Free First Came the Owl by Judith Benét Richardson Page A

always and Nita’s knees unlocked.
    In the kitchen, she saw that Captain Pudge was standing in the middle of the room. He was as big as the refrigerator. Bill is gone, thank goodness, thought Nita. She made herself very small in the corner of the breakfast table and stared down into her orange juice glass. She knew she should say hello, but before she could get up her courage, Captain Pudge spoke. “Hi, there, Nita.”
    â€œYou’re the person Dad goes fishing with,” she heard her own voice say, finally.
    â€œI wish he were here now,” said the Captain. “Then we might get in some ice fishing.”
    Suddenly Captain Pudge looked embarrassed and shifted from foot to foot. Maybe he hadn’t meant to say anything about ice, thought Nita.
    Mrs. S. put a plate of pancakes in front of her and headed for the stairs.
    â€œWell, Nita,” Captain Pudge said as he sat down across from her, “I have an idea to do something while your Dad’s away. I wonder if you’ll think it’s a good idea.”
    He was asking her if he had a good idea? Nita put a big bite of pancakes in her mouth.
    â€œAbout your Mom…” He stopped, embarrassed.
    Nita thought, I know how it feels when you’re trying to tell someone something and you just can’t get it out. But what can Captain Pudge do for Ma-jah?
    â€œThose flowers of hers, I’ve been watering them, and that got me thinking.”
    Nita was so surprised that she said, “What do you want with them? ”
    â€œI want to make her a better window. Out at your house. So her orchids will grow better.” He shoved a picture across the kitchen table. “It will get lots of sun, and look, lights along the side for when the day is dark, or, like now, winter. And a tray of stones so it doesn’t matter if the water spray gets on the floor.”
    Underneath the picture it said DOUBLE GLASS . It showed a window that was twice as big as the little windows in the house by the lighthouse. “Well?” said the Captain.
    This was not the moment to be tongue-tied, a joke Dad used to make about her, only he spelled it tongue-thai-d.
    â€œIt’s great!” said Nita, relieved that this conversation was not about herself at all; it was about Ma-jah. She beamed at the Captain. “Is that why there were tools in our kitchen?”
    The Captain smiled back and let out a deep breath. “I got the stuff together but I want to be sure you think she’ll like it.”
    â€œI’m sure. I’m sure she will.”
    â€œSo, will you come out to the house with me?”
    â€œWell, okay.” Nita felt more doubtful. “But … do you know when Dad’s coming back?”
    Now the Captain looked worried again. “They put in to Boston, but now they’ve gone back out, and he went with them. You know how stubborn he is. He wants to get that system working right.”
    â€œThat’s not why he went back out. It’s because Mom isn’t home. I don’t think he wants to be home without her.”
    There! It was out. Captain Pudge looked uncomfortable, but he didn’t say anything.
    For a minute neither of them spoke. Then Nita asked, “What is your real name, anyway?”
    He laughed. “Al Vanderpost, but I know what they call me!” His big body shook with laughter. “Now, let’s get going, if you’ve finished those flapjacks.”
    Nita laughed. “Can Anne come too?”
    â€œSure.”
    Nita ran upstairs to find her. She met Mrs. S. at the top of the stairs. Mrs. S. smiled. “Oh, Nita,” she said, “I want to tell you not to worry if you heard Bill sounding grouchy. His bark is worse than his bite.”
    â€œHis bark?”
    â€œHe won’t bite you. He likes you but he’s worried about you.”
    Nita wasn’t sure this was true. “Can Anne come with me to my house?” she asked.
    â€œI’m