the dreaded “however.”
“If you’re going to work with me on the boat someday, you’re going to have to learn to respect the tide and the sea. The tide doesn’t slow down just because you’re having too much fun playing in the mud. You’re also going to have to learn to listen and follow instructions. I can’t have a deckhand who doesn’t pay attention.”
Sam nodded miserably. He dreamed of deckhanding for Dad when he was older. He was mad at himself for acting like a little kid. Still, this was pretty light punishment.
Maybe if he looked really sorry and pathetic, he could get off with just the lecture.
Not so lucky.
Time to Eat!
Mom looked stern as she said, “Sam, for the next six weeks, you’ll be forfeiting your allowance to help pay for a new pair of boots.”
“Yes, Mom,” mumbled Sam.
There went his spending money for an upcoming class trip to Homer. Oh well, he thought, it could be worse.
“I’ve got to rinse down the tools and check on the boat,” Dad said to Mom. “If you’ll make lunch for us hungry clam-hunters, I’ll fix a chowder for dinner.”
“Sounds good,” replied Mom, “as long as you throw in your buttermilk biscuits.”
“It’s a deal,” smiled Dad.
Sam watched Mom work. She steamed the giant clam in a little water until the shell opened and the clam inside was firm. Then she cleaned dark green algae out of its stomach and chopped the clam into pieces.
“Sam, this really is the biggest clam I’ve ever seen,” said Mom. “Imagine—one clam feeding three people for lunch!”
She dipped each piece in beaten egg and then rolled it in bread crumbs and cornmeal. In a heavy cast-iron skillet, Mom heated bacon grease until it sputtered. Then she tossed in the pieces of breaded clam and fried them until they were golden brown.
Dad stamped his feet on the mat and came through the kitchen door: “Smells great in here!”
He sat down and Mom gave them each a small heap of fried clam. Sam’s very large clam was absolutely delicious—hot, buttery, and salty fresh like the sea.
After lunch, Dad rubbed stinky ointment into the sole of Sam’s foot and wrapped it in a clean, soft piece of old sheet. Sam helped him shuck all the little clams for the chowder they would have for dinner.
Dad set a big pot on the back of the range and brought a little water to a fierce boil. He placed handfuls of clams in the pot until their shells steamed open wide. Then, he removed them with a big slotted spoon into a bowl to cool.
Using a small knife, Sam scooped the clams out of their shells and into another bowl.
Next, Sam helped his mother chop potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. Dad strained some of the cooking water from the clams into a bowl, then rinsed out the big pot and set it back on the range. Dad cut up a slab of bacon and browned it in the pot with some garlic and the onion and celery. Then, he added the potatoes and carrots and the cooking water from the clams.
When the potatoes were soft, he dumped in Sam’s bowl of shucked clams. Dad grabbed a can of creamed corn from the pantry and added it to the pot. Mom chopped fresh parsley, and shook in rosemary and dill. Then on went the lid, and down went the heat.
Last but not least, Dad stirred in rich canned milk. Together with his homemade biscuits, this was the tastiest dinner Sam could imagine!
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