Mara Louis; Girl of Mystery

by Timothy Paterson

doesn’t excuse what you did. It does not erase what happened. Would ‘I’m sorry’ have brought back your five cousins? Would it have made your uncle and aunt forget what happened, or bring back their children? You are both old enough to know that what you did was not only foolish, but dangerous as well.”

  Eddie and Grant were both feeling bad, and were just bawling their eyes out.

  “I hope that the next time you think of playing a mean trick on anyone, you will remember how you feel at this moment.” At that point, both boys ran out of the room crying. Their mother followed them out. Their father thanked Mara. “I think that you got through to them. Their mother and I told them the same thing, but I think you made them see it differently.”

  As the rest of the family was leaving, Mara asked to speak with Chris privately for a moment. Once the two of them were alone, Mara said; “Chris, just because someone is bigger that you or older than you doesn’t always mean that they are wiser than you. You do not have to do something just because someone dares you to do it. Your younger siblings look up to you and they expect you to look out for them and protect them. You need to do what is right, which means keeping them safe, even if someone calls you a chicken. Do you understand?”

  “I know that now, Mara. I’m sorry,” said Chris. Mara gave Chris a hug and then Chris kissed her on the cheek and said “Happy Birthday Mara”, and then ran out of the room with his face a little red from embarrassment.

  After Mara’s parents went back in the room, the doctor arrived to examine Mara. He told her that she was healthy and could leave that morning. As he was leaving the room, he turned around and said, “By the way, I hope you have an excellent birthday.”

  The nursing staff informed Mara that everything in the room would be packed up and shipped to her home the next day, courtesy of Emperor Motohito.

  By 10:45 a.m., Mara and her parents were on the way to the convention center. As they drove out of the hospital parking lot, Tony flagged them down. “I need to tell you something, Mara,” he said.

  Mara told him that they were late for a meeting. “I’ll see you this evening,” she told Tony. “We’ll talk then, Okay?”

  “Okay,” said Tony. He was becoming more exasperated, by the minute.

  When Mara and her parents arrived at the convention center, they were stopped by security. When Mara told the officer who she was, he asked them to wait for a moment. When he returned, he escorted them into the main hall. When they walked in the door, Mara received the royal treatment. Everybody stood up to honor her. Besides President and Mrs. Morgan, the only person that Mara recognized was Governor Lynch. Mara was escorted to the podium, where President Morgan introduced her; “Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my privilege to introduce Mara Louis.” Everybody gave Mara a standing ovation.

  “Mara” began President Morgan, these fifty men and women here today, are the governors of our fifty states. They would like to honor you for all that you have done for so many people over the past several years.”

  Governor Lynch walked to the podium and after giving her a hug, he handed her a very large birthday card signed by all fifty governors. “On behalf of the other forty-nine governors and myself, we’d like to wish you a very happy sixteenth birthday. Then, he pulled out another envelope from his coat pocket and handed it to Mara. Mara opened the envelope and saw a check for five hundred thousand dollars. “This check is a gift from all of us. Please donate it to a children’s charity of your choosing,” said Governor Lynch. Then he told Mara that August 1st would be ‘Mara Louis Day’ in all fifty states, by proclamation of all fifty governors.

  Mara thanked all of the governors, not only for the donations and he card, but also for pitching in and helping to rescue her from the mine. Mara spent the next half hour shaking hands and receiving hugs from the governors.

  By the time they were ready to leave, it was two o’clock in the afternoon. A limo pulled up and drove Mara and her mother to a day spa, where they received the works, haircuts, facials, pedicures and manicures. When they returned to the hotel, Mara got another surprise. Her mother had bought her a beautiful gown and new shoes. Mara was told that they were having dinner with President Morgan and his family, Scott and the Giovanni family.

  That evening, instead of going to the hotel restaurant, Mara was escorted to the banquet room. When Mara walked into the room, she saw that she was surrounded by her friends from around the country. They all shouted “Happy Birthday Mara” as she entered. Mara was so surprised and overcome by emotion, that she began crying.

