by Charles Tang
She carried a large platter of meats and cheeses to the table. To that, she added a basket of bread, a bowl of fruit, and a pitcher of cold milk.
Benny rubbed his hands together. “I’ll have a little of everything,” he said. They made sandwiches and ate fruit. Benny drank two glasses of milk.
When they had finished eating, Jessie asked, “Do you know that woman — the one who works for Charlie?”
“Kate Kerry,” Uncle Andy said. “We’ve met her. She’s been working for Charlie for a while. But I can’t say we really know her.”
“Why do you ask?” said Aunt Jane.
“I just wondered,” Jessie said.
“Has she heard about the trouble Charlie’s having?” Henry asked.
“I can’t say for certain,” Uncle Andy answered. “Charlie doesn’t talk about it much.”
“Charlie’s not one to complain,” Aunt Jane said.
Henry looked at his uncle. “Is Charlie the only one having trouble?”
Uncle Andy shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
When they were finished eating, the children cleared the table. Uncle Andy got out the maps so they could plan their next day.
“Refresh my memory,” Uncle Andy said. “What was it you wanted to see?”
The Aldens all spoke at once. Aunt Jane held up her hands. “One at a time,” she said.
“I have an idea,” Uncle Andy said. He opened a drawer and took out paper and pencil. “Each of you write down what you most want to see.”
Uncle Andy got his baseball cap from a hook near the back door. “Now, put the papers in my hat.”
Each Alden dropped a folded piece of paper into the cap. “Now what?” Benny asked.
“Nothing yet,” Uncle Andy answered. “We’ll just leave this here.” He put the cap on the counter near the phone. “Let everything sit till morning. Then I’ll pick a paper. Where we go will be a surprise.”
Aunt Jane smiled at her husband. “Andy Bean, you are full of good ideas.”
The Aldens weren’t so sure this was a good idea. They were so excited they didn’t know if they could wait until morning to find out where they would go first.
“We’d better get to bed early,” Andy suggested. “We want to be rested for whatever comes.”
That did seem like a good idea. The sooner they went to sleep, the sooner morning would come. Upstairs, Benny said, “I’m too excited to sleep. I’ll probably lie awake all night trying to figure out which place well see first.”
The other Aldens smiled at one another. They knew Benny would soon be sound asleep.
CHAPTER 3
Sightseeing
First thing in the morning, Aunt Jane said, “Andy, here’s your cap.” She handed him the baseball cap containing the four slips of paper.
“Hurry, Uncle Andy!” Benny said.
The Aldens watched as Uncle Andy reached into the hat. He drew out a piece of paper and looked at it.
“What does it say?” Violet asked.
Uncle Andy smiled. “I think I’ll keep it a surprise,” he said, and put the paper in his pocket.
At first the Aldens were disappointed. They didn’t want to wait another minute to find out where they were going.
Then Jessie said, “That’s a good idea, Uncle Andy.”
Henry agreed. “The longer the wait, the better the surprise.”
“Let’s get going!” Benny urged. “We can wait on the way.”
Violet laughed. “What about breakfast, Benny?”
“Oh,” Benny said. “I forgot.”
They all laughed. It wasn’t like Benny to forget about a meal.
“We’ll eat breakfast out,” Aunt Jane said. “I know the perfect place.”
And off they went.
Clang! Clang! went the cable car as it came down the hill toward them. When it stopped, Uncle Andy said, “Hop on!”
“Watch your step!” the friendly conductor called out.
Benny was the first one aboard. Riding a cable car was what he most wanted to do. He led the way to the front section, where the sides were open and the long benches faced out.
Uncle Andy said, “So what do you think, Benny? Is this what you expected?”
“Better!” Benny answered. He had seen pictures of the cable cars. But looking at pictures was not the same as actually riding in one. It was a thrill to rumble and creak up one hill and down another.
“Benny’s lucky,” Violet said. “He got his wish first.”
Andy said, “I didn’t pick Benny’s paper out of my hat. But he is lucky. We can take cable cars to many of the places we’ll go.”
