THE SKI TRIP (standard:mystery, 2915 words)
Author: Tisha Rogers	Added: Oct 19 2007	Views/Reads: 3896/2397	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The girls need three hundred dollars for a trip, but someone steals have of it. Who and Why?

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

needed help with the remainder. In a short time she was not only joined 
with her two friends but also two girls from their choir class rode 
their bikes into the yard.  It wouldn't have seem so strange if the two 
were friends with one another but Candy knew for a fact that 
high-headed rich Abby Lawson didn't have or didn't want any connection 
with “poor as a church mouse,” as Abby called her, Amy Cantrell. 

The same thought must have run through Sammi's mind, “Hey, what are you
two girls up to?” Abby stood next to her bike and replied, “Oh, Amy and 
I are just out riding.  My Mother spoke with Missy's mother this 
morning, and she told my mother that you were having a yard sale to 
raise money for the trip, is this true?” The look on Abby's face was 
one of astonishment, as if having a yard sale was on the same level as 
murder or something.  Before anyone could comment she continued, “How 
embarrassing for you, having to selling your precious possessions to 
complete strangers because you lack the funds to go on our choir trip, 
that of which you have worked so hard for.” She laid her hand on her 
chest in sympathy. Candy opened her mouth to reply when Abby 
interrupted with, “Oh, well, Amy is not going either.  You all know she 
can't afford to do such things.  But I have promised to bring back tons 
of pictures for her, haven't I Amy?”  Amy's face was red with 
embarrassment, “I didn't say I wasn't going Abby, I told you I might 
not be going.” Abby reached out and patted Amy's hand, “It's okay, hon, 
we all know that some of us just can't afford trips, isn't that right 
girls?”  She looked sorrowfully at each of them.  Before anyone said 
another word, Sammi grabbed Candy's arm.  “You know while they are here 
we could move that big desk out of the,” she had almost said 
“hide-a-way” which was their special word, “ shed, we agreed on selling 
it.”  Mocking Abby she continued, “That is if Abby and Amy would be so 
kind as to lead a hand.” 

While Candy and Sammi cleaned off the top of the desk, Missy was busy
cleaning out the drawers, the other two girls opted to stand and watch. 
“Don't forget to get that metal box out from under the desk, someone 
may trip on it,” reminded Missy. Candy retrieved the box and intended 
to place it on the table near where Abby and Amy stood, all of a sudden 
the sound of change falling got everyone's attention. Candy had missed 
the table and the box had landed at the feet of Abby and Amy. Bending 
to help pick it up Abby stated, “My, my, my! But where did you get all 
this money?” They each deposited the money they had picked up back into 
the box. “It's our change for the yard sale,” Missy said, “Sammi, you 
might want to count it to be sure we picked it all up.”  As Sammi 
counted the money, the rest of the girls pushed and pulled the heavy 
desk toward the door.  “All accounted for,” said Sammi, slamming the 
lid shut, “Now, for the desk.” 

The next three evenings after school was filled with sorting and pricing
the yard sale items.  Each of the girls seemed to be caught up in their 
work and didn't speak much, until Missy startled the other two when she 
smacked her forehead with her hand and exclaimed, “Wow, I almost forgot 
to tell you something!”  The two girls stopped what they were doing and 
gave her their full attention.  “Guess who Abby likes?” she said, 
waiting for an answer, when she only received a negative shake of the 
heads, she whispered slowly, “Jake Brewster.” They all looked at one 
another then started laughing. “Yeah, yeah, like that will every 
happen,” said Candy.  “Besides that great piece of news, how did you 
find out?”  Missy uncrossed her legs; stretch them out before her and 
leaned back against the wall.  “Well, I just casually asked her about 
being with Amy the other day.”  Candy took a drink of her tea and said, 
“You mean you were being nosey.”  Missy, went on as though she didn't 
hear what Candy had said, “As I said, I casually asked her about being 
with Amy.”  Candy also repeated what she had said only a little louder 
than before, “You mean you were being nosey!”  Missy, glanced in her 
direction, leaning forward, “Okay, all ready, I was being nosey.  Don't 
tell me you didn't want to know.” By this time Sammi had abandon her 
boxes and the three formed a circle as they waited for Missy to 
continue.  “Okay, after I asked Abby about Amy she said that she would 
tell me so I wouldn't think she had lost her mind and started running 
around with “poor” people.  This is how the story went.  Abby wanted a 
new ski suit for the trip. Since everyone but her, Amy, and Jake were 
new skiers they would be allowed to go on the slopes while the rest of 
us would have to have lessons.  Well, she wants to impress Jake so she 
wants a new outfit.  She told her mother that she knew a girl that was 
“poor” and she felt it her duty to give her the old outfit because she 
couldn't afford one. About that time, since Abby had inviting her over, 
Amy knocked on the door.  Abby said she gave her mother that, “what am 
I suppose to do” look and her mother agreed to give the old suit to 
Amy.”  Missy paused and took a drink of tea, then continued, “Anyway, 
Abby knows that Amy is not going on the trip, so she is all smiles 
thinking she has Jake all to herself. Just about the time she finishes 
telling me about being alone with Jake, Amy comes down the hall toward 
us.  Guess what?  She is going on the trip.”  Missy sort of falls back 
against the wall again as if it took all her energy to relay her story, 
waiting for a respond. 

