SSM01 - School Lunch is Murder

by Zelenka, Cheryl

  School Lunch Is Murder

  A Sadie Sunshine Cozy Mystery

  Book 1

  Cheryl Zelenka

  School Lunch is Murder

  A Sadie Sunshine Cozy Mystery

  Book 1

  ©2015 by Cheryl Zelenka

  FacingTrials.com

  All rights reserved.

  This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author or publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  Cover Design: Jonna Feavel

  40daygraphics.com

  Illustrations: Ben Gerhards

  Interior Layout: Daniel Mawhinney

  40daypublishing.com

  Also available in eBook publication

  The following is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, to factual events or to businesses is coincidental and unintentional.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Also by Cheryl Zelenka

  Divine Interruptions:

  A Bible Study through the Book of Job

  Facing Trials

  Facing Storms

  Facing Adversity

  The Sadie Sunshine Cozy Mysteries

  School Lunch is Murder

  Belly Up in the Koi Pond

  Make sure you visit her at:

  FacingTrials.com

  DEDICATION

  To every person who grew up reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.

  CHAPTER ONE: A Friend in Need

  Sadie Sunshine couldn’t sleep. She needed to make a quick decision and was feeling very conflicted.

  Her former teaching partner, and dear friend, Mandy Golden called that night with a desperate request. Her first baby’s due date was just nine days away, and the long-term sub she had lined up over a month ago was suddenly indisposed. A heart attack had sent the poor woman to the hospital that very afternoon. She was going to be fine, but recovery meant rest. Teaching a class of 28 third-graders was not what the doctor ordered.

  “Sadie, I can’t deal with any more stress! I feel like I’ve been on a hormonal roller coaster for a decade.” The frustration in her friend’s voice was obvious.

  Over the past three years, Mandy had suffered two miscarriages. Now, at the age of 34, she was finally going to experience the incredible blessing of motherhood. This talented teacher needed peace of mind, but that would not happen until she knew her students were in capable hands.

  “I just don’t know, Mandy. I’d like to help, but the idea of going back to work so soon after retiring doesn’t sit well with me. Are you sure there isn’t somebody else you could ask to be your long-term sub?” She held her breath.

  Mandy’s maternity leave was for two months, starting the second week of October. She wouldn’t return to work until the middle of December. She’d be back at school to help her students with the Christmas program, and then enjoy another two weeks off with her little one. The School District was sticking to their deadline for a named and assigned certified instructor. If Mandy couldn’t come up with a substitute of her choice by tomorrow afternoon, Human Resources would assign one for her.

  “Sadie, I know you retired just three months ago, but you’re the perfect person for this job. We worked together for nearly five years. You mentored me! All the kids love you and you’ve got the respect of our parents. They were sorry to see you retire. Unfortunately, a few have voiced their displeasure about the “disruption” my pregnancy will cause in their child’s education. But if you took on my class assignment for eight weeks, everyone would be appeased.”

  Not finished with her sales pitch, Mandy continued. Sadie noticed the pitch of her friend’s voice was slightly higher.

  “Additionally, you are well acquainted with the staff at Fort Follyfield, and the school routines. You know where everything is, including the Xerox machine and the chocolate stash in the staff room.

  Sadie was a card-carrying chocoholic. She wondered if there was still some Cary’s toffee in the school stash.

  “You’ve taught the third-grade curriculum for over 20 years. You know it like the back of your hand! I have the first two weeks of lesson plans prepared and a detailed calendar filled out for the entire two months I’m on leave. I hate to ask this favor. I wouldn’t consider asking you if I wasn’t at my wits end.”

  Closing out her plea for help, Mandy addressed Sadie’s love for gardening.

  “I know you enjoy your late mornings and can now spend large chunks of time outside in your garden. But it’s early fall, and you told me two days ago you’ve already tucked your yard in for a long winter’s nap. If you help me out, I’ll bring you a Dutch Brothers coffee every week for six months! I know how much you love their coffee!”

  Sadie was tempted by Mandy’s not so subtle bribe. Dutch Brothers Coffee was way better than Starbucks and had been birthed right there in Rogue Valley. All the locals were proud to support this quickly growing franchise. They served up a mean mocha latte and offered a free coffee of choice on birthdays.

  Hmmm, she’s hitting a little below the belt. First she mentions the chocolate stash at school and now she brings up my other addiction… Coffee!

  “Okay, Mandy I’ll consider it, but only because it’s you who’s asking. Please give me the night to sleep on it. You are well aware that I am not a morning person, and here’s a news flash for you. I now enjoy playing my piano at 1 am. I couldn’t do that when I was on the workforce and up at six am, five days a week!”

  Mandy rolled her eyes on the other end of the phone. She had really hoped to get an answer from Sadie that night but thought it best not to press. She wasn’t going to bully her friend into helping her out.

  “I know you’ll do what’s best for everyone. Let me know your answer tomorrow. We can go over any questions you might have if you decide to take the job. The assignment starts next Monday. I need time at home before my due date arrives. I have yet to finish the baby’s nursery and I want to freeze some dinners. I won’t have time to cook the first week we bring our daughter home.” With that, they said their goodbyes and ended the conversation with a, “Love you, girlfriend!”

