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

    Fred drove Ashley and Josh home. He dropped Ashley off at her house and took her bicycle and helmet out of the trunk.

    “I can’t believe that Ashley Enright Investigations has done it again,” said Fred. “You’ve made Mrs. Christensen so happy.”

    “Well, it was really Josh who found the ring,” said Ashley. “I’m just glad we could return it to the rightful owner!”

    “Well,” said Fred as he got back into his car to drive Josh home. “I’m proud of both of you! I’m glad that we were able to return Mrs. Christensen’s ring to her.”

    “Yes,” said Josh from the back seat. “And we had some awesome chocolate chip cookies!”

    Ashley and Fred both laughed. Ashley said, “Yes, it’s always comes down to food with you, Josh.”

    “Well, I am a growing boy,” said Josh indignantly.

    “We know,” laughed Fred. “It’s time to get this boy home!” He waved goodbye to Ashley and backed out of her driveway.

    After dinner that night, Ashley stood in the backyard with her father. It was a hot night; the sky was clear and filled with bright stars.

    “Ashley,” said her father as he adjusted the telescope. “Your mother and I are very proud of you for getting Mrs. Christensen’s ring back to her. It sounds like you’ve really made a positive difference in her life.”

    “I guess so,” said Ashley. “It sure was nice to see how much it meant to her. I guess I’m glad that Josh brought along that metal detector.” She looked up at the sky and gasped, “Dad, look! A shooting star!” She quickly made a wish.

    “Did you make a wish?” asked her father.

    “Of course,” answered Ashley. “Did you?”

    “Well,” said her father as he hugged her. “I didn’t really need to, because you are a wish come true.”

    “Oh, Dad,” groaned Ashley. “How corny!”

    “Corny,” he said. “But, true! Look, there’s the Dog Star.”

    Ashley looked through the telescope at the bright star that was near Orion’s belt. “Wow, that’s beautiful! I’m glad that the Dog Days of Summer helped to change Mrs. Christensen’s life.”

    “How so?” asked her father.

    “Well,” explained Ashley. “If it weren’t for the heat of the Dog Days of Summer, we might not have gone to the beach and found Mrs. Christensen’s ring.”

    “I guess the answer was written in the stars,” said Ashley’s father.

    “Dad, that’s so corny,” groaned Ashley. “Let’s see what other stars we can see.” She pointed the telescope up at the night sky.

Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (11 of 12)

    “Really?” asked Ashley.

    “Yes,” answered Fred. “A ring matching this description was reported missing three years ago.”

    “Wow,” said Josh. “Imagine, it’s been missing for three years!”

    Fred said, “Let me make a quick phone call.”  He dialed a number and said, “Mrs. Christensen?  This is Officer Fred Beasley from the Donnybrook Police.  I think we may have found something that belongs to you.  Can we come by your house to get a positive identification?”  He waited a few seconds for her response and then said, “O.k., we’ll be over in about ten minutes.”  He hung up the phone and said, “How would you kids like to go for a ride and return this ring?”

    “Sure,” said Ashley.  “What about our bikes?”

    Fred said, “We’ll put them in the trunk of my patrol car.”

    “Alright,” said Josh.  They walked outside of the station to Fred’s patrol car.

    Fred put their bicycles and helmets in the trunk and opened up the back door.  Ashley and Josh got in the back seat for the ride to Mrs. Christensen’s house.  Mrs. Christensen lived on Norgate Drive and Fred pulled up to the red two-story colonial house.  They got out of the car and walked up the front walkway to the front door.  Fred rang the doorbell and a tall, grey-haired woman opened up the door immediately.  “Mrs. Christensen?” asked Fred.

    “Yes, you must be Officer Beasley,” said Mrs. Christensen.  “Please come in.”  She stood back and held the door open.

    “Thank you,” said Fred as he entered the house.  “This is Ashley Enright and Josh Stewart.  Josh, why don’t you show Mrs. Christensen what you found on the beach?”

    Josh gulped and took the ring from Fred and held it in his outstretched palm.

    “Oh, my,” gasped Mrs. Christensen as her eyes filled with tears and she put her hand to her neck.  “I thought I’d never see this again!”

    “I take it that this is your ring?” asked Fred.

    “Oh, yes,” said Mrs. Christensen as she took the ring from Josh.  This is my wedding ring and I thought it was gone forever!”  She explained that several years ago, she took a whale-watching excursion with her family.  “I leaned over the side of the boat to get a closer look at a pod of whales and my ring slipped off my finger.  I’d lost my dear husband, David, the year before and now I’d lost my ring.  I was absolutely devastated.  My family told me to report the ring as missing, but I never dreamed that it would be found. Where did you find it?”

    Ashley said, “We were at the beach this morning when Josh found it.”

    “Yes, ma’am,” said Josh.  “I had my father’s metal detector and found it in the sand.  Ashley thought it was a dumb idea to bring the metal detector to the beach.”

    “Well, Josh,” said Mrs. Christensen.  “I am so glad you brought it to the beach. I can’t believe you found my ring!”  She reached out and hugged Josh.

    Josh was embarrassed and mumbled, “Oh, it was nothing.”

    “It certainly was something, young man,” said Mrs. Christensen.  “You’ve brought back something so meaningful and special to my life.  How can I ever thank you?”