“So, her being nice to Amy was only a cover-up for her own selfish
motives.” Sammi said, moving back toward the boxes she had been working 
on. “That is sad, pretending to be someone's friend just to get 
something for yourself.” Candy said. “I'm glad she got the money to go, 
Abby may not be so glad since she has to share her Jakey.”  They all 
started laughing again. After they worked for a couple more hours the 
boxes had been marked and stacked in the corner of the room.  “Hey, we 
only have a couple more boxes to mark, want to mark them or wait until 
after we have something to eat?”  Missy asked.  “Hmmm, I say let's get 
it done, how about you Candy?”  Candy grabbed the box placing it in the 
middle of the floor, “I agree, then what about some pizza?” 

After the pizza break they drop their flyer off at the local paper
advertising what time and place the sale would be. They were nearing 
Candy's house when she said her mother was leaving a box of items on 
the front porch they could have.  When they entered the yard they could 
see not only one box on the porch but several. “Missy, would you go get 
the moving dolly out of the hide-a-way, then Sammi and I will load it.  
Mom must have done some serious cleaning.” She laughed. Within minutes 
she was back, a blank look on her face. “What's wrong, Missy?”  Sammi 
and Candy heading down the steps at the same time. In a disbelieving 
voice she said, “We've been robbed.” 

Even though the police searched the area they couldn't find any clues. 
It wasn't a forced entry for they had left the hide-a-way unlocked.  
Several of the boxes had been overturned or emptied on the floor.  The 
main item missing was the metal box that held the cash.  One hundred 
and fifty dollars, now it seem the trip was definitely off if the money 
wasn't found.  Even with the yard sale they couldn't raise the needed 
three hundred dollars.  With sad hearts and faces they entered the 
hide-a-way to repack the boxes. 

They worked silently until Sammi said, “Okay, let's do some brain
storming. I know we have already went over it with the police but let's 
talk some more about it.” Candy placed the last box in the corner, 
“There was one interesting question the police asked, how many others 
besides us knew the money was in the metal box.”  Sammi said, “Our 
answer was, our parents, Abby and Amy. Was their someone else?”  
“That's her point, Sammi,” Missy retorted, Abby and Amy.”  Sammi looked 
almost as heartbroken as when the money was discovered missing. “You 
don't think Amy took it do you?  I mean like, she said several days ago 
she had the money to go on the trip. The money didn't come up missing 
until today.” Missy sit down on one of the boxes, “I don't like how 
this conversation is going, I can't believe Amy would steal from us or 
anyone else.  On the other hand, Abby wouldn't have any reason too.”  
They all agreed they hoped it wasn't Amy but they couldn't dismiss the 
fact there simply wasn't anyone else that knew what was in the box. It 
was such a beat up old thing that to the unknowing eye it would seem it 
belonged in the trash. 

The next day the three was facing a very angry Abby.  “Do you realize
just how embarrassed I was when the police came to my house with 
questions about your theft.  I don't know why you would imply that I 
had anything to do with it.  If I was you I would be questioning Amy, 
she is the poor one you know. If I want something I'm quite sure my 
parents could afford it, don't you?” she asked as she flipped her hair 
over her shoulder and walked down the hall. 

She didn't give them a chance to explain they had not accused her of
anything; just part of the procedure in an investigation, the police 
would also be questioning Amy. 

Just at that moment Amy was walking toward them, “Well, here comes our
next chewing.” Sammi said.  Amy crossed to the other side of the hall, 
eyes downcast and walked past them without a word. “Well, what does 
that imply to you?” asked Candy. “Wonder if our money has been 
discovered?” asked Missy, sounding sad. 

Saturday arrived without contact from the police.  The girls decided to
have the yard sale even though it wouldn't raise three hundred dollars, 
simply because it had been advertised. At the end of the day they were 
more than surprised to have raised two hundred and thirteen dollars. 
“Wow, we would have made it with money left over.” Candy said, as she 
finished counting their profit. “Yeah, and eighty-seven dollars more 
and we could still go.” Missy chimed in. 

Candy's mother came outside just as the girls put the last table back in
the garage. “Girls, I just received a call from the police.  We're to 
go down to the station, sounds like they may have caught your thief.” 

They couldn't have been more surprise to see Abby and her parents
sitting in a little cubicle. Seem that Abby's mother found the money in 
Abby's backpack.  When confronted Abby confessed she had taken it.  Her 
story was she wanted Amy to get blamed for it so she couldn't go on the 
trip.  She expected everyone would think it was Amy since she was so 
“poor”.  She had found out that her dreamboat Jake liked Amy and was 
looking forward to going skiing with her.  All in all it was plain 
jealousy. 

The money was returned to the girls, they went on the trip and had a
great time.  Amy also went; her trip was paid for with the money she 
had earned baby-sitting.  She and Jake had a wonderful time too, and 
continued their relationship after the trip.  As for Abby, well, she 
didn't go.  Her parents don't give her everything she wants any more 
either.  And next weekend she has to have a yard sale in order to pay 
back the money for the expensive ski suit she had purchased on her 
mother's credit card. Life is great! 


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