Mysterious Mrs. Green - Summer Jam

'I wonder how Mrs. Green makes the jam. Berries usually don’t grow in summer.' Jerry turned to ask his mother as sweet sticky strawberry Jam tricked from his lips. He was devouring a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

'Don't ask. Just enjoy!' Mrs. Brown snapped at Jerry. 'I've heard terrible things happen to children who meddle in Mrs. Green’s farm.'

'Why don't we just pay her a visit and ask her.' Sam suggested she dipped a piece of crust into the strawberry jam on her plate.

‘No! You will not go anywhere near that woman… or her barn!’ Mrs. Brown’s expression started to harden.

'Something strange is going on... I know it!' Jerry added as crumbs trickled from his mouth.

'These were picked in the winter and stored!' Mrs. Brown shrieked at the top of her lungs. She walked to Sam and poked a finger at her nose. 'Nosiness leads to nonsense!' she sternly shook her finger in Sam's face. ‘You are to keep away from Mrs. Green’s barn!’

Sam winked at Jerry. Jerry sniggered through his concerned expression. Something was not right. They had a mystery to solve, and their mothers’ warnings were a mere nuisance. Nothing could deter their drive for adventure.

Later that day Jerry and Sam tiptoed through the living room. Mrs. Brown was lying on the sofa snoring loudly. Her arm dangling limp towards the floor. Sam’s face lit up in excitement seeing her mother fast asleep. Jerry was visibly anxious and winced when his mothers’ snores peaked.

'You keep watch as I open the door' Sam lightly whispered to Jerry, cupping her mouth to reduce the noise.

Jerry nodded as he vigilantly kept his eyes on his mother. Mr. Snuggles, the family cat, had jumped up and curled in her lap. They both winced. Suddenly Sam creaked the door open until there was just enough space for them to squeeze through. She beckoned Jerry to follow.

The warm summer air blew their hair in every direction. The sun kissed their foreheads. The birds’ songs filled the streets. Jerry stood still admiring the weather.

'Quick! before mum wakes up' Sam hissed at harry tapping him on the shoulder. Sam shook himself awake creeping up to the gate. Sam slowly creaked the white picketed gate open and beckoned to Jerry to follow.

'Last one there is a rotten egg!' Sam teased Jerry as she bolted towards Mrs. Green’s gate. Jerry poked his tongue at Sam and panted as he chased Sam. Sam landed on Mrs. Green’s fence catching her breath. ‘I beat you as always.’ Sam teased Jerry.

The rusty metal fence housed a sign, 'This week’s special - Strawberry Jam. Ring the doorbell for assistance.' Sam looked at Jerry and hesitantly and pulled the rope, running the large rusty bell. Jerry picked a nearby reed of grass and put placed it in his mouth. ‘I am a real farmer.’ Jerry teased Sam to ease the tension.

A friendly voice suddenly bopped over the fence and giggled. ‘Such a beautiful summer day. Isn't it?’. Mrs. Green sighed in pleasure, as she wiped the sweat off her face. ‘You’re looking like a real farmer Jerry.’

‘Did your mother send you to buy anything? She already bought a bunch of stuff in the morning but might want an extra tub of jam while they’re on special...’

‘But it’s summer!’ Jerry interrupted Mrs. Green. ‘Berries only grow in winter!’ ‘

‘I can assure you I only use the freshest ingredients!’ Mrs. Green defensively crossed her arms. Her expression softened as she sniggered. ‘Ah you want to know my secrets I guess!’ Mrs. Green sarcastically asked. Her smile gleamed. "Would you like a tour of my farm?’

Surprised at her friendliness, their excitement overpowered any bit of fear they had. Sam and Jerry simultaneously shouted ‘Sure!’.

Mrs. Green swung the gate open. She beckoned Sam and Jerry singing, ‘Come inside! There is a lot of nice things you can find!’ The farm behind the house was suspiciously barren, with nothing but an old barn in its centre.’

‘My mum sternly warned us to stay away from your yard and said you hated children.’ Sam asked Mrs. Green as she scratched her head. ‘But you are very friendly!’ she snuck in a complement afraid she would have offended her.

‘You are about to find out why the adults don't like me. Why they warn their children to stay away!’ Mrs. Green warned the kids while she wiggled her fingers mysteriously.

The mud bricks had towered above them as Jerry and Sam gasped with astonishment. Mrs. Green swung open the rusty red door revealing the interior of the barn. Inside there were many straw nests, all suspiciously empty. Mrs. Green counted through the nests stopping at number "77".

‘That's it!" just move the golden egg to reveal the portal.’ Mrs. Green told the kids as her eyes lit up with excitement.

‘Why can't you do it?’ Jerry asked suspiciously. Little pearls of sweat dripping from his forehead. Waiting for Mrs. Green to reply with a reason he quickly turned left. Sam was already next to the nest grabbing the golden egg.

'Well go on! be brave!' Mrs. Green encouraged Jerry gently prodding him towards the nest. 'You can’t keep your sister waiting!

Jerry bolted up the staircase. He gasped as he saw a black swirling portal in the centre of nest "77". Hesitantly he drew his finger nearby and everything suddenly went black.

Wiping the straw of his face, Jerry gasped as he heard a voice above shout, 'Excuse me!' Jerry looked at Sam with a blank expression as the voice cried, 'My branches are up here!'

