“If we put my dollar and your dollar together,” Shelley said, “we can buy the ball.”
Marcus stared at her. “Really? Wow, Shelley, you’re the best!” he said. His hand stopped halfway to the bin. “Uh-oh, we won’t have enough for tax.”
Shelley pulled the shiny quarter from her pocket. “Yes, we will,” she said. “We’ll have just enough.”
“Not enough for your necklace,” said Marcus.
Shelley looked at the necklace. “I don’t really need a necklace,” she said slowly.
“I have an idea,” Marcus said. “I can help you make one. We learned how to weave necklaces in Cubs last year.”
“I love making stuff,” Shelley exclaimed. “It will be fun to make my own necklace. I’ll bet I can even find a real shell to put on it.” She grinned. “Let’s go buy Topper’s ball.”
As soon as Marcus and Shelley got home, they showed Topper her new ball. Topper wiggled and wagged. She raced back and forth, barking loudly.
Shelley threw the ball. Topper jumped up and caught it in her mouth.
“Good catch!” Marcus cheered.
Topper ran toward Marcus and dropped the ball at his feet. Shelley and Marcus and Topper played fetch until they were tired.
Afterward, Marcus asked Aunt Joan for some string. He showed Shelley how to weave a necklace.
When Kyle came home, Topper showed off her new ball. Shelley showed off her new necklace. And Kyle showed off the big fish he had caught.
“Let’s go to Rocky Beach,” said Marcus.
“Maybe I can find a shell for my necklace there,” said Shelley.
“Maybe I can find a super fossil rock,” said Marcus.
Topper picked up her ball and ran after them.
“Topper wants to come too,” said Kyle.
“She can help us look for fossils,” said Shelley. “She’s good at finding fossil rocks.”
“I think Topper should be a member of The Fossil Hunters Club,” said Marcus. “All in favor say ‘Yay!’”
“Yay!” said Shelley.
“Yay!” said Kyle.
Topper barked. It sounded like she was saying “Yay!” too.
MARILYN HELMER is the author of many children’s books, including picturebooks, early readers, novels and retold tales. The Fossil Hunters is Marilyn’s second book in the Orca Echoes series. Her first is Sharing Snowy, published in 2008. Marilyn and her husband live in Fergus, Ontario.
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