The Queen's Quest
for her stolen crown
events compiled and reported by Queen Linda
Queen
Linda and President MaryAnn 
The
ransom note and "mock" crown.
Imagine my shock to find my crown (tiara) stolen and in it's place a couple of wires and ransom note. I tell you, my heart surely skipped a few beats! The morning after Founder's Day Dinner, I was putting away my previous evening's attire and accessories, opened the tissue paper that supposedly wrapped my crown, and in it's place was pure heartache!
After reading the ransom note, I immediately sent out the following email to my "Ladies":
"SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on all of my Ladies in my court for participating and/or associating with "The Wanta Bees"!
I opened my bag this morning to put away my crown, etc. and found that my crown was stolen!
In it's place was two shaped wires wrapped in the tissue paper that my crown was supposed to be in. Along with the wires was a ransom note that stated;
"To get the crown back you must bring to the Tau Beta meeting May 5th; 1 heart shaped box, 1 bag of chocolate, 5 gum wrappers, 1 baby picture, 3 pairs of wholy socks
Be there!
- The Wanta Bees -"
The Queen's Court is to be made up of only the most loyal, dedicated and lovely ladies in all of my kingdom! You are all supposed to protect your Queen, even take a bullet for her. Who are the TRAITORS?
Mary Ann just HAD to get my crown off of my head... Catherine just HAD to supposedly put my crown in my bag after it was wrapped in tissue paper... I can't remember WHO started the heist off, saying that MaryAnn wants to look at my crown, that there was a loose rhinestone...
I have a feeling that you ALL were in on it... OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!!!
Being the Queen, and you my supposedly LOYAL SUBJECTS, I should COMMAND you all to raise and gather the ransom items, but I will play your little game this time. I warn you all though, I will not be so trusting in the future. I may even stop wearing my crown to our meetings... NO, that's probably what you all want! I know that you are all just jealous of my royal self and beauty! I will not stop wearing my crown until my REIN is at an end!
PS: the note did not state who's baby picture, wholly socks, size of box, and quantity of chocolate, but being my Queenly self I will not let the mischief makers down...
signed, 1999 Tau Beta Queen, Linda"
Oh, I got several responses claiming their innocense of course...
What to do but play along with the game? I sent the following email:
"Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Dear Ladies of Queen Linda's Court and other royal subjects, let it be known throughout the land that a pampering reward is being offered to the one who finds and returns the Queen's bejeweled crown that was stolen last night in the midst of chaos. The reward will be: $50 gift certificate to Faces Beauty Salon! Posted 4/30/99 signed Queen of Tau Beta, Linda Wichelmann"
The next day I sent:
"The reward still stands, but only until Tuesday evening. If no one returns the tiara by then, then no one gets the reward. This reward is real; I obtained the gift certificate on Friday afternoon. signed Queen Linda"
All the poems trully made this adventure even more fun...
"Our Queen has lost her precious jewels.
The jewels of the Queen have become lost, she cannot sleep, she does rustle and toss.
Who would do such a dastardly deed? But to take the jewels from our precious Queen.
It's caused us to grumble and grovel around, looking for her precious Crown.
Her subjects are looking for the jewels of our Queen, so they can return them nice and clean.
The stakes are heavy, the gallows are high. Why would someone do this, why, oh why?
For a Queen like Linda we cannot fail, even if she commands us all to jail.
She offered a reward for the return of the Crown, causing some of us to fret and frown.
Will she pardon those or make them cry, those nasty Sisters of Beta Sigma Phi.
The group cannot be split by her wisdom and wit, will she pardon those involved, or throw a fit?
A fit would be tolerated as she is our Queen, we know she is kind hearted and not really mean.
Suppose the reward not go to the Sister(s) of such deed, but go to someone that is in need?
A reward that was offered be it real or in jest, is from our Tau Beta Queen, our very BEST."
written by Mary Ann
Hints were made of course...
"This dastardly deed shall not go unpunished, I'm sure that the culprits will all be vanquished
In proclaiming their Queen the fairest of all, Will incriminate themselves and then they will fall
The one who is faithful will stand there to tell, the dastardly duo who pillaged the fair bell."
written by Kate Totten
Sadly, Tuesday came and faded away...
"Our Sister Linda,
Today is Tuesday as you can see, has the crown been returned to thee?
Or is it still out and about, I'm sure we'll find it, please don't pout.
But what to do, if there are two, or three or four, or maybe more.
If there are two, what should we do? You are our Queen, loyal and true.
Can the Queen identify her own true crown, or will it cause her to fret and frown.
I read the book and have not found, a ritual for a Queen's lost crown.
For a dastardly deed, who to shame, not I, for this I take no blame.
Your Honorable Woman of the Year, MaryAnn"
My response:
"Oh where, oh were is my crown? I've ordered my Ladies to search the town
To no avail, they did fail, and all I got was a bunch of email
Although the poems are nice and welcome, A Queen without jewels is very lonesome
My crown is out there among those who stole it, Do not doubt, I know all it's details, every bit
A Queen can not be fooled by a stand in, I know it's lines, it's curves and every bend
A wise Queen I am, not a DoDo, we will see if it matches my photo
I will bring forth the noted ransom, and once again I'll be handsome
Signed, Queen Linda"
Wednesday evening (May 5th) we held our Pledge Ritual and Ritual of Jewels.
Then MaryAnn introduced a new Ritual;
"Return of the Queen's Crown Ritual
'O Queen of ours what doeth thou say, your crown has returned today.
A day late and a dollar short, It's returned to you by your court.
You've proved you are the very best, with a great sense of humor and never a stress.
This past week was enjoyed by all, and now our Queen can again stand tall.
Crown is placed upon the Queen
by MaryAnn Cooper"
Ransom officially paid; but Queen Linda
got the last word!
The following day I sent out the following email with thanks to all:
"...Last, but not least, To Kate; I believe you are my most loyal subject in all my kingdom! Thou hast pleased me immensely, therefore, I present to you the Faces Gift Certificate!
Oh, you all deserve it, I'm not kidding, For pleasing the Queen, doing her bidding
You all played your part, Your game was cunning and smart
and though my coffers runs short, you'll forever be in my heart
with love, your Queen Linda"
Just so you know; the wrong tiara was presented to me, I wouldn't let it crown my head. Not only that, but I took back the ransom items. Not long after, Kate brought the correct tiara to me and placed it on my head, then I gave back the ransom items. Do you know who the villian(s) were? Email your answer/guess to me; cataubetasc@geocities.com I'll let you know if you are correct.
Now I may rest again... Dare I ask what's next?