“Then, why didn’t you come to me?”
“I didn’t think of doing that.”
“Oh, Uncle Josiah!”
“Yes, I sold my boat. There wa’n’t no 302 wonder I was singing, was there?” he asked, passing his hand across his face as if to clear his vision. “I cal’late that song wa’n’t much like music to you, but I just naturally had to do something to keep my feelings afloat, didn’t I, Beth?”
“Yes.”
“I sold her,” he said, speaking as though his thoughts were coming by way of his tongue. “It wa’n’t easy. Just like parting with an old friend. It sort of pulled on me. Odd, ain’t it, how an old boat like that can get a hold on a feller?”
“No, it is not odd. Some of the happiest moments of my life were spent on board the Jennie P.”
“Do you honest feel that way about her?”
“Yes.”
“I’m mighty glad, Beth,” he said, his eyes gleaming with pride. “She sartin was a worthy craft.”