'We are really sorry. We didn't mean to hit …' Sam started to stutter in panic. Jerry stood speechless. ‘We touched a the portal in the straw nest then suddenly…’

'Suddenly you arrived at "here”’. The voice interrupted. 'Ah how rude of me. I am Terry, Terry the tree!' Terry extended two branches. One for Jerry and one for Sam. Out of politeness and fear of upsetting Terry, they extended their arms and shook the branches.

Sam, relaxed by Terry’s friendliness, replied ‘Hi I'm Sam.'

'And I'm Jerry...' Jerry stammered.

'Ah you look a bit tense boy...’ Terry pat Jerry on the head with one of her branches. ‘I have just the thing to calm you down!' Terry giggled 'What colour Radberry would you like?'

'Radberry?! I never had a Radberry before!' Jerry confused.

'Nonsense! Mrs. Green told me that every family in the block has tried her famous jam!' Terry snapped.

Jerry and Sam looked at each other in shock. 'One in each colour please!' Sam enthused as her curiosity made her reckless.

'That is enough for an entire neighbourhood! Radberries are hmm...' Terry leaned her branches to one side to think. '... at least twice the size of your heads! Combined!'. Terry shook her branches in pride '... and they are available in every colour of the rainbow! Plus, more!'

'Wow!' Jerry exclaimed. 'What flavour is Mrs. Green’s jam!'

'Catch!' Terry exclaimed as a large purple ball from the sky. Landing into Jerry's extended arms. Sam turned to Jerry an immediately took a bite from it.

'Yum! mulberry flavour!' Sam celebrated as she wiped her mouth from the sticky fruit pulp.

Jerry put his face closer to take a bite. His face lit up as he crunched. 'Delicious! Thankyou!’ Jerry turned to face Sam. 'Now we know where Mrs. Green gets the berries for her famous Jam!' he jumped with excitement.

‘And we have discovered a delicious new flavour! Mulberry!’ Sam enthused.

Jerry suspiciously scratched his chin and stated in a “matter of fact” tone, 'According to a book I read, berries only grow in winter! How...'

Terry raised her branch and immediately interrupted. 'Radberries are available all year round! They’re not seasonal!'

‘Wow!’ Sam exclaimed. They both stood still to admire the fresh air.

'Mum must be worried sick. We want to go back home!' Jerry vented anxiously.

'Who is your mother?' Terry asked.

'Mrs. Brown!' Exclaimed Samantha.

'Ah Bianca Brown! She was a free spirit until...' Terry's expression hardened. 'Until she became an… adult. Those pesky adults...' Terry leaned down as her words dissolved into a mutter. 'Well, I suppose your hurricane mother shouldn’t be left to wait any longer. Exit by the haystack behind you.'

The kids turned around when they heard Terry’s voice quickly add, 'But before you leave, I want you to give you a gift to take home.' Terry immediately dropped a large blue Radberry. 'Your mother loved those before she went...' Terry crazily waved her branches.

'Thank you!' Jerry replied as he picked up the Radberry rotating his chest towards the portal.

'You most welcome. I love having visitors!' Terry waved at them. 'You should come back tomorrow.’

Everything went black as Mrs. Green appeared on front of him. 'You have been gone a while!' she exclaimed as her eyes lit up. 'Ah a Radberry!' blueberry flavoured.

'Terry said it is a gift we should give mum!' Jerry sarcastically warned.

'Uh say you got it from me and uh… don't mention Terry!' warned Mrs. Green. The kids looked at each other, suspicious. 'Terry doesn't get along with your mother.' Mrs. Green turned to face the window. 'The sun is setting. I bet your mother is getting worried!' Mrs. Green scratched her head, ‘I will just uh... cut this Radberry into blueberry pieces and you will tell your mother that these were blueberries.

Mrs. Green exited the kitchen with a small bowl of "blueberries".

'That was quick!' Sam exclaimed as the bright white tray gleamed in Mrs. Green’s face.

'Now remember I gave you these berries because you uh...' Mrs. Green anxiously scratched her head, '…helped me collect some eggs.'

'Sure...' Sam replied resting her fingers on her chin curiously. 'I will see you tomorrow Mrs. Green!' Without further question she ran down the footpath to the gate. She indicated to Jerry to do the same.

'Thank you for the adventure Mrs. Green.' Jerry saluted Mrs. Green. as he walked to the door. As he was turning the handle, he turned his chest back and added, 'Oh and thank you for the "blueberries".' He winked at Mrs. Green, and ran to catch up to Sam.

Mrs. Brown stood at the driveway with her hands on her hips. 'And where have you two been!' she waved her fingers furiously. Her anger was short lived as she exclaimed. 'Blueberries my favourite! Reminds me about back in the days when I used to...' Mrs. Brown immediately brought her hand to her mouth and looked left to right suspiciously.

'We just walked to the markets. The fruit seller gave us these blueberries because we helped him move some boxes.' Sam winked at Jerry, surprised at how she spontaneously came up with an explanation superior to Mrs. Green’s.

'Well, that might have been a bit dangerous...' Mrs. Brown stammered to herself. 'Well, it’s hard to get angry at you when you have blueberries!' Mrs. Brown hugged both Jerry and Sam.

Mrs. Brown suddenly gasped as she saw Mrs. Green from her windowsill, holding a knife which was oozing blue fruit pulp. Mrs. Green locked eyes with her and immediately ducked out of sight.