Candy;

by White, Robb, 1909-1990

  If he had some money, he wouldn't be a vagrant.

  Candy had a strong feeling that Mr. Jenkins wasn't going to help Tony. After all, she admitted to herself sadly, Tony really couldn't do very much. If Mr. Jenkins gave him a job, he would do it only because he felt sorry for Tony and Tony would find that out right away. And he would leave.

  Candy sat for a long time looking down at the watery moonlight on the floor. Then, slowly, she got back into bed.

  She had made up her mind.

  Candy helped her mother in the house most of the morning. When she was through, she went do^^l to Front Street. She only glanced at the Faraway as she walked slowly past it and on down the street.

  Mr. Norton was painting a big sign. The letters were a glar-

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  ing red and said, ''Quitting Business. Everything Must Be Sold. Lock, Stock, and Barrel/'

  Candy watched him for a while, enjoying the way he could make the letters so smoothly and fast.

  ''Hi, Candy,'' he said over his shoulder.

  "Who's quitting business?" she asked. "Not you?"

  "Wish I was. No, a store downtown. It'll quit today and open up under a new name tomonow."

  He finished the J of "barrel" and stood back to look at what he had done.

  "Are you very busy, Mr. Norton?"

  "Not busy enough. Why, do you want to change the name of your boat, Candy?"

  She shook her head. "I want you to paint me a sign, though. Just a small one with black letters. Sort of square, I guess. And I'll pay you for it, too, Mr. Norton, just as soon as I get some money."

  "All right. What do you want the sign to say?"

  Candy thought a moment. "Just let it say 'For Sale. One thousand dollars.'"

  "Hunh? A thousand bucks! WhatVe you got worth that much money. Candy?"

  "The Faraway," she said quietly.

  He looked at her and pursed his lips. "Yeah, guess she is. But why you going to sell her. Candy?"

  "I need the money."

  "What for. Candy?"

  "Something," she said.

  He shook his head sadly. "It'll be a long time before you get another one as pretty as she is."

  "I know it. But will you paint the sign, Mr. Norton?"

  "If you want me to. 'For sale—one thousand dollars'— right?"

  Candy nodded, feeling empty inside.

  "If I don't spell it out, it'll be cheaper."

  ''Any way you want to, Mr. Norton."

  'Ton want to wait for it?"

  She nodded.

  He got a piece of stiff paper and laid out the outHne of the letters with a ruler. ''Black, you said?"

  "Black," she told him.

  With a wide brush he swiftly filled in the outlines with black ink. When he was through, he held it up in front of an electric fan to dry. Then he gave it to her.

  "I guess Juney and Sis aren't going to get that ride after all," he said.

  Candy remembered her bargain. "I won't sell her until I take them sailing."

  "Never mind, Candy. If you've got to sell her, you might as well do it and get it over with."

  Candy held the sign with the words inside so no one would see it as she walked back along the beach. Chuck and Ryan were bailing out their rowboat and she tried to go by them without doing anything but waving and saying, "Hey," but Chuck caught up with her.

  "You should have been here a little while ago, Candy," he began. "There was a man here looking at your boat. He asked us who owned her and, when we told him, he wanted to know if you would sell her."

  "Ha!" Ryan said. "We fixed that bird's wagon and the horses, too. We told him sure you'd sell her and he got all excited."

  Then Chuck said, laughing, "We told him you'd sell her for one million dollars, cash."

  "He tried to argue," Ryan said, "and we told him you'd sooner cut off both your arms and one leg before you'd sell the Faraway."

  Candy turned the sign around slowly so that they could see it.

  "For sale," Ryan read. "A hundred dollars."

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  I

  *0h no!" Candy said, shocked. "I want the money. Fve got something special to do with it."

  "That says a thousand dollars/' Chuck corrected him. "Three zeros."

  Ryan looked at Candy. "The Faraway, Candy?" he asked softly.

  She nodded.

  "What for?" Chuck asked, amazed.

  "I need the money."

