[Chapter 6]
OCEANUS
"Try oncet more, Lucy! Just oncet more!" Grandpa was imploring the operator.
Paul and Maureen were on the floor at Grandpa's feet, listening anxiously. Grandma brought in the lantern and set it on the organ near him as if somehow it would help them all hear better.
After an unbearable wait Grandpa bellowed, "Tom! That you, Tom? How are my ponies?"
A pause.
"What's that? You're worried about your son's chickens!" Grandpa clamped his hand over the mouthpiece and snorted in disgust. He summoned all of his patience. "All right, tell me 'bout the chickens, but make it quick." He held the receiver slightly away from his ear so that everyone could listen in.
"My son," Tom Reed was shouting as loud as Grandpa, "raises chickens up to my house, you know."
"Yup, yup, I know."
"He's got four chicken houses here, and he comes up about eight o'clock tonight, and wind's a-screeching and a-blowing, and the stoves burn more coal when the wind blows hard."