Gail Hedrick - Something Stinks!

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or, in the case of historical events or persons, used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is likewise intended fictitiously.

Copyright 2013 Gail E. Hedrick

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Tumblehome Learning, Inc.

P.O. Box 171386

Boston, MA 02117, USA

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Library of Congress Control Number: (for print edition) 2013939218

Hedrick, Gail E.

SOMETHING STINKS! / Gail E. Hedrick -1st ed, 2nd print

ISBN 978-0-9850008-9-9 (print edition)

ISBN 978-0-9907829-5-7 (pdf)

ISBN 978-0-9907829-7-1 (mobi)

ISBN 978-0-9907829-9-5 (epub)

1. Children - Fiction 2. Science Fiction 3. Mystery

Cover art/design: Tianxia Xu

Printed in Taiwan

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Ben, Josh, Meghan, and Mont,
with all my love.

The moment I stepped out of Moms car I knew something was terribly wrong. I gasped as a horrible smell streamed up my nose. It was like that awful mix of odors that drift out of a dumpster behind a bad restaurant. The only problem was I was not behind a bad restaurant. I was at my aunt and uncles apple orchard. This is nasty! I blurted out, and I pinched my nostrils shut.

Aunt Sylvie came bustling out the back door of their little wood-sided cottage, with a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. Hello, Emily. Best keep holding your breath!

Mom hauled my little brother Ben out of his seat. She blinked her eyes several times. Sylvie, what is it?

Youll see, its the worst one yet. Aunt Sylvie beckoned. Come on.

We followed her around the house, past tidy flower beds filled with late-summer daylilies and mums, and down the grass-covered hill toward the Higdon River. Dead fish, with their bodies bloated and eyes bulging, lay scattered everywhere. Catfish, perch, bluegills, and bass were strewn along the bank and in the water. Some bobbed silently under the wooden dock. Gosh, Aunt Sylvie, I said, choking. How many are there?

Hundreds, said Uncle Joe, coming up the riverbank carrying a shovel. He wiped his forehead with a red bandanna. Im trying to bury em to keep the smell down.

Mommy, stinky fish, said Ben, wrinkling his nose.

I know, said Mom, nodding. Whats going on here?

Aunt Sylvie bit her lip. We dont know, but its happened before. I think the last time was early in the summer, right after yall left.

Wed just returned home to Southwest Virginia from spending the entire summer over in Tennessee. It wasnt the way I would have picked to spend my time before starting seventh grade but no one asked me. My dads a project manager for a regional utility company, and since hed had to go, he was sure my mom, little brother, and I would love to tag along. I didnt get to sleep in my own bed for months, had to spend endless hours of quality time with a three-year-old, and constantly wondered what my friends were doing back home. Now, this. What would kill so many fish in this perfect little river?

Aunt Sylvie patted Ben on the head and went on. We reported that first one to the county back then, but nobody seemed too concerned. Later we heard someone in the office had accidentally deleted the call log for that day.

Uncle Joe grumbled, We called again yesterday when we started seeing a few dead ones here and there. This time some inspector came out and tromped all around. He glanced at the water but didnt test it. He said everyone always wants to blame the big companies upstream for these sorts of things, but the factories have state regulations they have to follow. Unlike the farmers.

He jammed the shovel into the squishy red clay. That was when the guy seemed to turn on me asking what kind of pesticides I used. I told him were organic growers. I use soap and water and nothing else. He laughed and said it must be some kind of potent suds to get this result. Thats when I showed him the door.

He sounds like a jerk, I said. What are they going to do about it?

Uncle Joe shook his head. They just sent us a status report stamped Incident submitted - necessity for further action inconclusive.

What does that mean? I asked.

It means hes not going to do anything. Case closed.

Mom said, Thats ridiculous.

It is, Uncle Joe agreed. But it appears were on our own, so well deal with it.

Mom surveyed the scene. Listen, I have to get to the pharmacy before it closes. How about I have John come out to help you clean up?

Uncle Joe chuckled. Your husband doesnt need to lose a days pay to bury fish.

Well be fine, said Aunt Sylvie, pulling her apron strings tight around her waist. Ill be out here in a few minutes with my barn boots on and my own shovel.

I looked at the bodies clumping against my uncles little fishing boat and bobbing ashore, pushed by the river currents. The creepy combination of the smell and sight of these fish made me want to run away and never come back. I glanced at my sweet aunt and uncle. Their shoulders sagged with either defeat or exhaustion; I didnt know which. It was awful to see them like this. I sighed. Mom, you take Ben and leave me here to help.

What about getting your school supplies?

We can go after you get Bens medicine. My list isnt that huge, so we can go after you come back.

Okay, plan the rest of my day, said Mom, grinning. What about Leanne?

My best friend and I had shopped together for school supplies forever. Oh, shoot. Ill need to let her know, but I bet she wont mind going later. When I tell her what the problem is, shell understand. She loves it out here, too.

Oh, you dear child, said Aunt Sylvie, giving me a hug. Then she peered up at me. When did you get so tall?

Everyone looks gigantic to you, Aunt Sylvie. Im still right at 55.

Well, maybe its that new short hairdo. It shows off your natural curl. Now, I need to find you some gloves and a rake. Jenny, bring little Ben and on your way to the car Ill get you some cider to take along for later.

I wished it was later and all this mess was already bagged up. As the others walked away, I turned toward the river and Uncle Joe, but all I could see were the fish. Their eyes were getting to me and the usually crisp air out here seemed as rotten as the inside of a sewer. This is so sad. My favorite place in the whole world is a graveyard. How could something like this happen? Why cant something great ever stay that way?

Well, its looking like we might never know, said Uncle Joe. Hopefully, it wont be like this the next time youre here. By the way, what did you say about your side-kick, Leanne?

Oh, Ive gotta call her. I guess I shouldve gone up to the house to use the phone.

Shoot, no, said Uncle Joe, use my cell phone. Im surprised you dont have one of these gizmos.

Tell that to my parents, please, I said, entering the phone number of my best friend since kindergarten.

Leanne? Hi, were going to be kind of late. Were out at my aunt and uncles place. You wont believe what a mess I listened for a moment, not believing my ears. I said, I thought you wanted to go.