    “Thank you is enough,” said Josh.

    “That’s right, Mrs. Christensen,” said Ashley.  “We’re just so glad you’ve got your ring back!”

    “Can’t I give you anything to repay you?” asked Mrs. Christensen.  “At least stay and have some chocolate chip cookies.”

    Fred laughed and said, “I think you may have found just the perfect thank you for Josh!”

    “I love cookies,” said Josh excitedly.

    Ashley, Josh and Fred followed Mrs. Christensen into her sunny kitchen. They sat at the kitchen table and had delicious, warm chocolate chip cookies and ice cold milk.

    After they finished their snack, Fred stood up and said, “Thank you for the cookies and milk, Mrs. Christensen. We’d better go now.”

Mrs. Christensen walked them to the front door. She hugged Josh and Ashley and shook Fred’s hand. “You’ve made me happier than I’ve been in years,” she said as she looked at the ring that was now back on her finger. “I’m going to call my family right now and tell them that my ring is back!”

Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (10 of 12)

    Ashley went out to the garage to get her bicycle. She stuffed her NY Mets hat in her backpack and put on her bicycle helmet. Then she took her bicycle down from the hooks on the wall, opened the garage door and rode up the street to Josh’s house.

    Josh was waiting at the end of his driveway. “Boy,” he said. “It sure took you long enough to get here!”

    “Don’t be silly,” said Ashley. “I just helped to clear the dishes from the table and then I came right over!”

    “Well,” answered Josh. “It sure seemed like forever!”

    “That’s only because you’re anxious to show the ring to Fred. You do have it, don’t you?” said Ashley.

    “Of course I have it,” answered Josh with a huff. “What kind of a knucklehead do you think I am? It’s in my backpack!”

    “Sorry,” said Ashley. “I guess I’m a little anxious too!” I hope Fred can tell us something about the ring!”

    “Me, too!” said Josh. “Come on, let’s go!” He started riding up Foggy Bottom Road and turned right on Matthews Road for the ride into town.”

    The half-mile ride into town didn’t take them very long and they soon arrived at the police station. They parked their bikes by the front of the building, took their helmets off and went inside.

    Officer Fred Beasley was sitting at the front counter and greeted them.

    “Hi, kids,” said Fred. “What brings you here today? Another case?”

    “Well, sort of,” answered Ashley.

    “Really?” said Fred whose eyes grew wide. “I was just kidding. I should know by now that you two are always on a case!”

    Ashley laughed and said, “I guess so, but this time we really weren’t looking for anything. We were just at the beach.”

    “Yeah,” Josh chimed in. “I found this and we wondered if you know anything about it.” He took the gold band from his backpack and put it on the counter.

    Fred gave a short whistle as he picked up the ring. “Wow, where did you find this?”

    “I was using my Dad’s metal detector and found it in the sand,” explained Josh.

    “Hmm,” said Fred as he looked inside the ring. “There’s an inscription and a date. That should help us track it down! Let me check our records.” Fred turned to look at the computer screen.  After a few minutes he said, “I think we may have found something!”

Ashley Enright and the Dog Days of Summer (9 of 12)

    The four finished the delicious lunch that Gram had prepared.

    “Hey, Josh,” said Ashley. “Why don’t we ride into town and ask Fred about the ring?”

    “Sounds good to me, “ said Josh. “I’ll run home and get my bicycle. Meet me at my house in about 15 minutes.”

    “O.k.” said Ashley.

    “Thank you for the great lunch, Mrs. Waterford,” said Josh as he got up from the table.

   “You’re very welcome,” said Gram. “Now get on your way! Kelly and I will do the dishes.”   Kelly started to protest and then Gram continued, “We’ll do the dishes before we go to the beach.”

    Kelly smiled and yelled, “Yipee!”

    After Josh left, Ashley kissed her grandmother on the cheek and said, “Thanks for making lunch, Gram. It was delicious! I’ll help clear the table while Josh walks to his house.”

    “O.k., dear,” said Gram. “We can use all the help we can get!”

    Ashley took the plates from the table and put them in the sink. Gram washed and rinsed the dishes and Kelly stood ready with the towel to dry them.

    “Kel, be careful with those dishes,” said Ashley. “Mom wouldn’t like it if any of them got broken!”

    “I know,” said Kelly. “I’ll be very, very careful!” She carried a plate back to the table to dry it.

    “You don’t have to be extremely careful,” said Gram with a wink. “These aren’t your mother’s good dishes!”

    “Gram!” said Ashley with a huff. “Don’t tell her that!”

    “Don’t worry,” said Kelly. “I’m being screamly careful!’

    “Silly goose,” said Ashley with a laugh. “The word is extremely!”

    “Well, whatever it is,” answered Kelly. “I’m being it!”

    “We can finish these dishes,” said Gram to Ashley. “Why don’t you go and meet Josh?”

    “O.k.,” said Ashley as she went to her backpack, took out her favorite NY Mets baseball cap and put it on her head. She put her backpack on her back, kissed her grandmother’s cheek again and said, “Have fun on the beach!”

    “We will, dear,” said Gram. “I can’t wait to find out if Fred knows anything about that ring!”

    “Me, too,” said Ashley. “I’d better be sure that Josh has it in his backpack! I’ll see you later!”