The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island

by Dana Alison Levy

  “And that’s a wrap!” Ted called, and everyone burst into laughter and scattered cheers, Sam included.

  “That was awesome! Nice road rage, Nic. And, Grace, excellent obnoxious subway rider,” Ted said.

  Grace, the girl who had been pretending to talk on her cell phone, rolled her eyes and shook her head sadly. “Dude. Where did you grow up, on a farm? There’s no cell phone reception on the subway. I was on a bus. Obviously!”

  Sam looked down at his sneakers. He had thought it was a subway too. But Ted just laughed. “You say farm, I say Los Angeles….Whatever it was, you guys were great.” He turned to Sam and shook his hand. “And you! Nice work. Love the realistic belches you got in there! Clearly a talented young man.”

  Sam laughed. “Thanks, I guess.”

  “How long are you here for?” Julia asked. “We meet twice a week for improv, and on Saturday we do a thing with younger kids outside near the docks, where we pass the hat at the end for tips. You should come out sometime.” She was glugging water from a bottle, and when she finished she gave an impressive burp. “That was just for you,” she said, laughing and pointing at Sam.

  “I’m here until Labor Day,” Sam said. “I’ll come back sometime, for sure.”

  “You can always get a ride with me,” Val added. “The babysitter brings me in most of the time.”

  “Excellent,” Ted said. “And it’s great you’re here all month. Most of these clowns are only here for a week or so”—he made a sad face that most of the kids imitated—“but I’m here all summer, working at the Rock Island Actors’ Project production for the season. So are Jules and Nicole. Do you do any acting at home?”

  Sam shrugged, a little embarrassed. “Not really. Well, I was in the school play last year.”

  “Oooh, what play?” Julia asked.

  “Annie. I was Daddy Warbucks,” Sam answered.

  “Fun! Too bad you didn’t get here earlier in the season. We’re doing A Midsummer Night’s Dream for our summer show. But you could volunteer backstage if you’re interested.”

  Sam shrugged again, but he couldn’t help grinning. “Maybe. Yeah, I’d actually really like that. I’ll have to ask my parents, but probably.”

  “Cool! It’ll be great to have more help.” Ted turned away and clapped his hands. “Okay, next one! Let’s do the hot lava game! Get in pairs!”

  The next game involved all kinds of jumping, rolling, and pretend-falling, and Sam caught on fast. Summer soccer had kept his muscles strong, and he raced around the room, following Ted’s bellowed orders: “One foot! Now the other! Now hobble like you’re ancient! SOMERSAULT!”

  They had just collapsed into an exhausted heap when the door opened and an older man flew into the room.

  “Ted! Julia! Crisis time! Can you wrap this up?” the man asked, barely acknowledging the group of panting, laughing kids on the floor.

  Ted looked at his watch, then nodded. “Yeah, we’re pretty much done. Okay, guys! Grab your stuff, and, Mateo, don’t forget your ugly-but-clearly-special-to-you Giants hat like last time. I can only bear to rescue it once. See you all Thursday, I hope!”

  People stood up slowly, chattering about beach plans, what ferry they were leaving on, or the day’s games. Val hung out by the door, packing up her bag.

  Sam stood awkwardly. He wanted to thank Ted and Julia for including him, so he edged closer, but the man they were talking to was speaking fast. He sounded upset and was pulling at the sides of his hair like he wanted to yank it out.

  “—and there’s no way she’ll come back after the surgery. She’s going to fly home to North Carolina, leaving us with no Puck, and without a Puck we have no play! The one role with no understudy! The only one! I can’t…I don’t even…Ugh!”

  “Is there anyone we can move to that role? One of the fairies or players?” Julia asked.

  “Possibly, someone with a small role who could do both. Or one of the lovers, who do have understudies,” Ted said.

  But the man shook his head miserably. “No one else in the company has the making of Puck. We need someone who can do all the physical humor, as well as act. Cam and Derek, and Maia and Georgia, for that matter…they’re not exactly Puck types, wouldn’t you say?”

  Sam started to walk away. Clearly this wasn’t the time to interrupt. But before he could leave, Julia glanced over at him. Her eyes lit up.

