Free Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone by Darlene Foster

by. Skeletons of slow moving Stegosaurus with bony plates on their backs and four lethal spikes in each tail, stood beside duck-billed Edmontosaurus and three horned Triceratops. A Dimetrodon with a huge sail on its back was dwarfed by the gigantic Tyrannosaurus Rex in the centre of the room.
    â€œCan you believe these things used to roam this very area!” Amanda exclaimed.
    Leah continued to snap pictures. “I have never, ever, seen anything like this.”
    A young palaeontologist with a small pointed knife that looked like an old fountain pen meticulously chipped bits of stone away from a recently unearthed bone. The girls stopped to watch.
    Amanda noticed a sign under a bone in a case that read: Discovered by Mary Johnson, 1997.
    â€œLook at this, Leah.” She pointed to the sign. “This dinosaur bone was discovered by my great aunt Mary.”
    Leah took a picture with Amanda pointing at the sign.
    The young palaeontologist put down his tool and said, “Mrs. Johnson is your great aunt?”
    â€œYes,” said Amanda. “She’s my mom’s aunt; my grandma’s sister.”
    â€œI was honoured to be mentored by Mrs. Johnson during my studies at the University of Calgary. I learned more from her than I did from the courses I took. She sure knows her stuff.”
    â€œShe loves fossils and dinosaur bones and things, that’s for sure.” Amanda thought for a minute and then pulled the stone out of her pocket. “You wouldn’t know anything about the mark on this stone.”
    The young man took it from her and held it close to one eye. “This is interesting. It could be the footprint of a small dinosaur but I think it’s more likely a petroglyph. It could be part of a larger picture. That’s not really my field of study.” He wrinkled his brow. “Where did you get this? You are aware that it is illegal to take any fossils or artifacts you find around here?”
    â€œY-yah, I know. I didn’t really find it. It found me.” Amanda’s face turned red.
    â€œPerhaps you should take it to the office and turn it in. It could be very important and also valuable. Does Mrs. Johnson know about this?”
    The young man directed the girls to the office and returned to his chore.
    As Amanda and Leah approached the door it swung open, almost knocking them over. An older gentleman in a tweed suit barged out of a large room full of papers and boxes piled up everywhere. Following him was a man in a cowboy hat.
    Amanda’s mouth fell open when she recognized Andy Rowlands. ‘What is he doing here,’ she wondered.
    Unaware of their presence, Andy said, “I only need a few more pieces and then I can bring the entire set to show you. I will be willing to sell them to the museum for a fair price. I figure you’ll be mighty impressed when you see what I’ve stumbled upon.”
    â€œWe will want Mary Johnson to look it over first. She’s the expert in these parts when it comes to that sort of thing. No decision will be made without her approval.”
    â€œFair enough.” Andy shook the gentleman’s hand and strode off.
    The man returned to his office and closed the door without noticing the two girls behind it.
    â€œWell, aren’t you going to go in and give the stone to that man?” asked Leah.
    Amanda shook her head. “No, I really think I need to show it to Aunt Mary first. Something just doesn’t seem right. I wonder what Mr. Rowlands was talking about?”
    â€œI think you’re making a big thing of it. I figure you should hand it over to the museum and then no one will be trying to get it from you anymore. Remember, just yesterday we were locked in a smelly old cabin and left for dead?”
    â€œI’ve got to think about it. I’m not handing it over just yet.” Amanda put her hand in her pocket to ensure the stone was still there. “Besides, I’m starting to get