“Oh, Mama. This is wonderful news! To finally know Papa’s family, it is unbelievable.” Helga sobbed.
Soon Leah and her father crowded into the small bedroom and were told the story. Leah squeezed Amanda’s hand. “This is so unreal.”
Mr. Anderson patted Amanda’s head. He looked at his watch. “We’d best be getting back to the B & B. Joey will be anxious.”
“Joey? Joey, the little puppy?” Helga perked up. “Has he been found?”
“Yes, Lisa found him outside the cheese shop, near where we found him the first time,” said Amanda. “Isn’t that a strange coincidence?”
Helga nodded and looked at Jan.
When they neared the bed-and-breakfast, they noticed a police car parked out front.
“Now what is going on?” asked Leah.
They entered the house. Tom stood handcuffed between two police officers. Ingrid scowled.
Astrid was speaking to the officers in Dutch, but stopped when she saw Amanda. “This is the girl who tipped me off.” She walked over to her and said, “Thanks for calling me. I have had my suspicions about these two for some time. And now the monkey comes out of the sleeve. Or, as you might say, the cat is out of the bag. They, or at least Tom, is involved in selling animals from puppy farms and stealing rare tulip bulbs. You have been a big help. Jan and his girlfriend helped me too.”
“His girlfriend?” Amanda and Leah said at the same time.
“Yes, the girl from the cheese shop. Lisa, I think her name is. When she realized you had picked up the dog, she let Jan know, and he kept a close eye out for him.” Astrid nodded her head. “The dog was never in any danger.”
“But these girls could have been.” Mr. Anderson narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed.
Ignoring him, Astrid continued, “Well, now we have caught the thieves, thanks to all of you. Jan’s mother found the bulbs in her barn and put them safely in a secret room at Singraven.”
“You are so stupid to forget you hid them at their farm,” Ingrid snarled as Tom was led out to the police car.
Astrid followed the police officers, without a smile.
That night, Amanda checked emails on her tablet.
“Hey, Leah. Listen to this. It’s an email from Sergeant Wim Westerhoud, the Dutch soldier at the cemetery. This is what he wrote: ‘After some investigation, I discovered the grave of Private Frank Baker is actually the grave of Harold Becker. I apologize for the confusion. The family was never notified, because the officials didn’t realize at the time he was the same person.’”
“What an interesting turn of events,” Leah replied. “Finding tulip bulb thieves, puppy-farm pet sellers and missing relatives, all in one day. I don’t know how you manage it!” She laughed as Joey jumped on the bed and then onto her lap. “Now, what are we going to do with him?”
Amanda grinned. “I have an idea.”
The next morning before going to the airport, they all went back to the farm to say goodbye.
Jan met them at the gate, shooing the goose away. “Let them in, Gerald. Besides, Amanda is family.”
“We want to give Joey to your great-grandmother. I think he will be good company for her. Do you think that would be OK?”
Helga joined them. “That is so kind. I know I will have to look after him, but I don’t mind. Didn’t you say my father’s dog was named Joey also?”
“It was.” Amanda pulled out the picture of Great-Uncle Harold and his dog. “I think you should have this picture with him and Joey, his dog.”
Helga held the picture as if it were made of glass. “Thanks,” was all she could say.
Great-Grandmother Greta was delighted with the puppy and held him on her lap while she asked questions about Harold’s family in Canada. Her face lit up when Amanda told her that his younger sister, Mary, was still alive and would no doubt be in touch with her.
Mr. Anderson chatted with Jan about donating money to the animal shelters.
When Leah asked Jan about his girlfriend, he turned red and laughed. “Lisa and I have been dating, but it’s nothing serious. I have just been accepted into veterinarian studies at the University of Utrecht, so I will be busy studying.” He looked away. “I’m sorry about misleading you and using Joey to help find the criminals.”
“I’m still confused. What was that all about, anyway?” asked Amanda.