  “YOU!” she shouted, pointing at Sam. Ted and the other man swiveled their heads to stare at him. Val glanced up from her phone.

  Ted’s face split into a big grin. “Of course! Puck wandered in here around half an hour ago! How did I not notice?” He slapped his forehead. “Sam, meet Alan, director of our modern version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. How do you feel about mischievous, troublesome, and ultimately awesome fairies?”

  “Eli? ELI! Will you help me?” Frog’s voice was muffled in Zeus’s fur as he struggled to hold the wriggling cat.

  Eli didn’t move.

  “ELI!” Frog shouted, before dropping Zeus. Quickly seizing the opportunity for freedom, Zeus slunk under the couch.

  “Rats! Now I can’t reach him,” Frog said, stomping on the floor in frustration. “And all because you won’t help. I needed HELP.” He stomped again, but Eli didn’t even look up.

  Frog walked over to him. “What’s wrong? Why are you so grumpy?”

  Eli scowled and didn’t answer. Frog saw through the screen door that Papa was outside pulling the life jackets and paddles out of the shed.

  “Oh! Are you and Papa going kayaking? Can I come? I love kayaking with Papa! He always makes it splash on me,” Frog said, forgetting Zeus, who had not reappeared from beneath the couch.

  Eli shrugged. “I don’t care. I don’t even want to go.” His shoulders slumped. “I still hate it.”

  “Why are you going then?” Frog asked. “Papa and Dad always say we have to try something five times before we can say we don’t like it, but you’ve tried it lots of times now.”

  Eli looked even grimmer. “I asked Papa to take me. I really want to kayak out to Tuckernocket and see the seals. And I want to name the seal in the marine sanctuary.”

  Frog stared at his brother. Eli’s face was pinched and angry, and even with his summer freckles he looked pale and miserable. Frog felt bad for him. Kayaking was so fun! The boat tipped side to side, just a little, when Papa paddled, and it was so nice and low to the water that Frog could dangle his hands in as they floated along. Sometimes the water was so clear he could even see crabs and fish below.

  He thought for a minute. “What’s the scariest part?” he asked. Frog knew what it was like to be scared. He was scared—really scared—of loud noises. He loved to look at fire trucks and to see police cars flashing their lights, but he hated the noise they made. He even hated fireworks if they were too loud! They made his head hurt and always seemed dangerous, no matter how many times Dad and Papa told him they weren’t. But kayaks? What was scary about them?

  Eli shrugged. “I don’t like how they wobble.” His voice was flat.

  “Why?” Frog asked. “It’s scary when the ferry wobbles, because if you fell out of the ferry you’d be dead, I think. Or really badly hurt. But the kayak is right in the water, down low!”

  Eli didn’t answer. Frog went on. “Maybe it’s like when I was scared of the toilets that flush without me touching them. It just seems scary. Remember Dad stayed in with me and we watched it flush again and again, and then it wasn’t so scary? Now I can go in those bathrooms anytime and I’m not even scared!”

  Eli looked up. “What’s your point?” he asked, sounding annoyed.

  “Well, I thought maybe it wouldn’t be scary if you wobbled a lot and even fell out, because you’re so close to the water,” Frog said. He was excited. “Can we try it today? Can we?”

  “Can we try what, Froggie? Are you coming with us? I told E-man I’d take him out for a paddle. Maybe this will be his lucky trip.” Papa smiled.

  “Yes! I want to sit in the fr
ont of Eli’s kayak, not yours. Okay?” Frog asked, bouncing.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, buddy,” Papa said, holding out a hand to pull Eli up, and putting his other hand on the bouncing Frog’s head. “You’re a lot like Tigger, full of bounce. In the kayak, Eli might not like that.”

  “But it’s like the flushing toilet!” Frog protested.

  Papa gave him a strange look. “I don’t know if I want to know how they connect,” he said, “but I don’t—”

  “It’s fine,” Eli said. He was walking slowly behind Papa as they wandered down the empty road to the cove. “Whatever. Let’s just do it.”

  Papa glanced at Eli but didn’t say anything until they got to the water.