  Mr. Louis escorted Mara to a chair reserved especially for her. Then, Mr. Mendoza walked to the front of the room and picked up a microphone. The room got very quiet as he began speaking. “We are here to honor a very special lady on her sweet sixteenth birthday. In one way or another, Mara has touched the lives of each and every person in this room. Whenever she has done good deeds for others, saved lives, or uncovered hidden fortunes, she has refused any rewards, and has insisted that the money, instead be donated to a children’s charity.”

  “Well, Mara, several of us have joined together to create a charitable foundation to help children across the nation. The name of this foundation is the ‘Mara Louis Foundation for Children’. This foundation has been started with $200 million dollars.”

  Mara was speechless as everybody started cheering. Then, one by one, people went to the microphone and told their story, of how Mara touched their lives.

  Craig and Shawna King and Frank and Esther King told how Mara saved their ranch and showed them where oil was located on their property. “Upon Mara’s recommendation” said Craig King, “next summer, we will have the grand opening of our new dude ranch which will cater specifically to teens that lack direction and self confidence. Along with the dude ranch, an authentic replica of a western town from the 1800’s, currently under construction, will open. The name of the town will be Mara, Texas.” He handed Mara a brochure for the camp and the town. Mara was very pleased.

  Then, a man who looked vaguely familiar to Mara took the microphone. “My name is John Gregory,” he said. “I first met Mara eight years ago. I was a student teacher in her third grade class. In a weak moment, I stole money that her class had collected to help a homeless shelter, and I made it look like a student stole the money. Mara figured out the truth and it turned my life around. In the process of doing community service, I realized how some of the poor students were not getting a decent education. I now teach students in the inner city of Los Angeles. I would never have realized my true calling if Mara had not exposed my crime.”

  Mr. Anderson from Charles City, Virginia told how the Marshall Art Museum had so many visitors go through there each year, because of the lost artwork that Mara had discovered, that they had begun donating money to schools throughout the state to help support art and music programs.

  Emperor Motohito bowed to Mara, and told how she had saved his life and the lives of his children in Hawaii. President Morgan told how Mara had discovered the Carver family treasures in the White House and made them available for everyone to see. He also mentioned how Mara had saved his daughter’s life, in Hawaii.

  Mr. Conway from Hartford told the story of the missing gold. “Now, I am having so much fun donating money to help kids all around the nation.”

  This went on for over an hour, as everybody told his or her personal connection to Mara.

  Mr. Logan walked up to the microphone. “I was planning on sealing off the mine forever with explosives, until Mara informed me that it was full of gold. All of the proceeds from the mine will go to the Mara Louis Foundation. If Mara is right, it will be well into the billions of dollars.

  Next, Alex stood up and told everyone, that thanks to Mara, he and his sister had found a loving home. “She saved our lives,” said Alex. “Mine too” said Judge McPherson. “Mine too” said Kirk. “Mine too” said
Gisela Mendoza. “Mine too” said Bailey” “Us too” said Scott, Tony and Betsy.

  After everyone had spoken, Mara walked up to the microphone, with tears streaming down her face. “I am the luckiest girl in the world to have so many special friends as all of you. However, I cannot take full credit for anything you have said here today. I was just acting on God’s behalf. I have received ten times more than I have given. I want to thank all of you for being my friends.

  The clapping and cheering continued for over fifteen minutes. Then, while people were lining up at the buffet, Mara walked around talking to her many friends. Mara saw two teenagers that she did not recognize. When she went over to them, they pulled off their disguises and revealed their identities.

  “Jason, Ryan,” said Mara, thanks for coming.” Then she hugged them both.

  “We wouldn’t have missed it for anything,” said Ryan. “Yea” said Jason, “look at all this free food.” They all laughed. When the rest of Mara’s friends saw Jason and Ryan Davis, they were all over the two teen stars.

  Tony saw that Mara was alone and he headed towards her to talk to her. Unfortunately, Gary and Kelly from Chicago got to her first. Tony was beginning to think that he would never be