why would anyone want a bunch of someone else’s old letters?” Josh asked.

    “Well, first of all, the leather case is beautiful,” Ashley answered. “And my mom can use the letters to show what life was like in Donnybrook during the centuries.”

    “Centuries?” asked Josh. “What centuries?”

    “Duh,” said Ashley. “The 20^th, 19^th and 18^th centuries.”

    “Wait, the 18^th century?” asked Josh. “Isn’t that, like, the 1700’s?”

    “Yep,” said Ashley. “Mom wants to go with us to the library and ask Kathleen some questions about the letter writers.”

    Kathleen Gorman was the reference librarian at the Donnybrook Library. She had helped Ashley and Josh with their investigations before. They thought it was neat that they could call her by her first name, rather than ‘Mrs. Gorman.’ It made her seem more like a friend.

    “Can I come?” asked Josh.

    “Of course,” said Ashley. “That’s why I was calling you.”

    “Oh, yeah,” Josh laughed. “I guess that would make sense!”

    “We’ll pick you up at 11 o’clock,” said Ashley.

    “O.k.,” said Josh. “I’ll be ready.” He hung up the phone.

    Ashley sighed and said, “Telephone manners is not his strong suit.”

    “Not whose strong suit, dear?” asked Gram.

    “Oh, Josh,” Ashley answered. “He never says ‘goodbye’ when we talk on the phone, he just hangs up!”

    Gram laughed and said, “Well dear, boys his age are easily distracted. I’m sure he was rushing off to do something!”

    “Yeah,” Ashley agreed. “Probably, eat.”

    At 11 o’clock, Ashley and her mother picked up Josh to go to the Donnybrook Library. Once there, they quickly made their way to the Reference Librarian’s desk. Ashley and Josh breathed an audible sigh of relief when they saw Kathleen sitting there.  

    Kathleen looked up from the book on her desk. “Why, hello,” she said. “What brings you two here today? Oh, hello, Mrs. Enright. This is a welcome surprise.”

    “Hello, Mrs. Gorman,” said Ashley’s mother.  “I know that I don’t get to the library as often as I should. Today, we need your help.”

    “Yes,” said Ashley. “Gram and I bought a leather portfolio for Mom at the Peabody’s garage sale. It’s filled with letters and we were hoping that you could tell us something about them.”
      “I can certainly try,” said Kathleen as she took the letters out of the portfolio. “Wow, some of these letters are really old.
      “We know,” said Ashley. “Those were really the ones that we needed to know about.”

     Kathleen took a few moments to open up the letters and read them. Then, she looked something up on her computer. “Wow,” she said. “This is almost unbelieveable!”

    “What, what?” asked Josh anxiously leaning over her desk.

    “Well, these old, old letters are from William Whipple. Do you have any idea who he was?” asked Kathleen.

    “No, of course not,” said Ashley’s mother. “That’s why we’re here!”

    “Well,” said Kathleen looking at her computer screen. “It says here that William Whipple was born in Kittery, Maine which is at the bottom of the state.  He was a sea captain before he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He then became a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1775 and actually signed the Declaration of Independence!”

    “Wow,” said Josh. “That’s cool.”

    “It sure is,” said Kathleen. “These letters are written to a family member who lived in Donnybrook and provide quite an insight as to what was happening at the birth of our nation. Where did you get these letters, again?”

    “At Mr. Peabody’s garage sale,” said Ashley. “We asked him about the letters, but he said that we could have them.”

    “I guess he didn’t really know what he had,” said Ashley’s mother. “Ashley and my mother bought the portfolio for me because they thought I could use the letters in the Donnybrook Days event.”

    “Well, this certainly gives you a great insight into life in Philadelphia in 1775-76,” said Kathleen. “It also looks like there are letters written during World War I and II. It’s an amazing collection that you have here!”

    “I know,” said Ashley’s mother. “It’s really going to add some unique flavor to Donnybrook Days. I’d really appreciate it if you could provide us with some more details about the letter writers.”

    “It’d be my pleasure,” said Kathleen. “You know I love to investigate!” She winked at Ashley and Josh. 

    “We know,” said Ashley and Josh in unison.

    They arranged to pick up the portfolio from Kathleen later in the day and went into town to enjoy lunch at Ella’s Sweet Shop.