Benny smiled. He was happy to know this was not his last ride.
The cable car stopped in a park. “End of the line!” the conductor called. The Aldens clambered down the steps.
When everyone had left the cable car, it moved onto a big turntable. The motormen gripped the side rails on the wooden circle and pushed the cable car completely around. Now it was ready for its return trip.
“Wow!” Benny said. “They don’t have anything like that in Greenfield!”
Aunt Jane put her arm around his shoulders. “San Francisco is a unique place, all right,” she said.
“Let’s eat,” Uncle Andy said.
Benny smiled. “Aunt Jane’s right, Uncle Andy. You are full of good ideas.”
They crossed the street to the Buena Vista Cafe. They sat at a table beside the window and watched people line up for the cable cars. As soon as a car left, another line formed. Along the street, craftsmen sold their wares and musicians played. Beyond, the bay glimmered in the morning light.
“Buena Vista means ‘beautiful view,’ ” Aunt Jane, told them.
“That’s a perfect name,” Violet said.
The Aldens and the Beans ate hearty breakfasts of bacon, eggs, toast, and pancakes.
Afterward, they boarded a cable car heading south.
Before long, Uncle Andy said, “This is our stop.” They hopped off the car and followed Andy to Grant Street. There they stopped before a tall arch with a green tile roof. Colorful dragon figures decorated the top.
“Henry I think you’ll recognize this,” Aunt Jane said.
Henry nodded. “It’s the Chinatown Gate.”
They passed under the arch into a different world. The narrow streets were crowded with traffic. Colorful signs written in Chinese characters lined the way.
They wandered in and out of shops filled with unusual things. It was hard to resist the hand-carved animals and beautiful clothing. After they had finished shopping, the happy group went down another street into a park. They sat on a bench to rest.
Just then, Violet noticed a young woman across the street. She was coming out of a restaurant. “Isn’t that Kate Kerry, the woman who works for Charlie?” she asked.
The other Aldens saw the young woman. She was wearing a yellow slicker with a hood.
“It looks like her,” Jessie said, “but I can’t tell. She’s too far away.”
Benny stood up. Waving, he jumped up and down. “Hello! Kate!” he called.
“Benny don’t do that,” Jessie said, laughing.
The woman looked toward them. When she did, the hood fell to her shoulders. Her red hair glistened in the sunlight.
“It’s her, all right,” Benny said. He kept waving.
The woman did not return Benny’s greeting. Instead, she hurried around the corner and disappeared.
“That’s strange,” Benny said. “She didn’t even wave.”
“I don’t think it’s strange at all,” Jessie said. “She doesn’t know us.”
Charlie had not introduced them. Benny had forgotten that.
“But she knows us,” Uncle Andy said.
“Oh, Andy,” Aunt Jane said, “she probably didn’t see us.”
“Maybe it wasn’t Kate,” Violet suggested. “Jessie is right. She was too far away to tell for sure.”
“What about the red hair?” Benny asked.
> “A lot of people have hair that color,” Violet said.
“Well, she sure did look like Kate,” Benny said.
Aunt Jane stood up. “How about lunch? I know the perfect place. Follow me.”
A few minutes later, the Aldens entered a crowded restaurant and forgot all about the young woman they had seen. They took seats and looked around.
“Where are the menus?” Jessie asked.
“There are no menus here,” Aunt Jane answered.
“How do we order?” Benny asked.
A woman pushed a cart to their table. On it were many small dishes with food on them.
Cart after cart rolled up. The Aldens and the Beans took some of the small dishes off the carts and sampled everything.
Benny sat back. “I’m full,” he said. He noticed a sign. It read DIM SUM. “What does that mean?” he asked.
Uncle Andy shrugged. “Little . . . things.”
“I think it means ‘little delights’ or ‘little pleasures,’ ” Aunt Jane said.
“Whatever it means, it sure tastes good,” Benny said.