  “Okay, here are your PFDs,” he said, handing them the life jackets. “It looks like a lovely day for a paddle, so let’s give it a try. E-man, if you really don’t mind Frog riding with you, he’ll sit in front of you, like this.” He positioned Frog, who was nearly vibrating with excitement, into the front of the kayak.

  “Frog, NO WRIGGLING. Got it?” Papa said, giving the boat a shove to get them off the rocky shore. “Really. Help your brother out.”

  Frog nodded solemnly. “Promise,” he said.

  Eli took the paddle and dipped one end, then the other into the water. They moved forward slowly.

  “Cool! I see a school of minnows!” Frog yelled, leaning over the side and peering into the water.

  The boat lurched. Eli squawked in alarm.

  “Frog,” Papa said, paddling quickly up to them.

  “Sorry! Sorry,” Frog said, straightening up. But there was so much to see! He forgot Eli was behind him, paddling away, and peered around, taking in the cormorants and gulls wheeling overhead, occasionally diving to catch a fish.

  “Looking good, E-man!” Papa said. “How is it feeling?”

  “Fine,” Eli answered, his voice tight.

  “Crabs!” Frog yelled, leaning over again.

  “Frog!” Eli yelled, swinging his body to keep the kayak level.

  “Oops! Sorry. I forgot,” Frog said. “But look down. There’s a HUGE crab! Bigger than Big Mama last year!”

  Eli looked over the edge. The kayak tipped slightly, but he didn’t notice. “Oooh! That one is huge! I wonder if we can catch it. Papa, did you bring the net?”

  “Got it right here,” Papa said, reaching between his feet. He passed the long-handled net to Frog, who leaned over to get it, wobbling the kayak again. This time Eli barely squeaked.

  “Can you reach?” Eli asked. His paddle lay across his knees, forgotten, and the boat moved slowly in the current.

  “I think so,” Frog said, leaning over with the net. “OOPS!” The boat swung wildly to the side.

  “Careful!” Papa called.

  “Don’t drop the net!” Eli warned.

  Frog leaned down again, but before he could lower the net, Eli yelled.

  “Hey! Seal!”

  “Where? Where, Eli?” Frog said, dropping the net in his excitement. He pushed forward, looking around wildly.

  “Careful!” yelled Papa again.

  “Right there!” Eli shouted, pointing. There, barely fifteen feet in front, was a sleek black head, popping up and staring right at them.

  “A SEAL! PAPA! A SEAL!” Frog shouted. He swung around, pushing out of his seat. “Do you see? It’s looking right at—”

  “WATCH OUT!” Papa called. For Frog, while talking, was spinning around in the boat, to better watch the seal, who was clearly watching them.

  Eli dropped the paddle as the boat swung wildly. Frog ignored both the paddle and his father’s warning.

  “Where did it go? It dove down. But wait! It’s coming back up over there!” Turning backward in the kayak, Frog pointed behind them. “It’s right next to us!”

  Eli turned around to see, and for a second the two boys stared at the whiskered face staring at them from just a few feet away.

  “IT’S RIGHT HERE!” Frog yelled. Then he fell into the water.

  The boat rocked wildly with the impact of his splash, then tipped, sending Eli flying.

  With barely a ripple, the seal dunked under and disappeared.

  “PHLEW!” Eli spat out a mouthful of salt water as he surfaced. “Where’d the seal go?” he asked breathlessly, shoving his hair out of his eyes and squinting into the sun. “Did we scare it? Shoot!”

  Frog, who had already grabbed on to Papa’s paddle, pointed with one hand. “Over there. See? It’s still watching us!”

  “For crying out loud! Can you both please climb back in the kayak? This is starting to feel like an outtake from Wild Kingdom. Eli, grab the net before it drifts away!” Papa was holding Eli and Frog’s kayak with one hand, and his paddle, which had Frog on the end of it, with the other.

  “One second, Papa. Do you think I could swim closer?” Eli asked.

  “No. No getting any closer. Seals can bite if they feel threatened,” Papa warned.

