The Islands of Elsewhere by Heather Fawcett

Author:Heather Fawcett [Fawcett, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2023-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Tap Tap

“Well met, Prospero!” Mom said as they came up the path to the backyard. She was sitting in a lawn chair reading while Dore played with his toys in the grass. “What brave new worlds have you discovered today?”

Dore let out a squawk that sounded so much like a raven that Bee almost turned to look up at the trees.

“I don’t know who Prospero is, Mommy,” Plum said.

“He’s a magician who lived on a magic island,” Bee said, rolling her eyes. “Don’t you remember Mom’s last play?”

“Don’t roll your eyes at magic, darling,” Mom said. “Shakespeare’s plays are full of it—ghosts, witches, enchantments. And if the great bard respected magic, you would do well to do the same.”

“We weren’t doing magic,” Bee said. “We were doing science.”

“Science, you say?” Granddaddy said. His apron was stained with chocolate, and he brought with him a puff of cookie smell as he stepped through the door. “More botany, Phoebe?”

Bee shot Plum a look. “Mostly archaeology, actually,” she said. “We’re trying to find Lucy Juniper’s house. Do you want to see the maps?” She was bursting with pride about her maps, which she hadn’t been able to brag about at all, for neither Plum nor Hattie were interested.

“Very much,” Granddaddy said.

They went into the kitchen and Bee spread her maps over the table. She had three now, one for each island.

“This is good,” Granddaddy said, and Bee swelled. “And these squares indicate where you’ve searched, I see? Hmm. Clever. But have you considered looking for what isn’t there?”

Bee blinked. “Why would I do that?”

Granddaddy tapped the map of Little Fairy. “I see that there’s a small clearing here between these two cedars. And it looks like there’s another gap over here, at the edge of the beach. I wonder if there might be a reason why there aren’t any trees there.”

Bee’s heart was racing. “Like . . . like maybe there was a house there!”

“Maybe. If there is anything left of my granny’s house, it will be hard to spot. Perhaps a few wooden boards covered in moss and leaves. Is that helpful?”

Bee nodded. She could hardly wait to get back to the Fairy Islands.

“Good. Now, perhaps you could help me set the table. I’m afraid it’s taking me too long.”

Bee looked at the table. Granddaddy had placed a small pile of spoons there, as well as the wrong number of bowls. “Are we having soup for dinner, Granddaddy?” she said.

“Salmon and salad,” he said, looking at the bowls. “This isn’t right, is it? Why don’t you finish up, Phoebe? I’m going to lie down for a moment.”

Bee nodded, biting her lip. She put the bowls and spoons away and counted out the plates, cups, and cutlery. Her hands shook a little, and when she was done, she pulled out the maps and stared at them.

She was going to find Lucy Juniper’s treasure. And then they could all stay here with Granddaddy, and he wouldn’t have to be alone.

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