Ophelia and the Lies

“Oh my, Logan? He came to our house yesterday, then his mom picked him up. I don’t know why he went missing if I saw him only yesterday!” Logan’s mom said. ”Well thank yo-“ she already left. I sighed an awfully long sigh before I continued to jog home. I was sitting in my room while I heard the sound of running water and clanking dishes. CLANK! CLANK! My stomach rumbled as I thought of delicious burgers, fries, and hotdogs on many plates. Just thinking about the mouth-watering food, I could smell it! I unlocked my door and walked down the stairs as I rubbed my stomach with a smile on my face. I was famished. “Mom, can I have lunch?” I said, unexpectedly. ”I’m starting that. It’s your favorite. Burgers and homemade fries,” Mom said, seeming to have eyes on the back of her head when she didn’t turn around. I sat at the table with a plate in front of me, watching the birds circle our bird house outside our window. Mom placed the burger and fries on my plate. ”I need to tell you one last thing,” mom suddenly said.

“What is it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. ”I know you’ve been wondering who your babysitter is,” Mom answered, “and it is Logan’s cousin.” I took a big, deep sigh and then I bit into my burger. I was really excited! “She will be coming tonight, because I am leaving very late in the evening. You have to promise me that you’ll be very good for her, okay?” “Yes, mom,” I replied. I finished my food, got up, pushed my chair in, and walked to the dishwasher. I walked up to my room and crossed out my ‘eerie’ behavior list. I don’t think Logan is very suspicious. He is nice. Then, a minute later, the doorbell rang.

“She is here!” Yelled mom as I hear the door creak open. I ran down the steps at a very quick pace. “Honey, come meet Anne! She is Logan’s cousin!” “Sure!”

I am Ophelia Emerson, and I live in Jacksonville, Florida with my mom, my dog, and my adopted sibling, Roy. Roy is five years younger than me. I am twelve, older than my dog in human years. My dog's name is Peanut.

I love solving mysteries. I’ve solved every mystery in my neighborhood from the rat infestation, missing trash cans (the raccoon was eating good that night), and why the television wasn’t working. My story starts in my small apartment with a mystery nobody knew about.

I was sitting in my room when Mom called my name. “Ophelia, honey?” ”Yes, Ma?” “Where is Roy?” Mom asked, confused. I sat there for a moment. I thought I knew, but I didn’t know at the same time. Then it came to me. ”Isn’t he at Logan’s apartment?” I answered. ”Roy never told me- that’s weird. Sorry honey!” If your wondering, Logan is our neighbor and Roy’s best friend. I decided to go check if he is there. If he’s not at home, he’s at Logan’s.

”Ma, I am going to Logan’s!” I screamed down. “Okay, Ophelia. Be careful!” replied Mom. I ran down the steps, slipped on my tennis shoes without tying them, and slammed the apartment door. As I arrived to Logan’s apartment, I knocked our secret knock. It’s to know who’s there!

I was done. I ran back to our apartment door. Luckily, I couldn’t get caught because the door was still open. I opened the door, careful not to make it creak, and rushed back to my room. ”Honey?” Mom suddenly called. ”Yes?” ”Come down, it’s important.” I shook with fear. Does she know? I sat down in our small living room as mom looked at me with a serious face.

Turns out I thought wrong. “I am going to go on a work trip and be interviewed for a week. But, half of those days are the plane flight. Three of them actually. The first flight is an hour and a half, so is the one back. If I get the job, we will have to move.” ”Mom, Roy?” ”Honey, we adopted him. Wherever he is, it doesn’t matter anyway.” That’s weird. That’s a clue. Why doesn’t she care if SHE adopted Roy? I care. Did she send him away? Now, I have one big helpful clue. She must’ve had something to do with it. Now, I have to find where Roy is and what mom had to do with this.

As I sat in my room, I grabbed my notebook off my bookshelf. I was about to write when mom suddenly called up to me. ”Time to go to bed! I am sick and tired of doing everything for you in this apartment and-“ She stopped. “No, mom!” The word “mom” must’ve dragged out for twenty years. Well, not literally, of course. But probably like five annoyingly long minutes. Mom ignored me and I heard the door to her small bedroom slam as she let out a big sigh.

I thought about the time a few minutes ago when mom was sick and tired of caring for me. Maybe she hated taking care of Roy. I mean, who doesn't love their own child? And Roy is younger. Youngsters always are hard work. Example: “I WANT THIS, I WANT THAT!” Or… “SISSY STOLE SOMETHING FROM ME!” Half of the time it is mom who has to take care of it. And half of the time, things that I “steal” are stolen from me first and were mine in the first place. Everyone hates young children sometimes, right? They aren’t very likable or pleasing. I had so many questions before, some of them are answered, and now, I have many questions, not so many answered. I still have time to figure them out though, right? Right.

