The story so far ... School has been in session for two weeks and the clothesline messages have faded. Ben is at tryouts for the traveling soccer team. After a demanding regimen, Ben is waiting with the other boys to be picked up. Carson, the bully, tries to coax Parker into going with him for soda. Although he refuses, Carson continues to badger him. Ben gathers his courage and steps in. He tells Carson to layoff, which ends the tension and gains Ben respect. He realizes that he stood up to the bully... and then remembers the most recent clothesline message, stand tall.



We all made the traveling team - Nate, Tanner and me. Tanner actually was friendly to me. Maybe I earned some respect for standing up to him. My days were even busier than before. It didn't seem like I had time to think. But I was convinced now that I was getting messages from the clothesline. What other messages were on the line?

I had little time for bike riding with all the soccer games. Still, I managed twice during September. Both times, the line was empty. I was so disappointed. The days were getting colder. I guessed that drying clothes by the sun was more chancy.

But then one week in early October, we had three days of Indian summer. The second day, soccer practice was canceled. I got home early. Mom was off work and clearing the dead plants from the garden when I got off the bus. Rosie stooped next to her with her own little shovel. Her face was splattered with mud. She dropped her shovel and toddled over to me, hugging my leg.

"It's so warm, I'm going to jump on my bike for one last ride." I was sure today was going to be my lucky day, and I'd find the clothesline full. There would surely be one more message.

"Me too. Me too." And Rosie reached up for me to lift her. Mom came and scooped her up.

"No, no sweetie. You get to play with me." The little girl stuck out her lower lip, still putting out her arms to me. "I was hoping you'd watch Rosie while I cooked dinner. She's getting around so much now that it's hard to keep track of her."

"I'll make it a quick ride and then watch her." I couldn't tell mom how important it was for me to see the clothesline one more time. She sighed, clearly not happy with me.

I pedaled especially fast until I got to the cutoff and then headed down toward the farm. Even from a distance, I saw clothes fluttering on the line. I was in luck. Slowing down, I scanned the place for the owner. I definitely didn't want to run into him again. But there was no sign of anyone.

I stopped in front of the hanging wash. The line was full, but disappointing - mostly socks, boxers, and towels. But way at the end was just two T-shirts, each with a name and slogan:

Aussie's Auto Repair

Best care from Down Under

Earth Day Celebration

Solar, Water, Wind Power

I sighed with relief, words meant a message. But then I felt confused. What possible message could I get from all those words?

"Hey," a voice called from the barn. A small woman walked out, dressed in jeans, a red plaid jacket and a cowboy hat. "Can I help you?" she asked.

I felt foolish staring at her clothesline. "No." I said quickly, trying to come up with a reason to explain why I was stopped. "I just wondered where your horses were. I ride this way and usually see them in the field. They always seem so peaceful."

"Oh, we had to sell them." She said sadly. "Too expensive. We couldn't afford to buy feed once they stopped grazing in the pasture."

"What do you mean?"

Frost killed the grass. We would've had to buy hay."

"That's too bad. Can you get them back next spring?"

"I wish." She smiled sadly. "All my life I wanted horses, and finally we were able to buy a couple last year. I used to ride almost every afternoon after work. They were the gentlest creatures, so comforting. I really miss them." I thought she was going to cry. "Now the barn is empty. This place just doesn't feel the same anymore."

"That's too bad." I couldn't think of anything else to say to her. "Well, I better get going."

I looked one last time at the clothesline, memorizing the two slogans, and then took off. I reached the main road and headed home. As I was riding, I tried different combinations of the words in my head to see if somehow I could get a message out of them. But nothing made sense.

When I drove up the driveway, Conner came bursting out of the door. "Where were you?" His voice was very agitated.

"What'cha mean?" I got off my bike. "Obviously, I was taking a bike ride. What's the matter?" I laid my bike down and walked towards him.

"Rosie's disappeared." He looked very upset.

"No. What happened?"

"When I got home from football practice, Mom was in a panic. I guess she was working on dinner, and Rosie was playing with some puzzles in the living room. Mom's not sure how much time passed. But when she went into the living room to check on her, Rosie was gone. We looked all around the house and the yard. But there's no sign of her."

I followed Conner into the house. Mom was on the couch, talking on the phone. There were tears rolling down her cheeks. "Jack, I'm so sorry. I don't know where she could be. We've searched the house." There was a long silence.

"Yes, I understand "bout an hour more of daylight. Yes, as many people as you can get." She looked up and saw me. "Ben's here now. He can help too." She stood up. "Okay, we'll take another look through the house and then when you get here, we'll start outside."

She hung up. I couldn't look her in the eye. She had asked me to stay and watch Rosie, and I hadn't listened to her...