  "What for?" Chuck asked again. "What can you do with a thousand dollars? You can't sail in it, you can't fish or crab with it. You can't beat old Hawk MacNair around the buoy with it, Candy. So what for?"

  "I thought all you needed was twenty-five dollars," Ryan said.

  "I need that, too," Candy said.

  Chuck said slowly, "If the Faraway was my boat, I wouldn't sell her. I don't care what happens, I wouldn't sell her. Nobody could make me sell her."

  "I don't get it," Ryan said, puzzled. "Maybe your father wants the money for that new warehouse."

  "Oh nof' Candy said, shocked. "J want the money. I've got something special to do with it."

  "You're going to be sorry, Candy," Chuck told her. "All your hfe you're going to be sorry."

  Candy felt as if she was going to cry as she said "No, I won't. I'll be glad."

  "I just don't get it," Ryan said, shaking his head.

  "I've got to do it," Candy said. "For a reason." She went on then, leaving them standing on the beach.

  She sat listlessly in the cockpit of the Faraway and looked at the sign in her lap. She touched the dollar mark with her finger, but the paint was perfectly dry.

  There was a little water in the bilges, but it was as clear as drinking water, and she could see the green paint right through it. She mopped it out with her handkerchief, squeezing the handkerchief overside. She wiped away a smudge on the mast

  and pulled off a tiny dry string of seaweed stuck to the varnished rudder.

  She knew that things were going to be black and gloomy after she sold the Faraway, so she stopped thinking about it, and thought instead about the last sail she would have in her. Tomorrow she'd go out to the island and get Tony. She hoped there would be a fair wind with enough behind it to make her really sail the Faraway on this last voyage.

  She hid the sign up forward of the centerboard well, went ashore, and wandered home again. Her mother had gone shopping, so Candy decided to go down and see what was going on in her father's new warehouse.

  ''Hello, stranger," he said as she came in.

  "Hello, Dad." She looked at the towers of cardboard boxes, and sniffed the smell of groceries, candy, tobacco, and all the rest. "It looks good," she declared.

  "Going to look better." He gazed around at the warehouse, and she could tell that he was proud of it. "I want to see the hurricane that can blow this down," he said, patting the brick wall with his hand. "How's Tony?" he asked.

  "All right."

  He glanced at her and then picked up a box and put it on top of a pile of boxes. "He going to St. Augustine, Candy?"

  "I don't know. Dad. It's up to him."

  "I guess it is. How's the Faraway?"

  "All right," Candy said, not even wanting to talk about it.

  "By the way, the other night someone called you up, but you were out under a bridge somewhere. Said he was named Jenkins and wouldn't be able to see you. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you, but things were in a sort of uproar that night, I believe."

  "Oh. Well, it didn't make any difference," Candy said.

  "Who's Jenkins? One of Dotty T.'s boy friends?"

  "I don't think she knows him," Candy said. Suddenly she wished that she could sit down somewhere and tell her father

  everything that had happened. But now Dr. Daniels was all mixed up in it, too, and she didn't see how she could tell him anything without saying something about Dr. Daniels.

  'Tm going down to Miami this afternoon. Want to go along?"

  Candy nodded, '^'d like to."

  'Ti
ne. Fll buy you a pretty dress."

  ''I don't need a pretty dress. What I need is some pants. All the pants IVe got are either worn out or getting too small. I must be getting fat," Candy decided.

  ''Maybe you're growing up."

  "I hope not."

  He looked at her, smiling. "Why not?"

  "Oh, I don't know," Candy said. "Look at Dotty T. She's growing up, and all she does is wonder whether Chuck or Ryan Magruder loves her. That's a waste of time."

  He laughed. "Must be. Well, we'll leave right after lunch. And I'll get you some pants. How about slacks, though, instead of those old blue dungarees?"

  Candy shook her head. "Slacks aren't any good. They wear right out, but the dungarees just get better and better."

  "You're the boss. See you soon, Candy."

  " 'By," she said, and wandered home again. In her room she sat down, propped her feet on her dresser drawer, and read a book about sailing called The Lion's Paw. But it made her think about the Faraway, so she put it down and just sat until she heard her mother come home.

