Pass It Along/3

Aaron rushed to catch up with his family as they followed Mr. Mollister into the house. Frank continued telling them something about the house as he showed the family the massive foyer. Aaron pushed his shoulder into Brittany to get her attention, then showed her the note. She took it and read it, then giggled . . . a bit too loudly.

"What is so funny, Brittany?" asked Dylan.

Brittany casually put her hands behind her back as to not attract attention then said, "Nothing daddy. I'm sorry for interrupting." She suddenly felt the paper leave her hand, and turned quickly to catch Barry reading the note. She wanted to snatch it back, but she couldn't think of a way to do so without attracting undo attention.

"Please continue, Mr. Mollister," said Dylan, allowing himself to appear to be fooled by the childrens' trickery. Children need their innocent secrets after all. Frank wasn't fooled at all, and wasn't afraid to let it show that he knew something was amiss . . . but the boss seemed to think nothing of it, so he continued his tour.

"Give it back," whispered Brittany to Barry.

"Who are you meeting at the pool at eight sis?" asked Barry in a teasing whisper. "And are you gonna take Ophelia, or Mandy . . . or maybe Chrissy."

"We're not meeting anyone. Now give it back," said Brittany as she made a feeble attempt to snatch the paper back from Barry.

"Where'd you get the paper?" He asked.

"From Aaron, okay?"

"Where did he get it?"

"From Mr. Mollister's kids."

"When did you meet them?"

"We didn't. We saw them outside just a bit ago; just like you."

Barry looked back at her with a blank expression. "What are you talking about?"

"Mr. Mollister's kids . . . outside by the hedge maze . . . when we met Mr. Mollister?"

"My children are at their studies right now, girl," said Frank, giving Brittany a start. "What is all this." He looked to Dylan who gave him a nod; then held his hand out to Barry. Barry reluctantly turned over the piece of paper. Frank took the paper and looked at it. "I assure you, my children didn't write this. It is in none of their handwriting.

"Then who were the kids outside?"

"What children outside?" asked Frank.

"Three kids," said Aaron carefully, "two blonde boys and a brunette girl."

"There weren't any children out there sweety," said Divinity.

"But I saw 'em too," said Mandy.

"Me too," said Chrissy.

"I didn't see anything and I was right beside you guys," said Ophelia.

"Me either," said Barry.

"How about it Frank?" asked Dylan. "What is this all about?"

Frank was white as a sheet. "It's n-nothing I'm sure," he stammered as he crumpled the paper and secreted it in his pocket. "Probably the children's imagination. Surely their imagination. Shall we continue the tour?"

--Elerneron (talk) 22:54, 18 August 2018 (CEST)

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