Alexis

by Erica Rodgers

  “I’m not going far,” said Alexis. “I just want to—”

  McKenzie screamed. Alexis slipped on the dusty ground and fell toward the drop-off and the valley below.

  A Mountain Mystery

  As she fell, Alexis’s arm got stuck in something, and her body jerked to a stop. She thought for sure her arm was going to come off, but at least she had stopped falling down the mountain. But what had caught her? She hadn’t seen any trees….

  “I told you those shoes weren’t going to work on the mountain,” said Chad. Alexis looked up and saw that he was leaning over the rock wall. He had her arm in a vise-like grip. Alexis got to her feet, and Chad helped her clamber back over the wall. Soon she was standing in the safety of the level parking lot.

  “Wow, thanks,” Alexis said, dusting herself off. She looked over the edge again and shuddered.

  “What were you guys doing down there anyway?” asked Chad.

  “I found some tracks,” said McKenzie. “We thought they might be Bigfoot’s.”

  “Yeah,” said Alexis. “We wanted to see where they went.”

  “Well, Kellie will be interested in that,” said Chad. “I’ll have to bring her up here later to take a look. You two about ready to head back?”

  But the girls didn’t get a chance to answer. A blaring car horn filled the air, and a huge white van burst into the parking lot. It barely missed clumps of scientists and tourists as it made its way to where the girls and Chad were standing. When it parked, a swarm of cameramen jumped out of the sliding back door. Alexis noticed that the top of the van was full of antennae and satellite dishes. The writing on the side said SEATTLE SEVEN NEWS.

  “Great,” said Chad. “I knew it wouldn’t take long for him to get here.”

  Alexis didn’t have time to ask whom Chad was talking about. Before she knew it, a tall guy with spiked black hair jumped out of the front seat and ran to the rock wall. He looked out at the mountain and then turned to yell at the cameramen.

  “Right here, guys!” he called. “Set up for the evening shoot!”

  “What’s all this?” asked McKenzie.

  “It’s Jeremy Jones,” said Chad. “He’s a reporter with Channel Seven News. He must be doing a story on the mountain.”

  Chad sounded really annoyed, and Alexis thought she knew why. She had experience with news reporters, and she knew they weren’t always fun to be around.

  Alexis and McKenzie watched Jeremy Jones tell his crew where to stand, and in a minute he was right on top of them.

  “Excuse me, people,” he said. “We’re going to need this area.”

  Chad didn’t budge. He waited until the reporter actually looked up and saw them.

  “Oh, hey Chad!” said Jeremy. “Who are your little friends?”

  “These are some friends of Kellie’s,” said Chad. “They’re here to do a video on the mountain.”

  “Alright!” said Jeremy. “A couple of little reporters, huh? Well, be sure you get this shot, it’s gorgeous!”

  He pointed out toward the mountain. Alexis was going to tell him that she already had that shot, but Jeremy Jones wouldn’t stop talking. He began giving them all kinds of advice about reporting. This would have been really great, if Alexis had thought he really cared about her report. But she got the feeling that he just liked to hear himself talk.

  “And last,” Jeremy said, “always remember to get tourists out of your shot, unless you are interviewing them. They really get in the way.”

  “Uh, okay,” said Alexis. “Thanks, Mr. Jones.”

  Chad nudged Alexis with his elbow.

  “He means us, Alexis. He wants us out of his shot,” said Chad.

  Jeremy shrugged and shot the girls a smile.

  “I’ve got to get this story done, don’t I?” he said. “I’m sure we’ll bump into each other again soon!”

  Jeremy Jones turned his back on them and started ordering the cameramen around again.

  “Well, that was interesting,” said McKenzie.

  “I would say weird,” said Alexis. Chad just turned and walked back to the truck.

  By the time they pulled in to Kellie’s shop, it was starting to get dark. A chill had settled around the mountain now that the sun was no longer shining. Alexis took a deep breath. The air smelled like warm pine needles and cool water. It was so fresh that Alexis thought part of her would like to stay in this forest forever.

  “Alexis, are you coming?” McKenzie was waiting at the back door. Light from the kitchen poured out into the night, and Alexis smelled something wonderful. She followed McKenzie inside.