    The next evening, after another scrumptious meal prepared by Gram, the Enrights gathered on their back porch to get ready to view the Donnybrook 4^th of July fireworks display.

    Josh and his parents joined them. There were oohs and aahs when Ashley brought out the special holiday dessert that she and Gram had made. It was a sheet cake frosted to look like the American Flag.

    “That looks delicious,” said Ashley’s mother. “You did a spectacular job!”

    “Do we have to wait until after the fireworks to eat it?” Josh asked anxiously.

    “No, Joshua,” said Gram. “That would be too cruel to make you wait! Besides, the sun is just setting now and we have some time before the fireworks start.”

    “Whew,” said Josh holding his fork and ready to eat.

     As Gram cut the cake, Ashley’s mother said, “This is a truly memorable 4^th of July.”

    “Why is that, dear?” asked Ashley’s father. “Because we have cake?”

     Ashley’s mother laughed and said, “Now you sound exactly like someone we know.” She nodded her head toward Josh. “No, I mean it’s memorable because of those letters that Ashley and my mother found.”

    “Oh, that,” said Ashley’s father. “What will happen to those letters now?”

    “We’re going to give them to the University,” said Ashley. “They want to build a special exhibit for next year’s 4^th of July on Donnybrook’s connection to the Declaration of Independence.”

    “Once again,” said Ashley’s father. “Ashley Enright Investigations has uncovered something great!”

    “Well,” said Ashley. “Gram and I were really just buying a nice leather portfolio case.”

    “I know,” said Ashley’s mother. “But, as usual, you’ve found something important.”

    “I guess,” said Ashley as the first firework exploded in the sky above the Donnybrook Lighthouse. “I can’t wait until tomorrow, but, first I want to enjoy the fireworks display!”

 

                                                                                   Happy 4^th of July!

Ashley Enright and the Independence Day Investigation (5)

    That evening after a scrumptious dinner that Gram prepared, the family gathered on the back porch to watch the sunset.

    “Ashley,” said her mother. “I was reading some of those letters that were in the leather case that you brought home. They are absolutely fascinating! Some of them are from soldiers who served in World War I and World War II. Some of them are from the 1800’s and I’ve even come across some that were written in the 1700’s.”

    “Wow,” said Ashley. “Well, Mr. Peabody did say that his family’s been here for ages.”

    “I guess he was right,” said her father. “I think the 1700’s really count as ‘being here for ages.’ What was in those letters, dear?”

    Ashley’s mother said, “The ones written in the 1700’s were written by a family member who lived in Kittery, Maine. I really think we may have come across something here, because he seems to be talking about being in Philadelphia during the time of the Declaration of Independence.”

    “Really?” said Ashley. “That’s awesome. How do we find out more about this?”

    “Well, dear,” said Gram. “Where do you and Josh always go when you need to find answers?”

    “Oh, right,” said Ashley. “The library.”

    “I think I’ll go with you tomorrow to see Kathleen at the library,” said Ashley’s mother. “I’d like her help in researching these letters for the Donnybrook Days event. I can’t thank you two enough for bringing home this case. These letters really provide a snapshot of Donnybrook through the centuries.” She smiled at Ashley and Gram.

    At that point, Ashley’s little sister, Kelly, who was sitting on her father’s lap, piped up and said, “Hey, what about the things that I gave you?” She pointed at her chest.

    “What things?” asked Ashley’s mother.

    “You know, Mommy,” said Kelly. “Those shells that I found at the beach.”

    “What do shells have to do with Donnybrook Days, munchkin?” said Ashley’s father.

    “Daddy, Donnybrook is on the ocean…shells are from the ocean,” Kelly looked up at her father and threw her hands up in the air.

    “Oh, I see” her father said.

    “Yes, I see, too,” said her mother. “That was very thoughtful of you to collect those shells. I’m sure I can find a way to use them in the Donnybrook Days events.”

    “See!” Kelly said with pride. “I can find things too.”  

    “Yes, you can,” Ashley laughed. “Come on, it’s time for bed. I’ll read you a bedtime story.”

    Ashley and Kelly said ‘goodnight’ to Gram and their parents and went inside to get ready for bed.

Ashley Enright and the Independence Day Investigation (4)

    “Mom,” Ashley shouted. “We’re home!”