I fell asleep after writing some more clues in my notebook, and then woke up. It was the 23rd day of summer. 7:00, I ate my breakfast and brushed my teeth. 8:00, I decided I should take a walk to clear my mind. That is exactly what I did. It kind of worked, but I still was trying to figure things out. Mom was supposed to tell me who is coming over to babysit me, but she’s silent. I walked so far. I walked to the playground a mile away from our apartment! Then, I saw Logan’s mom’s car driving by. 

I didn’t think about it one bit before I ran after the shiny, silver car. I looked ahead and finally took my eyes off the car to find yellow lit stoplights. When the sliver car stopped, breathless, I made my way to it. Logan’s mom rolled down the window. ”Hello, dear! What are you doing alone on the streets?” ”I wanted to ask you a few questions,” I replied softly. “My brother went missing.”

As a lover of books, I love solving mysteries. Ophelia relates to me a lot in a detective way, and I loved writing this book. Ophelia and her brother Roy have an excellent sibling relationship and love doing everything with each other. But when Ophelia finds that her brother mysteriously goes missing, she has to find out who was up to this. I would do the same thing. 

My E-ELA/Capstone Teacher: She helped me fix my grammar mistakes and helped me make this book!

My Mom: She helped me increase my love in reading!

My Dad: He helped me fix my grammar and my word choice!

I hope you liked solving this mystery along with Ophelia and also relate to her in a detective way!

I ran over to the door and waved with a big smile on my face. ”Hey girl! How are you doing?” Anne suddenly said loudly. ”I am good, thank you,” I replied.

Anne walked in and sat down on the couch as my mom came over to talk about boring safety stuff. We understand, mom! But as they started talking, I knew mom wasn’t looking, so I snuck a chocolate chip cookie into my pocket. In my room, I put on my headphones, put on my favorite song, and gobbled up the sugary chocolate chip cookie. And I gobbled it up too fast! Then mom knocked on my door. “Are you aware it is 8:00? Get to bed right now!” I went to the bathroom and stepped over peanut’s dog bed on the way there. I brushed my teeth and wiped the toothpaste off my mouth. I got into my bed and fell right to sleep. I seriously wonder what is going to happen tomorrow.

In the morning, I woke up with the beeping of my obnoxious alarm clock. Peanut ran into my room and jumped on my bed. The minute I opened my eyes, I felt Peanut slobber on my face. “Peanut, go away!” I groaned. I tore the sheets off of me and then slipped on my slippers.

Drowsy, I dragged myself down the steps to find that Anne was cooking with the pan on the stove. ”Good morning, Ophelia! How did you sleep?” Anne asked with an enthusiastic tone in her voice. ”Fine, until Peanut slobbered on my face! Such a good sleep,” I uttered sarcastically. “Today is going to be awesome!” Anne soon stated as she flipped the sugary sweet pancakes on the pan. “Sure,” I mumbled quietly. I sat down in front of the small television and turned on my favorite movie, Mulan. “Here you go, bestie!” Anne handed me what it seemed like, sugary pancakes with sugary snow. Delicious! Glad it isn’t yellow.

Stars pattern

I yanked the paper out of her bag and slightly crumbled it in my hand. I ran down to the computer when I saw Anne trying to turn it off! Fast, I ran over and pushed her out of the way. “This is important! Mom did something to Roy, now she might get the job and we might have to move without Roy!” I yelled, stomping my foot. “Fine, do whatever, I don’t need to get paid anyway!” Anne said sarcastically. “Just trust me! My mom has not been a good person, she isn’t trustworthy. Help me log in so we can cancel her flight and her tickets!” I said quickly. I don’t know why I was yelling. But I knew that her flight was in a few hours. A few moments later, Anne finally got up. She sighed. ”I guess I can help you, just pretend I never was a part of this, okay?” ”Okay!” I assured her. She took the paper and read it carefully. She thoughtfully typed out the letters and numbers. Then, she clicked “LOG IN” cautiously. “I know how to do it from here!” I said as I pushed Anne to the side.

