Carole Marsh

“Michael and Jo Dee had given up long ago. They had brought the bottle and clue along and were playing "drop the mystery clue in the bottle." As far as Michele was concerned, they might as well drop it back in the ocean.”
― Carole Marsh, The Mystery of Blackbeard the Pirate

“You mean you have to pay money to go in these old places?" marveled Michael.
"Of course," said Jo Dee. "That's how they help pay for the restoration of the houses, silly."
"Let's go," Brian said. "I know a shortcut." He turned quickly and led them through the backyard past an old stone well, the kitchen building, a gnarled scuppernong grapevine that looked as if it were as old as the house itself, the herb garden, and a small outbuilding.
"Maybe the head's in here," Michael said, giving the door a shove. Jo Dee and Brian laughed.
"Why don't you see?" said Brian in an I-dare-you voice.
"Ok," Michael said bravely, shoving the door open as the others snickered louder. He pranced inside, then turned around in the doorway and shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing in here but three dumb holes in a long board."
Jo Dee and Brian burst into laughter. Michele joined them in spite of herself.
Michael's tiny brown freckles were turning pink. "They're small, medium and large—kind of like for the three bears," he said, his face growing redder with a combination of confused anger and embarrassment.
Now the others were falling on the grass giggling.
"What's so funny?" Michael demanded.
"Can't you even guess what that building is for?" Brian asked.
"It's the necessary house," Jo Dee hinted.
"Necessary for what?" Michael said, coming back down the steps.
"For something very necessary!" Brian said.
Michael looked totally confused, his face puckered like a little pink prune.
Michele figured he'd had all the teasing he could take for one morning. "This was their bathroom!" she told him.
Michael's mouth fell open. "You mean outside? Out here? And they sat on . . . oh, brother!”
― Carole Marsh, The Mystery of Blackbeard the Pirate