Is There a Problem?
A Mystery to Solve
Dear Reader, the heat of early July is already settling over downtown Shady Pines. People, pets and plants wilt from the scorching temperatures.
But inside the post office, in the back room where important documents are kept, Kim Dunworthy is feeling a chill of excitement. The young postal worker is downright giddy.
Resting on the counter is a treasure chest. Well, actually it’s velvet-lined box containing super special stamps to help mark the town’s 100th anniversary.
“Oh my goodness!” gasps Kim. “Inside this box are the amazing stamps to honor the year our small Southern town was founded – a century ago. And they’re here in time for our big Fourth of July party. I can’t wait for everyone to see them!”
The box just arrived from the National Archives in Washington D.C. Kim is the first person to see it.
“It won’t hurt to take a little peek,” says Kim as she starts to open the box.
Uh-oh. She can’t seem to open it.
Here Comes the Calvary
“Kim!” a voice booms from somewhere inside the post office. Heavy steps moving quickly means a man is heading Kim’s way. She knows that voice.
Mayor Beauregard P. Fibbs bursts into the room, his signature bowtie slightly askew from the humidity. “The Centennial parade is nearly upon us! Saturday is the Fourth of July. We need that stamp collection unveiled for the Shady Pines Gazette’s front page by then or the whole town will think I’ve forgotten our history!”
Kim is startled by the intensity of the mayor’s words. He is in a dither today.
“I have the stamps, Mr. Mayor,” Kim says, tapping the wooden box. “But from what I can tell, there’s a problem.”
“Problem!” bellows Fibbs. “What kind of a problem?”
With shaking hands Kim tries to demonstrate. “Well you see, sir, the box won’t open. There’s some kind of a message on the bottom that I can’t figure out.”
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Before he can say anything, Mayor Fibbs and Kim realize they’re about to have company
Here comes Zulah Talmadge, the sharp-eyed editor of the Shady Pines Gazette. Close behind her is Scoop, the Cub Reporter who is lugging all sorts of camera gear.
“Mayor, Kim,” Zulah announces herself using her very professional, but urgent, tone of voice. “The Gazette is going to print tomorrow. We’re ready for the Centennial scoop. Are the stamps available for their debut?”
Kim and the mayor look at one another with each thinking the same thing. “Which of us is going to tell her?”
Zulah picks up on the uneasy silence. “What’s going on?”
Mayor Fibbs clears his voice. “Well, is seems this here box of stamps has a secret riddle.”
Kim speaks up. “And we can’t open it until we solve it.”
Zulah picks up the box and gently flips it over. The lettering reads: “To know our future, look to the roots of our town’s first kindness.”
Now What?
Mayor Fibbs scratches his chin. “Our history of Kindness? Where do we start looking? In the library? That sounds like a long morning of reading.”
“Not necessarily,” Zulah says, her gaze narrowing as she looks toward the window. “Scoop, you know the historical timeline mural on the wall outside the Community Center?”
Scoops nods his head yes.
Zulah continues. And, Mayor Fiibbs, you remember what we learned in school about the founding of our town? It wasn’t about gold or land. It was about a shared well, wasn’t it?”
Once they realize water may be a part of the riddle the group moves quickly out of the post office and into the bustling downtown.
They walk past the storefronts with awnings on Main Street. After one quick left turn they come to a park like space. There it is – the old fountain.
Scoop kneels down, clearing away a bit of summer moss from the stone base. “Hey! Look! There’s a tiny engraving here of two hands passing a bucket.”
Mystery Solved
“That’s it!” shouts Zulah. “The ‘roots’ of Shady Pines aren’t just in the dusty old books in the library—they’re in our layout. The town was built outward from this fountain because the neighbors decided to share water during the Great Drought.”
“Oh my gosh!” Kim understands. “The base of the Post Office’s own foundation has a stone with that same symbol. “I know it. It’s a match!”
Kim can’t wait to test her theory. Back at the post office the mystery-solving group reassembles outside. Kim darts inside and walks out with the box.
She faces the post office wall and presses the small stone marker where the two buckets are carved. Click.
The velvet box in her hands pops open. Inside, the stamps are revealed.
Mayor Fibbs beams and straightens his bowtie. “Perfect. And with this story in the paper, everyone will be ready for the big parade and stamp reveal on the Fourth.”
Zulah urges Scoop to run back into the post office and grab his camera. “Get the shot, Scoop.
‘Kindness is the Foundation of Shady Pines.’ That’s our headline.”
Final Thoughts
Kim stands on the sidewalk, watching the Shady Pines Gazette news team hustle back toward their office.
She feels a surge of pride. This town isn’t just a place of shops and roads—it’s a living, breathing, century-long promise of people looking out for one another.
And this July 4th, the whole town will get to see that promise in the corner of every envelope they mail.
A Bang Up Fourth
Well Dear Reader, that settles it. Those centennial stamps will have their moment in the spotlight after all.
Once the parade is over on Saturday the 4th, everyone will move to Stonewall Park where live music and food vendors will be waiting for them.
No doubt Mayor Fibbs will give a speech and take most of the credit for solving the riddle that made viewing the stamps a possibility.
However you celebrate this weekend you can be sure of one thing – here in Shady Pines Story Town – you have our stamp of approval!
Entertaining and with a good message. We need more of this for kids
Not your typical 4th of July story. I like that
These stories are really fun. I’m sending this one to my daughter and her kids
Thank goodness they figured out the mystery in time. Happy 4th to Shady Pine
Oh this is really good. I love a whodunnit
Thank you Jim
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all live in Shady Pines? Happy 4th
Kindness was the foundation of Shady pines all along. I knew it
Thank you Berne
That was a fun mystery to solve and what a good message to find!
Another mystery solved! Nice reminder that kindness should be our foundation .
Indeed it should. Thank you Regina!
I love a good mystery! What a fun story. Glad to see the town work together to solve the mystery.
I;m glad you liked it Robin!
I can always rely on Shady Pines to put a smile on my face
Glad the mystery got solved in time. Cute story
Thank you Sharon
Another great message. Happy 4th!
I love the insight that a town is not just a collection of shops and roads, but is living and breathing. So true!
Happy 250 years of the USA.
Thank you Sheri!
That was fun! I enjoyed the mystery. Let’s go to Shady Pines to celebrate the Fourth 😊
I’m glad you had fun with it Elaine!
You always leave an uplifting message. Thanks
So glad you liked it Susan!
Good story. Nice Message.
Shady Pines had a memorable beginning.
Happy 4th – stay out of the heat !!!
Thank you Frank!
How absolutely appropriate 250yr
birthday for🇺🇸 Post Office is such
a wonderful part of Shady Pines & it’s KIND people This mystery with every person young & old, their dear pets in peace for ultimate goal
SOLVING the MYSTERY
Thank you Jane
I give this story my “stamp of approvals. Another good one! Happy 4th!
Thank you Sharon!
Another really good story from Shady Pines. This is quality stuff folks!
Thank you so much Jim!
So creative! Happy 4th!
Happy 4th Amy!
Cute story and mystery solved! Happy 4th.
Thank you Barbara. Happy 4th to you!
Leave it to Shady Pines to bring the act of kindness to us at such a relevant time in our own country’s history. I enjoyed reading this post!
So glad you liked it Teresa!
I am learning to expected the unexpected in Shady Pines and yet you manage to bring it bac to kindness. Well done
What a fun post. Loved the mystery and the message
An interesting twist to connect America’s beginning to simple acts of kindness
Thank you Joanne!