Saving Peg Leg h6z73

Saving Peg Leg

Written by Michael Fitzpatrick Illustrations by Mary MacDonald

AuthorHouse™ 1663 Liberty Drive Bloomington, IN 47403 www.authorhouse.com Phone: 1 (800) 839-8640

© 2017 Written by Michael Fitzpatrick. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/31/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9482-1 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-5246-9480-7 (hc) ISBN: 978-1-5246-9481-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017908635

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

To J.M.: You inspired me to write, and I thank you! To M.M.: Your artwork is amazing! Thank you!

Contents

Chapter 1 The Egg

Chapter 2 Captured and Released

Chapter 3 Hawk’s Claws

Chapter 4 The Spencer’s

Chapter 5 The Spencers’ Home

Chapter 6 Peg Leg

Chapter 7 Dr. Mahoney’s Clinic

Chapter 8 The Library with Mrs. Green

Chapter 9 Grandma Grace

Chapter 10 A Talk about Sunday School

Chapter 11 A Sign from Above

Chapter 12 Sister Nora and the Saints

Chapter 13 Peg Leg Comes Home

Chapter 14 A Chat with Mom

Chapter 15 A Visit with Mrs. Green

Chapter 16 Mr. Sharry

Chapter 17 The Pet Fair at the Park

Chapter 18 The Treehouse

Chapter 19 The Swing

Chapter 20 The Park

Chapter 21 Camping in the Yard

Chapter 22 The Surprise

Chapter 23 One Man’s Bluff

Chapter 24 A Gift from Grandma Grace

Chapter 25 The Weather Report

Chapter 26 Peg Leg Goes Missing

Chapter 27 The Search

Chapter 28 Jane’s Last Journal Entry

Chapter 29 An Answered Request

Chapter 30 A New Home for Peg Leg

Chapter 1

The Egg

An egg is a fascinating creation. It can come in many colors and sizes, and is oval in shape. From creatures as small as a butterfly to as large as an ostrich, life begins a new stage of living when the egg hatches. Some of these creatures spend time learning from their mothers. Baby birds are fed and taught to fly, and when ready, they leave the nest to venture off on their own. Other animals, when they hatch, are on their own from the beginning of life and never get to learn from their parents. One of these animals is the turtle. After turtles mate, they lay their eggs under a sandy shore on a beach or muddy area of a riverbank. The turtles will never see their babies hatch.

They immediately return to the water. When their eggs hatch, the young turtles begin their journey of life by trekking through their ancestral waters, fending off life’s ups and downs by themselves in search of a place to call home. One early morning in late August, just before the sun began to rise in start of a new day, a small wood turtle hatched out of its shell from under the cool, grainy sand on the shore of the Connecticut River. Its mother, nowhere to be seen, had laid her eggs only a few months prior. It immediately began its life crawling slowly on the top layer of the wet sand toward the bank of the river, leaving a perfect track of footprints and underbody behind. It soon reached its destination, diving under the cold water and searching for its first meal. As it moved gracefully downstream, the turtle swam into a rapidly moving current, causing it to glide through the water like a skier on a steep slope glides down the freshly fallen snow. A sense of peace filled its body; it was happy to be alive. The turtle settled on a muddy shore about a mile from where it began its life. He crawled up to a flat part of a large stone sticking out from the mud and lay quietly for a while. The sun shone brightly on its shell as its first day of life on land began.

Chapter 2

Captured and Released

A boy, about five years of age, was using binoculars in search of something unique. He stood on a walking bridge and looked down along the shore where the turtle was basking. “Hey, Mom! Just look at the turtle! I’m gonna capture it!” said the boy.

