The Secret of the Boat

Andy called Peggy over - she was visiting Katie’s dog, Star. Katie named her that because when they first got her Katie thought her eyes twinkled like little stars. Andy and Chuck started back home. They soon passed by the clubhouse and they both noticed a bunch of leaves and twigs all over it. “We’ll have to come up here soon so we can get this mess all cleaned up Andy.” Andy stood there looking up at the clubhouse and he remembered all the hard work they put in to building it. He remembered all the plans they made for after it was built, but most of all he remembered how bright the stars looked at night from high up in the tree top. While in the clubhouse at night, each of them told ghost stories and Andy was never scared because he knew he was safe way up in the tree.

“Andy, have you given some thought about what you want to do with the money if you win the contest?” asked Chuck.

“No, not really”

“Why not” asked Chuck?

Andy had doubts...big doubts, but all he could think about was the money.

“I’m wondering if we’ll even win Chuck. I know my grandpa is really good at repairs because he’s an engineer, but that boat is just too old and rickety to fix.”

“Yes, but you promised your grandpa you’d help him fix it” said Chuck.

“I promised?”

“Yes, you did Andy. Remember, your grandpa asked if you wanted to help him fix the boat and you said yes.”

“A promise...huh?” “I’m not sure that was a promise Chuck.”

“Well, if that’s not a promise, then what is Andy?”

“My grandpa said that a boat doesn’t have to be new to win the contest - it just has to be seaworthy.”

“Maybe your grandpa is right Andy, but I still think we will win.”

I’ll show them who’s the best fisherman on the lake, thought Andy.

“I think my grandpa and I have a pretty good shot at the money,” said Chuck.

“Your grandpa won a fishing contest a couple of summers ago with his boat” said David.

“Yep, and I know we’ll win it again”, said Chuck.

“Hey Andy, mom said we can go swimming later, do you want to come along?”

“I’m not sure Danny, I’ll have to wait and see what my grandpa wants to do.”

“Is your mom inside?”

“Yes, she’s working on another book”

“I have a question for her, I’ll be right back.”

Danny and David didn’t even notice that Andy went inside. Chuck was still talking about his grandpa’s rowboat and the fishing contest that his grandpa won.

Andy opened the screen door and went inside. Sitting on the kitchen table were all the new boat catalogs. Andy really wasn’t interested in looking at any of them.

“Hello Andy, I’m glad to see you made it up this summer.”

Andy thought about what he would ask and then said, “I was wondering if you had a minute?”

“Sure, come on in and have a seat. What’s on your mind Andy?”

“I have a question and I was wondering if you could help me with the answer.”

“I’ll try, what is it?”