The Mystery of Mr. E
Taking Care of Mr. E
A few days later, the girls are taking Mr. E for a walk. They take turns holding the leash as they walk all around the wintery garden. Mr. E likes to stop to sniff every rock, tree stump, and pile of leaves, so the girls have to be patient.
When they get back to the playhouse, the girls make sure Mr. E is comfortable and dry. Emerson scratches the dog’s ears while Camille reads a story aloud. The dog’s tail goes thump, thump, thump happily on the ground.
When Aunt Miranda comes to check on them, she finds Willa making a popcorn string to feed the animals in the garden. She’s nervous they are having trouble finding food in the winter. Aunt Miranda offers to pop them more in the house.
After Aunt Miranda leaves, the girls talk about what they think the E in Mr. E stands for. They say it can’t be Energetic, as they look at Mr. E lying asleep on the ground. Emerson says it’s probably not Exciting or Elegant. Kendall pets Mr. E’s head. Maybe it stands for Extra lovable. Or Extremely sweet, adds Ashlyn.
When Willa is down stringing the popcorn they’ve got, Kendall suggests going outside to hang the popcorn on a tree. The girls get bundled up as quietly as possible, and step outside. But it seems like Mr. E doesn’t want to move. They leave the door open in case Mr. E wakes up and wants to join them later.
It takes them a while to find the right place to hang the popcorn string. But when Aunt Miranda joins them, they’ve found the perfect spot. Aunt Miranda asks where Mr. E is.
“We left Mr. E asleep in the playhouse,” says Willa. Aunt Miranda is confused. She says she was just there, bringing more popcorn, and Mr. E wasn’t there. Camille explains they left the door open. Mr. E probably woke up and came outside.
The girls and Aunt Miranda begin calling for Mr. E. But Mr. E doesn’t come running. Willa wants to search the garden, but Aunt Miranda says it’s nearly dusk. The girls have to go home. She’s sure Mr. E will join her at the house for dinner. Regretfully, the girls trudge back to the garden gate.