Before his mother could respond, the boy was holding the turtle with one hand and using the other hand to poke inside it with a long, pointed stick. “Jesse! Leave the poor thing alone and get back up here at once! You’re getting mud all over your new sneakers!” yelled his mother. The turtle for the first time in its young life, immediately retreated inside its hard, protective shell. The boy began slipping on the mud beneath his feet and tossed the turtle up in the air to a grassy area between the rocky incline and the bridge. As he climbed to the top, still slipping occasionally on the wet surface, his sneakers became covered with mud. The turtle, landing with a thud on the grass and rock below him, lay motionless, not budging from him shell. The sense of danger was real. “Jesse James Joseph!” screamed his mother. “How many times have I told you to leave those critters alone! Now take off those muddy sneakers and get into the car.” Ignoring his mother’s commands, the boy jumped into the back of the car with muddy shoes, leaving a track of mud and sandy debris on the seat and floor of the car while holding the turtle in his hands. He placed the turtle in an empty yellow pail that laid on the floor. His mother didn’t know he was taking the frightened turtle home with him. The boy lived with his mother and grandmother in a small apartment in a large city. (Not an ideal place for a wood turtle.) Life was not easy in the time the turtle spent with the boy. It spent most of its time sheltered inside its shell, scared to come out. It would have starved to death if it weren’t for the start of school and the thoughtfulness of the boy’s grandmother. One day, after dropping the boy off at school, the grandmother began her daily chores of cleaning the house. As she collected dirty clothes and put away toys from the floor of her grandson’s bedroom, she heard a scuffling sound coming from the closet. She was unaware the turtle was making a desperate plea to be heard. Armed with a broom and a wonderment of what could be making that noise, she quickly opened the closet door. Jumping back with a sigh of relief, she said to

herself, “What in blazes do we have here? That boy needs to stop bringing all of God’s creatures into this house.” Noticing how sickly the turtle looked, she picked it up, brought it to the kitchen, and gave it some spring water and pieces of fruit salad to eat while detaining it in a large rectangular plastic container. It was far better cry than the clutches of the boy’s hands. After a while of observing, she noticed the turtle had gained some life back into its tiny body. The woman thought about what to do next with the scared, frightened turtle. She decided to take it to a safer place. She knew a little boy’s hands, and an apartment in a city was no place for the turtle to live. She walked down the noisy street toward a large park in the center of the city. As she entered the park, she walked along a narrow path, up a hilly incline, and down the other side. She dodged bikers, roller skaters, and mommies with babies in strollers until she came to a small pond. There, she released the turtle on the shore, freeing it from the near-death experience it encountered in the apartment. It was as if an angel was sent down from heaven by God to watch over and protect the turtle from harm’s way.

Chapter 3

Hawk’s Claws

The next few weeks went relatively without incident for the turtle. It was gaining his strength back and adapting nicely to its new home. The turtle settled in an old, hollow log for shelter, hiding from predators on one of the islands in the center of the pond. Autumn weather was settling in. The leaves on the trees around the pond were changing to peak colors of bright reds, yellows, and oranges. Food for the turtle was plenty at first, although more of a challenge to find as the cooler temperatures arrived. As time ed, the first snow fell. The pond, looking as sleek as a sheet of glass, began to ice over. The turtle found himself settling down in the waters of the pond. There he rested all winter, finding food to survive on beneath of the murky surface, such as small fish, slugs, and worms. After months of life being seemingly frozen in time, the first sign of spring was heard from the island above. The ice melted away. Frogs began croaking. The birds began chirping. The turtle could hear their voices through the vibrating echoes in the water. He soon emerged from the water below. It was now time to explore the land above again. Having both an aquatic and terrestrial habitat gave him the advantage of seeing what both land and water had to offer. One warm day in late April the turtle trotted slowly along the shore of the pond, in search of something to eat. At the same time, a group of schoolchildren, accompanied by several adult chaperones, walked along a path toward the pond. They were visiting from Upstate New York on a fieldtrip. One of the students noticed the turtle laying on a rock as they stopped to take pictures of the scenery around them. “Hey, guys, look over there. Is that a turtle?” asked a girl with long, curly, brown hair.

