Treasures of the Heart

By Carol W. Hazelwood

Troubled sixteen-year-old Beth Sorenson spends the summer in Mexico with her godmother, Dr. Lucia Delgado, an archeologist. She saves a baby armadillo she names Chema. Through a Mexican veterinarian she begins to understand the complexities of treating wild animals.

After a rocky beginning with student interns, she adjusts to her new surroundings, makes friends, and learns the value of another culture. She and a fellow student, get lost in the jungle and discover an important archeological site.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456619787

Book preview

pet.

Chapter 1

Beth Sorenson’s hands shook as she attached a thin wire to the window latch in the back storage room of Sam’s Pet Store.

Sam Ellison, the elderly owner, called out in a gruff voice from his small office, What’s taking you so long? I’m closing for the night.

I’m just tidying up. Won’t be a minute. Beth finished curling the last loop of the wire around the window’s latch just as Raymond had shown her. She eased the window shut and left a strand of wire threaded to the outside. Without a backward glance, she walked out to where Sam waited by the front door. He stroked the breast feathers of Henry, the Parakeet, who perched on his finger.

You’ve been fidgety all day, Sam said to Beth. His pale gray eyes sparkled and his thin skin crinkled into a thousand lines when he smiled. Even though you’re only sixteen, you’re a good, conscientious employee. The best I’ve ever had.

As if in disagreement, Samson, Sam’s favorite monkey, chattered and jumped up and down in his cage. Hush! Sam scolded. It’s closing time. Be a good monkey and don’t keep the other animals awake. Sam put Henry back in his cage, switched on the alarm, flipped off the lights, and locked the front door. Want a ride home, Beth?

No. I have my bike. See you. Beth avoided looking at Sam and hurried around the corner to fetch her bike. Had she done the right thing? Raymond knew exactly what should be done and how to do it. After all, he was twenty. Animals shouldn’t be in cages. They should be free. That’s what Raymond’s friends believed, and Beth agreed. Her head pounded. After the traffic light turned green, she pedaled frantically. Raymond would be waiting.

Her after school job made her miss some of her school’s events, but she liked the extra money and she liked animals. But, best of all, she’d met Raymond when he’d visited the store two months ago. Since that meeting, she’d attended several animal rights’ meetings with him. She hoped he’d ask her out on a real date.

Soon she arrived at the gas station near her high school. She dismounted from her bike, set up the kick stand, and turned to hug Raymond, who was leaning against his pickup truck. He laughed, hugged her, then pushed her away. Well? How’d it go?

I did just as you said. It should work.

It always works. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her solemn face.

She felt the warmth from his hands. The animals will be safe, won’t they? You promise? Sam’s a nice old man.

Beth, we’ve been through this. You were at the meeting and saw the film on caged animals. Do you want that monkey to go to a laboratory and be used in experiments? Remember that puppy that died and all the pictures of those horrible puppy mills.

I know, but…but—

Come on. He slid his arm around her waist. Sure, Sam’s a nice old guy, but he doesn’t understand the evil he’s doing by running a pet store. You go on home now.

When will I see you again?

I’ll call you next weekend when your parents are out.

Her parents didn’t know about Raymond. She’d been afraid they wouldn’t approve of him because he was so much older. On the nights she’d gone to the meetings with him, her parents thought she’d been at the movies with her girl friends. She’d hated the deception, but Raymond was special.

He got in his truck, waved and drove off. Suddenly it seemed very lonely at the gas station. On her bike ride home, she told herself everything would be all right, but a nagging worry gave her a headache.

***

The headline had read:

GANG TRASHES PET STORE

OWNER HAS HEART ATTACK

Beth felt nauseous whenever she thought about the store. Some of the animals were found wandering in the neighborhood. Others weren’t so lucky. Samson was run over by a car. Raymond disappeared and never even called to say good-bye. She convinced herself that it wasn’t her fault. It was Raymond’s and he’d deserted her.

Although she’d been accused of aiding the gang in the break-in, Sam refused to bring charges. She’d sworn to her parents that she was innocent. After all, she hadn’t committed the act, and Sam had understood it wasn’t her fault, hadn’t he? Once the initial confrontation with her parents passed, they avoided the subject. Of course, she’d lost her job. If Raymond hadn’t told her all those lies, she’d still be working at Sam’s, and Sam wouldn’t have had a heart attack and Samson would still be alive. Her classmates gossiped about her and eventually she quit the Spanish Club, where she’d always been the leader. Everyone blamed her, but she kept telling herself that she hadn’t done anything wrong? Raymond’s gang would have trashed the store whether she’d opened the back window or not. Her motive had been for the good of the animals, but she couldn’t talk to anyone about it. No one would understand.

She started hanging out with another group. Her parents refused to allow her to go on a weekend to Lake Arrowhead with them. No chaperons, no trip were her parents’ rules. Today even the weather conspired against her. It was one of those California spring days when a heavy marine layer shrouded the Orange County coastline.

Ever since her parents unwavering big NO about the weekend trip to Arrowhead, she’d moped in her bedroom after school. What would her new friends think? Here she was stranded with no friends and nothing to do.

Her mother knocked and stuck her head in the door. I’ve got a meeting with the school board, and your father won’t be back from his tennis game until five. Feed Muffin at two o’clock. I left her dog food on the counter.

What’ll I do all day? Beth flopped on her bed.

For starters, you can clean up your room.

Beth made a face and sighed. Mom, how come you and dad don’t do anything together any more?

