Raven's Wordzzle Challenge #92

Raven's Wordzzle Challenge #92

sugar, mortgage, logical, roller skates, outlandish, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus", cumberbund, unexpected, photo album, scarecrow

tomatoes, turtles, basement apartment, circumference, make my day

The Slumber Party Mystery
Chapter 39 - Gossip

Skittles had talked his friend Matthew Turtles into having Sunday breakfast with him in his basement apartment, and then going with him to the village church.

"Please," Skittles had said on the phone. "You know I don't usually go to church, and if I go alone I'll feel as though they'll all be staring at me, and I'll be red as tomatoes in the face. But Diana said she might be going, and it would really make my day if you'd accompany me and see her. It's enough if you just say hello and then you could give me your opinion of her afterwards."

"I really can't see why it would cause any less staring if I go with you," had been Matt's answer, but since he was feeling curious, he had agreed anyway.

Up at the Brigadier General's house, Bumblebee was tying a cumberbund around the impressive circumference of his belly. Miss Diana had warned him that she would probably be bringing some guests back with her after church.

At the village church, Diana could not really have made a more spectacular entrance if she had arrived on roller skates instead of in her outlandish little red sports car, wearing her grandmother's diamond necklace.

The quartet of old ladies standing outside the church were so preoccupied looking at her that they paid no attention at all to the two police officers, nor to Dr Challenge; and certainly not to young William.

"Yes Virigina, there is a Santa Claus!" said Mrs Smith to Mrs Jones. "Just look at her! I have a picture in my photo album..."

"Now isn't that unexpected?" said Mrs Jones to Mrs Anderson. "That poor little scarecrow, growing up into such a fashionable young lady!"

"Well, Virginia," said Mrs Anderson, "I'd say it's only logical that she should, really, all things considered. I shouldn't wonder if that diamond necklace is a fake, though! I heard the General had to take a mortgage on the house you know," she added in a whisper.

Skittles, looking at Diana, found himself thinking that he should have taken at least three lumps of sugar with his morning coffee instead of just one. He was suddenly feeling a bit weak at the knees.

His friend Matt noticed, and gave him an amused smile.

"Hey John, you're not the groom waiting for the bride, you know, even though I must agree she'd make a stunning one! If you still want me to meet her, you'll have to introduce me!"