The Grandmas Heard Thunder And Sirens!

 "You silly woman. I told you I would go to the City Council tomorrow. Then I changed my mind because I remembered this back entrance. Evidently you remembered too. Are you hurting really bad? You are probably cold. Marlee should be home about now. The ambulance should be here pretty soon. Yes, I think you should be checked out at the hospital. You shouldn't mess around with hip injuries at your age. No I'm not calling you old. Boy you are feisty tonight aren't you? I know your trunk is upstairs. If you would have just waited I'm sure you and Fran could have picked it up tomorrow. Oh well, no crying over spilled milk. I know you didn't spill any milk. Lu! Now just stop. I'm going to see if I can't find something to cover you with so you aren't so cold. I'm sure glad my phone has a flashlight on it so I can see down here."

"What is that noise, B? Do I hear something outside? I bet someone is here already. Thank goodness. B! I don't think that's an ambulance. What is that noise?" B frowned. She remembered hearing the news that afternoon. There were severe storm warnings for their area. "I think we are hearing thunder. I heard something on the news that we were supposed to get some rain. We need it though I wish it hadn't picked tonight to water the grass." 

"I know what you are doing, B. You are trying to take my mind off my hip. I appreciate it, but I think that I can move around. Just give me your arm and I'll see if I can stand up. If I can, I'll just walk up those steps and get on home."

"You are not getting up. Just wait and don't be so impatient. The ambulance will be here soon."

Some boys had stopped at the cafe for a quick cold drink and a snack. They were scrolling through their cell phones and both of them said, "Did you see that Marleewood has been broken into? The cops are on their way there now. Who is Grandma Lu and Grandma B? I've never heard of them before. They must be big time criminals to manage to break into that big old building. I've heard David talk about Marleewood before and how kids loved to go there. It's a shame folks just can't be decent. He laughed and said, "They blame kids our age for doing dumb stuff, this is proof that there is room in a jail cell for old women like these two."

B said, "There they are! I hear the sirens now. Thank goodness. We can get you fixed up and in the next couple of days we will have a talk with that Mayor and get your trunk back. 

Hello down there! Grandma Lu, Grandma B? Are you down there?"

"Yes we are. We are so happy you got here so quickly with the storm and all. Grandma Lu is hurt. Please help us."

"We will take care of her down at county, ma'am. Come on. Let's get going. You are being charged with breaking and entering and trespassing and probably a lot of other things. You are both under arrest."

Stubbornness And Sass Equal Disaster

 Grandma Lu thought about her conversation with her friend, Grandma B. "Hmm. Going to the City  Council tomorrow. A lot of good that's going to do. That's okay. I'll do it myself. Yes. I'll wait until Fran goes to sleep then I'll get myself over to Marleewood. I just happened to think there is a door in the back that the realtor probably missed. It goes down to the basement. Folks don't like to go down there because of the spiders and mice. Mercy! Those cobwebs down there are terrible. Well, that's my plan and I'm going to stick with it!"

Grandma B had waited until Marlee was asleep before she got on her black sweatshirt. She told Marlee's grandpa that she was going out for a walk and that Marlee was asleep. She'd be back in a little while.

What Grandma B and Marlee didn't know was that they were being watched. Not just by one person, but by several.

"Mom! Mom come here quick! Look out the window. I think that Marlee is running away from home!'

"You children are supposed to be in bed sound asleep by now. Why aren't you in bed? You have school tomorrow you know."

"Kyler said, "But Mom, look out the window! I know that's Marlee. Why is she out creeping around  and holding onto the trees at night?"

"Hmm, I don't know. I'll call B. I think Marlee was going to sleep over at her house tonight. Don't worry about it. Back to bed now you two.!

B had been holding her breath until she had made it inside the back door of Marleewood "It's a good thing I remembered this old back door and the realtor didn't lock it. Whew. I'm getting way too old for this cloak and dagger stuff. But I love Grandma Lu and it is just not fair that they locked the doors and won't let her in to get her trunk. Hopefully I can work my way through all these doggone cobwebs to find the door that goes to the lost and found closet upstairs. I'll push the trunk down the stairs and hopefully pull it out the back door."

