Free Horrible Harry Goes to Sea by Suzy Kline

Ancestors

    M y name is Doug. I’m in third grade. I write stories about things that happen in Room 3B. Usually, the stories are about Harry, who likes to do horrible things, or Song Lee, the nicest person in our class.
    I never thought I’d write about Ida.
    I mean, why would I?
    She hardly says anything.
    She plays with Song Lee and Mary.
    She takes dance lessons after school.
    She wears her hair in a ponytail that looks like a neat bush on top of her head.
    Big deal.
    Well, one morning in November, we found out something about Ida that none of us knew before. I couldn’t believe it! No one could.
    It all started on a Tuesday, when Ida walked into class carrying a black box. It was about the size of a loaf of bread.

    â€œOoooh,” Mary oohed. “A box with a lock. What’s inside?”
    â€œYou’ll see,” Ida replied as she walked over to her desk. The bush on her head bounced around like it was in a wind storm.
    Mary followed her. “Does that little key you’re wearing open the lock on your black box?”
    â€œYes,” Ida said, fooling with her gold necklace. “This key opens it up.”
    Now four of us stared at the gold key.
    â€œOpen it!” Sidney shouted.
    â€œYeah,” Harry agreed. “Maybe there’s a snake inside.”
    â€œIda.” Mary quivered. “Is there something ... horrible in that box?”
    Before Ida could reply, the bell rang.
    â€œPlease be seated,” Miss Mackle said.
    After the Pledge of Allegiance, and lunch count, the teacher announced, “Boys and girls, it’s time to share our homework.”
    I opened my backpack. Just about everybody put something on their desk. Even Harry, but it was too small to see what it was.
    â€œBoys and girls,” the teacher said, “For the past few days we have been talking about our ancestors. Who can explain what that word means?”
    â€œIt means our dead relatives,” Harry blurted out. Then he flashed his white teeth.
    While Miss Mackle made a face, Mary reworded things. “Ancestors are people in our family who lived before us. They are our family roots ... our family tree.”
    â€œThank you, Mary,” the teacher replied. “You know class, when we learn about our ancestors, we learn more about ourselves. For homework, you were to talk to your parents about your ancestors, and bring something to class about one of them. Who would like to go first?”
    Everyone’s hand went up except Song Lee’s and Ida’s. I expected Song Lee not to raise her hand. She was shy about going up in front of the class. But I had no idea why Ida didn’t raise hers. So I asked.
    â€œI want to be last,” she whispered back. “Mine is really special.” I nodded as she squeezed her gold key.
    â€œMe! Me! Me!” Sidney called out, waving his hand in the air as if he had just fallen in the middle of a frozen lake.
    â€œSidney,” Miss Mackle replied calmly.
    Sid raced up to the front of the room and put a patch over his left eye. “My grandmother told me about our family tree. And three hundred years ago one of my ancestors was a pirate! His name was Rupert, and he had red hair just like me. He sailed off the coast of Cape Cod. Isn’t that cool?”
    Everyone raised their eyebrows. Even Harry. It was definitely cool.
    Sidney continued. “My grandmother also told me the reason why he wore one gold earring. When a pirate dies and is washed ashore, whoever finds his dead body is supposed to dig him a grave and bury him. The gold earring pays for the guy’s hard work.”

    â€œFascinating!” Miss Mackle exclaimed.
    â€œWas Rupert’s dead body washed ashore?” Harry asked.
    â€œNo,” Sidney groaned. “Grandma said when his ship docked one day, he met a woman named Rose, married her, and wasn’t a pirate anymore. Bummer.”
    â€œBummer,” Harry agreed.
    When it was Mary’s