Mystery Mutt Read online

  Mystery Mutt

  Copyright © 2000

  Beverly Lewis

  Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh

  Cover design by the Lookout Design, Inc.

  Text illustrations by Janet Huntington

  Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

  Ebook edition created 2012

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  www.bethanyhouse.com

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  eISBN 978-1-4412-6080-2

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  To

  Wesley Harris,

  who sends me wonderful

  letters and likes

  reading this series.

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  About the Author

  Other Books by Author

  Back Cover

  ONE

  It was three days before New Year’s Eve. Things were popping on Blossom Hill Lane.

  Stacy Henry was buzzing with an idea. Her real cool idea had started out teeny-weeny. But during the Cul-de-sac Kids club meeting it grew. And grew.

  And grew!

  She couldn’t keep it to herself any longer.

  “Let’s do something really fun for the New Year,” she suggested.

  “Yay!” the girls shouted.

  “Like what?” Jason Birchall spoke up.

  Stacy twirled her hair. “It’s that time of year, isn’t it?”

  “What’re you talking about?” asked Jason, pushing up his glasses. “What time of year?”

  “I’ll give you three guesses, but only three.” She squeezed in next to Abby Hunter in the president’s seat—a bean-bag chair.

  Abby was the president of the Cul-de-sac Kids club. A neighborhood club with nine members. Each club member lived on Blossom Hill Lane, which was really a dead-end street. A cul-de-sac, shaped like aU.

  Abby grinned. “I like guessing games. Who wants to guess first?”

  “I will!” Dee Dee Winters stood up. She pulled up her knee socks. Then she put her finger on her lip. “My guess is it’s time to go group sledding.That’s really fun!”

  Stacy nodded her head. “You’re right, going sledding together is lots of fun. But that’s not what I was thinking.”

  “Who’s next?” asked Abby. “This is the second guess, remember.”

  Dunkum Mitchell raised his hand. “It’s time to think about the New Year? Maybe write down some goals or something. That’s my guess,” he said.

  Stacy looked at Abby and whispered, “He’s almost got it.”

  Abby grinned at Dunkum. “Stacy says you’re real close. Wanna guess again?”

  Dunkum, whose real name was Edward, shook his head no. The kids nicknamed him Dunkum because he was tall. So tall he could dunk a basketball. Every time . . . almost.

  “OK,” said Stacy. “Since Dunkum nearly guessed it, I’ll tell my idea.”

  The kids leaned forward. Their eyes were big as bowls.

  “I want to make some changes in myself,” Stacy said. “Like grown-ups do every New Year.”

  “Oh, no. Not grown-up stuff!” Jason complained. He rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue. “That’s so dumb.”

  Eric Hagel frowned at Jason. “Don’t say ‘dumb.’ It’s not cool. Besides, Stacy’s idea might be more fun than you think.”

  Carly—Abby’s little sister—grabbed Dee Dee’s hand. They were best friends. “I don’t care what Jason says. I wanna make some changes for the New Year, too. Just like Stacy.”

  “What kinda changes?” sneered Jason.

  Stacy said, “Things like asking God to help make me kind and loving. Good changes like that.”

  Jason clutched his throat when she said “loving.”

  Yikes! Stacy worried that a full-blown fit was coming.

  Quickly, Abby called the meeting to order again. “I like Stacy’s idea, too. Keep talking,” she told Stacy.

  “Can we name the fruits of the Spirit?” asked Stacy.

  Lots of hands went up.

  All but Jason’s.

  Stacy was pretty sure he could say them, too. Jason was just being a pest. But that was normal for him.

  “How many fruits of the Spirit are there?” Stacy asked.

  “That’s easy. Nine!” Dunkum said.

  “I almost say that,” Shawn Hunter said in broken English.

  Shawn was Abby’s adopted brother. Their little brother, Jimmy, was nodding, too.

  “We know lots of fruit from Bible,” Jimmy piped up. “American mother teach us.”

  Abby’s eyes were shining. “Shawn and Jimmy are right. And I think we all know the fruits of the Spirit.”

  “Can we say them?” Stacy asked, searching for some chalk. “Or maybe we can write them on the chalkboard.”

  “Good thinking!” replied Abby.

  “When we’re finished, we’ll pick some fruit,” Stacy said, smiling. “Each of us can choose a different fruit for the year.”

  “But we won’t eat it,” Carly joked.

  Dunkum was laughing. “Not unless you want a mouthful of joy or peace.”

  Dee Dee smirked at Jason. “I think one of us needs the full-meal deal!”

  Some of the kids snickered.

  But Stacy was quiet. She held the board while Abby wrote the nine fruits of the Spirit.

  One at a time, the Cul-de-sac Kids called them out:

  Love

  Joy

  Peace

  Patience

  Kindness

  Goodness

  Faithfulness

  Gentleness

  Self-control

  TWO

  “I want more patience!” hollered Dee Dee Winters. “And I want it now!”

