Between Two Storms, Andrew C. Dooley [black male authors txt] 📗

boat landing.
“Let’s paddle a little faster,” Andrew said.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” said Jody. Sandy was standing right at the edge of the water. The sky and water were darker, the waves were rougher and the wind was pushing against them so that they had to paddle hard to make headway. It all happened quickly.
“What is she doing?” Jody said. When Andrew looked his Mom was about knee deep in the water.
“What are you doing? We’re coming in,” he yelled to his Mom.
Just then a skate surfaced to their right, large and dark. The tips of its wings rose out of the water like devil’s horns and water rolled across its glossy back. Andrew, being in the front of the boat saw him first. He rose to his feet, spear in hand like Poseidon’s trident. The first white-hot vein of lightning flashed in the dark grey distance of the horizon like a thunderbolt of Zeus. A cracking rumble shook the sky and Earth. He watched the skate, flapping its lazy wing-like fins, floating closer like a bird flying into the sight of a rifle.
He steadied himself, poised to strike, waiting for the ray to swim into reach. Lightning lit up the sky behind them again. Only several feet away, on the other side of the ray, something burst from the water. It took him a moment to realize it was his Mom. The skate was directly in between them; and it turned toward Sandy as the growl from the storm sank to a low rumble.
“Get the skate,” Jody yelled.
“Don’t do it,” yelled Sandy.
“Just use the spear. He’s right there.”
“Andrew, don’t you dare,” Sandy said. The skate was directly between them.
“You better listen to me.” Her voice kind of trailed off because the skate had turned and was now facing her.
“Mom, let me get it,” Andrew said in a quiet, sure voice. “It’s right here; I know exactly what to do. I know I can get it.”
“Come on, get it.” Jody’s voice was urging, impatient.
“Andrew,” his Mom said. He was still balancing on the dinghy as it pitched with the waves. He had a good grip on the spear; one hand on the end, the other in the middle, with the tip pointed at the skate, watching it float, facing his Mom with its fins rising and falling. The ray slowly sunk to the bottom. He saw it turn out to the Bay just before it disappeared completely in the dark water.
Before they were out of the water rain had started to fall. Jody and Andrew carried the dinghy around the house and set it upside down beside the driveway.
“This isn’t going to be fun. You’re Mom is going to really let us have it. I wish we could hide somewhere until she wasn’t mad anymore,” Jody said.
“I’d rather be out in the storm in the orange boat than inside with her when she’s mad like this,” Andrew said. The rain was falling hard and cold. They walked slowly to the house and peeked inside before stepping in to brave the storm.


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Publication Date: 02-20-2010

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