What makes you ask that? Her mother leaned against the door jamb, her expression stuck between a grin and a frown as she pushed her auburn hair away from her face.

People said Beth was just like her mom. They both had olive complexion and dark flashing eyes and an exuberant nature, but lately her mother’s vitality had waned. Her parents seemed to be waiting for something.

It’s true, Beth said, before her mother could shut the door. You used to play tennis together, laugh a lot…you know. Beth fiddled with her pink bed comforter. Now the house is like a morgue. Is it because of me?

You’re exaggerating. It’s not you, Beth. Your father has his business, and I have mine, that’s all. His photography assignments have increased, so he wants to relax with his friends when he’s in town.

He used to relax with you and me. How far should she push? She was scared to know what was going on between her parents, but afraid not to know at the same time. Maybe it was all her fault. If only she hadn’t met Raymond.

Her mother glanced at her watch. I’ve got to run. We can talk at dinner. If you go out, leave a note. Her mother gave a halfhearted smile. Before she shut the door, she said, Don’t forget to feed Muffin.

Beth gazed at her bedroom wall covered with posters. She’d removed all pictures of animals and replaced them with a poster of Rap groups. Her mom didn’t approve of rap or tattoos or the hair styles. Her dad shook his head and talked about the bands he’d liked when he was a teenager. That made her feel better. He never said too much about anything, but when he did, it was always interesting. She pulled out her ipod and began listening to music she’d downloaded.

When the phone rang, she darted into the hall to pick it up. Megan? she said. I thought you went with the gang to Arrowhead.

At least Beth wasn’t the only one stuck in town for the weekend. Megan had her parents’ car and was going to the South Coast Mall. Since losing her job, Beth was strapped for cash and shopping wasn’t high on her list of things to do, but anything was better than staying home. Besides, Megan was a year older and made everything seem exciting. Through Megan, she’d made new friends, although Beth’s parents didn’t approve of them.

After agreeing to join Megan, she raced back to her room, threw open her closet door, and yanked out a clean pair of jeans and a lace trimmed tee shirt. Stuffing the sweats she’d worn earlier into a corner, she grabbed a new pair of sandals from under her tennis racquet. For a second she thought of the tennis games she used to play with her parents. Nothing was the same anymore. She threw the racquet deep into the closet.

Before she’d finished brushing her brown hair into a ponytail, the blast of a horn shattered the quiet street out front. A cotton sweater, belonging to her dad, hung from her arms as she galloped down the stairs. She flung open the front door and slammed it behind her.

With a grin on her face, she plunked down in the front seat of the BMW that belonged to Megan’s parents. Megan’s long, blonde hair fell like a waterfall down either side of her face; her heavy eyeliner and dark red lipstick made Beth feel mousy. I thought you’d be wearing jeans. Beth noted Megan’s mini skirt and lacy camisole.

You never know who you’ll meet at the mall. She pointed to the back seat. I brought along a bulky sweatshirt. It’s good to have when shopping.

Beth frowned. Why?

Megan laughed. You’ll see.

How’d you get the car? Beth asked. I thought you were grounded till school let out.

Megan laughed as she drove off. Easy. My parents feel real bad they didn’t let me go to the mountains. I made a deal. I get to use the car, and I’ll get better grades.

But I thought that’s why you were grounded.

Logic has nothing to do with my parents. Megan drove like a maniac, darted in and out of cars, screeched to a halt at a signal, then raced away as the light turned green.

Beth swallowed hard and realized she’d never driven with Megan before. Did she always drive like this? Maybe she should have left a note like her mom had asked. Darn!

What? Megan glanced sideways at her.

I forgot to feed our dog.

Big deal.

Yeah. Big deal. Beth’s laughter was hollow. She pictured Muffin, her Golden Retriever, with her sad eyes beseeching Beth for a morsel of food.

After parking the car, the two girls walked into the large mall and strolled along looking at various window displays. Megan elbowed Beth in the side. Look at those two guys over there. Cute huh?

Beth nodded and smiled but thought they looked creepy. Where do you want to shop? How about the Gap? Marcia works there on Saturdays. I know her from Spanish Club.

Marcia’s a drag, Megan said. Besides, you quit Spanish Club. She’s not your friend anymore. Let’s go to the Limited. I saw something there I wanted last week.

I didn’t bring much money, but it’ll be fun just to look.

Megan eyed her. I’ll show you a thing or two. You need to get educated.

Inside the Limited, they browsed through the clothes. Beth held up a red blouse and looked at herself in the mirror. Doesn’t this color look great on me? And this is super. She held up another one, but sighed when she read the price tag.

It wasn’t until they were in the dressing room trying on clothes that it dawned on Beth what Megan had in mind. You can’t do that, Beth said as Megan put two shirts on under her sweat shirt. You’ll get caught.

No, I won’t. See. She pulled a special scissors from her purse and cut away the cumbersome antitheft device on the blouses. Got this when I worked at that crummy store in Costa Mesa last summer. Come on. Put that blouse on under your sweater just like I’m doing.

I….I don’t really need anything. I’ll meet you out front.

Chicken! Okay. If that’s how you feel. Stay away from me. You’ve got guilt written all over your face.

Beth left Megan and waited outside the front of the store and pretended to window shop. After a while she became uneasy. She couldn’t keep walking back and forth in front of the store. Where was Megan? She looked at her watch. Perhaps she’d changed her mind about stealing the