  Around midnight, Sadie got ready for bed. She brushed her teeth, put lotion on her feet, and ran a brush through her short stylish hair. She liked the golden highlights her hairdresser had added to her light brown hair. As she put on her new Laura Scott nightgown, she was pleased with how it fit and looked.

  Always searching eBay for bargains, she came across a darling dark lavender gown, her favorite color. She couldn’t believe the low starting bid and that nobody had made an offer. She entered a low-ball number and hoped for the best. Maybe it was because the auction ended mid-week, but she remained the only bidder and won her prize. The soft flannel felt nice and soft against her skin. It was the perfect thing to wear on a cool autumn night.

  Once in bed, Sadie snuggled down into her feather pillows and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, she tossed and turned most of the night thinking about whether she should temporarily come out of retirement.

  I do miss being around the students, and my time volunteering in the library really hasn’t been that satisfying. Edith Wisp keeps me so busy restocking returned library books I have little or no time to interact with students.

  I also want to offer an olive branch to Lilly Pierce. I don’t like how our friendship ended when I retired. We had such a silly disagreement. Returning to work will give me an opportunity to restore our friendship, or, at least, make a step in that direction.

  Finally
, Sadie was a habitual list maker. I’m not worried about finances, but some extra cash would be nice. I’d enjoy an extended trip to the coast in the near future.

  She’d been extra busy that summer, so she wasn’t able to get her ocean fix. She loved renting a room at O’Brien’s and falling asleep to the sounds of crashing waves just outside her window. The coast was her place to relax, rejuvenate, and reflect.

  And now that her tulips and grape hyacinths were in the ground and covered with a healthy helping of mulch, the idea of taking a daily walk on the beach, and for an entire week, sounded heavenly. Gold Beach, Oregon was always special in the fall. The rocky coast never failed to take her breath away, and she appreciated how secluded and private it was during the off-season. Come autumn, most of the tourists had left and local kids were back in school.

  Pouting, Sadie pulled her bed quilt nearly up to her nose. She didn’t want to wait until December to walk along the coast with her dogs Willow and Bosco. They all enjoyed lengthy strolls on the windy coast, and O’Brien’s Lodge had been calling out to her for months.

  Sadie rolled onto her side and continued the conversation she was having with herself.

  With a deep sigh and a measure of reluctance, she said out loud, “I guess I could take a day trip with the dogs. That would satisfy my immediate need for the sea and still allow me to help Mandy out. Why not? What can two months of work and a short break in my retirement matter? I can delay my vacation. I’ve never experienced an ocean stay in December. Maybe I’ll book the rental house at O’Briens and celebrate an early Christmas.”

  Rubbing her eyes, she thought back to Fort Follyfield, “I’ll enjoy seeing all the kiddos again, and catching up with staff members will be fun… well, at least, most of them will be pleasant enough to see.”

  There were, after all, some weeds in every garden!

  Sadie didn’t want to think about the rude teacher Mr. Blahart, or the gossipy PTA President Suzie Quibble. She assured herself that she would be in and out of Fort Follyfield in no time flat.

  “Time will fly by quickly, especially if I refuse to let any unpleasant people annoy or ruffle my feathers. I just won’t get caught up in any school drama!”

  Yes, Fort Folly, as some folks in the School District referred to her former workplace, could be a real challenge but the students were amazing.

  At the start of every school year, Sadie imagined her students as seedlings. The end of the school year, under her loving care, she promoted them to the next grade in full bloom, fragrant with new ideas and abilities.

  “Where flowers bloom so does hope,” she reflected.

  After much consideration, Sadie made her final decision. She’d accept Mandy’s invitation to cover her class for the entire maternity leave. Making a mental note to call her friend in the morning, she drifted off.

  Sadie dreamt of mocha lattes and hot cocoa from Dutch Brothers that night. More than once Mandy appeared as a pregnant barista who gave Sadie free gallons of coffee. BUT, on every gallon of coffee, there was a warning. “DON’T EAT THE SALAD!”

  The next morning, Sadie woke with an intense craving for coffee and a chef salad. When she realized there weren’t any coffee beans in the house, her annoyance grew beyond words.

  Bosco and Willow decided to give her a lot of space that day and trotted off to converse in the back yard until dinnertime. By then, their mama would be back to her cheerful old self, ready to throw a Frisbee and hand out expert belly rubs.

  CHAPTER TWO: First Day Back

  Bosco, Sadie’s 12 year-old Maltipoo, was unhappy. She lovingly referred to him as her “white shadow” or “little man.” He knew something was afoot and he didn’t like change or getting left behind.

  He had already noticed Sadie was out of her pajamas by 6 am. Lately, it wasn’t until 10 that she ditched her jammies and changed into her uniform of leggings and a long tunic sweater. He eyed her burgundy dress and black cardigan as she made her morning coffee. With a determined gesture of protest, he sniffed her wedged heels and gave her his best evil eye. Willow was lying on the kitchen rug silently observing the whole scene.

