Agent Penny and the Dusty Discovery

The clock ticks by as a random video drones on at the front of the classroom. I wonder why we're forced to watch anything educational since school is technically done for the day. I'm so bored I'm afraid I may die. Looking around the ancient room I feel as though I've travelled through time. There have been so many changes in my life lately I may not notice if I did. New town, new school, new post-pandemic life.

Even with an overactive imagination, being an only child during lockdown has been super dull. I'm not even motivated to get into trouble these days and that's saying a lot.

Most of the kids at Patterson Middle School are pretty cliquey, so I'm still an outsider. The only other kid that's not part of a group seems to be this quiet girl, Amira. School actually finished half an hour ago but Amira, myself and a handful of other unfortunate souls are stuck in the dreaded after-school program in the original school building while the real school next door gets disinfected. Even though the COVID numbers are down and things are reopening, precautions are still being taken.

Struggling to remain conscious I raise my hand. The teacher looks as bored as the rest of us. "Yes?" She asks with zero expression. "Can I go to the bathroom?” Luckily she agrees so I decide to go exploring. The old building is beautiful, or at least it once was. Hardwood floors, high ceilings, crown moulding, all covered in a thick layer of dust. Yuck. The sanitizing staff have clearly not been here.

Some caution tape is haphazardly strung across a hallway, which piques my interest. I double-check that I'm alone, remove my mask and duck under the tape into the shadows.

It's pretty dimly lit in this part of the school, with only a few emergency lights to guide me. I pull out my phone and use the flashlight to help, which makes me feel a bit like a spy. Agent Penny is on the case! I come across a massive set of double doors with a shiny metal sign which says 'Library'. Jackpot! Butterflies swoop in my stomach as I push my way in.

Between the musty scent and cobwebs, I can tell the library hasn't been touched in decades. I stealthily peer through the dusty stacks in eerie silence and I realize that this is the most fun I've had in forever. I come across a display table with books about the area; 'Patterson Historical Society', 'Seaside Caves and Crevices', 'Media Masterpieces - A Collection of Modern Art'. This last one makes me chuckle as there is nothing 'modern' about this book. I wonder if the artwork inside is as dated as I imagine.

As I peruse the black and white images a bookmark flutters to the floor. Bending down to retrieve it, I see something shiny behind the adjacent bookshelf reflecting back at me. Curiosity gets the better of me so I crawl under the table to retrieve the mystery object.

During the extraction, dust seems to have filled the air and I endure a brutal coughing fit as I pull the wedged item from behind the shelf and attempt to pull myself together. I'm focused on regaining the ability to breathe as I dust myself off, and then remember the discovery in my hand. It's a tidy little notebook bound with black leather and it looks old. Not 'groovy' old like most things around here, but 'Victorian' old.

Carefully I wipe it off, anticipation coursing through my veins. The only sound is my heartbeat echoing within the hushed corners of this forgotten place. Just then the ear-piercing sound of the school bell rips through the quiet and I double-check that my heart is still functioning. I'm quickly transported back to 2021 and realize I've been here for too long. I shove the notebook in my pocket, throw my mask back on and hustle back to reality.

Most of the kids are gone by the time I get back. I quickly grab my bag and head for the door where I bump right into Amira. This is jarring in many ways as we've been programmed to social distance. "So sorry!" I manage as I jump back giving her some space. "It's ok.” She replies gently as she looks me up and down, confused. I then realize that I'm completely covered in dust and look like a total weirdo. "Ok, see you tomorrow!" I offer brightly as I make a beeline for the door. So embarrassing!

After an endless discussion at dinner about 1980’s pop culture of all things, followed by some unavoidable math homework, my parents finally return to their designated screens and leave me to my own devices.

I pull out the modest notebook and run my fingers over the dimpled cover. Leafing through the yellowed pages my heart slumps as most of the smudged script is illegible. But the writing style is careful and ornate, something from a forgotten era. I gasp when I turn to a page I can mostly decipher. I read;

My Dearest Adelaide,

My heart hangs heavy after our final farewell and I already miss the feeling of your hand in mine. I will forever cherish our stolen moments together and your warmth and beauty will remain engraved on my heart and haunt my dreams. I pray that your absence in the dreary years ahead will not diminish my anguish, for it keeps your memory alive. I've left a token of my admiration and esteem at the location of our first encounter. Its briny chasm reflects the disparity in my heart.