“Yes, it is,” replied a teacher. “It’s a wood turtle commonly found in this area.” “Can we take it back to school?” asked another student. “I’m afraid not, Gus,” replied the teacher. “This turtle is on the endangered species list. It’s in danger of being extinct. But we can take pictures of it if you like.” All the kids took turns taking pictures with the turtle, and then one group picture was taken by a erby. When it was time for the group to board the bus back to New York, one of the boys snuck back to where the turtle was resting. When he found it, he picked it up and carefully placed it in his lunchbox and placed the box in his backpack. He boarded the bus without anyone knowing he had a turtle hidden from sight in his bag. Once again, the turtle was captured.

On the way back, they did stop twice for bathroom breaks. The boy, being more caring to the needs of the turtle than the young boy from the apartment, took this break time to give the turtle some water and fruit he bought from one of the rest stop’s general stores. Eventually, one of the chaperones found out that the boy had the turtle hidden in his bag. The teacher scolded him for taking the turtle from its habitat. It was too late to turn back. When they arrived at school, the teacher took the turtle to the science room and placed it in an empty aquarium appropriate for small aquatic animals. After a few days of rest in an aquarium, the turtle adapted nicely to its current surroundings. Then, one day, the same boy who took the turtle from the pond decided to take it out of its new home when no one was looking. He placed it in the same lunchbox and backpack as he did at the pond. When school finished for the day, he brought the turtle to an open field beside the school and let it roam. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge hawk, with its wingspan spread wide, swooped down and grabbed the turtle with its sharply pointed claws! The boy was stunned as he watched the hawk carry it off into the blue sky.

As the hawk flew farther and farther away, the boy could only hope that a miracle would save the turtle from its untimely demise. Out of the boy’s sight, something of a miracle did happen. Someone nearby was flying a drone in the path of the hawk. The buzzing of the drone scared the hawk enough that it opened its claws, releasing the turtle into the emptiness of the air around it. As the turtle broke free, it began to fall to the earth below. This would surely have been the end of its young life if it were to hit the land, but what happened next can only be described as a miracle. The grace of God guided the turtle once again, landing it in some newly bloomed, thickly layered leaves on top of an old oak tree beside a stream, padding its journey as it made its way to the earth below. It was free of the hawk’s claws and any other danger, at least for a moment.

Chapter 4

The Spencer’s

Mr. Spencer was a tall man of medium build. He had light brown hair with grayish highlights and was known best as the town’s handyman. He could fix just about any item that needed repair. Sometimes the townspeople would drop off items at his house for him to repair, and sometimes he would fix them at their houses. He worked hard to help the people and provide a good way of life for his family. His wife and children adored him, and the citizens respected him. But most of all, Mr. Spencer always found time to spend with his family. Right out of college, he co-owned an ment business in the big city with some buddies from school. Two years into the business, he had grown tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city life. He decided to sell his share of the business to other co-owners and moved to the small town where his grandfather lived, located a few towns south from where he grew up. There, he met Helen, got married, bought a home, started a family, and had been there ever since. Mrs. Spencer, a tall, slender woman with long brown hair, was well-liked by the people of the community for her outgoing personality. She enjoyed small-town living and loved the small-town atmosphere. She grew up in a farmhouse on the east side of town. After attending college in the big city, she returned home to care for her parents and to help with the farm duties. At a town function, she met Harold. They married, bought a home, and started a family. After her youngest child, Jane, entered school, Mrs. Spencer became very active in the town. During the week, she often substituted at the local schools. She worked at the church as the organist and choir director on Sundays. She would often volunteer at the nursing home, helping the activity director in organizing fun times for the residents. She did her best to teach her children to become responsible citizens through a love for their faith, helping others, and caring for nature around them.