  “What’s that smell?” she asked.

  “Tacos!” said Kellie. “They’re my specialty!”

  As the four of them settled around the table to eat, the girls filled Kellie in on all the stuff Rick had told them about the mountain.

  “It sounds like they know what they’re doing,” said Kellie. “We should have plenty of warning if the mountain’s going to blow. Rick’s at the same college my dad teaches at, and they have good people there.”

  “What does your father teach?” Alex asked.

  “He teaches anthropology, which is the study of humanity, or the study of people,” she explained.

  “Speaking of the study of people, weird people anyway, we met someone else up there too,” said Chad. “Your old buddy Jeremy Jones is in town.”

  Kellie choked on her taco. She coughed until her face was red. Alexis passed her a glass of water.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Fine,” Kellie said, still choking a bit. She turned to Chad. “So what’s he doing at St. Helens anyway?”

  “He’s doing a story, as usual,” said Chad.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Alexis. She knew that the reporter seemed a little stuck up, but she didn’t know why Chad and Kellie seemed to be upset about his presence in the area.

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” said Kellie. “Jeremy Jones came out here last summer to do a story on my shop.”

  “That’s awesome!” said McKenzie. “Did it bring in a bunch of tourists?”

  Chad snorted. It sounded like a pig’s version of his usual laugh.

  “We thought it would,” he said. “But when the story went on TV, we realized that he didn’t really want to help the shop out.”

  Kellie was angrily chomping on her taco again. When she spoke, her mouth was still half-full.

  “His story ended up being on my statues, but he wasn’t very nice,” Kellie said. “Instead of telling people how unique and pretty they are, he made fun of them.”

  “He made fun of them?” said Alexis.

  “Yeah,” said Kellie. “He laughed at them because most of them have something to do with Bigfoot. He doesn’t believe Bigfoot exists.”

  “Oh,” said Alexis. She went back to eating her taco, a little disturbed.

  “That’s awful,” McKenzie said indignantly.

  “Yeah,” Alex added. “Even if Jeremy Jones didn’t believe in Bigfoot, how could he make fun of someone as nice as you on the news?”

  Alexis didn’t even know if she believed in Bigfoot, but she would never make fun of someone just because they did. It wasn’t like Kellie was crazy or anything.

  “Oh well,” Kellie said with a sigh as she finished her food. “At least he’ll probably stay away this time.”

  But just then there was a knock on the back door, and the porch light illuminated the spiked silhouette of Jeremy Jones.

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” said Chad. He stomped into the shop, away from the reporter. “I’d better make myself scarce until he leaves, or I may say something I shouldn’t.”

  Kellie crossed the room and opened the door an inch. Jeremy Jones pushed it open the rest of the way and walked right in. Husky immediately began to growl and show his serious-looking fangs.

  Raaaawwwwwwlllll! Rrrrrruuuuufffff!

  “Husky, sit,” Kellie commanded. Husky looked at her like he wanted to obey, but he also wanted
to take a piece out of this man.

  Rraaaawwww. He growled a bit more softly as he obeyed his owner.

  “I see you still have that demented dog,” Jeremy Jones said with a sneer. “You need to get yourself a dog that’s not so psychotic.”

  “Can I help you, Mr. Jones?” asked Kellie, ignoring his barbs.

  “Come on now, Kellie!” said Jeremy. “Is that any way to greet an old college friend?”

  “It’s how I greet an old college friend who has turned into a rude reporter,” said Kellie. She was still holding the door open. Maybe she hoped Jeremy Jones would turn right back around and leave.

  Jeremy ignored her comment and turned toward Alexis and McKenzie.

  “Did you two get some good video today?” he asked.

  The girls just nodded. Jeremy turned away from all of them and studied the big statue on the shelf. It was the same one Alexis had noticed that morning.

  “Are you still hooked on this Bigfoot thing, Kell?” he asked.

  Kellie flopped down at the table and put her face in her hands.

  “Whatever you want to call it, Jeremy,” she said. “I’m still making my pottery, if that’s what you are asking.”

