10 Puzzling Pieces

By Carol E. Sandau

A selection of ten captivating short fiction stories for girls and boys aged 9 to 12. They include mystery and adventure designed to intrigue your imagination and keep you riveted. Each story is uniquely different presenting a new puzzle to be solved every time.<

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450262453

Carol E. Sandau

A love of writing and being actively involved with children, prompted Carol Sandau to take an extended course on Children’s Writing. She wrote a variety of poetry and had some published. She continued with her passion for writing in the form of children’s short stories. Carol, with husband Lloyd, and surrounded by family, lives on an acreage near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She enjoys travelling locally and abroad. Carol has a wide variety of interests and activites.

Book preview

Contents

Perfectly Matched

Plus or Minus

Choices

A Persistent Knocking

Circle of Love

A Quiet Disappearance

Paw Prints

A Brief Interlude

Trapped In A Semi

The Mysterious Bushman

Perfectly Matched

Family and friends are the flowers in God’s Garden of Love

FAITH, FAITH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? an insistent voice asked.

The sound floated gently in a cotton candy cloud above her head. Slowly the words pierced into the foggy recesses of her brain. Her eyelids fluttered quickly, and then finally focused on the surroundings. She heard the faint ticking of a machine of some sort. A needle from an IV drip was connected to her left arm. She appeared to be lying in a narrow bed.

My name is not Faith, she whispered. Where am I?

You’re in the hospital, the pretty nurse replied kindly. You had an accident, but you’re going to be fine.

Groping mentally the slight girl tried to piece the puzzle of her memory together. Gradually the chain of events shifted into focus.

What is your name, dear? the nurse prodded gently.

My name is Hope, the young girl replied slowly. I think I remember what happened. My friends and I were celebrating my 12th birthday. We went on a trail ride. We were heading down into a little valley. A gopher ran across the path and spooked my horse. He reared and I went flying through the air. Then—nothing!

The cheerful nurse nodded her head as she patted Hope’s hand. She stroked the soft golden hair where it fanned out over the pillow. It’s time for you to rest now, dear. I’ll be back soon.

Hope drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Someone was shaking her. How are you doing now, Hope? the dark haired nurse asked.

Okay, but I have a headache, Hope answered weakly.

You had a concussion from your fall, the nurse advised. Luckily there were no broken bones, only bruises. We’ll keep an eye on you here for a couple of days.

By the way, remember I called you Faith awhile ago? Nurse Sandi recalled. We had a lot of patients sent up from the emergency room earlier. A young blond girl involved in a ski accident was one of them. She looked identical to you. Her name is Faith. I just checked on her. She’s down the hall.

You don’t have a twin do you? the nurse chattered happily.

No, I don’t even have a sister. Hope replied. My brother is four years older than me.

At that moment her brother walked into the room carrying a large balloon bouquet in her favourite color. Every shade of blue was included in the spectacular display. Hope’s mom followed close behind with a beautiful assortment of cornflowers, daisies and baby’s breath.

Dad entered the room quickly carrying Boo Bear. The small pink bear with large multicoloured ears had always been her companion. Hope’s parents had adopted her when she was two years old, but they told her the teddy bear had been with her since birth.

Mom and Dad rushed to Hope’s bed. There were unshed tears in their eyes. We’re so glad you’re okay, Mom whispered breathlessly.

We were very worried, Dad added. They each held one of her hands.

Big brother Adam had to be cool, of course. Were you trying to fly, little sister? he teased with a silly grin. He ruffled her hair affectionately.

The Doctor said you need to rest, dear, Mom explained. We’ll come and see you tonight."

Hope dozed off again.

She woke up a little later with the feeling someone was staring at her. Moaning softly, she forced her eyes open. Startled, she saw a blonde-haired girl standing at the foot of the bed. A pair of clear blue eyes identical to her own were watching her intently. It was as though Hope was looking into a mirror. The girl looked exactly the same as her image!

W-who are you? Hope demanded.

My name is Faith. The girl replied quietly. Nurse Sandi told me a girl who looked very much like me was a patient here. Do you suppose we could be related?

I was adopted when I was two, Hope responded.

Me, too! Faith said excitedly.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw your teddy bear, Faith added. I have one exactly the same. I call him Boo Bear. He even has strange floppy ears like your teddy."

That’s the name of my bear, too, Hope grinned. Why are you in here anyway?

I was celebrating my 12th birthday yesterday, Faith laughed. We had a party at the ski hill. I’m not a very good skier. I did a face plant. Landed on my arm and broke it. She indicated the sling on her left arm. I bruised some ribs, too. Have to stay a day or two while they do tests on me."

Hope was smiling broadly now.

I was celebrating my 12th birthday with a trail ride yesterday. She relayed her story. Guess we’re a couple of klutzes.

Seems to me there are a lot of coincidences here, Faith commented. Do you suppose it’s possible we could be related, maybe sisters or even twins?

Nurse Sandi checked into the room. I knew it! she laughed. You two look exactly alike.

Hope was staring at Faith’s right wrist.

Can I see your bracelet? she asked. She took her own right hand from beneath the sheet. The girls were wearing identical silver bracelets! U R LOVED was inscribed on the front of each disk. A tiny diamond was set in the O.

Wow! I can hardly believe this," Faith was grinning.

Is anything written on the inside of yours? Hope asked.

An unusual message I never really understood, Faith replied. Turning the slim disk over, it read: 1 + 1 = 2.

It sort of makes sense if we really are twins, doesn’t it? Hope asked. Mine says the same.

Both girls were shivering with excitement.

Enough for now, Nurse Sandi smiled. She had poked her head into the room once again. You girls need to get some rest. She gently turned Faith in the direction of her own room.

See you soon, Hope grinned.

Real soon, Faith waved.