Violet said, “I’ve never been to a restaurant that didn’t have a menu.” She was wondering how they would pay for their lunch. There were no prices listed anywhere.
Uncle Andy seemed to read her mind. “We pay according to the number of empty plates on our table,” he explained.
Benny’s eyes widened. He began to count the small dishes. When he reached twenty-five, he said, “Wow! This could be expensive!”
But to the Aldens’ surprise, the food wasn’t expensive at all.
CHAPTER 4
Something Fishy
With the afternoon still ahead of them, they returned to Fisherman’s Wharf. “Let’s take a boat ride,” Aunt Jane suggested.
“Oh, yes, let’s!” Violet said. A boat ride was what she most wanted to do.
“But Violet, it’s not your turn,” Benny protested. “We didn’t pick your paper out of Uncle Andy’s hat.”
“Your paper wasn’t chosen, either,” Jessie reminded him. “But we’ve already been on the cable cars three times.”
“Besides,” Henry added, “we’re at the wharf. It would make sense to take a boat ride now.”
“I guess you’re right, Henry” Benny agreed.
Aunt Jane smiled. “You children always work things out,” she said proudly
“There’s Charlie,” Uncle Andy said. “Let’s ask him which boat to take. I’m sure he knows which sightseeing business has the best tours.”
Charlie was on the dock beside his boat. When he saw them, he waved.
“He seems friendly today,” Benny said.
“The trouble must be over,” Violet decided.
Charlie met them on the walkway. “I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon,” he said.
“We’re going to take the children on a boat trip,” Aunt Jane told him.
“We thought you’d know which is the best,” Uncle Andy added.
“Sightseeing tours?” Charlie said. “That’s no way to see the bay. The best way to see it is on a working fishing boat.”
“Like yours?” Benny asked. He couldn’t imagine anything more fun than a trip on Charlie’s Chum.
“Like mine,” Charlie said. He smiled broadly. “Would you like to come fishing with Kate and me tomorrow morning?”
The Aldens didn’t have to think about it. They all said, “Yes!”
“It’s hard work,” Charlie warned.
“We like work,” Benny said.
Just then, Kate Kerry came up to them. She was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. Her red hair was braided. “Charlie, I have to talk to you,” she said. Then she smiled at Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy. “Oh, hello.” She looked at the children.
“These are the Aldens,” Charlie said.
“They’re my brother’s grandchildren,” Aunt Jane said.
Kate shook hands with each of the children. “Didn’t I see you here yesterday?”
“Yes,” Violet answered.
“And today!” Benny said. “We saw you today, too.”
Kate frowned. “Today? Where?” she asked.
Just as Benny said “Chi — ” a tall, dark-haired man ran up.
“Charlie!” he said. “What’re you trying to do? Ruin my business?”
Charlie looked flabbergasted. “Vito . . . I . . . I . . .”
“Fresh fish! That’s what I need! Not rotten fish!”
“Rotten fish?” Charlie said. “What are you talking about, Vito?”
“Yesterday’s order. Half of it was rotten. You think my customers want rotten fish?”
Charlie straightened his shoulders. He stood up tall. “My fish are always fresh,” he said. “Always. In all my years, no one has ever complained about my fish.”
“Well, I’m complaining,” Vito shot back. “And if it ever happens again — ”
“Listen here, Mr. Vito Marino, maybe it’s you,” Charlie interrupted. “Maybe you don’t know a fresh fish when you smell one.”
Vito’s mouth dropped open. He seemed to be searching for words. Finally he turned on his heel and stalked off.
“Who was that?” Henry asked.
“Vito Marino,” Charlie answered. “He owns a restaurant on the wharf. It’s called Vito’s Vittles.”
“Vito’s Vittles,” Benny repeated. He thought that was a funny name. He was about to laugh when he saw Henry’s warning glance.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Kate said. “Vito’s been telling everyone on the wharf that you sold him rotten fish.”
“What? That’s not true,” Charlie said.