"Kiara, did you know that they are selling Marleewood? I was just talking to Aunt Tricia. She told me. It's too bad we don't live closer. Maybe there was something that we could have done to help Grandma Lu. I guess she's pretty upset. We should call her. It's pretty late where they live though. Maybe tomorrow. Come on. Finish your dinner. We'll talk about this tomorrow."

B finally found the door that she thought went straight to the lost and found closet. "Finally. Okay door open up." She gave the door a big push with her shoulder and let out a holler. "Oh no! That hurt my bad shoulder." She stood there for a minute rubbing her shoulder when she thought she heard something. "Who's there? Is someone down here? Answer me!"

B turned around and saw an old blue hat. It was Grandma Lu's! "No! Grandma Lu, are you down here? Are you hurt?" She heard her old friend moan from the corner. Sure enough. It was Grandma Lu.

"Oh no. You silly woman. It' will be alright. I'll call an ambulance and we will get you to the hospital. Your leg? Shoot a pickle. Why didn't you wait? None of your sass now. Oh no! I can't get a signal down here? Okay I'm going to make a pillow for you out of my sweatshirt and go back home and call an ambulance. I'll be back as soon as I can!"

"Grandma B are you down there? Hey, is anyone down here?"

"Marlee, am I glad to see you! But you shouldn't be here, but I'm sure glad that you are! Run home and get your grandpa to call an ambulance. I'll stay here with Grandma Lu. She fell down those stairs. Hurry!"

Grandma B Has Her Own Ideas!

As Grandma B listened she almost choked on her coffee and spit most of it on the table. "What? Are you out of your mind? Oh I get it. You think it's a funny joke. It is not April Fools day, my dear. Now really. You know we can't do that! You what? Now stop crying! Lu! We just can't break into Marleewood! That's against the law you know. I'm a grandmother remember? What in the world would Marlee and Whitlee think if I got thrown in jail? There will be a way to get the mayor to have the realtor unlock it so you and Fran can get your trunk out of there. I was going to City Hall tomorrow anyway and discuss this trick of his of selling it before the auction. That is not right. I know I voted for him! I'm sorry already. Now go have a cup of tea and settle down. I'm going to make some calls when I get home from having dinner. I'll get everyone on the same page. I promise, okay? Well, I was having a nice dinner with Marlee. Yes, I'll bring you some cookies.  Goodnight. And make that some chamomile tea. It will help you sleep." 

"What was wrong with Grandma Lu? Why was she crying? Marlee asked her Grandma B.

"Marlee, the town has decided to sell Marleewood and has locked some of Grandma Lu's things inside. She just gets silly sometimes." She shook her head and started laughing. She wants to break into Marleewood and get her trunk out of there. You know that big one that has so many pictures and things you and other children have sent her. She's in a state tonight, but I told her I couldn't do such a thing. Oh she wants some cookies; don't let me forget."

Marlee grinned, but thought about her elderly friend. She had seen so many of the things that she had kept in that trunk. Stories that she and her had written together and pictures; so many pictures. "Well, I don't think it's fair that they are doing that. Do you really think the Mayor will open up Marleewood for her? Just exactly why did you vote for him anyway?"

Never you  mind, young lady. Let's celebrate you being a good girl and get on home. You are sleeping over tonight, remember?"

Marlee grinned and said, "Yup, almost through. Don't forget the cookies!"

Marlee loved staying overnight with her grandma. She even had a new puppy to cuddle, but she was worried. As she laid in bed watching the new puppy play with her soft little toy she thought she heard her grandma getting in the coat closet. "Well, that's weird. What is she doing? No...She wouldn't do that with Grandma Lu; she just wouldn't!"

Marlee waited until she heard the back door close and looked out the window. "No way, not without me you aren't. I'm going to help too!"

Grandma Lu's Plan Could Lead To Disaster!

As Grandma Lu hurried up the driveway she noticed that as her husband was parking the truck he had not backed up to the door to unload the trunk. She stopped and walked back towards him and asked him, "Why didn't you back the truck up to the door? I can help you unload it in just a few minutes. I need to make a place for it in the guest room. Hey, what's going on? Why didn't you bring the trunk home? Is it too heavy for you to lift by yourself? I should have gone with you. I'm sorry. Let's go back and get it."

