Kay parked the van before her charming white house with a picket fence around it. The car had barely stopped when the children scrambled out.
All at once they noticed a tall, black-haired man with a mustache. With his hands on his hips and his booted feet far apart, he turned to Violet and Jessie.
“May I carry your suitcases?” he asked.
“Oh, no,” Henry said, stepping forward. “We’ll carry them down the hill to the motel.”
The man smiled. “I’ll be glad to help.”
“Thanks,” Benny said, lifting a heavy suitcase and dropping it to the ground. His round face was red. “We can do it,” he said, panting.
“This is Rolf Jensen,” Kay said. “He’s my right hand, always willing to help me.” She then introduced him to Aunt Jane and the four Aldens.
“Hi, everyone,” Rolf said. “I’m glad you could come to Florida.” He glanced at Kay. “I think Kay could use a little company.”
Kay hastily interrupted, as if to dismiss her troubles, “Rolf has a barge boat that takes tourists out into the Everglades.”
“How about it?” Rolf said, one black eyebrow shooting upward. “Would you like a tour?” he asked the Aldens.
“Yes, yes,” Benny said excitedly. “I want to see an alligator.”
A grin spread across Rolf’s tanned face. “Well, we’ll see what we can do about that.”
“In the meantime,” Kay said, “come into the house. We’ll have a cold glass of orange juice.”
“Hmmmm, that sounds good,” Violet said.
“I pick the oranges from my orange trees in the backyard,” Kay said, opening the screen door.
“Oh,” Jessie said, her brown eyes sparkling. “I’ve never seen an orange tree.”
“Me neither,” Benny said.
“You’ll have plenty of time to explore in a little while,” Aunt Jane said, smiling. She knew they’d be all over the grounds before evening.
The children entered the living room. In the corner of a small sofa, a marmalade cat was curled up.
“Oh,” Benny said. “A pretty orange cat with white paws!” He rushed forward, arms extended.
Quickly the cat jumped down and ran into a corner.
Violet followed, coming close to the frightened cat. Softly she stroked its fur, and before long the cat was purring.
Kay laughed. “You’ve made friends with Willie.”
“Willie,” Henry said gently, reaching down and letting Willie smell his hand.
“Let’s call Grandfather,” Violet said, “and tell him we’re safe.”
“Oh, let’s,” Benny said.
So they talked to Grandfather Alden and found out he was all right, too. He said the house seemed very quiet with just Mrs. McGregor and Watch.
Kay poured the cold juice and set out a plate of cookies. When they’d finished their snack, Jessie said, “We’ll be back in time for dinner.”
Then, despite the heavy suitcases, they hurried down the hill, eager to see their new vacation home.
Benny was the first to reach the door on the end unit and push it open. The unit had two large rooms plus a kitchenette. After tonight they could be independent of the house on the hill. They’d do their own cooking and make out their own grocery lists.
“It’s so gloomy in here,” Violet said, opening the blinds.
“Isn’t it?” Jessie agreed, unpacking her jeans, shorts, and tops. “Wouldn’t new drapes and a bedspread help?”
“You bet it would,” Henry answered.
Benny tested the bed in the room he and Henry would share. “It bounces good,” he said, laughing and jumping up and down.
Henry laughed, too. “Let’s check out the motel grounds.” He held the door open.
“Oh, yes,” Jessie said, “let’s.”
Violet had walked ahead. “Oh, no,” she said. Disappointed, she sank down on the grass. “Look!” She pointed to the pool.
The three Aldens hurried forward. Jessie and Benny peered over the edge of the pool.
“It’s all green,” Benny said. “I wish we could go swimming.”
“I was hoping we could go swimming every day, too, Benny,” Jessie said with a frown.
“Not with that yucky green stuff on the bottom,” Benny said with a groan. “What is that?”
“Moss,” Henry answered shortly. “If we scrape it off, though, there’s no reason the pool can’t be filled.”
“Do you think Kay would do that?” Violet questioned softly.
“I’m sure she would,” Jessie replied. “I just think this motel is too much of a burden for her.”
“That’s where we come in,” Benny said, folding his arms. “I’m a good scraper.”
“So am I,” Henry said. “If it means we can swim, I know we’ll all be good scrapers!”
“That Rolf Jensen seems like a nice fellow.” Jessie looked at Violet. “Do you think he’d help us?”
“I’m sure he’ll help as much as he can, but he has a job, remember?” Violet said.
“Oh, boy, he runs a barge boat.” Benny grinned. “I can’t wait for our tour.”
Everyone laughed.
