@@@@@She felt the wind begin to rise and blow 0
@@@@@She felt the wind begin to
rise and blow out of simple charcoal strokes as
black as deathThe size of the actual storm when
it arrived - the pelting rain, the freight-train
shriek of the gale - frightened her badly, as if
she had whistled for a dog and gotten a wolf
But then the wind died and the sun came out and
everyone was all rightBetter than all right,
because in the Alice's aftermath, Adie and her
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Unsuitable Young Man were forgotten for a time
Elizabeth even heard Daddy humming as he and Mr
Shannington cleaned up the wreckage in the front
yard, Daddy driving the little red tractor and Mr
Shannington throwing drowned palm-fronds and
busted branches into the little trailer trundling
along behind
The doll whispered, the muse told its tale
Elizabeth listened and painted the place off Hag's
Rock that very day, the one where Noveen whispered
the buried treasure now lay exposed
Libbit begs her Daddy to go look, begs him begs
him begs himDaddy says NO, Daddy says he's too
tired, too stiff from all that yardwork
Nan Melda says Some time in the water might loosen
you up, Mr
Nan Melda says I'll bring down a picnic lunch and
the l'il girls
And then Nan Melda says You know how she is now
If she say something's out there, then maybe
So they went downbeach by Hag's Rock - Daddy in
the swimsuit that no longer fit him, and Elizabeth,
and the twins, and Nan MeldaHannah and Maria
were back in school, and Adiebut best not talk
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about herNan Melda was carrying
the red picnic basketInside was the lunch,
sunhats for the girls, Elizabeth's drawing things,
Daddy's spear-pistol, and a few harpoons for it
Daddy puts on his flippers and wades into the
caldo up to his knees and says This is cold! It
better not take long, LibbitTell me where this
fabulous treasure lies
Libbit says I will, but do you promise I can have
the china dolly?
Daddy says Any doll is yours - fair salvage
The muse saw it and the girl painted itSo their
future is se
