Orange rubber ball

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I received this note from a reader in the mail – there wasn’t a letter, nor a signature, but I was struck by the powerful simplicity of this drawing.

I believe that the reader has drawn the orange rubber ball on the lawn of Derek’s house in Ferndale. Derek was the main character in my mystery novel called The Spotted Dog Last Seen. Sometimes I read a passage from this novel when I visit schools and the scene I often choose is a difficult memory that Derek has about playing outside with his neighbor, Dennis, when they were small.

Derek learns that the orange rubber ball he remembers is a symbol about his past as well as an important clue for a mystery that he must solve.

Well done to whomever sent me this drawing. I’m so glad that this symbol has been unforgettable to you!

Happy reading,

Jessica