Henry, his finger to his lips, loosened his laces and removed his sneakers. He motioned everyone else to do the same. Next, he tiptoed upstairs, the others following.
The Aldens searched upstairs, every corner, every nook, every cranny.
Jessie shrugged her slim shoulders. “There’s no one here,” she whispered.
Benny, who stood by the window, suddenly said in a loud, urgent whisper, “Henry, over here.”
In four strides, Henry was at Benny’s side. Benny pointed to the low velvet curtain below the window seat. Without a moment’s hesitation, Henry yanked back the velvet seat covers.
There, huddled in a corner, was a small boy. His chin rested on his knees, and he stared at them with a frightened expression.
“Come out of there!” Henry said sternly. “Why are you hiding?”
“And why are you stealing our food?” Benny asked, his hands on his hips.
The frightened boy crawled out into the daylight. His face was thin and pale and a thatch of black hair fell forward on his forehead. He had the darkest brown eyes the Alden children had ever seen. He bowed his head. “I-I was hungry,” he said softly.
“But why are you hiding?” Violet repeated. “We won’t hurt you.” Her voice was gentle.
“Before you answer any questions,” Jessie said, “I think that you . . .” She stopped. “What’s your name?”
“Miguel Morales,” the boy answered shyly. “I am ten years old.” A proud gleam lighted his eyes.
“Well, Miguel,” Jessie said kindly, “would you like a sandwich?”
Miguel nodded vigorously.
“I’m starved, too!” Benny said, rubbing his stomach.
They all laughed, going downstairs.
Over a sandwich and a glass of milk, Miguel told his story.
“I am hiding because,” his voice caught in his throat, “because I heard two men at the bait shop in my town talking about how my father’s fishing boat sank. They thought he and two other fishermen drowned. I ran before they could see me.” Tears filled his eyes, and he put his sandwich down.
“When?” Jessie asked quietly.
“Two days ago.” Miguel looked at each Alden. He knew they could be trusted. “You see, I live with my father in Dalton, which is many miles from here. My mother died three years ago, when I was seven.”
“Poor Miguel,” Violet sympathized. “How did you get here?”
He glanced at her gratefully and went on. “I walked for hours. Then I found this old building. I crawled through the back window.”
“You scared me!” Benny said reproachfully.
“Sorry,” Miguel mumbled. “I didn’t mean to.”
“So why are you hiding?” Henry asked.
“I have nowhere to go,” Miguel said, a tear spilling down his cheek. “If my father drowned, I’ll be put in a home.”
“We won’t let them!” Violet cried, her small chin jutting out. “We’ll protect you. We know what it’s like to have to hide from someone.”
“Do we!” Benny said. “I’ll never forget that old boxcar we lived in.”
Violet nodded. “We don’t have any parents, either, Miguel, and our grandfather was searching for us after our mother and father died. He planned to force us to live with him.”
“We thought he was a mean man,” Benny said.
Jessie smiled. “Grandfather Alden is just the opposite. He’s very kind, and we have a wonderful home with him now. So you see something good can happen to you.”
Sadly, Miguel shook his head.
“Yes, it will,” Benny stated in a loud voice. “I know it will!”
Miguel looked up and gave them a weak smile. “Thanks, everyone. I know you won’t turn me in.”
“Well,” Henry said slowly. “You can’t stay here, Miguel. At least not forever.” He smiled. “We’ll do a little investigating. Maybe your father was rescued. Are you positive that he drowned?”
Miguel stared at Henry, his big eyes growing bigger. “I—I don’t know,” Miguel frowned. “I heard that The Maria sank and that three men drowned, and I ran.”
“Your father’s boat is called The Maria?” Jessie said.
Miguel nodded, unable to speak. Finally, he said, “My father named it after my mother.”
“I see,” Jessie said. She patted Miguel’s knee. “Whatever we decide you should do, we’ll talk it over with you first. Is that okay?”
“That’s okay,” Miguel said, giving her a trembling smile.
“Then that’s settled,” Henry said. “Miguel, do you want to help us straighten books in this old library?”
“Oh, yes!” Miguel said eagerly. “I’m a good worker!”
And Miguel was as good as his word. He worked all afternoon, and when the sun set he was glad to go back to the house with his new friends. He sat behind Henry on his bicycle.
At supper Jessie smiled at Miguel. He was a good eater, like Benny. As she stacked the dirty dishes, she felt a sense of relief. At last the mystery was solved. No more strange noises, no more shadows, no more missing food. |