Free The Night I Flunked My Field Trip #5 by Henry Winkler Page B

“I got a Boy Scout badge for rope-tying when I was a kid.”
    I wanted to say pull up a chair, Mr. Lingg, and help us figure this mess out. But, instead, I heard my voice say, “We’re doing fine. No problem here.”
    I hate it when my voice speaks without asking me first. Mr. Lingg passed by us and headed over to Katie and Kim.
    â€œOkay, I think I got it,” Collin said, looking up from the book. “Step Number One.”
    I hate instructions that begin with Step Number One, because that means there are seven thousand more steps coming.
    â€œStep Number One,” Collin repeated. “Take the line to the ear of the cleat furthest from the load.”
    Hello! Can somebody translate that into English?
    â€œStep Number Two,” Collin read on. “Start your figure eight across the top of the opposite ear.”
    Check, please. I’m out of here.
    â€œHey, Collin,” I said. “Excuse me a minute. I’ve got to use the head.”
    I dropped the rope and took off. I needed Frankie.
    I found him and Luke sitting with a group of kids at the stern of the ship. (How about that for nautical vocabulary?) They were studying the sky while Mr. Gladson explained how sailors navigate using the stars.
    â€œPsst, Frankie,” I whispered, and motioned for him to come over to me. Mr. Gladson stopped talking and frowned at me.
    â€œAre you having trouble with your knots, sailor?” he asked.
    â€œNo way. Piece of cake. We’ll be getting that certificate for sure. I just need to talk to Frankie for a second.”
    Frankie didn’t look happy about it, but he got up and came over to me.
    â€œI’m in trouble,” I whispered to him. “I need help.”
    â€œGo ask your new best friend Collin,” Frankie said. He started to leave, but I pulled him back.
    â€œFrankie, listen. We’re supposed to tie the ship down, but I can’t figure the knot out. We’re all going to float away.”
    â€œNo we’re not,” he said. “Use your head, man. The boat is already tied down. Didn’t you see the huge rope wound around that thingamajig on the dock?”
    â€œIt’s called a cleat.”
    â€œWow, listen to you, matey. Whatever. You think they’re going to let a kid be responsible for making sure we don’t drift out to sea?”
    He had a point. But Mr. Gladson told us we had to tie down the other two ropes. And there was the line handlers certificate to consider. Collin really wanted that.
    â€œFrankie,” I begged. “You know how I am with directions. Come on, you’ve got to help me. It’ll be fun. I’ll give you my certificate.”
    â€œOh, now you want to hang out with me?” he said. “Forget it.”
    â€œBut Frankie—”
    â€œThis is the way you wanted it, dude. Tie your heart out.”
    Frankie went back and took his seat with the group.
    On my way back to our station, I ran into Collin. He was heading down the stairs to go below deck.
    â€œDid you give up?” I asked, hoping like crazy that he had.
    â€œI just got cold,” he said. “I’ll get our jackets and be back.”
    While I waited for Collin, I leaned over the railing and stared out at the dock. That big rope Frankie had talked about was bouncing up and down as it strained against the cleat. The moon was shining, and I could see the knot clearly. It didn’t look so complicated from where I was. In fact, all of a sudden, it was big and clear.
    They should make diagrams in books that big, I thought. Then they’d be much easier to follow.
    Wait a minute. That’s it. My brain started going so fast that I thought I actually heard it clicking.
    Yes! Hank Daniel Zipzer. You just had a brilliant idea.

CHAPTER 19
    YOU HAVE TO KNOW THIS ABOUT ME. When I get a good idea, I move fast. There’s no stopping me. My brilliant idea required that I leave the boat. So I zipped over to the gangway