Winston stood by with a basket ready to hold the strange-looking creatures. Allison watched with curious interest as Andrew carefully picked up the crabs, holding them on the back end of their shells, and placed them in Winston’s basket. Crabs were such odd things with their big pincher claws, looking as if they were very angry. Andrew held one close to Allison’s face, and she drew back and shuddered in mock fear.
“Ugh! They look so mean and crabby. But you can’t really blame them.” Allison frowned slightly as she peered into the basket. “After all, they are about to become our Sunday dinner.”
“They don’t even know that,” said Andrew as he chucked another into the basket. “We’ve already got four—it won’t be long until we can start cooking them up.”
Allison helped Winston wire some nasty-looking fish bait back into one of the empty crab pots. “This is disgusting,” said Allison, rinsing her hands in the salt water, then wiping them on the back of her jeans. “And just a few minutes ago I thought I was actually hungry.”
“Well, that’s what crabs like to eat,” said Winston with a grin. “And just think, Allison, you’ll soon be eating them. Yummy!”
She playfully punched him in the arm. “You get so much delight in the grotesque!”
Soon Grace and Heather arrived, and finally Muriel came lugging down a basket. Winston ran up the road to help her.
“It’s about time,” said George as he began plopping crabs into the bubbling kettle of water. “We’re starving down here.”
Heather and Allison took charge of one of the pots, and when Allison pulled it up, there was actually a good-sized crab inside. “We got one, Heather!” she shouted as she set the dripping pot on the dock. Then she pushed up her sleeve and reached in, just as she had seen Andrew do, and gingerly picked up the crab with one hand. With the other hand she reached for Heather’s. “I’ll help you to touch it, Heather. He’s a mean, ugly cuss with beady little eyes. His claws look like they could break your finger.” Heather pulled back slightly. “Don’t worry, Heather. I won’t let him hurt you.” Allison gently laid Heather’s fingers on the back of the crab, careful to stay away from the big claws.
“That feels weird,” said Heather. “I’ve felt crab shells before, but they were always dry. This feels all cold and wet.” Allison watched as Heather’s fingers gently traced the embossed design on the crab’s back. The crab’s legs wiggled, and Heather pulled her hand back. “Thanks, Allison. It felt kind of creepy . . . but interesting.”
Soon Muriel was calling them over to eat. James said a short blessing, and everyone began filling their plates. Allison and Heather sat down together and began to eat, laughing about how it was as much work to get the crab out of the shell as it was to catch them. But the reward was worth it because the crab meat was delicious. When Allison couldn’t eat another bite, she set her plate down and leaned back.
Grace and James were sitting on the end of the dock eating together and visiting quietly. Suddenly, Allison remembered Dad’s secret and wondered if he might be telling Grace about his plan to get his pilot’s license. Allison glanced over at Andrew, who was also watching. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was probably thinking the same thing. To her surprise she almost hoped that Dad wasn’t telling Grace just yet. It had been kind of fun to have this special secret to share with him, and she didn’t want Grace to know about it. Besides, she wondered what would happen if Grace disapproved. If he gave up flying, she wouldn’t have a chance to go up again. She wondered if Andrew was worried about the same thing.
Allison considered all the disappointments that life had given her father over the last ten years. If only he could stick to his dream and see this thing through. She decided then and there that she would do everything possible to help him. His secret was safe with her. And as dearly as Allison loved Grace, she was beginning to resent, just a little bit, that Grace could possibly become an obstacle in Dad’s plan. If Grace really loved Dad, wouldn’t she want him to follow his dream?
Please don’t tell Grace, Dad, Allison thought. Not yet. If only they could keep this their special secret for a while longer.
Andrew looked at Allison and winked. He understood. She sent him a half smile and winked back. At least she could trust Andrew to keep this secret. If only Dad could keep it, too.