“Lisa met Astrid at Keukenhof Gardens. It was Astrid’s rare and very expensive tulip bulbs that had been stolen. She was already suspicious of Tom and Ingrid. I had a hunch Tom was selling dogs that came from questionable sources. A man decided he didn’t want a dog, so he brought Joey to the shelter. He said he bought the puppy from a person of Tom’s description. That’s when I had an idea. We left Joey by the garbage cans where Lisa could watch, thinking Tom would find him and try to resell him. Then you came along and rescued the puppy.”
“So, we kind of ruined your plan.”
“In a way, but I kept an eye on things. I was concerned when you left him with Ingrid.”
“That’s why you came and got him that day. Now it makes sense.”
“I got very upset with Astrid for taking him from the car in the carpark. That was terrible.” Jan shook his head.
“Umm … so it was Astrid who smashed the window and took Joey from the car?” Amanda recalled the broken reflector on Astrid’s bike.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. She still thought she could use him as bait to lead her to Tom. When I found out she had him, I insisted she take him to Lisa at the cheese shop.”
Amanda sighed. “Oh, well. It all worked out in the end, and now I know what happened to my great-uncle.”
“And I discovered I have a cousin in Canada. Maybe I will come for a visit sometime.”
“I would love that!” Amanda beamed.
Back home in Calgary, Amanda visited her great-aunt Mary. She was excited to share the news about her brother, Harold, who was no longer missing in action.
“So he died a brave man. I am not surprised.” Aunt Mary smiled. “And he has a daughter, a granddaughter and a great-grandson. That is just wonderful.”
Amanda showed her pictures of the family. “I didn’t meet Jan’s mother and father, but here is a picture of me with Jan.”
Aunt Mary adjusted her glasses. “Oh my, if he doesn’t look just like Harold.” She patted Amanda’s hand. “Thank you for finding my brother.”
“It was all so sad, though. I just wish there wouldn’t be wars.”
“Me too, my dear. Me too.”
Amanda perked up. “Aunt Mary, do you know anything about a place called Malta?”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What makes the Canada 150 tulip special?
Why do you think people in rural Holland still wear wooden shoes?
What is the purpose of a windmill?
Do you think it is important that the children are involved in remembering the soldiers who died liberating their country so long ago?
Why do you think Amanda was moved to tears when she visited Anne Frank House?
Would you like to visit Holland? Why?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When I was a child, I read Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates, which takes place in Holland. The story intrigued me, and I dreamt of one day visiting the Netherlands. So I should start by thanking Mary Mapes Dodge, who wrote a book in 1865 that planted the seeds for Amanda in Holland.
I have many people to thank for their help and encouragement to bring this story to life. My faithful critique group in Canada, Marion, Yvonne and Cyndy, who never grow tired of Amanda and her escapades. The members of Torrevieja Writers’ Circle, Writers’ Ink and the San Miguel Writers, who have viewed the story with European eyes and given me valuable feedback and inspiration. Thanks to well-travelled writers and friends such as Sheila MacArthur, Inke Piegsa-Quischotte, Sue Slaght and Maureen Sorensen, who have given me ideas and encouragement every step of the way.
I want to thank my aunts, Peggy and Cecilia, for marrying Dutch gentlemen, which fuele
d my interest in Holland and the Dutch culture, and my cousin Teresa, who answered many of my questions. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my dear husband for taking me to the Netherlands, thus making that dream come true, and our friend Sheila Joseph for showing us the sights.
Thank you to my publisher, Michelle Halket, for once again producing a book I am proud of. Thank you also to Jessica Peirce for her meticulous proofreading. And most of all, thanks a million to the teachers, librarians, parents and children and those young at heart, who read my books and enjoy Amanda’s travels and adventures. You make it all possible!
The places in this story are real, and worth visiting. However, the events and people are entirely from my imagination.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo: K. Cullen
Brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, travelling the world and meeting interesting people. She believes everyone is capable of making their dreams come true. It’s no surprise that she’s now the award-winning author of a children’s adventure series about a travelling twelve-year-old girl.
A world-traveller herself, Darlene spends her time in Vancouver, Canada and Costa Blanca in Spain with her husband and her amusing dog, Dot.
darlenefoster.ca
@supermegawoman
Amanda in Holland Page 9