Secretly, of course! Because according to the Rules and Directions, Ochana could not involve anyone before she were to pick the mission's main heir and secound heir. Even then, the rest of the househould should not know.
Ochana found Edith and Miranda in the living room, and took the opportunity to give each of them a task.
- So, girls, I think it's time you two get about a little more! I have a task for each of you that I want you to handle today.
- Sure mom, school is bugged again anyway. What's up? Sorting more vegetables? Miranda asked.
- I was actually planning to see Tammy Oaksdale at Café Lavender, said Edith. - But perhaps I can do both.
Ochana hoped they would not get too suspicious. Still, by giving them tasks, it might be easier to pick the main heir for the Secret Mission.
- I want each of you to visit either the Crumpleton household at Upperton Hood or the Mugger household at Muggerdale Hood. I want you to ask about the family's history here in Gloomville!
- Nice, Edith said ironically. - This sounds just like not having the day off from school! Well, I choose Upperton.
- Somehow I knew you would choose Upperton, Edith, Miranda said. - And in a way I knew you would choose it before I got to say anything, she thought to herself...
So, Edith would go to Upperton hood today, but first she wanted to practice a speech. Upperon families were top notch and well educated, and although Edith's family probably were a little above average, it wouldn't hurt practicing some of those longer words...
By the way, the pink mirror was the present for Edith and Miranda's birthday - instead of new bedrooms upstairs.
Miranda would soon go to Muggerdale Hood. That's the poor district, not really poor, though. People living there probably ate food every day, and wore warm clothes and all that. Just nothing fancy. Miranda didn't mind going to Muggerdale Hood, she never cared about wealth anyway. Organizing the garden plants was more important to her than new clothes, and lately she had replanted lots of tomato plants.
Edith had talked to kids from Upperton Hood before, but she currently had no friends living there. So she had not been there in many years. She knew that the Crumpletons resided on the same side of the street as the park with the pirate ship, so it had to be that one!
She immediately realized that this could not be the Crumpleton house. This place didn't look traditional at all. On the sofa there was a big woman wearing a hat.
Edith excused herself, as it turned out she had indeed knocked on the wrong door. This was the Bootwig residence!
Mrs Constanza B. Bootwig didn't mind the young visitor, giving her a chance to boost about her home.
- We have resided here for a while, although we don't have as long Gloomville traditions as the shady Crumpletons, she said. - My Ludwig, that's Mr. Bootwig of course, gave a lot to this town already, through his unselfish work as the school Principle!
- Oh, Mr Bootwig is your husband! Edith said, trying to sound enthusiastic. - He is very well liked at school, she lied. In fact they were all scared by the school's Principle.
- I'm glad to hear that, dear! Mrs. Constanza B. Bootwig continued. - I'm proud to say that his hard work made it possible for us to build our fantastic home, next to the legendary Crumpletons and the extremely wealthy von Kashing family just across the street.
- Do you know the Crumpletons well? Edith asked. - I heard Mr. Crumpleton died recently...
- Yes, Mr. Martus Crumpleton died from a heart attack. Poor man, being tortured by his horrible wife all life! I do think their son will take over the home and his father's shady business. Our son, Hugo, never enjoyed visiting them. Oh, Hugo must be around your age, you probably know him already?
But no, Edith had of course seen Hugo Bootwig at school, but she didn't know him well. He was a geek, and he had few friends.
- He is very popular in school, too, Constanza said. - If you don't know him, it must be because he simply doesn't have room for any more friends. He is a brilliant student, too, you know.
Meanwhile, Miranda was jogging to Muggerdale Hood. To the left in the picture below is Muggerdale Fair, the local hang-out. Accross the road is Mugger Farm, where Miranda was heading right now.
This little farm held a long tradition, as the first Muggers obviously got the entire hood named after them. The entire area was originally where poor workers lived in sheds, when not working hard at Willow Farm, back at Miranda's hood. It's just a good 25 minutes walk from Muggerdale to Willow Field.
Miranda had hardly talked with the daughter of this house, Janet Mugger. But Janet skipped school pretty often, and besides she was much younger than Miranda. Inside the little farmhouse Miranda found a teen boy, Alan Mugger.
He seemed a bit shy, which Miranda didn't mind at all, because she never was quite the social butterfly herself.
- Hi there? said Alan, inspecting her.
- Hi, said Miranda. - Wanna hang out for a while?
Alan and Janet's parents were both dead, and their mom's sister, Anita, married and moved to Oasis Springs.
- I'm in charge around here now, Alan said. - I'm trying to run this farm, that's why I had to drop out from school.
- Oh, I'm gardening, too! Miranda said. - Do you sort your tomato plants left or right?
- I grow no tomato plants, Alan said. - They are too expensive because they need lots of water.
- Oh... I grow a few, some day I might stop by with some tomato seeds for you guys, Miranda said.
She asked Alan Mugger about the family history, but frankly, she had no idea what would be the better questions. And she didn't take notes either, because mom said she wouldn't need to. It was all a tad confusing.
- Your folks lived here for generations? she asked.
- Yes, dad grew up here. Best mushroom farm of the district, I've heard.
Alan told her about the farm, mostly selling its produce over at Muggerdale Fair. It was tough running this place alone, because he wanted his sister Janet to go to school rather than to help.
He jumped off the seat, and pulled Miranda outdoor. she wasn't very impressed with the number of plants, but she loved how the mushrooms were perfectly lined up along the fence. At least most of them were.
- Mushroom, spinach, parsley and some potato, Alan said. - Should have grown some more, but I don't have enough money to expand. Not quite yet.
Then something awkward happened. They both started gesticulating eagerly, but all those arms got in the way of their conversation.
- You, you touched me! Alan shouted. - That's not good, I think you must leave!
It was late afternoon the next day. Ochana was up in the secret office writing on her diary book. She felt relieved that both Edith and Miranda had solved their tasks in a good way!
Okay, Edith had visited the wrong house, but she still had shown some initiative, asking Mrs. Bootwig about the Crumpletons. And it turned out the Crumpleton family wasn't as well respected that Ochana thought. And Mr. Crumpleton dead already? Maybe she should pay them a visit herself, shortly?
Miranda had talked to Alan Mugger, but had not told much to Ochana. It was funny to see Miranda blushing while talking about the Mugger farm. How great that they both got about a little!
Ochana felt more eager than ever to get on with the Secret Mission. Pretty soon Pivian and Paula would grow up to teens, too, and then it would be time to prepare some of them for Main Heir and Second Heir to the Secret Mission - but who?
No comments:
Post a Comment