“Passing the office of that ‘fantastic’ paper, the Kenabeek Gazette,” Michael informed him, laughing. “There it is, children, look your fill.”
Peggy and Danny whipped around in their seats to look. “The building looks just like my father’s newspaper in Rockport,” Peggy said, “only a little smaller. I wonder if Ford Birmingham is in.”
“Well, you won’t have a chance to find out,” Michael said. “I’m taking you across town to see Mary Hopkins’ mother. Mary said they might have some things we could use.”
Peggy looked eagerly around the little town of Lake Kenabeek as they drove through. It was only a few buildings on either side of the main highway. A post office, drugstore, general store, and sporting goods shop, the newspaper building, and a couple of restaurants. The residents’ houses and cottages were almost all off the main highway, on twisting roads, hidden behind the profusion of pine trees and thick forest growth.
Peggy wished she could have just a few minutes to stroll around. “Goodness,” she said, “I’ve been here ten days, and this is the first time I’ve been into town since I got off that bus!”
“You mean ten years!” Michael retorted. “I’ve felt at least ten years go by since I first saw you that afternoon!”
Danny and Peggy laughed. Looking at Michael, though, Peggy realized that he wasn’t far wrong about himself. He had grown up in the past week! And he seemed to be having more fun. He wasn’t as serious and shy as he had been at the start. For his sake, Peggy was glad of the change.
“The jeep has aged, too,” Danny commented. “Don’t I detect a cough in the engine?”
“Oh, no, that’s only her way of saying hello.” Michael patted the wheel as if the jeep were alive. “Look—there it is—the ogre!” Michael pointed to the movie house and shook a fist playfully as they drove by.
“Well, you certainly don’t seem too worried about the state of affairs!” Danny commented.