Allison’s first full week at school went a lot better than her first day had gone. By the end of the week she actually felt hopeful that she was starting to fit in. Already she had made several casual friends, and of course there was always Heather. Even Karen Brown had continued to be friendly with Allison, which only seemed to aggravate Shirley Jenson. Still, Shirley stuck to Allison like glue. Allison worried that her patience with Shirley might one day give out and that she would do something deeply regretful. But at least Shirley had kept her secret about Marsha—that was something to be thankful for and another reason to try to stay within Shirley’s good graces. So far, Allison’s secrets were intact. Her father had still not revealed any of his piloting activities to Grace, and Andrew’s lips were sealed. Tomorrow, if the weather permitted, Dad would be ready to fly solo. Allison couldn’t wait!
“Too bad the football game is away tonight,” said Shirley as they joined Heather and Caroline in the cafeteria. “I’ll miss seeing Andrew’s great playing ability.”
Allison looked down at her plate as she sat down, hoping against hope that Heather wouldn’t go and invite Shirley to ride with them to the game. But she knew it was useless to drop a hint because sometimes Heather was just too nice. Allison quickly tried to change the subject. “This lunch looks pretty good today. In fact, it looks downright appetizing after what we put together in home ec.”
“Ugh,” Shirley said. “Don’t remind me.”
Heather laughed. “Well, judging by the way it smelled, I’m thankful Miss Wrigley didn’t make us sample it.”
“It’s a good thing, I think she might have gotten in trouble for poisoning us,” Allison said as she took a bite of meatloaf.
“Are you going to the Harvest Ball, Allison?” Shirley asked, nodding at a bright poster nearby that promoted the dance. “It looks like it could be fun.”
It bugged Allison that Shirley so often ignored Heather as if she were not only blind, but also deaf, and she rarely acknowledged Caroline at all. “Not that I know of,” she answered curtly. “Don’t you have to be asked first?”
“Well, of course,” said Shirley as if Allison were the village idiot.
“Maybe Andrew will ask you, Allison,” Heather said quietly.
“Really?” Shirley exclaimed. “Do you really think Andrew would ask Allison?”
Heather smiled a little knowing smile. “I don’t know why not.”
Allison felt her cheeks growing warm. “Oh, I don’t think so, Shirley—”
“Wouldn’t you like to go with him, though?” demanded Shirley loudly. “Imagine going to the Harvest Ball with Andrew Amberwell.”
Allison glanced around nervously, hoping that Andrew wasn’t anywhere close by. “I don’t know. I’ve never even been to a dance before.”
“Nor have I,” said Heather. “But remember when you taught me how to jitterbug and we had that little dance at our house?”
Allison started to giggle. “Yes, that was fun.” She could feel Shirley’s attention on her again. Whenever anything about Andrew came up, it seemed Shirley was all ears. It worried Allison, but there seemed little way to avoid mentioning his name. After all, Andrew was Heather’s brother and Allison’s good friend.
“Well, I know I’d certainly like to go to the Harvest Ball,” Shirley said.
Allison glanced around the crowded room. “Do you know who you’d like to go with? Maybe you’d better start dropping some hints since it’s only a week away,” Allison said in a friendly, teasing tone, but Shirley didn’t seem to take notice.
“Sure, I can think of several fellows that I wouldn’t mind going with.” Shirley looked right at Allison. “And maybe you’re
right, Allison. Maybe I should start dropping some subtle hints. Boys can be so thick, you know.”
Allison stared at Shirley in surprise. “You’re kidding! You mean you would actually hint to a boy about taking you to the Harvest Ball?”
Shirley nodded. “Why not? Like I’ve always said, if you want something, go out and get it.”
Allison shook her head. “In some things, maybe, but I don’t think I’d like to get a reputation for going after the boys.”
Shirley threw back her head and laughed. “Believe me, some boys like girls who go after them!”
Allison didn’t think that Andrew would. And that was a relief because Allison had no intention of ever chasing after a boy—not even someone she liked as much as Andrew.
