Chapter 26

The New Kid in Town

Elizabeth was just getting ready to call the kids in when she remembered the bell that Jack had given her. She had shown the bell to the kids when she got it,so they would know what to do when they heard the sound. She went outside,rang the bell and greeted the kids one by one.

"Good Morning boys and girls.I'm so glad to see you was especially happy to see little Opal back in school with them today. Ok boys and girls,I thought we could make some Thanksgiving decorations for the classroom."the kids all cheered in excitement,they loved making things.

As soon as they were about to start,they all heard an" excuse me". Elizabeth looked up from her desk and with a "May I help you?". Before them,a boy about 13 came into the class,his clothes all torn.

"Hi,my name is Earl Wyatt and I'm new around here.I was wondering and hoping that I could please come to school here."

"Well Earl, it's very nice to meet you. Where's your family? He didn't budge and didn't seem to want to answer. I need to see your mom or dad,so that I can get their signitures on this paperwork."she tried to explain this to him so that he would understand.

"Can I stay today and I'll ask them to come see you tomorrow?" He tried to make Elizabeth make up her mind that he could stay the day with them.

"Well ok,just have them come see me as soon as possible,so we can get you properly registered,"she said to him

"Thank you Miss..." he stalled,realizing that he didn't know her name.

"It's Miss Thatcher, I'm sorry,she smiled We're making decorations for Thanksgiving,you can take a seat next to Harper and Cyrus."He thanked her and went to take his seat.

They worked all morning on the decorations when she told them that it was time for kids all jumped out of their seats super so enjoyed playing in the cooler weather.

Not 10 minutes after she sat down on the stairs,she saw Jack coming over from the jail. She waved when she saw him and gave him his usual big grin.

"I see that you made it home safe and sound last night." Jack laughed and she joined in with him.

"I did,thank can I ask you something? He nodded. Do you know the Wyatt family? Jack shook his head. A teenage boy showed up in my class this morning,and said that his name was Earl Wyatt."

"Nope, I've never heard of a new family in the area. I might be the sheriff in Hope Valley ,but unfortunately I don't know everyone." Jack told her.

"Well,he's supposed to bring his parents in tomorrow to see me so that they can sign papers so I can get him registered." Eliazabeth told him that hopefully they would show up.

"Ok just see what happens then I guess, Jack shrugged his head.I have to get back to do my rounds.I just wanted to make sure that you got home last night with no problems."

"Thank you."Eliazebeth waved to watched him back in the direction of town,and she decided it was time to call the children back in. After she called them back in the school,she toldthem to take their seats. She looked around the room a couple of times.

"Does anyone know Earl is? Has anyone seen him?"They all shook their heads

"The last time that I saw him he ran into the woods,and I didn't see him after that time." Hattie spoke up suddenly.

"Hmmm well ok,let's still continue with what we have to do anyway. This afternoon we are going to learn what a preposition is,how to use it,and where to put it in a sentence."

By the time she told the children that they were dismissed,she was ready to go home to her warm house,her slippers, and some soup perhaps. She had gotten some ham and potato at the merchantile. She put her coat on and braved the chilly wind an hour later,she was sitting on the couch watching"Love at First Bark" on Hallmark, while eating her soup. She was in her comfy pjs and slippers,when her phone rang. She looked at the caller id and it was a number that she had never seen before. She answered on the 4th ring.

"Hello"she said into the phone.

"Hey Elizabeth,it's Jack,the voice on the other end said.

"Well hello there." She was happy that she heard from him tonight .She foud herself wondering if he knew how much she enjoyed being with him.

"So how was your day?How is the new kid working out?" He didn't see her in the afternoon,so he wasn't able to ask her.

"Well,she explained,Earl never came back after said that he went into the woods and never came back. I find myself wondering where he went." Jack told her that it sounded talked for about 2 hours before Elizabeth started to yawn. Jack laughed and told her to go get some sleep,they could see each other soon.

Elizabeth curled up into her bed,and thought all about the person that she knew was the best friend that she ever had.