  Stacy chuckled about Dee Dee’s choice. It was perfect.

  “I pick self-control,” Jimmy decided.

  Shawn nodded but didn’t laugh. “Little brother pick very good fruit,” he said. “I pick love—just like Stacy.”

  Stacy felt her face grow warm. Shawn was looking at her. “Who’s next?” she asked.

  Carly’s hand flew up. “Patience sounds good for me, too.” She looked at Dee Dee. “I wanna match my best friend,” she said.

  “Joy sounds like a good one,” Eric said, his eyes twinkling.

  “I think you already have that fruit,” Stacy said.

  The kids agreed.

  “Pick something you know you need. Something to improve on,” Dunkum suggested.

  Eric thought and thought. “OK, I’ve got it. I’ll pick peace. I sure could use some
of that.” He explained that his grandpa—who lived at his house—was going deaf. “Peace is a good fruit for me to have this year.”

  Stacy thought Eric’s choice was real cool.

  Dunkum raised his hand. “I’ll pick faithfulness,” he said. “Sounds like a good one for me.”

  Abby spoke up next. “I’ll take joy,” she said. “And afterward, I want to give it away.”

  The kids knew exactly what she meant.

  “You can’t keep joy to yourself,” Stacy said.

  “That leaves you, Jason,” Stacy said. “There’s still some fruit to be picked.”

  “No.” Jason shook his head. “I’m not gonna do the fruit thing,” he said. “It’s silly.”

  Stacy looked at Abby and shrugged her shoulders. The rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids were quiet.

  “OK, that’s my idea,” Stacy said. “I’m finished.”

  She turned the meeting back to their president.

  But she felt strange toward Jason. Why didn’t he want to stick with his friends? What was his problem?

  THREE

  “What’s for supper?” Stacy asked her mother.

  “Spaghetti and meatballs,” Mom said. She pulled out the drawer nearest the table. Knives, forks, and spoons lay neatly inside.

  “May I help?” Stacy said.

  Mom smiled. “Would you like to set the table?”

  “OK!” Stacy always liked helping her mom. She wished she could help even more. Since her dad left, it was just herself and her mom—the two of them. Stacy’s mother worked long hours away from home and was often tired in the evening.

  “I’ll clean up the kitchen for you,” Stacy offered. “After we eat.”

  “That’s nice of you.” Mom went to check the noodles.

  “Is everything under control?” Stacy asked. She watched her mother stir long, skinny noodles.

  “They’re getting soft. We’ll eat soon.”

  “I love pasta!” Stacy exclaimed.

  She meant it, too. Pasta was the best food in the world!

  Mom turned to look at her. “That’s why I made it. Just for you.”

  Stacy studied her mom. “You’re always so sweet,” she said. “Just like the fruit of the Spirit.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that, honey,” Mom said. “Nobody’s perfect.”

  “I think you’re pretty close,” she whispered.

  Mom reached over and gave her a big hug. “What’s this about the fruit of the Spirit?” Mom asked.

  “It’s something the Cul-de-sac Kids are doing.”

  “Really?” Mom seemed pleased.

  Stacy felt proud. “It was my idea.”

  “Tell me more,” Mom said.

  “You know about making resolutions, right?” she asked. “Especially around the New Year?”

  Mom nodded. “Lots of people do this time of year. But not everyone sticks to goals. That’s the hard part.”

  “All my friends have picked a fruit,” Stacy explained. “Straight from the Bible.”

  “And what sort of fruit might that be?” Mom was grinning. She already knew. Stacy was sure of it.

  “Things like goodness and love . . . peace and joy.” She washed her hands and set the table for two. “I’m picking love,” she said.

  “What a wonderful choice,” Mom said.

  “I’m gonna try to love everyone I know. With God’s help.” She headed for the living room. She wanted to check on her little dog, Sunday Funnies.

  She found him curled up near the comics page of the newspaper. “What’s with you and the funnies?” she asked. “I always know where to find you, don’t I?”

  Sunday Funnies barked playfully.

  Stacy picked him up. Gently, she carried him into the kitchen. “Time for your supper, puppy dog,” she said.

  Sunday Funnies made excited sounds.

  “Have patience,” she told him.

  “One of the fruits of the Spirit,” Mom added.

  “That’s right!” Stacy said. “So . . . some patience, please.”

  She poured dog food into his dish. Then she stepped aside. “Now have some joy, too,” she said.

  Mom was laughing.

  Sunday Funnies was chowing down.

  Stacy was eager for spaghetti!

  FOUR

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” said Mom. She shook Stacy’s shoulder very lightly. “Are you going to sleep all day?”

  Stacy stretched and yawned. “It’s Christmas break, and I’m still tired.”

  “OK,” Mom said. “I’ll let Sunday Funnies out for you.”

  “Are you leaving for work already?” Stacy asked.