The bell rang, and Allison told Heather and Caroline good-bye and headed for the gym with Shirley at her heels. Shirley had been like Allison’s shadow all week, making little comments about movie stars and winking and such. Allison wasn’t sure how much of this she could take, and at this rate she might never be able to shake her. It was a pity that they wouldn’t get new class schedules until after Christmas. In her heart she knew that God wanted her to love Shirley—Sunday’s sermon had been about loving your enemies—which seemed to describe Shirley in a way. But Allison figured loving them was one thing—being best friends was something else!
“Hi, Allison,” Karen said as they approached the locker room. “Let’s try to get on the same soccer team today for a change. Then the other team won’t have a chance. Hey, are you going to the game tonight?”
Allison tossed Karen a sideways glance that she hoped said, “Don’t ask me right now,” then she said, “I . . .uh . . . I’m not sure. Say, Karen, I really like what you’ve done with your hair today. How do you get it to turn under like that?”
Thankfully, Karen seemed to catch the hint and immediately launched into a step-by-step hair-styling lesson. “That’s all there is to it,” Karen finished, giving her pretty golden locks a shake.
“Thanks,” Allison said. “I think I’ll give it a try.” She watched as Karen went over to her locker on the other side of the room. Allison longed to follow her, but Karen’s cheerleader friends were already there. As friendly as Karen was, Allison still didn’t quite feel like she fit in; and as hard as Shirley tried, she seemed to fit in even less. So for now Allison seemed stuck with Shirley. Perhaps even more so since she had disclosed her mother’s identity. She was afraid that Shirley could hold that over her head.
Although Allison tried to convince herself that it might not really matter, she couldn’t forget the time a couple of years ago at Oakmont when she had tried to use her mother’s fame to buy prestige with a group of snooty girls who weren’t really interested in her. It had actually worked at first, but in the end it had backfired and been a painful lesson. Since then, Allison always tried to keep her mother’s unusual career anonymous. She wanted people to like her for who she was.
When the school day finally ended, Allison and Heather were picked up by James. Andrew had left with the football team to travel to the game that was two hours away. Allison suspected by the smile on her father’s face that he had been at the airport with Mac getting in his final flying hours before the big solo flight tomorrow. She knew she could not say a word and winked at him instead. When he winked back, she knew she was right.
“Are you girls all ready for the big game tonight?” James asked as he opened the door for them.
“You bet,” Allison said. “When are we leaving?”
“Grace suggested about five. She’s putting together a picnic dinner for us to eat along the way.”
“Sounds good,” Heather said. “I smelled a chocolate cake baking last night.”
James smacked his lips. “Can’t wait. Better take along some warm things, girls. I felt a little nip in the air this afternoon.”
It was very cold that night, but the Port View Pirates played heartily and Andrew was in peak form.
“That was a great game,” Allison said after everyone got to the car. “Andrew must be feeling pretty good right now.”
“I’ll bet he’s flying high,” Grace agreed, pulling out a Thermos of hot chocolate to warm them up. “But thank goodness he’s one young man who never seems to get a big head about all this hoopla.”
“That’s because he’s sensible,” James said. “I heard Coach Jackson saying that Andrew might be able to get a college scholarship if he keeps playing like this.”
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful!” Heather said. “Andrew would be so pleased.”
“That would be nice,” Grace agreed. “He has really worked hard at football. Sometimes I worry about him, though. He works so hard I don’t know if he takes time to stop and smell the roses. I wish he didn’t always take life so seriously. I’d like to see him have more fun.”
“Maybe he’ll go to the Harvest Ball next week,” Heather suggested. Allison swallowed a gulp of cocoa.
“When is it?” asked Grace.
“Next Saturday, but I don’t think he’s made any plans yet.”
“Well, maybe I should encourage him to go,” Grace said thoughtfully.
“He shouldn’t have any difficulty getting a date,” James said. “From what I’ve seen, every girl in the school is crazy about him. Right, Allison?”
“Oh, Dad!”
“I don’t know why you all think Andrew would want to go to any silly old dance,” injected Winston with ten-year-old wisdom. “If I was him, I sure wouldn’t want to have to dance with any dumb old girls!”
