Read Online Reading the Bones by Gina McMurchy-Barber - Free Book Online Page B

age?
    â€œYou can learn a lot about sailing from these two,” Tornado said. “It’s their second time taking my class, which makes them a good example of determination, too. Like that saying, if at first you don’t succeed, get back up on the horse.”
    I didn’t know how, but I was going to get my aunt back for this.
    The next couple of hours were about as much fun as I’d expected. We looked at a video on the importance ofalways wearing life jackets while boating. And then we spent an hour learning to tie a clove hitch, a figure eight, and a round turn with two half hitches.
    â€œOkay, kids, that was fun!” Tornado said, clapping his hands for attention as if we were five-year-olds. “In case you were thinking I forgot — it’s time to take a spin around the bay in my new boat.” Tornado flashed his toothy smile and bowed. “It’ll give you a taste of the pure pleasure of sailing and me a chance to show off.” At least he’d gotten that last bit right.
    All the kids bustled out of the building and followed Tornado down to the dock to where
The Princess
was moored. I tagged along at the end, waiting for my chance to duck out and head home early.
    â€œYou ever been sailing before?” a dark-haired boy asked me the moment I was about to run for it.
    I shook my head.
    â€œMe, neither,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to, though.”
    I tried to slow my pace so I could be at the back by myself, but he just slowed his strides, too.
    â€œIt was my surprise gift just before my parents told me they were getting divorced this summer.”
    I felt a stab of pity. An embarrassing silence followed. I tried to think of something to say. “Well, at least you really wanted to take sailing lessons.” By the way the conversation died, I realized I’d been kind of insulting. Fortunately, I didn’t have time to feel bad.
    â€œSo here we are, class. Meet
The Princess
.” Tornado grinned with pride as the students petted his gleaming white sailboat. All the brass fixtures sparkled in the sunlight, and the polished wood glowed. The sail wascrisp white and fluttered in the breeze. And it was so big that even I felt overwhelmed by it. “Be careful not to scratch the wood or gum up the brass. Just keep your hands in your laps and sit back and enjoy. Today you’re going to see a master sailor at work.”
    For the next hour we sailed around Mud Bay. I hadn’t expected to be thrilled by the sensation of being pushed forward like a feather riding the breeze. And from out on the water I could almost make the houses disappear as I focused on the towering cedars. I didn’t even mind watching Tornado, who stood at the helm like a Tarzan of the sea, with Melissa and Jennifer gazing up fondly on either side. To my relief the dark-haired boy had moved to the bow of the sailboat, where he hung over the rail like a happy dog with its head out the car window.
    After
The Princess
docked and everyone was off, I felt as if my body was still swaying and lurching with the waves. I gripped the rail, afraid my legs would collapse.
    Tornado gave his boat a little pat and let the sun gleam off his bright smile. “She’s something, isn’t she? Okay, then, next lesson you‘ll be spending time in your own sailboats.” He pointed to a fleet of crummy old skiffs about six feet long. “You’re going to learn about the rudder and how we use it to steer the boat.”
    When I started for home, I was actually skipping. Then I remembered I was still angry with my aunt, and I felt the simmering resentment return to the pit of my stomach.
    As I walked through the front door, Aunt Margaret was in the kitchen pulling a pie out of the oven. “So how did it go? Was it fun? Did you meet anyone nice?”
    â€œOh, sure, I met two brainless, navel-gazing bubbleheads named Barbie One and Barbie Two! Andlet me see, who else? Oh,