“But we had a swell trip,” Teena put in. “Thanks for letting us use the boat.”
“You earned it,” Mr. Anderson reminded them. “By the way, those two fellows who have been fishing over the sand bar came in a while ago. Didn’t catch a thing. Sure a stubborn pair, aren’t they?”
“Maybe they just don’t like to clean fish,” Eddie said. But he was glad Mr. Anderson had mentioned the men. It added evidence to his belief that they weren’t the least bit interested in fishing, anyway.
After cleaning up the boat, he and Teena started along the dock. Eddie carried the metal tube rolled up in his blue jeans.
“Any time you want a boat,” Mr. Anderson said, as they stepped off the dock and started across the beach toward home, “you’re always welcome to earn it the same way.”
“Thanks,” Eddie called back. “We may need one again before long.”
It was a little past three o’clock when they reached Eddie’s house.
“You certainly made it in good time,” his mother said. “Any luck?”
“Not at Cedar Point,” Eddie said. “But, Mom, we found something else. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s not home from school yet,” his mother said. “What’s that you have wrapped up in your jeans?”