Read Online 03 - Three Odd Balls by Cindy Blackburn - Free Book Online Page B

clearly pleased with the results of his efforts. “We need to remember the season, no matter what happened last night,” he said. “Ki would be very upset with me if the tree wasn’t up.”
    “Your brother?” Wilson asked.
    “He’ll be here any minute. He has to help out now. You know, now that Davy’s gone.”
    Everyone murmured inane sentiments about the recent tragedy. But lest the party become too morose, the Coochie brothers hopped up and delved into a rousing rendition of “Oh, Christmas Tree.” Remembering the season, as it were.
    “So!” I said loudly as the last chord was struck, or strummed, or whatever. “Speaking of trees, how was your hike?”
    I had turned to Wilson, but it was Buster who answered. “It must have been great,” he said. “They went up the Maka Koa trail to Flint Ridge. That’s always been my favorite spot. Ki’s, too.”
    “Flint Ridge rocks!” Chris said.
    “But we never did find Pele’s Prison,” Wilson added.
    “Excuse me?” I asked.
    “It’s a cave,” Hal, or maybe it was Cal, Coochie said. “Locals know about it, but few tourists ever find it.”
    “Technically it’s a lava tube,” the other Coochie added and then explained the geological process on the formation of lava tubes. “Pele’s Prison isn’t the largest tube, but it is the most interesting.”
    “You guys like hiking?” I asked as the incongruous image of the Coochie brothers playing their ukuleles in a cave struck me.
    “Oh yes! Kekipi Crater has some of the best trails on all the islands,” one of the brothers informed me, as the other waxed poetic about the bird-watching opportunities near a place called Juniu Ledge. “We make a point of going up there every year while we’re here,” Coochie Number One continued.
    “I’m sure it’s beyond fantastical,” Louise said. The hikers might have missed the sarcastic drip, but I noticed. Geez Louise is about as interested in wilderness exploration as I.
    “No heebie jeebies?” I asked and began looking Wilson up and down for bug bites, rashes, and other assorted, jungle-related, red itchy spots.
    Chris shook his head in disapproval. “I can’t believe you’re scared of the woods.”
    “Jessie isn’t scared of anything,” Wilson mumbled. “Unfortunately.”
    “It’s not the woods, it’s the bugs.” Mother looked on as I lifted Wilson’s arms and inspected them for any tell-tale signs of the heebie jeebies. “Jessie’s hated bugs ever since she was two and toddled into an ant hill.”
    “But you must do some hiking while you’re here,” Buster encouraged me. “Some of the trails are very easy. I promise.”
    “Are there shoe stores on any of them?” Louise asked.
    ***
    “I suppose I can’t claim the ocean gives me the heebie jeebies,” I said.
    “Why do I know this will be completely and totally un-fantastical?” Louise said.
    “This should be interesting,” Wilson said.
    “I can’t wait to hang ten!” Mother said and scurried off toward Christopher Rye and the five surfboards he had lined up at water’s edge.
    Wilson patted my bottom and followed Tessie.
    Louise and I continued staring aghast. “I barely know how to swim,” she murmured.
    “Chris knows that,” I tried reassuring her. “Remember he said this part of the beach has the calmest waves?” I cringed as a rather un-calm wave crashed before us. “Something about an offshore coral reef,” I added weakly.
    Louise took a deep breath. “Whatever happens, promise me a bucketful of pink drinks afterwards?”
    I reminded her the pink drinks were Davy’s secret recipe. “We may never see another Pele’s Melee.”
    “What!? After learning how to swim and surf? All in one day?” Louise snorted and started walking. “Trust me, Babe, there are pink drinks in my future. I’ll make them myself if need be.”
    “Merry Christmas!” Chris called out as we approached. I do believe he was actually smiling.
    And of course, my mother was positively aglow.