  “Mmm,” said Jeremy. “And your, um, research? Are you still following your crazy dad’s notes all over the mountain?”

  “Don’t call him crazy!” said a rough voice from the hallway. Chad had wandered back into the kitchen. “Dr. Sanderson is a genius!”

  “Spending half of his life chasing around after a mythical creature doesn’t sound like genius to me. It sounds deranged,” Mr. Jones said.

  “Well I should—” Chad said, raring back his fist.

  “It’s okay, Chad,” said Kellie, putting her hands on his chest and keeping him away from Jeremy Jones. “I’m used to this by now.”

  Kellie turned back to Jeremy. He had started snacking on their bowl of chips and salsa.

  “Jeremy, is there a reason you’re here?” she asked.

  “Just wanted to say hi and let you know I’m in the area,” he said. A few chip crumbs sprayed the table. He winked at Alexis and McKenzie and then turned back toward the door. “We should do dinner, Kell.”

  “Mmm, I’ll think about it,” Kellie said.

  Alexis tried not to laugh. Kellie looked angry. It didn’t look like she would have to think very long. She was trying to be nice, but Alexis could tell that she definitely didn’t want to go to dinner with Jeremy Jones.

  “Well, think about it. I’m staying at the Dewdrop Inn while I’m here. Just call me anytime,” he announced as he walked out the door.

  “Yeah, she’ll go out with you after Bigfoot is found,” Alexis heard Chad mutter under his breath. She bit her lip again to keep from laughing.

  When the door closed behind the intruder, Kellie started cleaning up. “The nerve!” she exclaimed, looking at the door.

  As the girls rinsed their plates and slipped them into the dishwasher, she wiped down the table with a wet cloth.

  “You girls should get to bed,” she said to Alexis and McKenzie. “You have a long day tomorrow! Alexis, I took your luggage to the cabin while you were gone.”

  As Alex thanked her host, she noticed that Kellie’s smile was back. The girls hugged Ms. Sanderson and waved goodnight to Chad. They went out the back door and crossed the yard to their little cabin with Husky right behind them.

  Alexis hadn’t seen it yet, but McKenzie had been right. It was like their own little house!

  “Kellie told me that this used to be a tourist cabin that was rented to people,” McKenzie explained. “But when she bought the shop, she also bought this cabin to offer to guests and when her family comes to visit. Her dad likes to spend time down here when he’s not teaching. He likes to look for Bigfoot.”

  “So it runs in the family, huh?” Alexis asked.

  “Yep, apparently,” McKenzie said.

  As the girls walked in the door, to the left they saw a small living room with a couch, a small TV, and a fireplace. Behind the couch two bunk beds were stacked against the wall. Alexis saw her bag on the top bunk. There was a small door near the beds, and Alexis guessed that was the bathroom.

  To the right, on the other side of the cabin, were a small kitchen and a tiny table with two chairs. The kitchen had a sink and a small stove. There was also a mini-fridge. Alexis popped it open and found that it was stocked full of snacks and soda.

  “This is so great!” said Alexis. She popped the top off a Coke and tossed one to McKenzie. “I thought we’d be lucky to have a place to put our sleeping bags on the floor!”

  “I know!” said McKenzie. She had her camera out and was snapping pictures of Alexis and the room. “I’ll put these on the Camp Club Girls website when I get home. The others would love to see this!”

  “Speaking of the Camp Club Girls,” said Alexis. “I think there might be a bit of a mystery around here.”

  “What do you mean?” asked McKenzie.

  “Well, what was all that about Kellie’s dad?”

  “Oh,” said McKenzie. “Dr. Sanderson used to bring Kellie up here a lot during the summers. I think they might have seen what they thought was Bigfoot sometime while they were camping. Dr. Sanderson became obsessed with finding Bigfoot. So he spends his winters teaching, and when he’s not teaching summer school, he spends his time up here. Meanwhile, Kellie takes up where he left off. She uses all of her free time to look for clues.”

  “Wow,” said Alexis. “So that’s why she loves to sculpt Bigfoot. And if her dad stays in this cabin doing his research, I guess we’re staying in Bigfoot central itself!”

