Gray early light spilled into the tree house. Birdssounded in the woods.
The summer wind felt warm and gentle., Jack andAnnie were wearing their nice, dry clothes again.
"Oh, man," said Jack. "It's good to be home.""Yeah," said Annie, sighing, "back in this peacefulplace."Jack pulled the captain's letter out of his pack. Heturned it over. It was addressed to:
Molly and Ben SandersApple Tree FarmFrog Creek, Pennsylvania"Molly and Ben lived on a farm near these woodsover two hundred years ago," said Jack.
Annie gently touched the letter.
"Your dad is going to make it home, kids. He missesyou," Annie whispered, as if she could sendcomforting words back through time.
Jack carefully placed the special writing from theRevolutionary War next to the writing from the CivilWar.
"Look," said Annie. She picked up a note lying inthe corner. It said simply: Come back on Thursday.
"Another message from Morgan," said Annie.
Jack smiled.
He pulled on his pack.
"See you on Thursday, tree house," he said.
He started down the rope ladder. Annie followed.
In the early daylight, they ran through the FrogCreek woods. Then they ran down their street.
They climbed onto their porch and rested againstthe railing. They looked out at the dawn sky.
Jack remembered the whoosh of the cold wind onthe Delaware. He remembered the hiss of the wetsnow and the slosh of the icy waves.
He remembered George Washington reading to hismen.
"The harder the conflict, the more glorious thetriumph," Jack whispered.
"Those words are true," said Annie. "It was a hardconflict, and I feel kind of glorious right now. Don'tyou?"16Jack laughed.
"Yeah, definitely," he said.
Then he and Annie slipped into their quiet, peacefulhouse. |