The Mystery of the Moabite Stone

Chapter 1 – Long Time, No See!

The day had gone slowly so far, for it was a holiday for schools and you had already done all of the work that had to be done by that Monday. You were so excited to have a three-day weekend thanks to Veterans Day. So you got all your grading, writing, and planning finished early, just in case you had something else you wanted to do without distractions, yet here you were, bored out of your mind at 10:00 in the morning.

An almost joyful surge went through you when you heard a knock at your apartment’s door. Standing from your lazy position and setting your glass of chocolate milk down, you went to see who it was through the peephole. Sadly, it was just the gym teacher from the school you taught at, Bert. He had obviously had a crush on you from Day 1, but you weren’t about to let him out of asking you on a date nicely this time. After all, he had been asking you out every day since he formed a crush on you!

Sighing, you open the door and, before he can say anything, greet with a quick, “Hey, what can I do for you?”

He cleared his throat and held up a flower that was crumpled up with half of its petals missing from clenching it in his fist. You raised an eyebrow, trying to stay sweet.

“Dearest Miss Elisa,” he began, “Willst thou joineth me to a date at Village Inn?”

You managed to hold in a snicker, but he had knelt with a hand on his heart and looked utterly ridiculous. “Bert, I admire your…gentlemanly mannerisms, but I really don’t feel up to going out in the cold with you today. Sorry. Have a good day,” you replied quickly, closing the door afterward. He had still been trying to figure out what “gentlemanly” meant when his view of you had been blocked off by the door.

You let a giggle loose as you land with an abrupt plop on your cream-colored sofa. Only moments passed by when you heard the cheerful tune, “Wishing and Hoping” started playing and you recognized it immediately to be your cell phone’s ring tone. Flipping open your phone, you answered the call and heard that same voice you had just heard at your door.

“Dearest Miss Elisa, please accompany me to Village Inn this beautiful morning. I’m buying!” he urged desperately.

“No, Bert! We’re friends; not meant to go farther than that. I don’t want to go out with you, all right? I’m sorry.” No reply came. You could just imagine his shocked, speechless expression. “Good day,” you finished, hanging up.

A minute later, your phone rang AGAIN. Inhaling deeply, trying to stay patient, you answered it again. Same voice. “Are you sure you don’t want to reco---“

You interrupted him. “Yes, Bert!” You hung up again with an exasperated sigh. He had been asking every day since the beginning of the school year and you were tired of him!

You were thankful that he didn’t call after that until…two minutes later. Your phone rang again! Clenching your left hand and using the other to snatch the phone from the coffee table, you answered harshly, “All right, find someone else to stalk or I’ll tell Bertha you’re in love with her.”

There was a moment of silence, then a familiar voice came – but it wasn’t Bert’s. “Why do I have the feeling you’ve had other callers beside me, Elisa?” Only as he finished did you realize who it was.

“Ben!” you exclaimed, “Hey, what’s up? How are you? I haven’t talked to you in ages!”

A small chuckle came before his reply, “Hello, Elisa. I’m doing just fine, how ‘bout you?”

“Great! Where are you? Can I come see you?” Truly, you hadn’t seen your brother for almost a whole year! How you had missed him!

“Yes, of course you can, Elisa. I was hoping you’d ask.” He then gives you the location of the hotel he’s staying at and tells you to meet him in the parking lot. Grinning, you take the 10-minute trip to this place, only taking the time to grab your cell phone and purse.

When you arrive, you glance to notice a man standing in the parking lot beside a beautiful, red Ferrari; and he appears to be watching you pull up.

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Riley and Ben:

“So who’s this other person you wanted me to meet while we were here in Virginia, Ben?” Riley inquired, dropping his head back on his shoulders tiredly, and slipping his hands in his jean pockets.

“Someone I haven’t seen in a long time,” Ben answered slowly as he stared forward. “Also someone I’m very close to.”

Riley looked at him. “Old girlfriend?”

“No,” Ben replied, shaking his head a little, but still watching the road meters away and before them.

Riley shrugged. “When will they be here?”

“She drives a green Sedan if her favorite car still exists. Keep an eye out for her, I’ll be right back.” With that, Ben quickly walked back into the hotel building.

“ ‘She’?” Riley asked, but he hadn’t noticed Ben was leaving until he had already disappeared behind the entrance doors. Smacking his lips, Riley turned his head back to see a forest green Sedan come driving up into the parking lot and it parked. “Guess that’s her,” he muttered, standing up straight and waiting for ‘her’ to come up.

A young brunette with her hair up in a short, high ponytail and deep blue eyes came into view and glanced around, obviously excited about something. Riley stared. “If that’s her; Ben has good taste,” he murmured with a small smile. But, rather than looking straight at Riley, she walked past him without giving him more than a glance.

Riley’s eyebrows furrowed from the surprise and confusion. Then he realized she had no idea he would be there and hurried after her. “Hey, wait!” he called.

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Sorry, but I gotta leave you on a cliffhanger here. Thanks for reading! I hope you’ll stay with me through the whole story! Please rate and leave me messages, but don’t feel guilty or forced to. J Thanks again!

Here’s the car you, Elisa, drive! Pretty, huh?