Anne rolled her eyes. I bet this was not what she was expecting from me. A robotic voice appeared, and said, “Flight is ready for you to board in the next thirty minutes!” And the disappointing thing was…. I had no idea how to cancel her flight tickets! I scanned the computer screen. I saw nothing about the flight tickets. I looked over to Anne, in need of some help. But, of course, she was on her phone. “Anne?” I shrugged and pointed to the computer. “Didn’t you hear? The plane is ready to be boarded in thirty minutes!” Anne shushed me and walked over. She dragged the mouse to a button that said, “FLIGHTS FOR YOU.” Anne clicked it and it opened up to mom’s tickets and her flight. ”How do you cancel it?” I asked quickly. “It needs to be quick!” Then, Anne clicked the button under her tickets that said, “CANCEL” in big black letters. After that, the robotic voice showed again. “You will be refunded and are no longer allowed to board the flight.”

As he slightly opened the door, I heard muffled screams. ”Hey! Er- do you hear that?” I asked, my voice low. ”I- uhm- I don’t know, but I-“ something cut him off. ”OPHELIA?! HELP!” The voice was muffled, so I didn’t know who was calling me for help and why. “Uh- be right back. I have to use the restroom,” said Logan suspiciously. A second later, I heard somebody screaming, “HOLD STILL!”

I showed up at the door, and I knocked so mom would come get me. I heard subtle barking from Peanut, then mom opened the door. ”Hey, Honey! Where is Roy?” she said with fake smile. ”Something isn’t right,” I said, my heart pounding as I pushed mom out of the way. ”Honey, what’s up?” I was already upstairs. Muffled screams, cries for help, something isn’t right!

I knocked on the door and put my ear against it. I heard tape sounds. Then, quiet sobbing filled the air as a cool breeze blew by, tickled my neck and raised the hairs on my arm. Something wasn’t right, and I’m going to figure it out.

I ran over to my glittery bookcase to grab my secret notebook where I keep my clues. To be honest, nothing has ever been more mysterious than this creepy coincidence... or is it? Thoughts filled my head. I was confused, scared, and thousands of other feelings I couldn’t spit out.

I jotted down some eerie behaviors that freaked me out:

*MUFFLED SCREAMS *CRYING *CRIES FOR HELP

I stood there, thinking. It’s hard for her? But it’s hard for Roy. Mom made no sense! ”Where did you leave him?” I asked. ”I left him at the Downtown Orphanage, where we got him,” mom answered. I grew mad. He was my brother! “Well what are we waiting for? Grab your car keys, and let’s go!” Mom turned around and jingled her car keys. She thought for a moment, then what it seemed, she scolded herself, and then made a motion out the door. I smiled. She unlocked the door and said, “I made a big mistake, Ophelia. I’d like to apologize.” Anne watched us with wide eyes and then looked back down at her phone. I feel bad for Anne. She witnessed mom when she is furious. Nobody wants to see her furious. Mom’s car keys made a beep beep! when she unlocked the car door. I got in and buckled my seatbelt. I was so excited to see Roy, I couldn’t keep still!

After twenty minutes of driving, we finally arrived at the Downtown Orphanage. I couldn’t help but grin at the fact of seeing Roy! Me and mom walked in. “Hello, I am here to pick up Roy,” said mom as she looked at the lady at the desk. She led us up to the room Roy lived in. “Ophelia!” Roy said as he ran over to hug me. ”We are back, Roy!” I grinned. I chatted to Roy as we drove home, telling him about my journey trying to find him. Roy listened closely. After the twenty minutes back were over, we ran into the kitchen with smiles on our faces. “Roy! Peanut is very excited to see you! He can’t go two days without you,” I giggled. Peanut jumped on Roy and slobbered all over him. We were laughing for a good five minutes before mom came over a hugged Roy. ”I am so sorry, Roy, you will always be my son!” Mom said. ”It is okay, mom. I understand!” Roy said back.

I brushed the sweat off my eyebrow. “Thank you, Anne! I can’t thank you enough,” I said happily. Anne walked over to the couch and jumped onto it. She sighed, took out her phone, and didn’t say anything, yet I just ran up to my room and doodled in my notebook. “Thank goodness,” I thought. I am so happy that more than half of this mystery is over. I’m still worried that mom will be mad at me though. I don’t think just mad, furious. My mom just might’ve found a new job and I ruined it. I feel bad, but it’s for our family’s own good. Roy needs a mother. He can’t live without one. After drawing and sketching and writing and doodling, I fell asleep. Happily asleep.

