Читать книгу The Misadventures of Seldovia Sam - Susan Woodward Springer - Страница 17

Grime and Punishment

Sam slept all the way back to Seldovia. He slept as they passed the islands and MacDonald Spit. He slept as they passed the eagle’s nest and Dark Creek Canyon. He even slept as they passed the airstrip, now busy with planes taking off and landing.

Then something shook him awake.

“Come on, Sam. Climb aboard. We’re home.”

Sleepily, he wrapped his arms around his father’s neck as he was carried into the house.

At the sight of his mother frowning in the kitchen, Sam finally woke up.

She’d ground him for sure!

But Mom didn’t say much. She dragged a dining room chair in for him to sit on and fussed over his foot. Dad brought in an old washtub that Mom filled with warm water and Epsom salts.

“Put that foot in here, Sam, and don’t you move it an inch. Do you understand?”

Sam nodded solemnly. He stared at the water as the grime and sand melted off his foot.

“I’m going outside to help your father unload the truck.”

Great, thought Sam. They’re going to figure out some horrible punishment for me.

Sam stared into the washtub. His foot stung and throbbed all at the same time. He hadn’t realized how sharp those clamshells and barnacles could be.

The kitchen door opened and Mom and Dad came in with the bucket of clams.

Uh-oh, here it comes, thought Sam.

“Your father and I have decided …”

Now, I’m really in for it.

“… that your sore foot should slow you down long enough to think about your disobedience,” said Mom. “And you had a good enough scare being stranded on that island, so we’re not going to ground you.”

That’s it? wondered Sam. I can’t believe it!

“However,” Dad continued.

Uh-oh, the dreaded “however.”

“If you’re going to work with me on the boat someday, you’re going to have to learn to respect the tide and the sea. The tide doesn’t slow down just because you’re having too much fun playing in the mud. You’re also going to have to learn to listen and follow instructions. I can’t have a deckhand who doesn’t pay attention.”

Sam nodded miserably. He dreamed of deckhanding for Dad when he was older. He was mad at himself for acting like a little kid. Still, this was pretty light punishment.

Maybe if he looked really sorry and pathetic, he could get off with just the lecture.

Not so lucky.