DAVEY wanted to carry the turtle in single handed, but he was voted down and instead he was given the honor of bringing Mom down to surprise her.
“Old rubber-back” had been turned right side up again, and he sat quietly on the floor boards, all tired out from his struggle. Mom came hurrying down, escorted by the beaming Davey.
“Where’s the turtle?” she called.
“Oh, my goodness, it’s as big as a house!”
“Why it’s immense!”
“What will Dad say?”
Everyone answered at once and even Mrs. Landry, their neighbor, came over to see the catch. She volunteered the use of her big wash tub as a temporary tank. A man who was visiting at Williams took the fish hook out of the turtle’s jaw, and after that he seemed quite contented in his new home. They decided to keep him until Daddy could get out to see him.
Everyone raced for the porch when Mom mentioned food. They were sprawled about in comfortable chairs finishing their lunch and laughing and talking, when all of a sudden Janie exclaimed,