Grandma Bertha Interviews: A Chat with Mrs. Odboddy, a Patriotic Detective!

Mrs. Odboddy is a character created by Elaine Faber

Hello, guys and gals! Today in Grandma Bertha Interviews we are going to have a special chat with Mrs. Odboddy, a terrific lady who did her investigations in the times of World War II.

Tell us, Mrs. Odboddy, what do you know about investigating? How did you acquire that knowledge? Do you have anyone helping you in your investigation?

To answer all of these questions, I'm not your run of the mill sleuth. If fact, in 1919, during WWI, I was one of the United States' most experienced and secret undercover agents stationed in Europe along with my partner, Godfrey Baumgarten. If I was to disclose any of our secret missions that greatly influenced the outcome of the war, I'd have to kill you... Suffice it to say that during the three days we were trapped under a bombed-out building, we became very close...but that's another story.

Godfrey disappeared from my life. Several years ago, in 1942, at the age of 70 something, (a woman never gives away her exact age) he suddenly reappeared! He declared his undying love, expected me to reciprocate, and requested to be allowed to park his boots under my bed. Well! As an almost regular church-goer, naturally, I refused. Hesitant to engage in a romantic entanglement (at least at the moment), he is a good friend and often assists me as I expose Nazi spies and conspiracies.

Faced with the current activities, once again at war with Germany, and too old to volunteer for active duty, I am determined to fight the war from the home front. Godfrey helps me accomplish that goal. With the likelihood that Nazi spies live in our home town, I was determined to expose their seditious activities. The war also provides local scalawags the opportunity to engage in conspiracies and black market skullduggery.

In Mrs. Odboddy Hometown Patriot, I pursued a ration book conspiracy and a local Nazi spy.

It seems you have a lot on your plate, Mrs. Odboddy. Tell me, what gives you the most satisfaction while investigating a case?

Let's exchange the term 'investigating' with 'pursuing' a case, as when I was asked to carry a package across the country by train to President Roosevelt. When Colonel Farthingworth at the local military base, said he didn't trust the mail, I was convinced it contained secret military documents. Meeting several suspicious characters on the train, I concluded one must be a Nazi spy, determined to steal the package. Then, an unexpected situation caused me to miss the train and I joined forces with a disabled homeless black veteran. Together, we devised an ingenious plan to reach Washington. Successfully quelling all odds and completing one's mission is most satisfying. You'll find this story in Mrs. Odboddy Undercover Courier.

You are a woman of action! It's not always easy, though, especially when you're an elderly woman. How do you handle investigating when people don't believe in you?

When a Japanese air balloon bomb struck and burned down the watchtower near the ocean, the military declared that air balloon bombs were a 'classified top secret'. I was compelled to take the blame for burning down the tower. The Newbury Daily Gazette sent a reporter and I had to invent a tall tale as to how and why it happened. I don't think he believed that a 'squirrel, or maybe it was a seagull', knocked over the electric heater and started the fire. Mrs. Odboddy Hometown Patriot I'm never at a loss to excuse my behavior that often goes awry...and I'm truly ashamed...

Would you ever do something against the law to help your investigation?

Oh, my, of course not... Well, there was the time I sneaked into the casket factory, following the fellow that stole the ration books. Or maybe the time we stowed away in a boxcar, headed for Albuquerque or... or the time that I crawled through the bathroom window into the Gently Used Clothing and Shoes second-hand store, looking for the war bond money I accidentally misplaced in Mrs. Odboddy And Then There was a Tiger. I'm a law-abiding senior citizen and I'm at a loss to understand why these things continue to happen.

We have to do or best when they do happen. Thank you, Mrs. Odboddy, we'll make sure to read all about your amazing adventures!

______________________________________