“Oh, Winston,” said Heather, “just wait a few years.” And everyone laughed. Everyone except Winston.
The next morning, James and Allison drove out to the airport. Allison could sense her father’s anticipation. This really was a big event, and she wished she had gotten him a little gift. Perhaps she could pick up something later. This week he had completed all his required hours and was now ready to go up for his first solo flight, then Mac would present him with his pilot’s license. But just as they got out of the car and greeted Mac, Allison noticed a familiar truck driving up.
“Dad,” she whispered, nudging him with her elbow. “Isn’t that Grace’s jalopy coming this way?”
James turned and looked with wide eyes, then nodded his head. But as the old red pickup drew closer, they saw it was Andrew in the driver’s seat, and he was alone.
“What’s going on?” James asked with a puzzled expression as Andrew parked nearby.
Allison was afraid to answer but knew that an explanation was in order. “I . . . uh . . . I’m not sure what he’s doing, but I did sort of let it slip out to Andrew—”
“What?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. But as soon as it was out, I made Andrew promise to keep the secret. He swore he wouldn’t tell a soul. You can trust Andrew.”
“I hope you’re right, Allison.”
Andrew was climbing out of the jalopy with a sheepish grin. “I don’t want to intrude, Mr. O’Brian. I was just so excited about what you’re doing that I thought it would be okay if I stopped in to watch—from the ground, of course. And I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone. I promise.”
James’ shoulders relaxed and he laughed. “Okay, okay. I know I can trust you. Besides, it’s only a matter of time until I have to break the news to Grace, and it can’t hurt to have some supporters when I do. I know how much Grace respects you, Andrew. Maybe you can pull for me on this.”
“You bet, Mr. O’Brian,” said Andrew. “I’ll be glad to.”
James turned to Mac. “Mac, this is Andrew Amberwell, Port View’s local star quarterback.”
“Pleasure to meet you, sir,” Andrew said politely. “I have often wondered about this airport. I would give anything to go up in one of those.” He nodded toward the planes in the hangar.
“Nice to meet you, too, Andrew,” said Mac as they shook hands. He turned back to James with a twinkle in his eye. “Looks like we’ve got another potential aviator on our ha
nds.”
James frowned slightly. “Grace is going to want to boil me like a crab dinner.”
“I promise your secret is safe with me, Mr. O’Brian,” Andrew said. “I understand completely. I know how Grace is about flying. You won’t have an easy battle ahead, but I’ll stand by you, sir.”
James patted Andrew on the back. “Thanks, son. And believe me, I’ll remember that when the time comes.”
“All right, now,” Mac said. “The big moment is upon us. Are you ready, James?”
“You better believe I am! I’ve been waiting for this moment for years.” He turned to Andrew and Allison. “Any final words of wisdom for the old man?”
“You’ll be fine, Dad.” Then Allison thought about it for a moment. “Won’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Have fun,” Andrew said. “And God bless.”
“Yes,” Allison agreed. “God bless you!”
“Thanks, you two. That’s just what I needed.” James grinned at them, then marched ceremoniously toward the little two-seater plane. He went through all the proper checks and was soon taxiing toward the runway. Allison held her breath as the little yellow Piper Cub began quickly picking up speed and finally lifted off. Then she let out a big sigh as the plane climbed easily into the sky.
“Simple as pie,” said Mac. “Your dad’s a natural, Allison.”
“Yes, sir. That’s what I thought.”
“That looks so fun,” Andrew said. “How long will he stay up?”
“Oh, we agreed on an hour,” Mac said, pulling out a gold pocket watch. “There’s nothing quite like your first solo flight. No sense in cutting it too short. I’ll be in the office if you need me.”
Allison and Andrew stood out on the field, watching the yellow plane flying south until it became a tiny speck.
“That is so great,” Andrew said. “I would love to be able to do that.”
“Me too,” Allison agreed. “I think I may get the chance.” Then she looked at Andrew. “You could probably go up, too, but you’d need to ask Grace first.”
Allison O'Brian on Her Own, Volume 2 Page 10