"The Great Farmers Market Heist" - Our Summer Story Contest Winner!
We want to thank all of the kids who participated in our Summer Story Contest - they all did a great job!
Enjoy our first place winner, an action-packed piece of fiction (things aren't usually *this* exciting on Saturdays) based on our very own Market. See if you can spot some familiar vendors!
The Great Farmers Market Heist
Written By: Willow, age 10
On a hot Saturday morning, my door creaked open and mom entered to wake me up. Mom gently nudged me and said “Sweetie, it’s time to get up”. I had other plans, instead of getting up I readjusted my head on the pillow and pretended not hear her. Mom cleared her throat. “But Mom, I don’t want to go. It’s hot outside,” I whined. “Cleo, we talked about this. I really need the extra hand at the Farmers Market. Plus, Brian will be there. It will be fun.” Mom said as she gently caressed my forehead. “I’ll go, if Brian goes,” I say without opening my eyes. “I know honey. You two are stuck at the hip,” Mom teased.
Once we arrive at the Farmers Market, mom and I quickly start setting up her fruit stand. While I arrange the tables, I have an odd feeling that I am being watched. As I scan the area, I realize that Brian was trying to sneak up on me. I pretend not to see him and continue setting up the boxes of fruit. “Boo!” Brian yells jumping out behind the boxes he was hiding behind. “Ha ha,” I say rolling my eyes. Brian sticks his tongue out at me.
“Brian, help me set up the sign,” I say. “Happy to help,” replies Brian with a grin and then in a goofy voice shout, “made by our one and only Cleo Parker!” While I try to frantically cover his mouth with my hands, I see a man staring at us. I lower my voice and say, “I think that guy is watching us”. As Brian and I look towards the man, he quickly looks away. “He saw us!” I gasped. Brian pointed at the field and said, “The guy was probably looking at the soccer games, they are here every weekend”. We turn our heads towards the field and realize that there was no game. “Weird, I wonder what he was looking at,” questioned Brian. “Let’s just get back to putting up our sign,” I say to Brian.
“Well, well, well. This sign looks great!” “Hi Dad!” I run to give him a hug. “Good morning, Mr. Parker,” Brian greets my dad. Just then, a lady stops at our stand. “Would you like to buy some fresh peaches?” Dad asks. “Yes” replied the customer. Dad continued to help the customer. Mom came over to Brian and I and said, “Why don’t you and Brian go look around?” “Really?” I responded. Mom nods and says, “Here’s ten dollars for each of you”. Brian and I both say thank you and eagerly took off. Mom yells a[er us, “We will call if we need you”.
As Brian and I walk around browsing all the different stands, he all of a sudden stops and ducks behind a family. “What are you doing?” I ask. “The guy we saw earlier... he’s a farmer too. Look, there he is,” Brian replied. I look a few stalls ahead and see the guy standing by a table of homemade deodorant. I grab Brian’s hand and say, “Let’s talk to him”. Brian reluctantly followed my lead. As we get closer to the stall, the guy notices and asks, “Hello! How may I help you?” I respond with, “We noticed you earlier today.” He starts to stammer and slowly say “Oh, I was just looking at your lovely sign. Getting ideas on how to update my sign. My name is Hank, and yours?” “I’m Cleo and this is my friend, Brian” I reply. We thank Hank and continue exploring the Farmers Market. We bought some fresh cookies from Tiny Kitchen and while I was enjoying my last bite of the chocolate chip cookie, my phone rings. “It’s my mom. Let me get it.” I tell Brian and walk towards a quieter corner. “Hi Mom!” I say. “Cleo, listen I need you and Brian to get back to the stand. We have been robbed.” I was in shock and didn’t respond. “Cleo, you still there? Cleo?” Mom asked. “Yes,” I muttered and then I added, “We are coming”. I walk back to Brian and share the news with him. We sprint back to Mom’s fruit stand. When we arrive, Mom is sitting down and Dad is trying to console her. Mom tells us they were both busy helping customers and didn’t see when or how it happened. Brian gave my mom a quick hug and said, “We will do our best to help, Mrs. Parker”. Brian then asks, “Can you think of any suspicious customers that have been by the table?” Mom thinks for a while and then shares, “There was a tall woman, who stopped by. She wouldn’t stop asking me questions”. “Can you remember what she was wearing?” I ask. Mom slowly responds, “A blue plaid skirt with a white t-shirt”. “Thank you, Mrs. Parker” Brian says.
We leave Mom and Dad to start brainstorming. We decide it’s best to ask around for more clues. We head over to our neighbor vendor, Bill’s Fruit Stand. “Hi Bill,” I say. Bill looked up from the fruit scale and said, “Cleo, it’s been so long. How are you doing?” “Fine, but we just got robbed.” I say. “Is that true, Brian?” Bill asked. Brian looks up from the plums and says, “Yup, it’s true. By the way, can I buy some plums?” Brian puts the plums on the scale. “That will be $3,” Bills says. While Brian pays for the plums, I ask Bill about the customer mom told us about. “You mean, Jessica. What a nice lady she is. Her kids bought peaches with their PoP Club coins. They were talking about honey sticks as they were leaving,” Bill shared. “Thank you so much, Bill” I say and pull Brian towards the honey stand. The Golden Girls Honey, is the only place to get local honey at the market. We quickly spot Jessica. She is pushing a stroller with 2 young girls in it. I quickly pull Brian aside. “It can’t be her,” I say. “Why?” Brian asked. “There’s only one of her and her kids are too young to take the cash box. Jessica was asking my parents questions so she could not steal the box and distract my parents at the same time.” I reply. “Good point,” responds Brian.
As we walk back to our stand, we pass Hank’s deodorant stand. “Where’s Hank?” Brian asked me. “I don’t know, but let’s ask” I replied. “Hello, where is Hank?” I ask the man at the stand. “Who is Hank?” the man asked. “The guy who owns this stand,” Brian says. “Oh, no. The guy who owns this stand is Oliver Sparks” the guy behind the table says, “I don’t know where he went, hopefully he’ll should be back soon.” “If Hank does not own the stand, then who is he?” I ask Brian.
“Cleo, remember how we were talking to Hank earlier, and he said that he was admiring our sign. Well, I just realized that our sign wasn’t up yet. We did not put up the sign until he left. He’s been lying to us this whole time.” Brian says. “I think you are right. We need to get help.” I say. “Good thing the police station is just next door” Brian says while nudging his head to the right. Just then we hear the sound of Hank’s voice and ping pong balls. Brian went to get help while I keep a close watch on Hank.
When the police arrive, we sprint to the Ping Pong Popcorn stand. “Put your hands up, Hank, and tell me where the money box is,” the police say. The partner puts Hanks hands in handcuffs. “Fine, it’s in my car” Hank says. The police searched for the keys in Hank’s pockets and unlocked his car. An old man hobbled out of the car. “Who’s that?” the police officer asked Hank. “Oliver Sparks. He caught me stealing and so I had to kidnap him. Everything was going well until these two kids ruined it!” Hank yells. The police officers told us we did a good job and gave us back mom’s cash box.
As we ride home, Mom thanks Brian and I. “No problem, Mrs. Parker.” Brian says. “Hey Mom, you were right, the Farmers Market is fun,” I say with a smile on my face.
The End.
Thank you again to Melissa from Pacific Northwest Writers Association for judging! PNWA.org
And to Sir Lonebuck's House of Comics & Geekery for prizes! They're celebrating their second anniversary on October 1. sirlonebuckscomics.com
