The 1916 Shark Attacks by Mary Kay Carson

Author:Mary Kay Carson [Carson, Mary Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: little bee books
Published: 2023-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

ED MITCHELL

July 12, 1916—Matawan, New Jersey

“Thanks, Agnes, for coming to the creek with me,” I say. “I want to practice swimming.” We get some funny looks from people in town as we walk down Main Street. Agnes especially draws attention. She carries a notebook and wears a bathrobe over her fashionable swim costume.

“Luckily, I thought to pack it,” she says. The stares just make Agnes walk taller and smile more. “It’s ridiculous that only boys swim in the creek. Women swim in the Olympics now.”

“It’s not the beach, Agnes,” I explain. “It’s a mucky, wide creek with factories up and down it. The boys just jump off the dock. No one wears swimsuits.”

“Well, we’ll see about that,” she says.

Thankfully, I won’t have to explain Agnes and her big-city ideas to the boys. Everyone is still working at the factory.

“It sure is hot,” I say, trying to change the subject. “The radio said we are going to break a heat wave record.”

“Today is July twelfth, isn’t it?” says Agnes. “Reginald will have finished training camp.”

“The newspapers report that Britain is pushing Germany back.” I don’t mention the thousands of soldiers killed or injured in the fighting. We turn onto the factory road. “The dock is just down here.”

“I read the newspapers, too, Eddie,” says Agnes. “Those battles have cost many lives.”

“Reginald is strong, Agnes. He’ll be okay.” Agnes’s worried face brightens as we walk out onto the dock.

“Oh, it’s lovely here!” she says. I look around and realize she’s right. It’s cool by the water and a breeze rattles the sycamore leaves. Birds sing and flit among the reeds. A sunning turtle slips from a log into the creek with a plop.

“You never mentioned how pretty the creek is, Eddie,” says Agnes with a smile. “I think I’ll sketch it.” She opens her notebook and sits on the dock. “Am I good to watch from here?”

“That’s fine,” I say, climbing down the ladder. I grip the lower rung with my hands, let my body float out straight, and practice kicking. Steady and even, not too fast, like Mike said. Then I turn around and hook my feet in the ladder’s rungs. Stretching out straight, I move my arms, one after the other, over my head. Feeling more confident, I decide to try something harder.

“Agnes, shove that board over here,” I say. She kicks over the wooden board I saw Nate floating on yesterday. I slide the dinner-tray-size board off the dock and into the water. I manage to lay on top of it, stomach down. I’m floating! Now I can really practice. I kick my feet and circle my arms at the same time. I’m swimming!

“You look quite professional, Eddie,” says Agnes from the dock. “But don’t go too far out.”

Looking around, I realize I’ve gotten turned around from the dock. I kick my feet and push the water away with just my right arm. That should turn me back toward the dock. . . . “Hey, what the . .

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