    “I can hear that,” said Ashley’s mother as she came down the stairs from her office upstairs. Mrs. Enright was a public relations consultant who worked from home for clients in Boston and New York. Right now, she was working on the Donnybrook Days project for the town. She was writing a history of Donnybrook and collecting recipes for a Donnybrook cookbook.

    “Mom, we found something for you at the garage sale,” said Ashley as she followed her mother into the kitchen.

    “Oh no,” said Mr. Enright who was sitting at the kitchen table working on a model ship. “I hope you didn’t buy her a garage, because we already have one.”

    Ashley just gave her father a look and rolled her eyes as her father laughed at his own joke.

    “I’m glad to see that you crack yourself up, dear,” said Gram as she walked into the kitchen.

    “Yes,” said Ashley’s mother. “He’s his best audience.”

    “Nobody gets me,” said Ashley’s father throwing up his hands up in the air. “I’m surrounded by women and nobody gets me.”

    “Oh,” said Ashley’s mother. “We get you, alright. It’s just that your jokes are not all that funny.”

    “Well,” Ashley’s father said with a snort. “I’ll just keep my jokes to myself!”

    “Thank YOU,” said Ashley, her mother and Gram in unison. Then, they all laughed and Ashley’s father joined in the laughter.

    “Alright,” he said. “I’ll try and knock it off with the corny jokes. Seriously, what did you find at the garage sale?”

    “I found this leather case full of letters,” said Ashley.

    “Letters?” asked her father. “What’s so special about letters?”

    “I don’t know, exactly,” said Ashley. “But, I thought there might be something interesting in there for Mom’s Donnybrook Day project.”

    “Oh, I see,” said Ashley’s father nodding his head.

    “Ashley,” said her mother. “That was very thoughtful of you. I’m sure there’ll be something interesting in there.”

    “I think there might be,” said Gram. “The man who was having the garage sale said that his family’s been in Donnybrook for years.”

    “I can’t wait to go through the papers,” said Ashley’s mother. Then she paused, looked at her husband and exclaimed, “Oh no, don’t tell me.”

    “I’m afraid so,” said Ashley’s father. “Do you know where the nail polish remover is?”

    “Why does Dad need nail polish remover?” asked Ashley.

    “Because, once again, he’s glued his finger to the mast of the ship,” said her mother.

    Her father had a sheepish look on his face and then held up his finger. Sure enough, the mast of the model ship that he was making was glued to his finger.

Ashley Enright and the Independence Day Investigation (3)

    Gram and Ashley were amazed at all of the things that were for sale. Gram picked up a beautiful leather case.

    “Look, Ashley,” said Gram. “Isn’t this case gorgeous?”

    Ashley felt the leather on the case and said, “It sure is.” She opened the case and said, “Wow, it looks like it’s loaded with letters.”

    At that time, the owner of the house came over to the table.  He introduced himself as Mr. Peabody.

    “I see that leather case has caught your eye, little lady,” he said to Ashley.

    “It’s beautiful,” said Ashley.

    “Yes,” said Gram. “You have so many beautiful things for sale, Mr. Peabody.”

    “Thank you,” said Mr. Peabody. “My goal is to sell everything I can and move down to Florida.”

    “Don’t you like Maine?” Ashley asked.

    “Oh, I like it,” said Mr. Peabody. “But, I’ve been here my whole life, it’s time for a change.”

    “I guess Florida is quite a change from Maine, dear,” said Gram. “How much is this portfolio case?”

    “Oh, I guess $30 would be o.k.,” said Mr. Peabody.

    “Really?” asked Ashley. “It’s only thirty dollars?”

    “Ssh,” Gram whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “Don’t give him any ideas!”

    “Yes,” said Mr. Peabody. “Thirty dollars is a fair price. Why would you want a bunch of old papers anyway?”

    “Well,” answered Ashley. “My mother is working on the Donnybrook Days event and I thought that your papers might have some neat town history in them.”

    “They probably do,” said Mr. Peabody. “My family’s been here for ages.”

    “Are you sure you want to sell these?” Ashley asked earnestly.

    Gram gave her a look and rolled her eyes.

    “I’m sure of it,” said Mr. Peabody. “I hope you find something you can use in there.” He handed the case to Ashley and Gram handed him the thirty dollars.

    “Ladies, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” said Mr. Peabody.

    “Good luck in Florida,” said Ashley.

    “Thank you, little lady,” said Mr. Peabody with a wink. “I can almost feel that that warm sand beneath my feet.”