  But no one had told the seal, apparently. It dove, then resurfaced even closer to them, still too far to touch but close enough that Frog could see the patches of gray and black on its whiskered chin.

  “It’s so cute!” Eli whisper-shouted. “I can’t believe how close we are!”

  The seal regarded them for another minute, then dove one last time and disappeared. The boys stayed still, treading water and watching to see if it would return. Even Papa sat quietly in his kayak.

  Finally the sleek head popped up far away, and Eli let out a huge, happy sigh.

  “That,” he said, hauling himself up into the kayak and falling into it with an ungraceful thunk, “was the coolest thing to ever happen to me. We swam with a seal!”

  “Help me in!” Frog called from the water, where he was trying to pull himself into the boat.

  “Come in with me, buddy,” Papa said, reaching out to pull Frog up.

  But Frog shook his head. “I want to go with Eli. Can I?”

  Eli was still staring out at the spot where the seal had disappeared. He turned back to Frog, his wet hair flopping into his eyes and his grin stretching ear to ear. “Sure. Come on up.” He reached over the edge, and through some combination of Papa pushing with his paddle and Frog madly pinwheeling his legs, Frog landed in the boat.

  “That was really cool, wasn’t it? Did you see how close it was? Did you notice its whiskers? It was so cute! I wish I could have one as a pet, don’t you?” Frog kept up a steady stream of chatter as Eli reorganized himself in the kayak and took the rescued paddle from Papa.

  He started to paddle again, his strokes stronger than before. Frog kept chatting.

  “Oh hey! I wonder if that big crab is still here,” he said, peering over the side.

  The boat leaned sharply as Frog searched, but Eli barely noticed.

  “The seal was pretty little,” he said. “Do you think it was a juvenile? I wonder if its family is out at Tuckernocket.”

  They were almost back at the beach. Papa jumped out and pulled his kayak up onto the shore. Then he dragged Eli and Frog’s kayak until it scraped on the rocks.

  “Hop out, boys,” he said, taking the paddles. “And since you’re already wet, want to go for a swim?”

  Eli looked down at himself as though surprised to see that he was sopping wet. Frog pulled him toward the water. “Let’s swim! Maybe the seal will come back!”

  “Coming!” Eli ran past him with a belly flop and a howl.

  Frog screeched and followed suit. “Aren’t you glad you fell in?” he asked Eli, who was doing a particularly wild series of somersaults in the water. “It’s like the flushing toilet!”

  Papa, who had just waded in to join them, threw his hands up in the air. “Again with the toilet! What am I missing? Why is kayaking like a toilet? Oh, never mind, I probably don’t want to know.”

  Eli splashed him and smiled. “Nope, you probably don’t,” he said, diving again. When he popped up he swam over to Frog, who was standing in the shallow water, trying to catch
minnows.

  “When we get home, I’ll help you with Zeus, okay?” Eli said.

  “You will? Why? You said it was a stupid idea,” Frog said, looking up in surprise. He knew Eli didn’t approve of his experiment.

  Eli just smiled. “I owe you one,” he said, and dove down again, leaving only his feet waving against the warm blue sky.

  Jax was, honestly, relieved to get out of the house and head over to Alex’s. Now that Sam had to learn a part for some new play in a week, and Eli was all wild to help Frog teach Zeus to swim, Jax was pretty bored at the Nugget. Eli was nagging to do another fund-raising scheme, since they hadn’t even made a hundred dollars yet, but the thought of sitting on a hot, crowded street in town asking for more donations was the last thing Jax wanted to do. At least Alex was usually willing to kick the soccer ball around the yard or something.

  Of course, it had been a little weird with Alex the first day after the brunch, or Butter Day, as Alex had taken to calling it. After all, did Jax have to say that he had thought she was a boy? Or was that totally rude? He meant it as a compliment, but he wasn’t sure Alex would take it that way. Who knew with girls?

  Luckily that was the day Alex had found an entire nest of tiny baby mice, so she and Jax started the morning trying to figure out what to feed them, and how to keep them safe from Zeus and Lili. By the time they had relocated the mice to a corner of the Galindo-Greens’ massive old barn, Jax had almost forgotten that Alex was a girl.