Houseboat Girl by Lois Lenski Read Free Book Online

turned her over and started pumping water out of her. She wished they would stop. At last they did and she was able to rest and get her breath back. Then she opened her eyes.
    There was Milly with frightened face, kneeling beside her. There was Stub Henderson, the cranky old storekeeper, staring down at her. And over on the leather couch, Bunny and Dan were holding each other and crying their eyes out.
    “You’re gonna learn to swim, young lady,” said Stub! He sounded very cross. “I’m gonna learn you myself before this day is over.”
    When Patsy got up, she looked at Stub Henderson and said, “What you doin’ here?”
    “I was fishin’ in my johnboat when I heard a big splash,” Stub said. “I come over to get the biggest fish of all and it was YOU!”
    Milly laughed, but Patsy did not think his joke was funny at all. She was worried about only one thing. “Promise me you won’t tell Mama and Daddy,” she begged.
    Stub promised on condition that Patsy would learn how to swim.
    “Come on, now,” he said. “No time like the present.”
    “I’m tired,” said Patsy. “I nearly got drowned just now.”
    But Stub would not listen to excuses. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
    “I know how to dog paddle,” said Patsy. “All Dan and Bunny can do, is mud crawl.” Reluctantly she put on her bathing suit.
    “Dog paddling is not swimming,” said Stub.
    He meant business, so he anchored his boat out in the river, where the water was over Patsy’s head. He showed her how to do the side stroke, and told her to swim out to him and he would catch her. Patsy was very scared, but she jumped in and tried it.
    “Come on!” called Stub. “Keep comin’.”
    Patsy tried to make the strokes the way Stub told her, and was surprised when she reached Stub’s boat. Stub moved it farther out, and she tried again. He gave her several pointers, and she tried to do it right.
    “You’re swimmin’, kid! You’re swimmin’!” shouted Stub.
    Patsy swam back and forth several times. Dan and Bunny clapped their hands and even Milly was pleased.
    “Now I won’t have to pull you out any more,” said Stub, as he paddled away in his boat. Patsy kept on practising after he left. Then she got tired, so she climbed up on the deck to rest.
    “From now on,” said Milly, “if you fall in, you can get yourself out.”
    When Mamma and Daddy got back at five o’clock, the children were excited over the news they had to tell.
    “Patsy can swim! Patsy can swim!” they cried. They told how Stub Henderson came and gave her lessons. At first Mama would not believe it. Then she said, “It’s about time you learned. Now I’ll stop worryin’ about you fallin’ in. It’ll be Little Abe’s turn to learn next.”
    The very next Saturday, Patsy got her longed-for trip to town. Daddy slipped on the fish barge and sprained his ankle, so he decided not to go. Mama took Patsy with her.
    It was a hot summer day. They drove through corn and tobacco fields. The tobacco was only a foot high and had not begun to sucker yet. The corn was getting tall and roasting ears were setting on. They passed orchards of fruit trees and soon came to Barlow, a small town. Main Street was lined with booths, and peddlers in cars. It was a busy place with people coming and going. Country people had brought vegetables, chickens, eggs, corn and other produce to sell. Town people came to buy.
    Mrs. Foster and Patsy sat in the Ford and waited for customers. When one came, Mama got out and sold fish. Buying was brisk for a while, then it slackened.
    “We’ll have to go on to Kevil,” said Mama, discouraged. “Daddy’s better at selling than I am.” Then she saw a familiar figure coming down the street. “There comes Mr. Cooper. He’s been buying from us every week. Maybe he’ll help us out.”
    Mr. Cooper owned the restaurant down at the corner.
    “So this is the houseboat girl!” he exclaimed, patting Patsy on the back. “Got any fresh fish today, Mrs.