Mildred Mistletoe Adjusts to a COVID Christmas

By Elaine L. Orr

This Christmas season is different. For one thing, Mildred's humans have two unexpected house guests. Cyndi, good friends with Mildred's owners Frank and Fergie, and her socially awkward cat, Mittens, can't stay at their home. Cyndi's dad has COVID. She wants to be home to help, but her parents don't want her to get sick.

Mildred has her hands full keeping an eye on Mittens, getting her own puppy, Goofball, to avoid eating bubbles, and making sure Cyndi doesn't do anything foolish. On Christmas Eve, Mildred awakes to suspicious noises. She needs to get her humans out of bed and on a mission to help a friend who doesn't seem to know what's best for her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elaine L. Orr
• Release date: Dec 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005228972

Elaine L. Orr

Elaine L. Orr writes four mystery series, including the thirteen-book Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, set at the Jersey shore. "Behind the Walls" was a finalist for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. The first book in the River's Edge series--set in rural Iowa--"From Newsprint to Footprints," came out in late 2015; the second book, "Demise of a Devious Neighbor," was a Chanticleer finalist in 2017.The Logland series is a police procedural with a cozy feel, and began with "Tip a Hat to Murder" in 2016 The Family History Mystery series, set in the Western Maryland Mountains began with "Least Trodden Ground" in 2020. The second book in the series, "Unscheduled Murder Trip," received an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2021.She also writes plays and novellas, including the one-act play, "Common Ground" published in 2015. Her novella, "Falling into Place," tells the story of a family managing the results of an Iowa father’s World War II experience with humor and grace. Another novella, "Biding Time," was one of five finalists in the National Press Club's first fiction contest, in 1993. "In the Shadow of Light" is the fictional story of children separated from their mother at the US/Mexico border.Nonfiction includes :Words to Write By: Getting Your Thoughts on Paper: and :Writing When Time is Scarce.: She graduated from the University of Dayton and the American University and is a member of Sisters in Crime. Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994.Her fiction and nonfiction are at all online retailers in all formats -- ebooks, paperbacks, large print, and (on Amazon, itunes, and Audible.com) audio in digital form. Paperbacks can be ordered through Barnes and Noble Stores as well as t heir online site.Support your local bookstore!

Book preview

MILDRED MISTLETOE ADJUSTS TO

A COVID CHRISTMAS

ELAINE L. ORR

Third Mildred Mistletoe Holiday Story

Check out the first two

The Mildred Mistletoe Holiday Stories

(which are often free)

Mildred Mistletoe Fixes Christmas

Mildred Mistletoe Rescues Christmas

Copyright 2021

Lifelong Dreams Publishing

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-005228972

Table of Contents

Chapter One An Unscheduled Guest

Chapter Two Keeping Busy

Chapter Three Playing Jokes and Planning Presents

Chapter Four A Daring Night

More Books by Elaine

Author Bio

CHAPTER ONE

AN UNSCHEDULED GUEST

MILDRED MISTLETOE was happy about being born under her family’s Christmas tree. Each year, they celebrated her birthday with good food and presents. Her special humans, Fergie and Frank, tried to tie ribbons around her neck, but every year Mildred rubbed against Dog until they came off.

This year, Fergie sniffed a lot when the family decorated the tree, so Mildred wasn’t so sure how her birthday would go. Now that the twins were in high school, they didn’t tell her everything.

Fergie’s sadness had something to do with Fergie and Frank’s friend, Cyndi, and her little six-toed calico cat, Mittens. They came for a sleepover two days ago, and then Cyndi’s mom called today and Cyndi cried when she hung up.

Mildred liked Cyndi, but didn’t understand why she needed to stay for at least ten days and take some sort of test before she went home. As far as Mildred knew, since school started again, her humans didn’t take any tests at home.

As Cyndi’s voice rose, Mildred listened from her hiding place behind the armchair near the front door. Mom says Dad has it. I’ve been vaccinated. I need to go home to help him!

Frank frowned. I don’t know if that’s the best way to help.

My mom said if I tried to come home, she’d lock the door!

Fergie said, Umm. We’re having spaghetti tonight. With meatballs.

Frank muttered something about lame, but Mildred didn’t see anyone limping.

Cyndi tossed her cell phone on the floor and burst into tears. Then she threw herself, face-down, on the couch.

Mom Amanda came into the room, helped Cyndi sit up, and sat with the girls while Frank and his dad stood nearby. Mildred could tell even Mom wasn’t sure how to help.

Mom stroked Cyndi’s hair.