Double Trouble by Jim Lacey

Author:Jim Lacey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, mystery novel, political mystery, academic mystery
Publisher: Jim Lacey

“I think I’d like to live here when I go to college,” Katie said, as they passed another elaborate Victorian house.

“That’s the Park Annex,” Annie said. “What do you like about it?”

“It’s smaller and closer to the pond--and nearer to the boathouse!”

“My whole family is crazy about the water and boats,” Barbara said. “Katie and her brother Benjamin could swim when they were about three. You should see them tearing around Mansfield Hollow Lake on a Minifish. With a knockdown every five minutes, they spend as much time in the water as on the boat.”

“Jim lets me sail with him on Chatterwug too!” Katie announced.

“Dad, not Jim!”

“Chatterwug?” Annie interjected. “Is that an Indian word?

“No, it’s the chorus of a camp song, believe it or not. I met my husband at camp in Harriman State Park. He was a unit leader at Camp Kiwago and I was a junior counsellor in the craft shop at Camp Robinhood across the lake. We used to meet in rowboats out on the lake. I was all of fifteen!”

“How romantic! And Chatterwug?”

“When Jim got his fancy Melonseed skiff, he wanted a name that meant something special to us. There was a song. ‘When I was a camper at Robinhood, I lived by the side of the lake,’ and then there was something about being afraid of the sounds ‘the little froggies would make.’ The chorus went, ‘Chatterwug-wug, chatterwug-wug, chat-i-dee-dee, that is the song that they sang unto me—’”

“That’s so--sweet,” Annie said.

“I guess the boat thing is not only Jim. When I was a student, we had to participate in a sport. I haven't thought of it for years, but I did crew.”

“Crew? You don’t seem big enough. Our varsity crew team look like NFL linemen. I did club crew for a semester.”

“For me it was only intramural--by houses. I just showed up and was designated coxswain. I’m 5’5”, so I guess the others were pretty big--pretty tall, at least.”

“What’s a coxswain?” Katie asked.

“A crew has eight rowers and a coxswain, who sits in the stern, sets the pace, and steers. The coxswain is usually small, since she’s extra weight the rowers have to pull.”

“I think I’d like to be a coxswain,” Katie said.

“How come?”

“You’re in charge and the others do the work.”

“If you win the race, the rowers throw the coxswain in the water!” “That sounds like fun too! Oh, how pretty!” Katie exclaimed, as an entire hillside of daffodils came into view behind the conservatory greenhouses.

“Let’s all go inside,” Barbara suggested.

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