Quetzalcoatl (Ketz-al-co-ah-Tel) Chapter Six

DAVY: Well, it’s obvious that someone doesn’t like us. And if we can’t join the cooperative and are forced to lose at least one day each week taking fish to market, then we are in for a rough go of it.

JAMES: Things will work out. You have to have faith. DAVY: Shortly after noon, Catherine took a large bucket and a shovel and went looking for clams for dinner. The sun was shining, and it was an exquisitely beautiful day. As Catherine was walking, she noticed a lovely home up on the bluffs. In the distance, she could see several more. The one above her she thought was especially lovely. She could see a woman working in her garden.

BONNIE PARKINSON: Hey! Come on up!

DAVY: Catherine started the climb, wondering what she was getting herself into.

CATHERINE: Oh my. What am I going to say? Hello, I’m your neighbor. I moved into the cave next door. What’s the worst that could happen? If she throws me down the cliff, I won’t have to fix dinner.

BONNIE PARKINSON: Hi. I’m Bonnie Parkinson. I’m so glad you came to visit. I was afraid you would pass on by without stopping.

CATHERINE: I’m Catherine Spencer.

BONNIE PARKINSON: It is so nice to meet you. It looks like you’ve been clamming?

CATHERINE: Trying to.

BONNIE PARKINSON: Here. If you put these herbs and greens in with the clams for about a half an hour with a gallon of water, they’ll be delicious. It’s my mother’s recipe.

CATHERINE: Thank you.

BONNIE PARKINSON: Come on in and I’ll fix you some lunch. I don’t get many visitors up here. I’d love to hear about you and all your family.

DAVY: After Ronda’s visit, Garrett was not sure what to think about going back to school. He was pretty sure she had told him the truth about everyone being afraid of Toby. But he wasn’t looking forward to facing Toby either. He was hoping he could avoid trouble by blending into the crowd. But unfortunately, he soon realized that was not going to happen.

KIMBERLY: Hi, Garrett, How are you?

JOHN: Hi, Garrett.

GARRETT: Hi.

TOBY: Give me your lunch money, little Ronda snot face!

RONDA STEENECK: No! You already took three kids’ money. You don’t need mine.

TOBY: Gimme yours, too, ya three-legged duck.

RONDA STEENECK: Ow. Ow, stop it!

GARRETT: Leave her alone! TOBY: What are you gonna do, duck boy?

RONDA STEENECK: He said he’d knock the wind out of your big fat sails if you ever crossed him.

GARRETT: (mumbles) I didn’t say that...You...

RONDA STEENECK: Garrett’s never been beaten up before in his whole life!

TODD SMITH: Did you hear that, Toby? He’s never been beat up, and he’s gonna whip you bad if you don’t leave little Ronda whiner alone.

TOBY: You’ve never been beat up? Well, I’d say it’s time you had yer chance to get beat up. Don’t you, boys?

GARRETT: I’m not lookin’ for trouble, Toby.

TOBY: Well, you found it. And I’ve got a ton.

TO BE CONTINUED...