After a hearty lunch and two helpings of peach cobbler, Benny was nice and full. “Now I’m ready to go to work,” said Benny.
“That’s wonderful, Benny,” said Maude. She walked around the table and put her hand on Jake’s head. Jake turned around and looked up at his grandmother.
“Jake,” said Maude. “I want you to go and help the Aldens with the trail.”
“Okay, Grandma,” said Jake. “I’ll help.”
Maude looked at Abby and Caleb. “You can help, too,” said Maude.
“We’d love to help,” said Abby. She put her long braid over her shoulder and stood up.
Caleb didn’t say anything. He was listening to his music. His ear buds were in and his eyes were closed. His long brown hair swung from side to side as he moved his hands up and down and pretended to play the drums.
“Caleb!” said Maude.
Jake put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb stopped drumming and opened his eyes. “He’ll help out,” said Jake.
Caleb looked at Jake and then at Maude. He nodded his head.
“Good,” said Maude. She looked at Jake. “You know where the tools are.”
“We’re on our way,” said Jake.
The Aldens went with Jake and his friends to the toolshed.
“We already took some of the tools out on the trail earlier,” said Henry.
“That’s okay,” said Jake. “Grandma has lots of tools. She used to have a big work crew come up every summer. Now we do it all ourselves.”
Jake picked up three clipping shears and three rakes and put them into a wheelbarrow. Then he picked up the wheelbarrow handles and pushed it out of the toolshed.
Violet took the camera out of her pocket as they all walked along the trail. “It must be so nice to live here all year,” she said.
Jake looked at Violet. “That’s a small camera,” he said. “Can I try it?” He put the wheelbarrow handles down.
“Sure,” said Violet. She handed the camera to Jake.
Jake looked at the camera carefully. “How long can you film on this?”
“It records for two hours,” said Violet.
“That’s a long time for such a small camera,” said Jake. He gave the camera back to Violet. Then he picked up the wheelbarrow by the handles and pushed it down the trail.
“Here we are,” said Benny when he saw the wheelbarrow the Aldens had left on the trail.
“We started after breakfast,” said Henry.
“I can see that,” said Jake.
“I was asleep,” said Caleb.
“You always sleep through breakfast,” said Abby.
“Musicians don’t do mornings,” said Caleb. He closed his eyes and moved his hands as if he were playing the drums.
Jake looked at the trail. “You’ve done a lot of work so far,” he said. “This won’t take long.”
With everyone working together, they cleared the brush along the trail very quickly. Henry and the teens trimmed the tall branches. Jessie, Violet, and Benny did the lower ones. And everyone helped move the brush to the edges of the trail.
“The trail is much wider now,” said Benny.
“That’s what Grandma wants,” said Jake. “Then anyone can go to the old fishing lodge.” He pointed to a small cabin by the river. “She likes to keep it open in case someone wants to use it.”
“Is anyone staying there now?” asked Jessie.
“No,” said Jake. “We don’t use it as a guest cabin anymore. We just keep it open in case the weather gets bad and someone who is fishing needs shelter.”
“How is the fishing out here?” asked Henry.
“Pretty good,” said Jake. “Every day, Grandma asks someone to catch our dinner.”
“Talking about dinner is making me hungry,” said Benny. “Can we go have a snack?”
“Let’s put the tools away first,” said Jessie. “Then we can ask Maude.”
“Grandma’s kitchen is always open,” said Jake.
“That’s my kind of kitchen,” said Benny. He picked up his rake and put it in Henry’s wheelbarrow. Jake and Henry pushed the two wheelbarrows back to the toolshed. After everyone put their tools away, they all went into the kitchen.
“We’re home,” blurted out Benny.
“Now sit down and have something to eat, Benny,” said Maude. “I know you must be hungry after all that work.”
“I am,” said Benny. “I am.”
Everyone laughed.
Maude put a basket of apples and a bowl of cheese slices on the table. Benny walked up to the table.
“Wash up first,” said Maude. “Then you can eat.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Benny. He walked over and stood in line at the sink.
“Jake,” said Maude. “Can you take the Aldens to a good fishing spot after you eat? It’s their turn to catch our dinner.”
“That will be fun,” said Jessie.
“How many fish do we need to catch?” asked Henry.
“We’ll eat whatever you catch at dinner tonight,” said Maude. “But don’t worry. We’ll be serving other food as well.”
“I’ll catch a big fish for you,” said Benny. He held his hands out to show how big it would be.
Maude smiled. “That sounds great, Benny. Are you sure that will be big enough for you to eat?”
Benny looked at his outstretched arms. “I think so,” he said.
“Oh, Benny,” said Violet.
After everyone ate their snacks, Jake took the Aldens back to the toolshed behind the main lodge. He opened a tall cabinet. “All of the fishing gear is in here,” said Jake.
Benny walked up and looked inside the cabinet. He saw a small fishing rod. “This one is just my size,” he said.
Jake handed Benny the short fishing rod. “Then it’s yours,” said Jake. “I used the same rod when I was your age.”
“Did you catch a lot of fish?” asked Benny.
Jake smiled. “Of course!”
“I thought so,” said Benny. He put the fishing rod over his shoulder.
Jake looked at Violet. “I have one for you, too,” he said. He gave Violet a medium-sized rod.
Then Jake looked at Henry and Jessie. “You can both use taller rods.” He gave them each a tall fishing rod. “Now I’ll take you to a good fishing spot.”
“Good,” said Benny. “I want to catch a lot of fish.”
“We have a lot of people to feed,” said Henry.
“We’ll do our best,” said Jessie.
“Maude said that whatever we catch is fine,” replied Violet.
Jake picked up a tackle box and a big plastic bucket. “Follow me,” said Jake. The Aldens followed Jake out of the toolshed. Jake led them back down the winding trail they had just cleared.
“It’s a lot easier to walk this way now,” said Jessie.
“It’s still pretty,” said Violet. She took the camera out of her pocket and started filming.
Jake walked past the old fishing lodge and stopped at the edge of the river. “Here we are,” said Jake. “It’s my lucky spot.”
“Why is it lucky?” asked Benny.
Jake pointed at the cabin behind them. “That’s the first place our zombie was seen,” said Jake.
“Your zombie?” said Benny.
“The Winding River Zombie,” said Jake. He patted Benny on the shoulder. “I’ve always had good luck fishing here, and you will, too.”
“You said that was just an old family story,” said Henry.
“It is,” said Jake. He looked at the woods and smiled.
“Have you seen the zombie?” asked Jessie.
“Well, uh, yes,” stammered Jake.
“You have?” said Benny. “What did it look like?”
Jake shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, you know. It walked like this.” Jake put his arms out and slowly lurched forward. Then he turned to leave. “I have to go help Grandma now.”
The children watched as Jake walked back down the trail. |