by Rose A. Valenta

Created on: September 20, 2008

Treasure Hunt

It is the spring of 1956; Alyssa and Gracie Watson are sisters, who live on Ridgeway St. in Mount Holly, NJ, just off of High St. They are close in age, 11 and 12 respectively. However, Alyssa has always been told that she is mature for her age, 11 years old going on 30. Their mother is Italian and works part-time as a substitute teacher at the local elementary school. Their father is from the U.K. and the CEO of Howard Watson's Shoe Factory on Rancocas Road. Most of their friends: Melissa Dole, Shayna Nally, Billy and Alan McHill, and Frankie Russo live close by and attend the same school.

Melissa's father is a banker, Shayna's parents are both music teachers, Billy and Alan's father works at the local pharmacy, and Frankie's dad owns a bakery. All of the children have younger siblings under 5 years old. Alan and Alyssa are the same age and youngest of the group. They find it difficult to get along with each other.

"Hey kid are you the kid that told the kid that I'm the kid who hit the kid around the corner kid, huh KID?" Alyssa and Gracie both sang and chanted as they made their way to the candy store down Ridgeway St. towards Mount Holly Ave.

"You wanna play marbles?" a tiny voice whispered from under a grape vine along the way.

"Who said that?" Alyssa shouted.

Out from under the vine sprang her arch enemy, Alan McHill, one of the neighborhood boys, who has had a crush on her for the past two years and occasionally pelts her with acorns. She can still feel the sting.

"No, thank you!" she responded. "Gracie and I are going to the candy store for licorice and chocolate, and don't tag along!"

About halfway down Ridgeway St. Alyssa noticed that either Alan went home or found another hiding spot.

"Hey kid, wanna go to the Mount first?" Gracie asked.
"Um, OK" Alyssa said.

So, off they went up Cherry St. towards the mount.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Gracie asked Alyssa, as they climbed up the steep hill.

"I dunno," she mumbled. "A sling-shot to get Alan with when he bugs me?" they both giggled.

Almost simultaneously, the girls spotted something glittering in a pile of wet leaves. Alyssa grabbed it first, as they slid on the ground like two ball players trying to steal home base. Both of them were covered in mud from head to toe.

"Oh, my God! Mom is going to kill us! Look at my dress," cried Alyssa.

Then, she opened her hand and there in the middle of her palm was a gold object glistening in the sunshine. It was a shiny golden nugget.

"I wonder how it got

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