scene.
Suddenly, Allen fixed John with an angry glare and spat out, “Those blasted Indians took my brother and now this. It isn’t fair, John. It isn’t fair.”
John didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing. He simply stayed next to his friend offering silent sympathy. When more people arrived, John returned home to the Manuels’ place.
That afternoon he helped Mrs. Manuel stack wood. He was happy to do an easy task that kept his mind off the events of the past day. Once the woodpile was finished, John decided to go for a walk to clear his head. He followed the path up over the hill and noticed someone familiar sitting down and staring out at the ocean.
“Hello, Annie,” he said.
“Hello,” she said warily. “How do you know my name?”
The nine-year-old viewed John with suspicion. Her face was a combination of sadness and anger.
“I’m new here, but I’m good friends with your Uncle Allen.”
“Oh,” Annie said, her glower subsiding a little.
John studied the girl’s tousled chestnut-brown hair and her tear-stained cheeks, which seemed more freckles than face.
“What are you doing up here on this path?” she asked.
“Just going for a walk. I had a lot on my mind.”
“Me, too.” She sighed heavily. “They’re burying my mother in a couple of hours.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. She was very sick. My father says at least she isn’t suffering anymore, but I’m still sad.”
“And so you should be.”
Annie turned and shot John a piercing look. “And how would you know how I should feel? Did you ever lose a mother?”
John cleared his throat. “Yes, I did. And I wasn’t much older than you are now when my mother died. Except I lived in England then.”
“Oh ...” Annie said. “What’s it like living without a mother?”
“Well, it isn’t easy, but I still have memories of her. I try to be strong for her. And I had my older sister to help me. It hurt really bad at first. Over time I learned to keep going, though. That’s why I came here to Exploits Island — to make a new life for myself, to keep going.”
“Yes, that’s what my father says. He says we have to keep going somehow. He also says I talk too much, so I don’t know if I believe him. You don’t think I chatter on too much, do you?”
John chuckled. “No, no, you don’t talk too much at all. But your father’s right about the other matter. For your mother’s sake you have to keep going. Annie, we should head back now for your mother’s burial.”
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