Twelve Upon A Time.... Edward Galluzzi

girl gifts. The thought left her mind and they went to the park to play.

      The next morning could not come fast enough for Kayla. Her parents were accustomed to her flight out the back door and the inevitable quick “Hi” or “Bye.” Kayla ran toward the family garage and bush of roses. She carefully looked around the thorny plant, but did not see anything but black ants crawling around the bush. Kayla looked and looked and looked some more when out of the corner of her eye she spied the note she was looking for. Kayla swiftly untied the note and read to herself the following quote:

      This is day three

      Of gifts to you from me.

      I hope that you are enjoying

      Solving clues that can be annoying!

      Kayla read the word “over” and turned to find a map on the other side of the note. She read the directions and followed them at the same time. Kayla walked to the front porch of the family home and read to walk up the steps near the little gnome. Kayla knew where the ornamental gnome decorated their home. She climbed the stairs and headed to the gnome. Kayla saw nothing nearby and wondered where was her surprise.

      In a flash, Kayla remembered that the head of the gnome was like the top of a cookie jar. She twisted the head and off it came. She looked deep inside and found her next surprise. Kayla reached in and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie baked in the shape of a heart.

      It was wrapped in plastic and still quite warm—perhaps a clue that her secret admirer lived nearby. Hum?

      Sean and Kayla went to the zoo later that day. There were many things to look at and learn as the zoo was always fun. They had a great day, but grew quite tired in the afternoon. Sean and Kayla returned home and both rested before supper.

      It was now the morning of the fourth day leaving three mornings left until Valentine’s Day. Like every morning this week, Kayla ran out the door barely able to speak. Out the front door she quickly walked and went to the gnome whose head she did pop. As before and without surprise, Kayla read this note from inside:

      We’re halfway to Valentine’s Day

      But please don’t you cry;

      For still headed your way

      Is another big surprise!

      Kayla found another map with directions that started at the gazebo in their backyard. She loved the gazebo, which was painted yellow and white. Flowers of every color grew by its side. Birds, squirrels and chipmunks played all around the gazebo.

      Kayla arrived at the gazebo as birds and animals moved away. The directions told her to walk around the gazebo five times starting at the open gate. On her fifth time around, Kayla read to face the direction of the shed and walk 10 paces straight ahead. Kayla did as she read and found herself at the back of their shed. She looked around and soon found a little box taped to the head of the plastic fox. Kayla open the box as was her part to find a Cupid doll with an arrow and heart.

      Kayla smiled at her new surprise and ran back home. She placed her Cupid gift with her other surprises. Kayla was very excited and could hardly wait for Valentine’s Day in hopes that she will find who left her such gifts divine.

      The fifth day of Kayla’s mysterious adventure arrived. She ran once again out the back door to the shed to find another message near the fox’s head. She opened the note and read with surprise:

      Today it will not be hard,

      To find your surprise.

      Just run to the front yard,

      Look for something that cries!

      Not hard? Something that cries? Kayla scratched her head and said, “What is in the front yard that cries?” She walked steadily toward the front of her house as she rubbed her cheeks like a teeny mouse. Kayla stood still and then turned around. She slowly turned full circle over and over again. “Something that cries?” she thought. Suddenly, Kayla stopped dead in her tracks and faced a weeping willow tree, an undeniable fact.

      Kayla raced to the weeping willow and looked all around, but found nothing anywhere even on the ground. She eyed the bark and looked between the roots then all of a sudden jumped right out of her boots. Tied to the first fork up in the tree was a box wrapped in cloth really easy to see. Kayla climbed the tree and grabbed the box.

      Kayla opened the box and inside did find a golden wrist bracelet from somebody kind. Kayla placed it on her wrist and it fit just fine. She saw Sean riding his bike and ran to show him what she got. Sean looked surprised and told Kayla it was really “awesome.” Kayla eyed him carefully, but did not utter a word. She had her suspicions and wanted to query, but decided not to question her friend.

      The day ended leaving two left until Valentine’s Day. Kayla was excited and could hardly sleep that night. She knew that when the morning sun rose and she left her bed, straight for the weeping willow tree she would head.

      Morning came like the others and Kayla bound from her bed. She said a short “hi” to her family who had grown accustomed to her fleeting out the door. Kayla ran outside in the front yard toward the weeping willow tree. She looked upward toward the fork in the tree and saw a familiar sight—a message tied to a limb.

      Kayla climbed up to retrieve the message and opened it up to read what was writ:

      T’is the day before Valentine’s

      And the latest surprise you will find;

      Near the tree of cherry blossoms

      If you are not all thumbs!

      Kayla ran toward the backyard screaming with glee. Bird and squirrels and other living things moved out of her way as she did flee. Kayla approached the cherry tree and looked up and down it as far as she could see. She saw cherries and blossoms and limbs and leaves, but nothing like a message if you please.

      Kayla was stumped for she saw nothing. She looked up and down one more time when she spotted a bird holding a piece of paper. “Oh, no” she cried. “What am I going to do?” Kayla clamored and hollered and yelled and screamed, but the bird did not seem to mind anything. Then the bird had enough and flew away with message in tow. Kayla was disappointed and turned away when all of a sudden she saw her prey. He flew up above her and dropped from his beak, the message he was holding so she could take a peek.

      Kayla grabbed the paper in mid-air and opened it hurriedly. She laughed out loud as she read:

      If a bird did not take

      This message from you.

      Then it’s not too late

      To read this clue!

      On the back of the message wet with bird beak stuff was the following clue: “What you seek you will find behind something that tells you the time.” “Tells the time” Kayla repeated. Clocks tell time she thought and so do watches; but there were no clocks or watches outside. “Oh!” Kayla screamed. “Yes there is. The sundial in the corner of the yard!” Kayla ran as fast as she could to the far corner of the yard. She stopped in front of the sundial and found another box as before wrapped in aluminum foil. Kayla unwrapped the foil and opened the box. Inside she found two passes to the local cinema. “Hum?” she thought. “I wonder what I shall do with these. Perhaps my secret admirer and I will go to the movies if you please!”

      It was the eve of Valentine’s Day now and