  “Okay Bosco Bill, that’s really enough! I don’t need your permission to go back to work. You need to understand this is just a temporary job. These new morning hours will last for but eight weeks. Willow Cake will keep you company while I’m gone and I’ll be back around dinner time.”

  Sadie always conversed with her fur-kids and believed they understood every word she said. However, she never considered that they might be conversing about her throughout their day.

  “Yup, back to dat dumb sckool, wiff no time fur a trip to the doggie pawk today. Who’s gwanna keep me warm while mama’s off playing wiff doze furless kids?”

  “Bosco Bill, are you seriously using baby talk? You know better! Mama put a hoodie on you yesterday, so you can’t be cold! And even if you do get cold and your old bones start to freeze up, I don’t mind sharing my bed with you. I’ll keep you warm. Mama really does need to help Aunt Mandy.”

  Not willing to give in or toss aside his Poor-Poor-Pitiful-Dog act, Bosco continued, “Yeezzz, but mama always comes home tired when she spends time wiff doze hooman kidz. She won’t wanna play wiff us tonight. It’s not fair! Besides, Sheez old! Over 350 yearsss old! She needs to slow down”

  “Honestly Bosco, I feel like I’m your older sister when you talk like that. You’re eighty-three for goodness sakes and I’m just ten! We both know mama is in great health, thanks to all the exercise she gets pulling weeds in our garden. What did mama tell herself the other day? You know…when she was talking out loud…oh I remember! “Be anxious for nothing!” And then she quoted the Good Book sayin’, “Do not fret, it only leads to evil.”

  I think she was worried about going back to work and teaching a super big litter of human kids. Oh boy, we better not worry about our mama, Bosco Bill. I don’t want any evil attaching itself to my tail, or to yours for that matter!”

  Trying to get Bosco’s mind off of Sadie’s departure, Willow Cake had an idea.

  “Billy Boy, do you wanna go out back and play a game of ‘Chase the Squirrel?’”

  Willow loved to tree squirrels and she thought her brother liked the game as much as she did. Bosco Bill didn’t like anything better than snuggling up to their mama on the sofa, but he hadn’t the heart to disappoint his yellow lab baby sister. So, he agreed to chase a few squirrels out of the bird feeders while she ran them up the giant cottonwoods in their back yard. Working well as a team, they soon had five angry squirrels shaking their tails at them and chattering away from high up in the trees. Both dogs were in the garden when Sadie backed out of the garage and started off to work.

  “At least my drive to work is quick,” speaking to nobody in particular. “I don’t know how folks in California put up with hour long work commutes. Unless you’re listening to a book on CD, it’s lost time. Geesh! It’s an hour of garden time lost in a car and on a highway. Living in a small town really does have its perks. It takes only minutes to get anywhere I want and I love seeing former students at Albertson’s or Wal-Mart, most of the time.”

  In a flash, Sadie’s mind went to one of the most embarrassing moments of her adult life.

  She had spent an entire Saturday working in her garden and was covered head to toe with sweat and dirt. She realized she needed some B-12 and fish fertilizer for her veggie garden, and didn’t want to shower or change before skipping over to Wal-Mart. Since she’d be right back outside playing in the dirt, after picking up the supplements, she decided it would be a waste of time to shower twice that day, so she drove directly to the store.

  “I’ll be in and out of the garden center in less than five minutes. Nobody will be there at 3 pm,” she assured herself. Not so! Sadie ran into two friends, a neighbor, and several students with their parents. This included Suzie Quibble, Fort Follyfield’s PTA President three years running. Explaining the reason for her filthy appearance got old real quick.

&nbs
p; When Sadie finally headed out to the parking lot, a store security guard stopped her while she tried to get in her car. He thought she was either a car thief or some homeless person in desperate need of a hot shower and clean bed. When she told him she was a teacher from one of the local elementary schools he let her go, but there sure was a weird look on his face.

  “I should have showered. I should have showered,” she moaned all the way home.

  Sadie often held long conversations with herself, and they were usually out loud. She figured as long as she didn’t answer back in some high weird voice she was sane enough to keep her driver’s license and live on her own.

  Arriving at Fort Follyfield, she located a parking spot close to the school entrance and took note of the pink rose bushes by the front door. They still had a few late blooms.

  “I love gardening in the Pacific Northwest! A smart gardener will have flowers nine months out of the year so long as they remember to plant bulbs and protect plants with a good measure of mulch.”

  Feeling a bit anxious, she stayed in her car a little longer.

  “Why can’t my roses have a few late blooms on them? Hey, isn’t that Queen Anne’s Lace growing right next to the rose bushes? I don’t remember seeing them last year. I must have been too busy with my retirement packing. I read hemlock looks a lot like Queen Anne’s Lace. I’ll have to Google hemlock and check out the pictures.”

  Sadie took a big breath and refocused. She never thought going back to work would be such a challenge. She knew the day ahead would be busy. Parents would want to steal a private moment with her, kids would flock around with news and big hugs, staff members would greet her with friendly smiles (most of them anyway) and newsy tidbits, all while she tried to make her way to Mandy’s classroom and prepare for the day.