  It was a long, hot day. In Miami she got some more dungaree pants. Then she helped get supper ready and afterward went to a movie with Dotty T and the Magruder brothers. They ate so much popcorn they didn't feel very good when they got out, and Candy went home and went to bed.

  This night she went to sleep in a little while. The moon shone again through her window, but she did not see it.

  It shone, too, on the dark island, and Tony also did not see it, although he was lying awake.

  CHAPTER

  17

  Candy got away early the next morning. She worked as fast as she could with the breakfast dishes and housecleaning, so by nine o'clock she was through.

  She called up Mr. Jenkins's house and talked to Mrs. Malone. Mr. Jenkins was due back at three o'clock in the afternoon.

  She fixed herself some sandwiches and took half a bottle of milk. 'T\ be gone most all day, Mommy," she said.

  ''Saihng?"

  She nodded.

  Her mother looked out at the Bay. *lt's a nice day for it. Have a good time, darling."

  Candy kissed her and ran out of the house.

  The sail out was pleasant, although there wasn't so much wind as she wanted. All she had to do was lie in the cockpit and steer with her foot, keeping the Beachton water tank and the fire watcher's tower farther inland lined up.

  When she could barely see the two marks, she sat up and faced the islands.

  As she came around the point of Pebble she saw Tony and Dr. Daniels down on the beach of their island. They didn't go and hide as she tacked the Faraway and sailed into the lagoon.

  She heard Dr. Daniels say, "Here comes Candy, Tony."

  Tony lifted his head and called, ''Hi, Candy."

  He sounded happy, she thought. ''Hi," she said, dropping the sails and letting the boat drift in. She let the anchor down and slipped over the side.

  Dr. Daniels was rolling up his crab line as she waded out of the water.

  "I broke my promise again," Candy said quietly.

  He turned and smiled at her. "It's all right," he said. "Had anything to eat? Because we're going to have some fine boiled crabs here in a minute."

  Candy grinned. "I made some sandwiches, but I forgot to eat them." She looked at the crabs as they stared back at her angrily, all of them foaming at the mouth.

  "Has Mr. Jenkins come back, Candy?" Tony asked, walking along the beach toward her.

  "He'll be back at three. I called up Mrs. Malone. I've got your cane in the boat. I'll get it."

  She waded back and got the white cane. Dr. Daniels had picked up the basket he had made of palm leaves and was going up the path toward his house.

  She gave Tony his cane and then said in a low voice, "Was he mad, Tony?"

  Tony shook his head. "No. Just sort of worried."

  Candy frowned. "I wonder what's the matter with him? Does he act sick or anything?"

  "No, he doesn't." Then Tony lowered his voice. "But he's afraid something's going to happen to him. I can tell."

  "What did he tell you?"

  "Nothing. It's just the way he acts, I guess."

  "What does he do with the chemical things?"

  "I don't know. This morning he spent a long time in the house. I could hear him clinking them and pouring stuff, but I don't know what he was doing. All he said when he came out was, 'Well, I've got another day anyhow.' "

  "What'd he mean by that?"

  ''Search me, Candy."

  He started up the path, feehng along with his cane. ''See? I aheady know my way around here pretty good, Candy. I can go all the way from the house to this beach without touching anything hardly."

  "Where'd you sleep, Tony? On the sand?"

  "Sand nothing. I slept on a fine air mattress. It was wonderful. Sort of like floating in the air."

  Candy snorted. "I certainly wasted my time feeling sorry for you. My bed was so soft and clean and I thought you were sleeping on some leaves on the sand. Where'd he sleep?"

  "In his hammock under the trees. He said he always slept there except when it was raining."

  "Was he nice to you, Tony?"

  "Oh, swell, Candy. He's the nicest guy I ever saw and he can make you laugh all the time."

  They walked on slowly, Tony leading the way. At last Candy said, "Tony, I talked to a lady from the institute."

  He stopped and turned around. "Why?"

  "She was at my house. I couldn't help it."

  "Did you tell her anything?"

  "Only that I'd tell you what she said."