All my love,

Sir Edmund Hopper

It's dated October 12, 1842. Well, fancy that. I wipe a rogue tear from my cheek as Edmund's heartache feels tangible. The way it's written, slightly marked up makes it look like it's a draft copy penned and revised before the final iteration, which begs the question - did Adelaide ever receive this letter?? Oh, the drama!

I start the next day with a pep in my step. I think I've untangled some of the letter's meaning, but I wish I knew someone local to help me out. Walking into the bustling cafeteria I keep my head down and move towards my usual table for one in the far corner. I see Amira eating alone in the opposite corner and pieces of my plan come together like a puzzle. I veer right instead of left and flop down into the chair opposite her.

"Oh!" She looks up with a start, uncertainty radiating from her wide eyes. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I ask over-enthusiastically. Be cool Penny. "Sure.” She replies, still stunned. I shoot her a quick smile so she knows I'm friend, not foe as I open my lunch bag. "So did you grow up here?" I blurt out with no preamble. "Um ya”. "So you know the area well?" I continue to prod. "I guess?” She seems a bit bewildered but still friendly. I inhale for a moment and decide to go all in. "Do you want to go on an adventure with me after school today?" She stares at my optimistic expression for a beat and then bursts out laughing. "Absolutely.” "Awesome! I'm Penny by the way." I feel like a rock star as I take a bite of my chicken sandwich, but notice that her lunch seems somewhat inadequate.

I tell her all about my discovery and we spend lunch hour reviewing the letter and the rest of the notebook, which had some additional clues. We decide that Sir Edmund must have left Adelaide a treasure or trinket in one of the caves along the beach, and maybe it's still there! But we need more information. We easily escape the after-school program, like we're evading parole, and I lead her to my secret library.

After cross-referencing some of the remarks in the notebook to a historical map of seaside roads, we think we've found our cave. So with change in our pockets and excitement in our eyes, we head for the bus stop. I text my Dad to let him know I'll be home late. "Are your parents ok with you hanging out after school?" I ask. "Ya, my mom is cool. It's so crowded at my place they'll probably appreciate one less body. How about you?" How many people could she live with? "My parents are always busy with work, so they're just glad I've found something to do." I think about my small family of three in our spacious new house. I get the impression that Amira's life is rather different.

Twenty minutes later we're standing on the bluffs looking down at the crashing waves. Yikes. "How do we get down there?" I ask mostly to myself when Amira shows me a worn-out path down where it's not so steep.

As we carefully descend to the beach I can see that the tide is quite high and the waves reach right up to the base of the cliff, meaning that remaining dry is not going to be an option. "We should take off our shoes." Amira points out, obviously thinking the same thing. We quickly remove any non-essential items and roll up our pant legs. Then down we go. The wet sand is calm and cool, while the sea seems bitter and restless. After only a minute of unsuccessfully trying to avoid the waves, we come upon a substantial crevice.

We squeal with delight and slowly make our way inside, phone flashlights out. As it opens up it feels like we’re entering another world, and I wonder if I’ll bump into a Fraggle or one of the Goonies. It’s dark and wet with secret nooks and crannies everywhere. We search along the jagged walls for several minutes in silent concentration when Amira whisper-shouts "I think I've found something!" I quickly slosh over. "Here, hold this." She shoves her phone at me and I attempt to illuminate where she's reaching above her head. Just then I hear muffled voices outside the cave. "Oh no! Our stuff!" It occurs to me that Amira left her wallet with our shoes thinking it would be safer away from the water. Gah! I emerge from the rock and run along the shore ready to tackle the thieves. Our pile of belongings comes into view and I realize that the voices are coming from the other direction. I breathe a sigh of relief as Amira rushes up behind me. "What happened? You left me in the dark!" She is soaked and out of breath. Oh crap. "I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" I can't believe I abandoned her mid-mission. Agent Penny is such a spazz! Thankfully she laughs and I see she's holding her closed hand out. My eyes go wide. "Did you find something??" Grinning she opens her hand to reveal a sizeable gold rose pendant adorned with red gemstones. It's a bit dirty but ever so glorious. We start jumping and dancing in celebration.

It makes me a bit sad that Adelaide never found Edmund's gift, but I like to think of them now, reunited, holding hands up in heaven. As for me, I can't believe my good fortune. Finding Sir Edmund's treasure was incredibly cool, but becoming friends with Amira was even cooler. We chatted the entire bus ride back and it turns out that Amira's mom has not fared well financially through the pandemic. They've had a really rough go and are currently staying in a small apartment with family.

So when the Patterson Historical Society offered us $20,000 for the ruby pendant and notebook, it only made sense to give it all to her. Besides, who knows what we'll find on our next adventure!