Chapter 3 Hidden Treasure

Angelica

Momma said, "Angelica, there is an old wringer type washer in the basement like your Grandma used. Joey help your Sister unhook the hose from the hot water faucet. Turn on the spigot, let it flow in the drain until the water turns clear and warm. Then re-hook it. Load the machine, pour in one cup of detergent and press the wash switch on."

"Mom, I discovered a Christmas card from Grandma Agnus McGhee inserted in her Great Grandmother's recipe book. The card resided between the recipes for. making wine and brandy. Handwriting on back of the card referred to a fortune on the other side of the walls.

"Yes Maam. Do you want me to take the dirty clothes to the basement."

"Yes, Honey, if you and Joey decide how to operate it, go ahead wash the clothes in the basket. I'd appreciate the help"

"We watched your Mother wash her clothing and inserted them through the wringer."

"That's your Grandmother. Thank you two for helping."

"OK. Mom." My voice trembled. A shrill issued from my throat.

Joey glared at Mom and grimaced. His voice lowered and he inserted a soft growl. "Yes, Mom."

Trish and Allie followed Joey to the lower floor. My mind shifted in several directions. They searched the basement walls for signs of hidden room. Allie said, "surprise, nothing here

Ralph sped through the opened door down the basement steps. He almost tripped Joey, Allie and Trish on the stairs.

Mom said, "Joey, the key to the supply closet is on a hook next to the closet door."

"Mom, I found the key."

The key appeared where Mom said it would be. However, Joey leaned against the back of the closet.. A portion of the concrete moved back eight inches. Then it slid to the left revealing a hidden room with many jars of various sizes. The smallest appeared as one pint. A larger set start at one gallon. Others rated as three, five, and seven-gallon capacity. A hallway led to a dead-end heading in a direction behind the house. I gazed at Joey, Ralph, and the girls. Ralph smiled and his tongue flopped out of his mouth, Joey's face turned red as the young ladies pressed against him. His breathing labored. He walked to the end of the hall, touch a budging spot and a portion of the wall opened which exposed a larger area. This room opened to a space five times greater than the basement.

More jars and various equipment occupied shelves to the right. Ralph jumped and rested his paws on my shoulders. Allie and Trish trembled and hugged each other. Allie grabbed Joey's elbow. Goosebumps appeared on her arms and legs. Trish scowled at her friend and proceeded to bump into her. She offered an, "I'm sorry." I chuckled at the antics they manufactured. Joey and Ralph smirked. Although, both remained silent. I said, "Let's proceed."

Twenty tables lined the far wall. An electric hot plate and a stainless steel seven-gallon pot sat on each hot plate next to every table rested a five gallon bucket.

A note stapled to the wall suggested fill the vessel with five gallons of strawberry wine. Copper tubing extended from the side of the container into the bucket and coiled around inside edges. The lid formed a locked and sealed boiler. Heat produced steam and controlled pressure in the crock. The vapor forced its way down the tube through a vat (bucket) of water and ice. The coil continued back up the bucket and over the side. A liquid dripped into glass canning jars which rested on the floor near the buckets. The first few ounces of fluid contained a mixture of alcohol and poisonous pollutants. They emptied into a separate container. The remaining fluid is strawberry brandy or pure alcohol.

On the opposite wall stood two larger tables. A commercial hotplate with a ten-gallon pot sat on each of these. A dozen five-gallon jugs labeled distilled and sterilized water. Several freezers had 100 ice trays in each of them.

"Sister, what does all of this mean?"

"I don't know Joey."

Ralph growled and said, "Me neither."

My arms tensed and my legs stiffened.

Tears formed in Trish's eyes and she said, "This is the recipe for Strawberry Shine, My Daddy says 'it is illegal.'"

Joey discovered a little round circle protruded on the far wall, He pushed it and another wall opened. A 15 feet wide walkway presented itself. Chilling air circulated around us. A trickling noise groaned and erupted fifty feet from where we stood. Beneath the passage flowed an underground spring. Two hydro-turbine units generated electricity. Joey and I recognized them from a couple tours we experienced inside a dam in Granite City. Wiring traveled ahead and back from where we left. He and I sauntered over the concrete causeway. Ralph trotted holding his head high while sniffing various items in the room. My body trembled. Joey shook. Ralph smirked. One hundred feet later we confronted another concrete wall. I jumped when it bolted open. The room exhibited similar items. This room was comparable to the previous room with matching supplies. Ralph creaked, moaned and rattled.

The room contained a stairway leading upward. A shadow darkened the area.

I said, "Let's return to the basement."

Trish agreed. Allie tugged my shirt, parted her lips, but uttered no words.

The hound said, "It's time to leave."

Joey remained quiet and ascended toward the next level.

A shadow moved and reflected on the stairwell. We followed Joey higher. a flicker mirrored a arm and hand which held a shotgun.

A man's voice said, "Raise your hands." We halted. The voice said, "Come closer. I want to see you. Don't try anything stupid"

We responded by following his instructions. To my surprise a six foot two, one hundred ninety-pound muscled boy grinned. Hector McGhee stood six feet in front of me. He held a wooden replica of a shotgun. He said, "Bang!" Then he grinned again.

I picked up a wine bottle sitting on a counter and flung it at his head. It missed my target by a half inch. He chuckled, his eyes sparkled and he said, "I sincerely believe you don't love me anymore."

My face burned, my teeth clinched, and I grabbed another bottle. I yanked it back to chuck at his head again. Joey plucked it from my hand. I bored my teeth, frowned, moaned and scowled at each of them. I kicked a coke can laying on the floor. Hector caught it and squeezed it into a ball.

Joey said, "We must not kill the bast#*@ yet. Let's hear his story, why we find him in our greenhouse holding a play gun."

Hector said, "First of all this is not your greenhouse. It is not on your property. Your dozen hothouses are over there." He pointed back toward our house. "Your property line ends one hundred fifty feet from here. I have three of these enclosed gardens on my land. I grow fresh vegetables and strawberries. I sell to schools, restaurants and stores 260 days a year. Additionally, my uncle and his sons farm my nine hundred acres on a share agreement."

My eyes slope to the floor. I said, "I'm sorry."

Trish said, "He's rich. Many of the girls in Peabody High 'crush on him'"

Allie said, "He ruins girls reputation. Most of the mommas and daddies refuse to let him date their daughters."

"I don't ruin anyone. They connive to trap me into a relationship, The girls mislead themselves, their parents and succumb to embarrassment because of their actions. Instead of owning their folly, they blame me."

I smirked and said, "Poor boy everyone is wrong and misjudges you. However, your claim to innocence falls short. You are the typical jock who thinks he is entitled. You are good at one thing. Tossing a football."

"You don't know me, because you are misguided and prejudice."

"You are right. Your type is useless."

He did not rebut me. He turned and walk away His eyes focused on the floor as he shuffled out the door.

Allie said, "You crumbled his spirit. No one else achieved what you did. He never fumbled and always appeared cheerful. You broke him."

"I'm sorry. He irritates me."

"His confidence is what makes our football team a winner in the state. I hope he recovers. The school depends on him. If I said the same thing. He would have smiled and remained in our presence. He wants to impress you. He is a good boy. Our angel discovered defeat."

"He riles me. I don't understand what not to do. Any suggestions?"

"If he smiles the next time he sees you, smile back. He is not complicated, but you are. He has never encountered anyone like you. You are confident and assertive. Don't change. Be yourself."

"How can I be myself without changing? What would I be? Who would I be?"