Another man joined the group. He was tall and blond. “Great day for fishing, wasn’t it?” he asked. Then, noticing Charlie’s worried expression, he asked, “What’s the problem, Charlie?”
“Oh, Joe,” Charlie said. Then he told Joe about Vito. “Can you believe it?” he concluded. “Me, selling rotten fish?”
Joe shook his head. “Nobody needs this,” he said. “If I’d been at it as long as you, Charlie, I’d be thinking of pulling in my nets.” Still shaking his head, he wandered off.
“Now, who was that?” Benny asked.
“Joe Martin,” Kate answered. “He’s a fisherman, too.”
“He looks very young,” Uncle Andy observed.
“He’s new to the business,” Charlie said. “But he’s a good man. With a little time, he’ll be a good fisherman.”
Jessie saw someone else — another man — down the way. Although he was dressed casually, she was sure he was the man they had seen lurking here yesterday. She was about to ask if Charlie recognized him when he disappeared behind a building.
“Charlie, perhaps we should wait a day or two before the children go out on your boat,” Aunt Jane said.
Charlie looked at her. “Why should we wait?”
“Well, with this trouble and all,” Aunt Jane explained. “I just thought that maybe — ”
Charlie waved that away. “I’m not the first fisherman to have trouble,” he said. “And I won’t be the last. Besides, the routine doesn’t change.” He glanced at the children. “With all this sightseeing, do you think you’ll be up to it?” he asked them. “We sail before dawn.”
The Aldens looked at Uncle Andy. He would have to drive them to the pier.
“Is that too early, Uncle Andy?” Jessie asked.
Uncle Andy took a deep breath. “Before dawn? That is awfully early.” He sounded serious, but there was a twinkle in his eyes.
“Oh, you’re teasing,” Benny said.
Before Uncle Andy had a chance to answer, Kate spoke up. “I have an idea,” she said. “Why don’t you children stay with me.”
Aunt Jane said, “That’s nice of you, Kate, but we wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble,” Kate assured her. “I’m right over there.” She pointed behind her. “It’d be fun having company and it’d save time in the morning.”
&n
bsp; Benny was staring off into the distance. “I don’t see any houses,” he said. “Just boats.”
“I live on a boat,” Kate said. “That red and white one right down there.”
“It doesn’t look like a houseboat,” Violet said.
“It isn’t,” Kate said. “It’s a sport fishing boat. But there’re plenty of bunks. Would you like to stay with me?”
“Oh, yes!” Jessie said. She paused before adding, “If it’s all right with Aunt Jane.”
Kate said, “Well, Mrs. Bean, what do you say?”
Aunt Jane laughed. “I haven’t much choice,” she said. “Not with these children. Once they’ve made up their minds, there’s no arguing with them. Just like their grandfather.” There was pride in her voice.
“Well, that’s settled,” Uncle Andy said. “Let’s go back home, Jane, and get these new fishermen a change of clothes.”
“Give me your packages, children,” Aunt Jane said. “We’ll take them back home.”
The Aldens handed her the things they had bought.
“Bring jackets,” Charlie said. “It can get mighty cold out there some mornings.”
Kate led the children to her boat. On the way, Violet asked, “Have you lived here long?”
“On and off,” Kate answered. “The boat belongs to a friend of mine. He takes out fishing parties. When he’s away, he lets me live on the boat.”
“Charlie said you’re going to college,” Henry told her. “What are you studying?”
“Marine biology.”
“What’s that?” Benny asked.
“It’s the science of living things in the sea,” Kate explained. She stepped off the dock onto the deck of the boat. “Be careful,” she warned the others.
One by one, they jumped onto the deck. “Look around, make yourselves comfortable,” Kate said. “I have to go back to help Charlie.”
“May we help, too?” Jessie asked.
Kate shook her head. “Rest up. You’ll have plenty of work to do tomorrow.” She hopped back onto the dock. “Will you be all right?”
Henry nodded. “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us.”
When she was out of sight, Benny said, “We forgot to ask her about Chinatown.”
“That wasn’t Kate we saw,” Violet said.