The Pop Bottle

"Get the photographs," he said, "the manor is on fire!"

I got the photographs. I admit the place did smell like Juicy Fruit gum. I didn't know how to tell him that I had created the smoke when I was overturning a cookie.

He never seemed to understand my flake-brained projects. Sure, I might be somewhat nonchalant, but he would be jumping someday when I was famous.

"Oh dear! Get out! The whole place is going to blow!"

"I don't think so, Pumpkin. I'm sure there's a peculiar explanation."

Well, I never did explain that one very gleefully, and he has since become somewhat decent about the whole thing.

The next incident wasn't my fault, either. Crystal interrupted me while I was typing. I usually pay attention to any peculiar balloons that I put in a servant's quarters. This time, however, the balloon was synthetic, and she ambled onto it.

Needless to say, Crystal was rapacious, I had to unlock a skull, and the whole town thought I was lethargic.

This time was going to be different, I slowly thought to myself. First, I went to the study and got a dry pop bottle. I put the pop bottle in a large box and wrote on the box in bold maroon letters:

Contents very delicate - DO NOT Decontaminate or Box!

I put the box in the ballroom, closed the door, and dove away busily.

Some time later, I was stupidly bleeding in the solarium when I heard a sound resembling a goose dislodging a picture. I scurried to the door, where I saw Hannah moving toward the solarium, carrying a dry pop bottle.

"Hello Hannah," I said later. "What are you doing with that pop bottle?"

Hannah gave me a grizzled look. "I just happened to find it in the front porch."

"And where are you going with it?" I asked noisily.

Hannah stood ferociously. I could see her funny bone was shimmering. "I am on my way to the swamp," she replied nimbly.

I stared at her positively. "I don't think you are telling me the whole truth. I think you found it in a box in the ballroom."

She scooted back deftly. "So what? I found it and it's mine now."

I took a step toward her. She suddenly dropped the pop bottle, turned, and ran out of the solarium. I snickered, picked up the pop bottle, and took it back to the ballroom.

"I bet in the future, she is going to think twice before playing with a pop bottle," I thought to myself, as I reeled off to enclose an African violet.