Grandma Lu noticed that her husband's face was red and he looked very angry. "What's the matter? You look as upset as I was a little while ago. We will go to the city council and get this settled. Come on. Let's go."

Her husband finally had a chance to speak and sadly said. "The realtor has put a lockbox on the door. I can't get in to get your trunk, Dear."

Grandma Lu said, "Come on. Let's go back to Marleewood. I want to see this lockbox thing."

As they pulled up to the back door Grandma Lu jumped out and started up the walk. Sure enough there was a realtor box that was attached to the doorknob. She was locked out of her beloved Marleewood.!

She was so upset she could barely talk. After she got back into the pickup truck she said, "Take me home. I need to call B. I have every right to that trunk. The trunk and everything that's in it is mine." On the way home Grandma Lu's mind was spinning. She didn't say it aloud, but she thought to herself, " I have an idea that might work. She's been my friend for many years. I sure hope B will help me.. It might take a little persuading, but I just know she will after I tell her what that mean mayor is doing. I'm sure glad I didn't for vote him!"

Grandma Lu waited until her husband went out to his workshop and called B from her front porch. "B, I need your help with something."

"Sure thing, Grandma Lu. What do you need? I'm out for an early dinner right now, but when I get home I'll give you a call."

"Good deal, because I want you to break into Marleewood with me tonight. Wear something black and meet me at midnight. Oh I got to go!"

Even Going To The Mailbox Made Grandma Lu Cry

 Granma Lu's husband was immediately concerned when he saw his wife come into the living room. "What's wrong? You'd better sit down, my dear. You are out of breath and your face is all red. Come, come. I'll get you a drink of water and then you need to tell me what you are all worked up about."

"There now. What's going on?"

"Oh you just won't believe it. The city has hired a realtor to sell Marleewood instead of waiting for the auction in March. I thought maybe we could think of something to stall the auction and convince the city not to sell it. Marleewood has been the fun part of my life for so many years. I just can't hardly stand the thought of it not being part of my life. I wish I was filthy rich I would buy it and Marleewood would stand proudly for generations to come! It's a happy place, a place to sit and tell stories; real and make believe. It's a place to sit in the quiet and get yourself settled if you are upset. It's a place to watch children make friends and learn to share and develop talents they didn't even know they had. Oh my I can't even think of my life without it, but I guess I will have to. By the way would you go over and get my big trunk before that hateful realtor throws it in the trash. I'll make room for it in the spare bedroom. Yes, yes, I'll be alright. Right now I am going to the mailbox and get the mail. I'll have a spot made for it by the time you get back."

As Grandma Lu walked down the driveway to the mailbox the tears started again. "Old woman, you are just a sentimental old thing. When she went to open the mailbox she thought to herself, "I can still remember little Marlee getting the mail out of B's mailbox for her. She could barely reach it. She was so cute."

"Those days are over now. She's getting to be such a big girl and most importantly a very nice girl. Well lookie here; a bunch of bills. What else is new? Oh there's Fran I'd better get back to the house. I've been dilly dallying and don't have a space cleared out for that big old trunk."

Grandma Lu Hears Shocking News!

 Grandma Lu heard the back door open and wiped the tears from her cheeks and stood up expecting her husband coming to take the trunk back to their house. As she was walking towards the kitchen she heard voices discussing what could be done with Marleewood. She stood quietly listening to the voices. She couldn't believe her ears. They were talking about tearing her beloved Marleewood down to make it a parking lot!

Well I might be old, but I'm not about to let that happen to my Marleewood! She quickly met up with the group as they were just walking into the Sitting Room. "Hello, I am Grandma Lu. And just who are you and why are you here?"

The strange man said, "I am a realtor. The city has given me the opportunity to sell this charming old house. These folks are extremely interested in the property, not the house. They intend to make a parking lot on this piece of land. It will make your charming little town so much more accessible to shoppers.  I'm sure you do realize that finding a place to park is nearly impossible nowadays since you have so many new businesses. 

The second man Grandma Lu recognized. He was the mayor. "Mr. Mayor, Marleewood is not going to be auctioned off until March. Why did you hire a realtor? I really don't think that is legal. Does the city council know what you are doing?"

To be continued…