I woke up from the yelling and screaming of mom. Wait — from the screaming of…mom? There was no time to put on my slippers! I got out of bed and quickly jumped two steps at a time. Peanut ran after me, but I shut the door to the kitchen behind me. “OPHELIA!” Mom seemed to yell as loud as she could. I whimpered. “Who canceled my flight tickets?” Mom asked. ”I—I don’t know! But whatever you’re thinking, it wasn’t me!” I answered with salty tears in my eyes. I knew I was lying. My blinks got faster and faster until mom asked, “Why did you do this? That job was very important and could have helped this family a lot! Tell me why!” I wiped my eyes until my sleeves got wet. “Roy! That is why! We can’t just leave him wherever he is! You had something to do with it and I know it,” I answered. “I’ll tell you! It is way too hard for me to take care of the both of you! I left him,” mom said with a mad, red face. “It is too hard!”

I look out the window. I’ve never seen snow before, since this is Florida and it is very hot here. Mom told me that it rarely ever gets below 40 degrees, so I don’t worry about buying sweaters, or jackets, or any of the necessary attire for other people in other states. I’m glad it doesn’t snow here. I start nibbling my pancakes as Anne sits down with her phone with a glittery, silver, sparkly case. ”So, you probably already know, but I’m Anne! Ask me anything about Logan, or pets, or me! I am a veterinarian,” Anne smiled. I raise an eyebrow. “Does Logan have my brother, Roy?” I ask. ”Logan told me that Roy is his best friend! But I went over this morning, and nobody was there,” Anne answered. Later, she stated, “He told me a funny story of how he was trying to clip his dog’s toenails and he cried after his dog scratched him. His mom was yelling for help, and they were trying to tape his legs together! How funny.” ”I knew it was mom!” I said as I smiled, thinking about the master detective I was.

“Mom was what?” Anne asked, confused. “Thanks, Anne!” I called down, half way upstairs. I couldn’t wait a few weeks! Mom was still at the airport! I couldn’t let her go! I had to figure something out so I can cancel her flight. I ran downstairs and tried to catch my breath. “Anne, we need to cancel my mother’s flight!” “I don’t understand why we need to-“ I stopped Anne. I ran to the table to grab the grey laptop off of the counter. I placed it down on the table and opened it up. I groaned. I didn’t know my mom’s password! I thought for a few moments, then tried a password full of numbers. It didn’t work. Then, I thought again. I tried my mom’s first and last name. It didn’t work either! Then, I remembered! I ran to mom’s purse collection. She has her password and username for traveling in each one! I opened up the first one I saw. To my relief, it was there!

“Why don’t we get some ice cream to cheer us up?” Mom suggested. Of course, me and Roy loved that idea. Mom walked over to the freezer and took out Cookies n’ Cream sugary ice cream! Me and Roy squealed happily. Here in Jacksonville, Florida, it is very hot. This treat sure did make us happy! Mom scooped us two bowls of creamy, sugary, cold ice cream and we went to our backyard. We sat down on the swinging bench and gobbled up our sweet ice cream. I could tell mom was sorry. I was glad Roy was back, though. I could not believe I solved this mystery. I didn’t think I was that good at being a detective! I beamed with my mouth full of ice cream.

And that is when Roy’s mystery ended there. I found my brother, my mom confessed, and I had a little bit of help along the way. Now me, my mom, and Roy will all go with mom for her new job. I am so excited, because she might move with us! I’m especially excited for school to start! New friends, a new life, and so many more exciting mysteries ahead! It turns out that mom kept asking me where Roy was so she could bring him to the Downtown Orphanage. I still need a little bit of time to forgive her. This mystery has ended and I am very relieved. I hope stay relieved, and nothing like this happens again. I really hope. But I cannot ever be sure.

I added some more things including lying from Logan, not opening the door all the way, and somebody saying “HOLD STILL!” I finished writing as I looked at the door to my room. I jumped off of my bed, slipped on my purple sweater, and finally tied my tennis shoes. I didn’t close my bedroom door behind me. I snuck out the apartment door feeling a little cheeky that it was 7:28 in the evening. I made a big mistake.

As I came back to Logan’s house, I listened carefully. I hoped this would give me a clue, one that I could think of as helpful. But there was silence. I didn’t hear a single footstep. My ear was up to the door. Then, frightened by the voice that I heard and the switch that made a clicking noice, I jumped back. But as i jumped back, my knuckles hit the door. “Ooh!” I squealed, my hand in pain. Then I realized I had made noise while somebody was among the first floor. My hand wasn’t in pain anymore, but my heart was.

Am I about to get caught? Please no, no, no, no!

I thought. What if Logan had my brother? He could get me next. No, no, no. Logan is three years younger than me and could never kidnap people. Is Roy even kidnapped, or had he run away from home? Hundreds, probably thousands, of questions circled my head. Has mom lied to me? Has everybody lied to me? Nothing made sense.

What if it’s a mystery that’ll never get solved because of… because of…

Name

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