Searching

It was about 2:00 that afternoon when Sharon decided it was time to clean out the attic. She went into the living room and asked the girls to do it. While the girls were in the attic they found many old things. They found a lot of old statues, dozens of old paintings, and many boxes of books. The girls showed everything to Sharon. "These all look like they could be antiques." Sharon said. The girls just though everything looked cool. So they went back to the attic to find more.

"What else do you think we will find?" Wondered Sara. "I really don't know, but I hope it's good." Trisha said.

As Trisha said this she moved an old newspaper and found a doll will a rip in the back. Sara saw it and said "Do you think it's an antique to? Do you think we can fix it?" I don't know, let's take it to mom and see what she thinks." Sara said. "Oh my gosh!" Trisha exclaimed. "What is it, what's wrong?" Sara cried.

Trisha slowly pulled out an old folder piece of paper from the dolls back. "What is it? Open it up, hurry let's see what it is. Hurry!"

"Calm down I can only go so fast."

"Okay then just do it."

"Oh my gosh look at this." Exclaimed Trisha. "I can't believe it it it looks looks like a treasure map. but what kind of map is it?" Sara wondered.

Both girls ran down to where Sharon was sitting and showed her the map. At first Sharon thought it was just a child's toy. but after she took a good look at it she fond a date on it that read 1624. "My god it could be a real treasure map."

"Do you really think so?" Sara asked Trisha.

"No, no I don't think it real." Exclaimed Sharon.

"But what if it is I mean it has a real date in it and everything." Sara said.

"I really don't think so you can keep it if you want to."Sharon said.

" Thanks a lot mom."The girl's said. Then both girl's ran outside in a hurry.

"If it is real what do you think we will find?" Wondered Trisha.

"You know this kinda looks like this house but with some differences."

"Your right, there are somethings here that aren't now. But other things that I don't see now but are on this map."

" That is true."

" But even if it is real Sara what ever is supposed to be buried most likely isn't there anymore. I mean not only has this place changed a lot over the years, but I am sure someone has found it by now."

"Yea you are probably right, but let's try anyway."

"Okay let's go for it." Agreed the girls.

As the girl's stood there Trisha was thinking about Sara's birthday. I really hope we can find it, then I can give it to Sara for her birthday. With that thought Trisha smiled as they started walking away.

For the next few days the girls looked everywhere for the treasure but had no luck. Sara got upset and decided to give up. After that Trisha decided to look for the treasure on her own in secret. Then on the night before Sara's birthday Trisha found the treasure under a loose floorboard in her bedroom. She wanted it to be a real surprise so she just wrapped it up to give to Sara in the morning.

At 10:15 after breakfast Sara's family gave her the gifts. First her mom gave her a new camera, then her father gave her a CD, and finally came Trisha's gift.

When Sara opened the gift she was shocked to see an old box. "Oh Sara please open it, it's the treasure. I found it just for your birthday."

"Okay." Sara said. But when Sara looked in the box it was empty. Both her and Trisha were very upset. But when Sara looked again just to make sure she found a small piece of paper in the corner of the box. And this is what it said.

You have found the first clue for my treasure. Now if you want a real surprise look for a smiling tree with blue eyes, for it will hold all the wealth in the world. Here is a map to guide you on your journey.

They looked at the map for what seemed like hours but was only seconds. Then Trisha said," I found the first part of the treasure do you think we can find the rest?"

Just then Sara looked down at the box. She was surprised to see not only a two gold coins but a ruby as well.

"Oh my gosh!" Exclaimed Dan.

"If this is just part of the treasure then we will be rich beyond our wildest dreams when we find it." Sharon cried.

"So we can do it then mom, can we really look for the treasure?" The girls cried.

Dan and Sharon looked at each other then back at the girls and Dan said. "If we can keep this just between the four of us then I guess we can look for the treasure."

"Great!" The girls cried. "Now we will have everything we will ever need when we find it." Sharon said.

"Only if we find it." Dan agrees.

"That's true." Sharon agrees.

"Than last get going." Sara said.

"Yes let's start." Trisha agrees.

For the next ten minutes they all studied the map very closely to see if they could recognize anything from the house as it stands now.

"I have never seen any of these things around here. How are we supposed to find the treasure if we can't find any of the landmarks?" Sharon says.

"I don't know." Dan says sadly.

"I wish we could've found the real treasure. I'm sorry I ruined your birthday Sara." Trisha said, with tears in her eyes.

"It's okay you tried your best. It was a nice gift, and I did get two gold coins and a ruby out of it. Besides it's the thought that counts."

"Okay guys what do you think about having some cake and ice cream?" Asked Dan.

"Okay!" Sara says happily.

Quietly Sharon put away the map and they all ate cake and ice cream. As they talked about what they would all do for the rest of the day.

Two weeks had passed since the Anderson's found the maps when they received a visit from an old hermit women named Sasha Adams. That was the day they learned the truth about the maps.

At first all Sasha could do was stand in front of the door and stare at all of the changes that the Anderson's did to the house.

Then she said, "You have really changed the house a lot, Ellen always had a flare for the old days. And boy do I mean the OLD days.."

"What do you mean by the old days?"Sara asked.

"Well she always collected very old antiques."

"How old were the antiques that she collected?" Trisha asked. "Well young lady there was an old doll that she found."

"Wait did you say an old doll."

"Well yes I did, it was a very old doll and it even had a map in it's back. I always said we should look for the treasure, but she said we were to old to be playing childish games."