    Ashley and Gram looked around at some of the other tables that Mr. Peabody had in his driveway. Gram bought a crystal glass bowl for her dining room table.

   “This will look wonderful filled with fresh flowers,” Gram said to Ashley as they got into Gram’s blue Chevrolet, Old Bessie.

    Old Bessie usually didn’t start the first time that Gram turned the key in the ignition. She usually had to pump the gas pedal a few times. She’d always pat the dashboard and say, “Old Bessie always gets me where I need to go…eventually.”

    When they reached the Enright’s house on Foggy Bottom Road, Ashley ran ahead of Gram up the front porch steps and into the house.

Ashley Enright and the Independence Day Investigation (2)

    There were already a few cars parked on the street in front of the house on Wexner Avenue when Gram and Ashley pulled up near the house.

    “Gee,” said Ashley. “I thought we’d be one of the first ones here.”

    “Oh no, dear,” said Gram. “I’m sure that some of these cars have been here since early morning. Some people are very serious about garage sales.”

    “I guess so,” said Ashley. “Look, they must be ready. The garage door just opened up and they’ve brought some tables of stuff out to the driveway.”

    Sure enough, two men had just carried our four tables piled with garage sale items. It took a few minutes for the men to get everything set up on the tables. Then, a tall, thin man wearing an orange t-shirt, overalls and a Boston Red Sox baseball cap walked to the end of the driveway. He moved the orange traffic cones that had blocked the driveway. He tipped his cap and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, our garage sale is now open!”

    Ashley couldn’t believe how fast people go out of their cars and started pawing through the stuff on the tables. “Wow,” she said as she got out of Gram’s car. “Look at everyone! They’re practically running up the driveway!”

    Gram laughed and said, “I know, dear. I told you that some people take this very seriously! Let’s go and try not to get run over!”

Ashley Enright and the Independence Day Investigation (part 1)

     It was a beautiful June Saturday morning in Donnybrook, Maine. Twelve-year-old Ashley Enright had gotten up early (even if it was a Saturday!) She thought to herself, as she went downstairs to the kitchen, “I don’t want to waste a minute of my summer vacation!” She was startled by the sound of the ringing telephone on the kitchen wall. She quickly picked it up before it rang again and disturbed her parents or younger sister, Kelly who were all still sleeping upstairs.

    “Hello?” she said softly.

    “Good morning, dear!” said her beloved grandmother, Gram, on the phone.

    “Gram,” said Ashley. “Is anything wrong? Why are you calling so early?”

    “Wrong, dear?” Gram said. “No, of course nothing’s wrong, dear. Why would you think that anything’s wrong?”

    “Because you’re calling so early in the morning,” Ashley answered.

    “Early, dear?” said Gram. “My clock in the kitchen says it’s 10 o’clock. That’s hardly early, dear!”

    “Gram,” said Ashley with a sigh. “Your clock must’ve stopped last night. It’s only 7 a.m.”

    “Oh dear,” Gram chuckled. “You’re right. I don’t see the second hand running on the clock! Well, no wonder I felt so tired this morning!”

    Ashley laughed and said, “Well, if it really was 10 a.m., why were you calling? What’s up?”

    “What’s up, dear,” said Gram. “Is a yard sale at one of the homes on Wexner Drive.”

    “You mean one of those old houses?” asked Ashley.

    “Old houses mean ‘old money,’ my dear,” answered Gram. “We might find something really special!”

    “So, I guess you want to go to this sale, right?” asked Ashley.

    “Yes, indeed,” Gram answered. “It’s too good to miss!”

    “O.k., when do you want to pick me up?” said Ashley.

    “Well, the sale starts at 11, so I thought we should get there by 10:45. I was going to pick you up by 10:30,” said Gram.

    Ashley laughed and said, “I guess you thought that’d be pretty soon when you looked at your kitchen clock.”

     Gram chuckled.

    “Why don’t you come over for breakfast?” asked Ashley. “Everyone should be up in a little while. It’ll be a nice way to start the weekend.”

    “Great idea, Ashley,” Gram said. “I’ll be there in about a half an hour. Thank you for the invitation, dear.”

    “Gram,” said Ashley. “You know you don’t need an invitation!”

    “I know, dear,” said Gram. “But, it’s always nice to be asked! I’ll see you in a while.” She said ‘goodbye’ and hung up.