Suddenly a tall black girl, dressed in white shorts and top, appeared through the trees. When she spotted the Aldens, she halted, and her dark eyes glanced from one to the other. “You must be the Aldens,” she said with a dazzling smile.
“We are,” Henry said, introducing himself and the rest.
“Kay told me about you. I’m Catherine Wilson,” said the beautiful girl. “I’m an anthropology student at the University of Georgia.”
“An-thro-pol-ogy?” Benny said slowly with a puzzled look.
She laughed, a happy tinkling sound. “That’s the ‘study of man.’ In this case, I’m studying the Seminole Indians who live in the Everglades.”
“How thrilling!” Jessie said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.
“Yes, I’m just about finished with my paper,” Catherine said. “I’ll go back to their camp several more times. I rented a car for the month and I go back and forth in that. I drive to the edge of the Everglades where Lacota, a Seminole Indian, meets me in his boat. He takes me to their camp.”
“Do you live here, Catherine?” Violet asked.
“Yes, I’m staying in unit number nine, next to Millicent.”
“Millicent?” Jessie questioned, unable to keep the admiration from shining in her eyes. Besides being a student, Jessie wondered if Catherine was also a model.
“Millicent Fair lives in the end unit number ten. She’s a very nice older woman, who I’m sure you’ll soon meet.” Catherine had a little smile on her face as if she knew Millicent’s habits quite well.
“We’re staying in unit number one,” Henry said. “Right now we’re looking things over.”
“Next to you is the bike shed. You can take out a bike anytime you want to.” She smiled. “The bikes are in good condition, but everything else is pretty run-down.” Catherine shook her head. “I feel sorry for Kay. She’s so sweet and works so hard.”
Catherine paused. “It’s nice to meet you, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.” Waving, she moved toward the motel. “I have to change. I’m having supper in the Seminole camp.”
“Wow!” Benny said, his eyes wide. “What fun!”
“We’d better go, too.” Henry said.
“ ’Bye, Catherine,” Violet said. “We’ll see you later.”
The children walked on, brushing through the thick untrimmed shrubs. When they reached the tennis court, they stopped, unable to take another step.
“Oh, no,” Jessie said, shaking her head. “The court is overgrown with vines and weeds.”
“We can pull weeds.” Violet said, a determined expression on her face.
“Yes, we can!” Benny shouted. “I’m a good weed puller.”
“I see we have our work cut out for us,” Henry said, glancing around at the run-down motel.
“Tomorrow we’ll start on the swimming pool,” Jessie said.
“Oh, boy, the swimming pool,” Benny echoed. “That’s a good idea.”
Once they were unpacked, they went back up the hill to have supper at Kay’s. The dinner of roast lamb, mashed potatoes, and peas was delicious.
Aunt Jane passed the peas and said, “Kay, you have a lovely place here.”
“Yes, it is,” Kay agreed, “but it’s so run-down that I’ve almost given up on it. In fact, I’ve had an offer from the Adventure Hotel chain. They are eager to buy the motel and I’m thinking of selling.”
“Oh, no,” Jessie said quickly, putting her fork down. “This place is too beautiful.”
Kay gave her a small smile. “I know, Jessie, but it’s too much for me. The only help I can afford is Rolf. Maybe I’ll take the hotel money and rent an apartment.”
“Kay!” Aunt Jane protested, “you can’t do that. You wouldn’t be happy in an apartment.”
“We could help in fixing your place up, Kay,” Violet said, eager as always to help someone in trouble.
Kay stood up. “I don’t know,” she said doubtfully, setting a cherry pie on the table.
“We’re good fixer-uppers,” Benny said.
“Yes, we are,” Violet agreed. “A little paint would help and so would new bedspreads.”
Kay sat down, cutting the pie into six pieces and placing a piece on each plate.
Jane helped pass the pie. “You know, Kay, I think you should think about the children’s offer. I can help, too. I can sew and I can redecorate.”
Kay looked at the children’s eager faces. “I don’t know what to say. There’s so much to be done.”
“Make a list,” Aunt Jane said practically, “and we’ll take the work step by step. You’ll see, it won’t cost too much to do.”
“The motel needs a coat of paint,” Kay said thoughtfully. “And you kids could …” She stopped, hesitated, her eyes shining with hope.
“We could do whatever you want us to,” Henry added.
Smiling, Kay leaned forward. “I’ll give it a try! It’s worth putting some more money into it.”
Benny said, “We’ll make your motel shine!”
But lying in bed that night, staring at the big Florida moon, Violet couldn’t sleep. How could they possibly tackle all the work that the old motel needed! |