" Wait, wait, wait did you say it was a doll with a treasure map in it?"

" Yes my dear why do you ask?"

" Because, we found the doll when we were cleaning up and we found the treasure as well." Trisha said excitedly. Sasha sat down in stunned silence. After a moment she looked up at everyone and asked, "My god I can't believe it, what was it or better yet were was it?"

" Well I found the doll in the attic I decided to find the treasure as a gift for Sara's birthday. I finally found it under a loose floorboard in my room. By the way that is the second room on the second floor to your left."

"May I see it please?"

"Well I guess so, wait just a minute and I will get it."

Then Sara ran up to her room and grabbed the doll, the map, the box, the coins, and even the ruby. For the next five minutes Sasha just looked at everything in complete and total amazement. Then she looked up at the girl's and said. "I can't believe it the legends are true. They are really true."

Dan gave Sasha a strange look and asked," What are you talking about? What is this about legends?"

"Well first of all when we found the doll originally it had a mate. Did you find it?"

" No we didn't." Sara said.

"Well that's a shame. Because, in that doll there was a legend. And the legend said, he who finds my map must believe for if he or she doesn't then the treasure will never be found. You must be true of heart to read the map, and do not falter. For if you do you will be sorry, for you will pass up a true fortune. Both of wealth and happiness. But Ellen didn't believe in the legend so we never looked for the treasure. Now I wish I could have convinced her to look for it because I always believed in it."

After a moment's silence Sara said,"If it's okay with the rest of the family you could help us search for the rest of the treasure if you want to. Is it okay with you guys?"

Everyone thought about it for a minute then Dan said," If you can help us and if you want to you can help us look for the treasure."

With tears in her eyes Sasha said," If it is really okay with all of you I would be honored to help you look for the treasure. And if we do find it all I ask is for one piece of gold if there is any. Nothing more so I can remember Ellen."

"We would be honored to have your help looking for the treasure." Dan said with a smile.

So everyone sat down at the table and studied the map. They had sat there for an hour and a half when Sasha finally said,"Well guys it's getting late and I need to get home and feed my animals, but if I think of anything that may resemble anything on the map I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can okay."

"Sure no problem we will see you later." Everyone said.

So Sasha went home for the night. Sara looked at Dan and said,"Do you really think she can think of anything that might match something on the map?"

Dan said, "I don't know but maybe we might get lucky and she will remember something or find something that might help us."

Then Sharon said, "Well gang we have had a long day so put away the map and other things so I can get dinner started."

So Sara and Trisha picked up the map, the box, the coins, and the ruby and took them upstairs. They took everything to Sara's room while Sharon made dinner. After dinner everyone watched some t.v. then went to bed.

The Anderson's didn't hear from Sasha for a whole week, but when they did hear from her the news was wonderful, or at least they thought so.

It was a Monday when Sasha came running through the front gate yelling,

" The forest on the hill, it's the forest on the hill." Just then the girl's came running out of the house to see what was going on. Sharon also came out to see what was going on. When she heard Sasha screaming about the trees she kept saying, "Calm down, Calm down and let's talk about this rationally."

It took a few minutes but they finally got her calmed down. They were all waiting in the house when Dan came home from work. Well naturally he was a little surprised to see Sasha so soon but he was also happy when she told them what she had learned.

"Well tell us what you found out I can't wait any longer." Dan said almost jumping out of his seat. Sasha took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then said, "Well you remember that area on the map that looked like a bunch of bushes?"

"Yes so what is it?" Dan asked with excitement. "Well those bushes aren't bushes. They are actually trees." "But where are they at and where are we going to find a smiling tree?" Asked Sharon. Sasha was quite for a minute then slowly a small smile came to her face.

" Well, the way the map reads the bushes or trees are on a mound or maybe just maybe a hill. And maybe it is the hill that's behind your house."

"WoW, dad do you think it's possible that those trees could be the ones on the map?" Trisha asked.

"Well it could be possible but I don't see how. Dan said.

Then Sasha said, "Well Dan just look at the map again. I mean first you see a large square thing that could be the house and then behind that you see the bushes or trees that are on a hill and so far that describes this place to a tee."

" You know I think she could be right. It does kind of look like this place." Sara said.

"Well if it is this place then what are we waiting for." Trisha cried.

"Okay, okay I guess we can go take a look but it will have to be tomorrow since its almost dark now." Dan said.

Everyone agreed to Dan's terms then they talked about what they would do tomorrow and when they would go up on the hill.

"Wait, can Sasha stay the night here so we don't have to wait a long time for her to get here to go check out the hill?"

"Well you know I was going to ask her if she wanted to stay over night anyway." Sharon said. She turned to Sasha and asked with a smile, "Would you like to spend the night Sasha?"

"Well only if you have enough room for me to stay then I guess I will."

"Don't worry we have an extra room on the second floor with plenty of extra blankets so you will stay nice and warm. And dinner will be done shortly." Dan said.

"Okay then, I guess I will stay. But only if I can help with dinner."

" Sounds like a fair trade to me." Sharon said.

So Sasha and Sharon went in the kitchen and made dinner.

     After dinner the girls did the dishes. Then after a few hours of watching tv everyone went to bed. They all wanted to get an early start the next morning.

     It was 6:35 when everyone got up. The only problem with getting up so early is it was just barely light outside so they had to wait and that made the girls very upset. "Why can't we go now, I want to find the treasure!" Sara cried.

"Well it just isn't bright enough yet, and even if we took flash lights we still would not be able to see what we were looking for." Sharon said.