Free Never Say Never by Lena Nelson Dooley

excursion that also included a visit to a working plantation and lunch on the beach.
    â€œLet’s hope there are still tickets available.” Charlotte walked toward the phone. “We should have decided where we wanted to go that first day we spent at sea. If we had ordered our tickets then, we wouldn’t have to worry about not getting some now.”
    When she called the purser, other passengers had turned in two tickets to that excursion, so Charlotte ordered them. They quickly dressed and went to the breakfast buffet at the Oceanic Grille. After finishing, they had to hurry to reach the theater in time for their excursion group to meet.
    After an explanatory speech by one of the crewmembers, the group took the elevators down to deck two to exit the ship. Big white vans waited on the other side of the fence from the dock to whisk them away from Ocho Rios. Charlotte liked having her daughter with her on the bus.
    Chelle eagerly took everything in. “There aren’t as many palm trees here as on the other two islands and lots of other kinds of trees. Mom, why were Cozumel and Grand Cayman so flat, but Jamaica has mountains?”
    â€œJamaica was formed by volcanic action on the ocean floor, much like the Hawaiian Islands were. Cozumel and the Cayman Islands are coral islands that built up over time.”
    Chelle turned back from the window. “Oh yeah, we studied something about that kind of thing in science class. I had forgotten.”
    The people seated in front of them turned around and introduced themselves. The rest of the forty-five-minute drive to the plantation was spent getting acquainted.
    After they exited the vans, Chelle turned all around, looking at everything. There was a lot to see, and Charlotte’s heart gladdened because of her interest.
    â€œLook at those funny tractor thingies.”
    â€œThose ‘funny tractor thingies’ are going to take us on a tour of the plantation.” Charlotte led her daughter to the last vehicle to load passengers.
    As they traveled through the lush tropical setting, their guide told them the history of the plantation, which had been producing tropical fruit since the eighteenth century. Sugar cane for both sugar and rum was another cash crop grown there. Finally, they reached a large packing shed with modern equipment and lots of workers.
    â€œLook, Mom.” Chelle pointed toward tables set up by a huge tree with branches spreading to provide a canopy of shade. “They have refreshments for us. I’m really thirsty.”
    Charlotte followed her. They drank punch and sampled sweet juicy pineapple, pieces of crunchy coconut, and chunks of fresh sugar cane, which they sucked on to get out the syrupy nectar.
    â€œThis punch is good.” Chelle turned toward the Jamaican woman with the broad smile, who stood behind the table. “What’s in it?”
    â€œOh, little bits o’ this ’n’ that. All the kinds of fruit grown on the plantation.” Her musical accent floated through the humid air. “Would your mother like some punch with a little more punch?” Her eyebrows rose as she turned to Charlotte.
    â€œNo, thank you. This is just fine.” Charlotte took another sip and reached for a large chunk of fresh coconut meat.
    â€œOkay everybody.” The guide stood in the center of the clearing holding a clipboard. “Come on now. We’re going to the Great House.”
    After the short ride, they filed up on the wide, columned porch and through the double front doors. Charlotte loved the open feel of the rooms. Windows reached almost from the floor to the tall ceilings. They were wide open to let in the breeze, which was helped along by the many ceiling fans. Even so, she was glad she had worn her coolest gauzy culottes and tank top.
    Furniture spread in pleasing arrangements in the large rooms told the history of the area. Pieces from the last three centuries blended together, giving