The Vase Mystery

The Vase Mystery

A short story written by Abigail Ringman (9 years old)
Transcribed exactly how she wrote it on paper.

"Jingle bells, jingle all the way." Heather sang as she set up her Halloween decorations around her house. "Why are you singing Christmas songs? It's October." Heather's friend asked. "Because I'm in the holiday mood and there are not any good Halloween songs." Heather replied.

The next day, "Never, not ever touch this glass vase. I always decorate scary every Halloween with spiders and spider webs." Heather stated. "Where do you keep it?" wondered Molly, Heather's friend. "I keep it right in this window to scare the kids next door and to keep the stray cats out of my backyard." Heather replied.

It's getting closer and closer to Halloween, but then suddenly, something shattered. "My vase! My vase! My vase!" Heather shouted in panic. "Run! Run!" someone said. "Who said that?!" Heather said in her mind angrily.

Heather paced back and forth breathing in and out. "I'm calm. I'm calm. I'm calm." Heather said to herself trying to stay calm. Heather went to the store to buy a new vase.

"These vases are not scary enough to scare away those cats and kids." Heather thought. "Excuse me but, you really look like you're having a bad time. Do you need help?" asked an employee. "Yes! Please, I need the best vase that can be decorated scary. BOO!!" Heather replied.

"What happened to your old vase if you had one?" the employee asked. "Someone did something to it. I was upstairs and then I heard something shatter." Heather replied to the employee. "Here, try this one." the employee said. "I love it, thanks!" Heather said.

After she left the store, Heather went back to her house and started decorating the vase. The vase was very scary. Even scarier than the last vase. Heather was happy, but not happy enough. Something was missing. It was the thought of not knowing who it was that broke the vase.

The search to find this person began. "Who could it be. It could be anyone." Heather told Molly when she got home. "Maybe it's Gabe. Remember Gabe is the very disobedient kid across the street." Molly suggested. The next day, Heather looked around her house. "Ding Dong" the doorbell rang. "Hey Molly!" Heather said after she opened the door.

"What are you doing?" Molly asked as she walked into the house. "I'm looking around the house for clues to help find who did it." Heather replied. "Don't you have security cameras all around your house?" Molly asked while looking around the house. "Oh yeah! I do have security cameras." Heather replied looking out the open window. "Do they work?" Molly asked hoping for a yes.

"I don't know but, I'll call the security company to ask if they work and how to see the footage on them." Heather said. After Heather called the security company, she was emailed the working footage from the camera.

What Heather found was horrific. A mysterious man or woman in a all black outfit including a black mask with eye holes, a mouth hole, and a nose hole. "Hey, look at this, the "Mystery Criminal" is wearing a bracelet and has pink colored nail polish." Heather pointed out to Molly.

"Hey, what a coincidence, you're wearing pink nail polish too!" Heather told Molly. "Yeah but, I have hot pink nails, they have regular pink nails." Molly told Heather looking very close at the camera. "I think that's enough crime solving for today. Want to go to the mall?" said and asked Molly.

"Okay. I really need some new shoes anyway. I'll meet you at Waikiki-Beach Mall." Heather replied while getting her shoes on. When Heather and Molly walked back into their house, they saw a horrific and messy living room plus a very disobedient kid named Gabe. "Gabe, what are you doing in my house? Molly, how did a ten year old pick my lock?" Heather screamed in a loud and panicking voice. "I told you. He is a very disobedient kid. He's got an all black bedroom with skulls. I should know, I'm his babysitter on the weekend." Molly whispered in reply to Heather. "Gabe did you break my vase?" Heather asked. "No. No I didn't. This is what happened. I was taking a walk around the block to walk my dog. Since your house is at the end, I passed by your house. Then, there was a huge and strong blow of wind. Next, all I heard was glass shattering. I didn't want anyone to think it was me or know that I painted my nails pink, so I told my dog to run back home." Gabe explained to Heather and Molly. "Oh. Now I get it." Heather said.

"But, what are you in Heather's house for?" Molly asked Gabe. "Oh, I'm hiding from my mom. She's in one of her moods." Gabe answered. "Let's go out to eat." Heather suggested. "Yeah, let's go to McDonald's." Molly and Gabe said at the same time. "Jinx!" Gabe said to Molly.

The end.

8th Military Police Brigade Ball

Last Friday night Michael and I attended the 8th Military Police Brigade Ball. The ball was downtown at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We made a reservation to spend the night down at the Hale Koa, the military resort next to the Hilton. We picked up the kids early from school and made our way downtown to the hotel so would could check in and start getting ready for our big night. Earlier in the week we checked Uncle Rick, Aunt Deb, Jason, Becca and Lucas into to the hotel. They were on the 8th floor in ocean view rooms. Michael was joking about our ocean view room with the front desk lady when we checked in. Our reservation wasn't actually for an ocean view room, but she upgraded us for free anyways! The boys headed up to the room while Abigail and I went to park the car. Michael sent this picture to me once they got up to the room. What a handsome boy and a nice view of the ocean, from the 12th floor.

Austin - 12th floor view from our balcony

Of course Abigail had to get her picture taken too. They were so amazed at the view.

We got ready for our night out and the kids changed into their swimming suits. While we were at the ball the kids went to the pool with Uncle Rick, Aunt Deb, Jason, Becca and Lucas. They were able to show off their swimming skills and watch fireworks from the pool.

Military balls are interesting events. This was our third time attending a ball, and I recycled my dress from our very first ball in Alaska. The formal portion of the night started later than planned and took quite a while to finish up. The dinner was pretty good, Michael and I both had the prime rib. It's nice to get dressed up once in a while. I like to say that it's my one day a year where I have to wear make up and heels. I forced Michael to get our picture taken, and of course he gave his best smile!

8th MP Brigade Ball - Hilton Hawaiian Village

He really likes it when I take selfie's of us too!

He really likes to smile!

We called it a night after the formal portion of the evening ended. We grabbed the kids and headed back to our room. We planned to go back over to our friends room for a little after party fun, but Austin fell asleep and we realized that we were ready for bed too. You know you're getting old when you would rather go to bed instead of continuing the party. We were up early at 6:30 the next morning just like we are every other day of the week. We enjoyed the view before we got our showers for the day.

After our showers we met up with the family and headed out to breakfast. We had to find a restaurant where the Michigan game was on. Once we move, we won't have to watch sporting events while we eat breakfast anymore. After the game, and a Michigan win, we headed back home to enjoy the rest of our weekend. It was so nice to stay down there after the ball and act like a tourist instead of coming home. We're so thankful that family was in town and willing to watch the kids while Michael and I attended the ball.