  While McKenzie had first turn using the bathroom to get ready for bed, Alexis thought about Jeremy Jones making fun of Kellie and her Bigfoot research. She had never thought about Bigfoot before. She really had no idea if he was real or just some story made up to scare campers. Or if he was just a make-believe creature played up to help draw tourists to the area. But it wasn’t like Alexis to make a decision without all of the facts, so she turned to McKenzie.

  McKenzie came out of the bathroom with her pajamas on and a toothbrush in her mouth. Alexis started pulling her pajamas out of her bag too.

  “You know, McKenzie,” said Alexis, “it really would be a shame if two Camp Club Girls got together without solving a mystery.”

  McKenzie spit in the bathroom sink and put her toothbrush back in its plastic bag.

  “I can agree to that. But what mystery?” she asked.

  “Well, we are here to report on the mountain, but that won’t take all of our time,” said Alexis. “What if we spent a little time looking into the whole Bigfoot thing? There have been a lot of sightings. At least that’s what the newspaper said. And don’t forget the footprints we found today. Maybe we could do some interviews and look around.”

  McKenzie slid under the covers, and Alexis climbed up to the top bunk. She had to be careful not to hit her head on the rafters of the roof. McKenzie turned off the lamp by the bed. Now it was dark, and talking about Bigfoot became a little spooky.

  “That’s not a bad idea, Alex. I bet Kellie would tell us anything we wanted to know.”

  “I bet you’re right,” said Alexis. “And we can keep our eyes open for more clues.”

  The girls were drifting off to sleep when a noise from outside made both of them jump. Something was rustling around in the forest not too far from their cabin window. Alexis thought she heard a low growl.

  But it sure didn’t sound anything like a dog!

  Hunting for Trouble

  “What was that?” McKenzie whispered nervously.

  “I don’t know. Something outside. Bears don’t growl, do they?” Alexis asked.

  “I don’t think so,” McKenzie said. “Not like that. Did we make sure the door’s locked?”

  “Yes. I checked it.”

  “It wasn’t Husky, was it?” McKenzie asked.

  “No, it was outside,” Alexis said, but she still looked down at Husky just
to be sure.

  With the movement of Alex’s bed, Husky raised his head and looked at her calmly. He sniffed the air. Then he put his head back on his paws.

  The girls didn’t hear the growl again and soon fell into an exhausted sleep.

  By the next morning, the girls had forgotten all about the scary noise in the night. They quickly dressed and scurried to the house for breakfast with Husky right behind them.

  When the girls walked into the kitchen, an extra person was sitting at the breakfast table. Rick, the geologist, was scooping piles of scrambled eggs onto his plate. Kellie slid a plate full of toast onto the table and sat down.

  “Did you girls sleep well?” she asked.

  “Yup!” piped Alexis. She was so excited about getting to the bottom of the Bigfoot mystery that it showed in her huge smile. She had her pink notebook in her backpack. She was ready to take notes if she heard anything about Bigfoot while she and McKenzie worked on the volcano film.

  McKenzie nodded and poured a glass of orange juice.

  “What’s new, Dr. Rick?” she said, glancing up at Rick through sleepy eyelashes.

  “A lot, actually,” he said. “The mountain started emitting gases this morning like it might be getting ready to blow, so they’ve closed it to tourists.”

  Alexis’s jaw dropped, and her fork clattered to the floor.

  “Oh no!” she said. “How am I supposed to get my story if I can’t get to the mountain?”

  She was frantic. All Alexis could think about was going home and telling the TV station—and her parents—that the whole trip had been a waste. Her brilliant mood shriveled like a helium balloon in the cold.

  “Don’t worry, Alexis,” said McKenzie. “We’ll find a way to get your story. We can still interview the people in town. And I bet Dr. Rick will give us any information he can.”

  “I can do better than that, actually,” said Rick.

  Alexis tried not to be annoyed. He was still smiling from ear to ear, like he hadn’t just crushed her hopes. What could he possibly do for her now?

  “What do you mean, Dr. Rick?” McKenzie asked. “If the mountain’s closed, there’s not much more to do than interviews.”