The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe

Author:Mary Alice Monroe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Save the Nest!

Nature seems cruel sometimes.

EVERY MORNING WE WALKED THE beach in search of turtle tracks, but our beginner’s luck seemed to be over because we didn’t find any more.

But at least we were talking to each other again. It was impossible to carry a grudge after we found a turtle nest. Macon stopped glaring at us and joined in the conversations. I figured that was his way of saying he’d forgiven us, and it was enough for me.

Honey was looking better too, now that she was walking outdoors every day. And my drawing was improving. All in all, summer was picking up on Dewees Island.

Honey pointed out the wildflowers that grew on the dunes. We wrote the names and sketched them in our notebooks. She also told us the names of the different shells we found, and any ocean life that had washed ashore. Lovie was right: My grandmother knew a lot about nature. My notebook was filling up with names like “sea stars,” “sea urchins,” “primrose,” and “crabs.” We even found a baby shark swimming in the tide pool!

One day Macon found a sand dollar. “Hey, this one’s all green!”

“Turn it over,” Honey instructed him as she walked closer. “What do you see?”

He did so and made a face. “There’s all these tiny wiggly legs!”

“That’s right,” Honey said, laughing lightly at Macon’s expression. “Come closer and look. That sand dollar is alive.”

Macon looked like he was going to drop it. Honey gently put her hand over his.

“Toss it back into the sea, Macon, and give that creature a second chance at life. Never keep the living sand dollars or sea stars, children. Carry them home to the sea.” We were just getting into the routine of Dawn Patrol when—disaster struck. On our way to checking her turtle nest, Lovie stopped short with a gasp. We could see that the orange tape was torn from the sticks and flapping in the wind. I looked at Macon and we both grimaced. Not a good sign.

“Oh no!” Lovie shrieked, and took off running.

Macon and I ran after her. The sand over the nest had a gaping hole right in the middle. Broken eggshells lay scattered around it. Some of the shells oozed yoke.

Macon pointed to the sand. “Look! Animal tracks. Looks like a dog. Or probably a coyote.”

Lovie stood, shoulders slumped, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Honey caught up to us and sighed when she saw the carnage. She wrapped an arm around Lovie.

“Now this is a terrible sight, isn’t it? Nature seems cruel sometimes.” She dropped her arm. “But now you have to dry your tears. We’ve got work to do. Our job is to report what we find to the team. Then we’ll see what we can save.”

“Can we save some of them?” Lovie asked, hope ringing in her voice.

“We can try,” Honey said.

Honey pulled out her cell phone to call Judy and the team. They talked a few minutes, and when she was done, Honey handed Lovie the phone.

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