The Unwanted Rescue

The cousins each had an apron. Grandma Lu had taken hers off and was continuously swatting at cobwebs. Oh she hated those things. Bon Bon also had on an apron because she had been baking cookies in the kitchen. Both aprons had pockets thank goodness. Grandma Lu had to put hers back on so that she could put some pictures in the pockets. Most wouldn't fit so she was carrying them. As I said the cousins had a common goal to prove once and for all that the tunnels did exist, but to also save and preserve as much of the Humansville history as possible for future generations. All at once Grandma Lu lost her footing. She had stumbled on something and almost fell down. Thank goodness Bon Bon was right there to catch her by the elbow. They both started talking at once about being careful and what in the world had she stumbled on. They had discovered one more piece of history. It was an old sign that Rick Owens had painted. Wow, they had to save it that was for sure.

Grandma Lu was starting to get short of breath the air was not very good down in that tunnel. She was thinking about going back if they could find a way. She had muddy dirt all over her face, her fingernails were dirty and broken. She just was getting too old to do this kind of thing. It made her mad as a hornet. She told Bon Bon that she thought they should go back. She had to try to get someone to hear her, maybe by beating on the wall or something. She needed some fresh air. She couldn't believe it, but Bon Bon agreed with her. She was having trouble breathing too. It just was not safe down there. So they both turned on their cellphones for more light. Bam! Bon Bon fell over a huge old moldy trunk. Now it was starting to get both scary and exciting. The scary thing was that Bon Bon had the wind knocked out of her and couldn't talk. The exciting thing was that the ancient moldy trunk probably had a lot of treasures in it. Trying to help Bon Bon was difficult for Grandma Lu, but she kept her cool and talked to her cousin and told her everything would be okay. Even though she teased her, she loved her a lot and didn't want her to be hurt. She finally got Bon Bon to start breathing normally again and told her to sit down on the trunk while she was going for help. She hated to give up her quest, but enough was enough.
While Grandma Lu was going to see if she could get someone to help her, Bon Bon had regained her regular breathing and true to form had to investigate what was in that moldy old trunk; nothing. "I just can't believe this. There has to be a false bottom in this old thing." Sure enough, she for once had beat Grandma Lu to the punch. She found many old pictures underneath the false bottom. Here are some of them.

She had found a picture of what folks had once called Praxton Springs now referred to as Big Springs.
There was a picture of a huge hotel. There are stories that many many tradespeople and drovers of cattle would stop and spend a night or two (2) there. In the old days big hotels would have saloons in them that we call bars nowadays. They would have a barber shop as well. Folks could get a bath there too. Can you imagine having to haul water to heat then haul it up the stairs to fill a tin tub? They didn't have water faucets in those days.
"Oh I know what this is. This is a Blacksmith inside of his blacksmith shop. How cool. It says Humansville, Missouri on the back, but not what year."
Before Bon Bon could look much longer there were people staring at her with mad faces.  "Eww, they looked really angry. She didn't do anything wrong, did she? Especially since Grandma Lu started this whole thing..."
Then there were more mad faces and sad faces and happy faces. Everyone was so glad they were safe and sound albeit a bit worn for wear. They were warned never ever to go in the tunnels again because it wasn't safe.
Marlee said, "Grandma Lu, I'm sad at you. I brought you some of my chicken eggs and you were lost. No more lost, okay?" Of course, Grandma Lu promised that she wouldn't ever again. (She had her fingers crossed behind her back, but of course, I didn't tell you that.)
Marlee's daddy scolded Grandma Lu and told her that they all were worried about her and her cousin. Of course, Grandma Lu straightened her back and set her chin and proceeded to tell everyone just what she thought about getting scolded like a child. This is what she had to say.
"In the first place, everyone, I did not plan on getting myself in trouble in the tunnels. This was all Grandma B's fault. When she decided to make a Lost and Found closet she hung things up on the wall above the table. When she did that she disengaged the secret lock that children used to use to go into a big room to play when the grownups had company. They used to play hide and seek from this very closet. Marleewood has lots of history. I can even tell you what color the walls were. They were yellow. Look at my face, I am all dirty because I have been searching for answers and found them. When you folks bought this place you had no idea that you had purchased a piece of Humansville history. Now it is your responsibility to add to that history and care for this old building. That's all I have to say about this matter." There was nothing but silence for a moment, then everyone was talking a blue streak. There were hugs and tears and laughter. Bon Bon just looked around and said, "You know what, I'm out of here. You are all nuts."
 Well, that was not what Grandma Lu and her friends wanted to hear. They apologized and asked her please to stay and have coffee and a snack. They wanted to hear all about their adventure into Humansville's past. Bon Bon gave them a small smile and asked her grandson if he wanted to stay awhile. He didn't answer her because he was very busy with his new friends. "Kids, she thought, sure I will stay for awhile. Thanks for asking."
Grandma Lu's friends wanted to know all about the cousins when they were children. Perhaps someday they will hear about the country and city cousins and some of their escapades.
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There will be more stories and pictures of Humansville history sometime in the future.