The Trunk

(part 8 of 13

Anna and Linda went into the kitchen and there were balloons and streamers and other decorations all over the kitchen.

They figured it was someone's birthday so they sat down at a table and waited for Amelia and Carrie to arrive.

Soon there was singing and clapping and music and they turned around and everyone came in with Amelia first

carrying a big Chocolate Sour Cream Cake. Anna asked what was going on and everyone laughed then started singing

"Welcome home Dear Anna " to the tune of Happy Birthday to you. Anna was overwhelmed and started to cry.

Amelia said,"Don't cry honey, this is your home and we want you and

Linda to leave your apartments and come home where you belong."

This even made Linda weepy and everyone started hugging the two ladies.

After the festivities Amelia asked them to join her upstairs in Carrie's apartment.

Anna showed Carrie the two Christmas cards she found and then she brought out the photo of Amelia.

Amelia said "I sure was a looker back then wasn't I ? My husband had me change my name to Amelia because it was more American and we both loved America because it was the land of the free and the old country we fled was not that free anymore."

Carrie told Anna that her Grandpa Moon had inherited the gold mine from his relatives that kept it hidden.

It seemed that after the Civil War there were outlaws living in the hills of Arkansas that would rob the gold miners that were working for a living to support their families.

Grandpa's father was a clever Indian man and he kept the secret mines hiding place for over 40 years because it was in an underground cavern. When the highly soluble limestone in the Ozark Range chemically activated the ground waters it formed these caves. Knowing he was about to die summoned his only son, Grandpa Moon to his deathbed and told him where the mine was and that his long gone partner had two daughters.

After Grandpa Moons father passed on grandpa looked at the papers his father had given him and found Carrie and Amelia the two lost daughters. Amelia was married and gave her rights to Carrie but Carrie always was there for her sister if she were ever in need. Grandpa and Grandma Moon named it

"The Mable Mine."

Anna asked why that name and Amelia and Carrie together said that was what your Grandma wanted so we said yes.

Anna asked about the diamond mine and Carrie said that Grandma Moon and Amelia were partners in that venture

in Arkansas and now Anna was partners with Amelia.

Amelia said the papers would be arriving soon with the lawyer.

"Amelia why is it called, Bf 109 Diamond Mines?" asked Anna.

"Because your Grandma Moon named it after an airplane called The Messerschmitt Bf 109

a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt in the early 1930s.' "

Do you know why she named it after that airplane?" replied Anna.

Carrie and Amelia together said that was she wanted so that was the name.

Anna was about to ask more questions but there was a knock on the door and Linda answered.

It was a delivery boy with a large letter and a small box.

The letter was from the lawyer stating that he was sending the papers for them to sign but would not be there

because he was flying to Arkansas tonight and would be back next week. They looked over the papers

and signed them and then Carrie asked about the small box. Linda said it was for Anna.

Anna's eyes grew wide and she opened the box. Inside was a small gold angel lapel pin and a note which read:

Dearest one please wear this angel on your shoulder to protect you from all harm...

Linda and Anna were in their apartments packing and labeling their belongings for the move to their new homes.

Over in Anna's apartment the phone rang and it was Amelia asking her how much more packing had to be done.

"Hi, Amelia, said Anna, we are both finished and didn't even take a break for lunch."

Amelia said she was at her little cart and that the three of them could have lunch together.

Anna got together with Linda and they rode their bikes over to the cart and had a nice lunch and talk with Amelia.

After lunch Anna said " I sure wish I had a little truck like Grandpa Moon had

to haul our belongings to the apartment at 714 Mulberry Street.

Amelia informed her that she had enough money now to buy even a brand new truck.

Anna thought about it and said "you are right Amelia I do and I'm getting a truck and a little car for Linda."

Linda protested but Anna insisted that they could both use the truck and the car and that was final!

Amelia sent them off with a card to Sid's Custom Cars and off they went on their bikes.

Sid's was located in an older brick building with a boxing ring in the center. The boxing ring had two antique desks

with modern office equipment and over on the side were antique chairs for the customers.

In the showroom were gleaming autos and trucks from the 1940's to 1980's.

It was now time to put the bikes on hold and search for vehicles!