A Fourth of July Mystery Ride July 1, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Travel & Leisure.comments closed
“No fair! You and dad get to go to New York City for your anniversary while we’re stuck here doing NOTHING!”
Without waiting for a response, Nicole flounced out of the room, with all the indignation a 9-year-old can muster.
Hours later, Nicole heard her grandparents arrive, with doors opening and shutting. Still pouting, Nicole didn’t run to greet them with her usual enthusiasm.
Her mother came to the foot of the stairs. “Nicole! Come down. We’ve got a surprise for you.”
Intrigued, Nicole rolled off the bed and clunked downstairs with satisfying “thuds” and “thunks.”
Her brothers, John and David, sat at the kitchen table wearing huge grins.
Her 7-year-old sister, Beth, squealed. “Guess what?! We’re going on a Mystery Ride with grandma!”
Nicole glanced around for confirmation. Her grandmother nodded. The black mood lifted, with hugs all around.
In no time, the three youngest nestled in the backseat with great aunt Edie. John sat in front between his grandparents.
Everyone waved as they pulled out of the driveway.
Nicole loved Mystery Rides.
To the beach.
On picnics.
Hiking to a waterfall.
Visiting Turtle Back Zoo.
Nicole caught her grandmother’s eyes in the rear-view mirror.
“Where are we going?”
“Och, I cannae tell ye . . . twould no be a mystery.”
“Can we guess? Will you give us clues? I’m reading a Nancy Drew detective story and . . . ”
“Aye. We’ll give clues.”
“Have we been there before?”
“No. But it’s been there awa.”
“Is it older than you?”
The adults chuckled. “Oh, yes. ‘Tis older than us.”
Beth piped up, “Is it bigger than a bread box?”
John yelled out, “Is it man-made?”
David rubbed his stomach, “Will there be something good to eat?”
“Hold it. Hold it. One at a time. Yes. Yes. And . . . YES!”
As they crossed over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Nicole’s “inner Nancy Drew” solved the mystery.
“I know where we’re going!”
John rolled his eyes. “No, you don’t.”
“Do too! Colonial Williamsburg!”
Two hours later, they checked into a motel. Beth saw the swimming pool and started to cry. “I don’t have my bathing suit!”
Grandpa unlocked the trunk and pulled out the suitcases stashed inside. “Oh, yes, you do!”
King’s Arm Tavern, Colonial Williamsburg
After dinner at the King’s Arms Tavern, they watched a Fife and Drum parade and fireworks over Palace Green.
Nicole grabbed her grandmother’s hand.
“What a great way to celebrate Independence Day!”
* * *
Fireworks over Palace Green, Colonial Williamsburg
Want to join the fun? Enter the Fourth of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest.
Spirit Lights The Way 