  Mom looked at the clock on Stacy’s desk. “I’ll go in ten minutes,” she said.

  Stacy sat up. “I guess I slept too late.”

  “That’s all right, honey. You’ll be getting up early again soon. Next week when school starts,” Mom said with a tender smile.

  Stacy swung her legs over the side. “I’m awake now. So I might as well get up.”

  Mom sat quietly, still smiling.

  Stacy yawned again. “I think I’ll go visit Jason today.”

  “How’s he doing?” Mom asked.

  “Wanna know the truth? He’s a pain,” Stacy complained.

  Mom frowned. “Time to spread some love around. It sounds like Jason Birchall could use a good dose,” she remarked.

  Usually, Stacy would be thinking: Icksville! About showing love to Jason, that is.

  Jason was one weird kid. He wasn’t easy to love.

  Most kids liked Jason, though. He was full of fun. And mischief, too.

  Even Pinktoes, Jason’s pet spider, liked him. So did Croaker, his bullfrog. Jason wanted to add even more pets to his zoo.

  But love? That was a very difficult subject.

  Stacy sighed. She understood her mother. Love was the first fruit of the Spirit. And loving Jason could be tricky at times. But she could do it. God would help her!

  “You’re right, Mom,” she agreed. “I’ll go easy on Jason.”

  “That’s my girl,” Mom said.

  Stacy found Jason outside, sweeping snow off his steps.

  “Hey, Jason!” she called to him.

  He looked up. But when he saw her, he looked back down.

  “Are you busy?” she asked, hurrying across the street.

  “What’s it look like?” he said. He kept sweeping even though the cement was peeking through.

  “I thought we could talk,” she said.

  “So talk.” He glanced over his shoulder at her.

  She wondered if she should turn around and go home. Should she even try to show love to Jason?

  “Maybe now isn’t such a good time,” she muttered.

  “Maybe not.” He kept facing away from her.

  “OK. I’ll see you later.” She headed back across the street. She really thought he might call to her. Tell her to stop walking away and come back.

  But he didn’t say one word.

  Stacy turned to look at Jason from her porch step. She stared at him.

  He was still sweeping with his back to her. Jason was doing what he did best. Being a pain, she thought.

  “It’s too bad,” she whispered to herself. “Jason’s gonna spoil everything for New Year’s.”

  She opened the front door to her house. With a huff, she went inside.

  FIVE

  Stacy headed next door to visit her best friend.

  “How are we gonna get Jason to pick a fruit?” she asked Abby.

  Abby shook her head. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  They sat on Abby’s bed and lined up the stuffed animals.

  “Maybe if we give him some space,” said Stacy. “That might help.”

  Abby’s face lit up. “If we give him enough space, he might feel left out.”

  Stacy wasn’t sure about that. “I don’t know. That might not be the best way to show love,” she said.

  “Sometimes loving someone means giving
them breathing room.” Abby blinked her eyes. “Know what I mean?”

  Stacy thought about that. “Maybe.”

  “So well pray,” Abby said. “And we’ll be patient and gentle with him. Two more fruits.”

  There was a calendar hanging on Abby’s bulletin board.

  Stacy counted the days till New Year’s.

  “Phooey,” she whispered.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Abby.

  Stacy sat back down on the bed. “We don’t have much time.”

  Abby was nodding her head. “You’re right. So we better start praying,” she said.

  “And we should have another club meeting,” Stacy suggested.

  “Good idea!” Abby seemed excited about getting together again. “I’ll call Dee Dee and Dunkum. You can tell Eric and Jason. OK?”

  Stacy paused. “I . . . I don’t know about calling Jason. He might not want to talk to me.”

  “Why not?”

  She told Abby how Jason had treated her this morning. “He could hardly wait for me to leave.”

  “Are you double dabble sure?” Abby’s eyes were big and round.

  “I think he’s upset about the fruit idea.” Stacy hoped she wasn’t spreading trouble by talking this way. She wanted to spread love around. God’s love.

  “I don’t know why he’d be upset,” Abby said. “Unless . . .”

  “Unless what?” Stacy asked. She was eager to know.

  Abby leaned back against her pillow. “Sometimes Jason likes to be different. Just to be different. No other reason.”

  “You’re right,” Stacy replied. “He gets more attention that way.”

  “So we have to help him think differently,” Abby said.

  “That’s the hard part,” Stacy said.

  “He’s one stubborn kid,” Abby added.

  “I guess we all are . . . sometimes,” Stacy agreed.

  They listened to CDs in Abby’s room for a while.

  Soon, Carly knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” Abby called.

  Carly came in, looking surprised. “Don’t you want to hear the secret password?” she asked.

  Abby looked at Stacy. Her face was red. “I . . . I don’t know.”

  “Well, you usually make me say it,” said Carly. She shot a look at Stacy. “So . . . what’re you two doing?”

  Stacy almost said “none of your beeswax.” But today she was kind. “Just talking,” she said.