Seed Savers-Treasure by Sandra Smith

Author:Sandra Smith [Smith, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sandra Smith
Published: 2018-05-28T17:56:53+00:00

24

ANA’S PAPER

The children watched the old man hobble away, despair settling in like an old cat.

“What are we gonna do now? There aren’t any gardens here,” Dante said.

“Do you think there are gardens anywhere?” Clare asked. “I’ve always heard rumors that rich people eat better food than everyone else. After we learned about real food, I thought that’s what it must be. But where do they get it? Do they grow it themselves?”

Dante shook his head and shrugged. How would he know?

Finally he asked, “What do you think about that guy, Gruff?”

“Strange,” Clare answered.

“But sorta nice,” Dante said. “He could have asked us a bunch more questions.”

Clare agreed. She thought about the fleeting look in his eyes at the word garden. She remembered his face when he saw their backpacks and his offer to help; the way he said your family.

“Where will we sleep tonight?” Dante asked. Lately all he did was ask hard questions.

Clare’s hand was in her pocket. She was fingering a tiny square of folded paper.

“I think it’s time we call on Ana,” she said.

“What do you mean? We haven’t even talked to Mama or Lily yet.”

Clare pulled the square from her pocket. “Dante, Ana gave me and Lily some information. One of the things she gave us was a list of Seed Savers. She made us promise to keep two copies in different locations.” Clare opened her hand. “Here is my copy.”

She unfolded the paper. Tiny hand-printed letters covered the entire page—information for probably a hundred people painstakingly copied on this one sheet. Numbers and words followed each name. She turned it over. Midway down, Clare saw it—Dante called out “There!” at almost the exact moment her eyes landed on two tiny NJs.

“I don’t believe it,” she whispered. Next to the second NJ was the name, Gruff McKing.

“He’s a Seed Saver?” Dante asked.

“Unbelievable,” said Clare. “Thank you, God.”

The children scrambled to their feet. From her backpack pocket, Clare retrieved the scrap of paper Gruff had given her. They headed in the direction he’d told them. For the first time in days they felt their burdens lift and a sense of hope flow through them.

Putting together the information on the two papers and remembering his words and gestures, the children eventually located Gruff’s building. When they saw a balcony brimming with green potted plants and brilliant purple flowers, they guessed they were in the right place. The children dismounted and walked their bikes into the first floor landing. Peering around, they decided to lug them up the stairs, not trusting the neighborhood. It wasn’t easy, but after a struggle they reached the second floor. Finding what they believed was Gruff’s door, they knocked tentatively.

“It’s open,” the familiar voice called.

Dante looked at Clare. “Should we just walk in?”

“He must be expecting someone else. But we might as well, he’s expecting someone.”

The children opened the door and pulled their bikes in after them. Across the crowded room sat Gruff, in front of the smallest Monitor they had ever seen. He didn’t look up.

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