  "What'd she say?" Tony asked, and he was almost whispering.

  "That if you went with her you'd be happy after a while, Tony."

  "I'm happy now."

  "She said you wouldn't have to go if vou weren't a vagrant."

  "What's that?" Tony asked.

  "Somebody with nothing."

  "Suppose I am a vagrant? Then what?"

  "Then you'd have to go, she said."

  Tony was angry. "That's what she says. But I can always run away."

  'Tou don't have to. Even if Mr. Jenkins doesn't give you a job, I will, Tony."

  He laughed and leaned on his cane. 'Tou?" he asked.

  'I'll have a thousand dollars soon, Tony."

  He whistled softly. ''Where'll you get it?"

  Slowly Candy said, 'Tm going to sell the Faraway, Tony."

  He reached out with the cane and felt around until he touched the trunk of a palm tree. He went over to it and leaned against it.

  ''Are you going to sell her because of me, Candy?" he asked softly.

  ''No. I don't need her, really. She's too much boat for me. All I need is a little something to get around in, Tony. I don't need a big boat like the Faraway. Really, I don't."

  "You're not telling the truth. Candy."

  "Yes, I am. Cross my heart, I am. I don't want the Faraway. She's pretty and all that, but I never did like Snipes much. They're too wet. I want to wait until I can get a keel boat."

  Tony said slowly, "I don't believe you."

  "Well, I can't help that," Candy said.

  "You're selling her so I won't be a—be a whatever you said."

  Then Dr. Daniels came dovm the path. He stopped and looked at them one at a time. "What's the trouble, folks?" he asked quietly.

  Tony spoke first. "She's going to sell her boat so they can't make me go to the institute. So I won't be a—what was that word?"

  "Vagrant," Candy said.

  "Well, let's talk about that while we snap up a few Cal-linectes sapiduses," Dr. Daniels said.

  "What?" Candy asked.

  "People who are trying to show off what they know call 'em 'crabs,' but their name is really Callinectes sapidus." As he let Tony go first up the path, he said, "Crabs are curious critters. Now you take the spider crab. He hides himself by planting

  a garden on his back. He takes very good care of his garden and raises a lot of flowers and things so tha
t they will cover him up and other animals won't see him and eat him. And the children of crabs don't look at all like their parents. They are just transparent little blobs floating around at the top of the water."

  Tlie crabs were all cooked and laid out on a clean palm leaf. Dr. Daniels led Tony to the driftwood bench and gave him a pile of crabs which were still too hot to break open.

  ''Now, about this institute/' Dr. Daniels said, sitting down on the floor with Candy.

  Tony said suddenly, 'Tm not going. That's all there is to it. And if they make me, I'll run away."

  Dr. Daniels went on as though he hadn't even heard Tony. "I am sure that no institute for the blind has any power to force a boy to go, Tony. The way it is, I think, is that if a blind boy has no money, no place to live, no job, then the state must take care of him. And the only place the state has is the home for the bhnd."

  ''Do you think he ought to go, even if he doesn't want to?" Candy asked.

  "Depends. Suppose Mr. Jenkins takes him into his house, feeds him, cares for him, teaches him. Then the state ought to be perfectly satisfied."

  "Suppose I give him a thousand dollars?" Candy asked.

  "It won't last forever. As soon as it is gone Tony would be a vagrant again and the state would have to step in."

  "But it would last until he could get a job," Candy insisted.

  Dr. Daniels picked up one of the crabs and tossed it gingerly from one hand to the other. "Hot!" he said, putting it down again. Then he got up, went into the room, and came back with a roll of bandage. "Let's try an experiment, Candy. Let's pretend you're bhnd."

  "All right."

  He wrapped the bandage around her head, covering her eyes. He kept on until she could not see any light at all.

  Candy sat on the floor, pressing her hands down against it. In a little while the darkness seemed to become solid and to press in on her.

  ''Walk around a little/' Dr. Daniels said. ''Go in and get the fish spear."

  Candy got up slowly. She knew exactly where the door was and started toward it, but Dr. Daniels said, "It's more to your left, Candy."