Mark was a typical boy who enjoyed playing sports, hanging with friends, and had a knack for getting into awkward situations from time to time. (The time he got sprayed by a skunk was a very smelly situation.) He had short, brown hair, was husky in build, and looked like his father. He was always respectful to his parents, teachers, and others, young and old. He loved to hang with his younger sister, Jane, even though he was four years older than her, just as their older sister, Megan, did for him. When Megan would come home on college breaks, she’d spend time with her younger siblings. Mark ed Megan’s generosity toward him when he was younger and tried to help Jane in the ways Megan helped him. Jane, the youngest member of the Spencer family, was a good daughter and always listened to her parents. She had long brown hair, was slender in build, and had many facial features of her mother. She was an excellent student with a will to learn. She was well-liked by her teachers and friends at school, and when she put her mind to a task, she did it. She loved the outdoors, animals, and her family. She enjoyed reading, spending time with her friends, and exploring her backyard with her brother. Most of all, Jane had a big heart. She cared about everyone and anything she encountered, especially the animals in her neighborhood.

Chapter 5

The Spencers’ Home

The Spencers lived in a small town in Upstate New York. Their house was once a barn full of animals and equipment. When Jane’s parents married, they bought the barn from her dad’s grandfather and converted it into a live-in country house perfect for its location. Many of the barn’s features were kept unchanged. On the outside, the house resembled a barn. Mr. Spencer preserved the deeply rich, red paint on the exterior by repainting it every five years. The long, wooden boards and the white-trimmed awning added to its country feel. The original barn doors on the front and back sides of the house were converted into porches. The porches were covered with rocking chairs and swinging love seats for entertaining friends or just relaxing. From spring to early autumn, people could be seen enjoying numerous activities that included relaxing on a rocker and reading a good book, playing board games, or having meaningful conversations with each other. Glasses of lemonade and cookies were served on hot summer days to any guest who ed them. The house was located on the highest point of a dirt road on the north side of the town’s center. A mile from the Hudson River, it stood on an acre of land surrounded by a variety of numerous trees, a small pond, a clear glass greenhouse, a flower garden, and a hilly, rocky landscape that was also home for so many of God’s creatures. On the rooftop stood the original rustic rooster weathervane dawning a campus rose. Some say the house could be seen for miles from the hills on the outskirts of a nearby mountain range.

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer maintained their property as a small farm. They had several chickens, hens, one cow, and a goat. Although no crops were grown in the field like in the early days, a few apple and peach trees remained in the back, about twenty yards from the house. Plump, juicy blueberries could be picked from the bush that grew near the greenhouse from time to time. They always had fresh milk, butter, eggs, and homemade blueberry jam for breakfast, along with the occasional blueberry, apple, or peach pie for dessert. The house exemplified a country feel as you entered its breezeway. On the inside, the original posts kept the structure in place. Wood floors with patterned area rugs were found in each room. Each area of the original barn was converted into seven rooms, including a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, and a bathroom on the main floor, and three spacious bedrooms on the lower floor. The furniture seen throughout the house was made from the finest wood—old, yet classy. Some contained features of circular swirls, ridges, and flowery designs. Many pieces were ed down from previous generations and contained bits of family history deep inside of the drawers. The old loft where hay was once stored included the pieces of the original ladder used by the farmers when the house was a barn. It was restored by Mr. Spencer with minimal repair to fit the needs of the house. The loft was made into an observation deck that featured a large bay window for looking out from above at the wildlife, which included foxes, deer, and rabbits. If you observed closely, you could see one of them occasionally roaming around during the day. Many species of birds could be seen flying around on spring and summer days. There was large lens telescope Mr. Spencer had installed for looking out at the star-filled sky at night. You could observe, most notably, the Big Dipper, along with many other constellations. The moon, when full, was as bright as a sunny day while showing every detail of its enormous smile. The shadowy images that roamed under the moonlit sky provided a mysterious game of identifying which nocturnal animal could be seen lurking on the darkened, grassy surface on the earth below. Even some of the planets could be observed as if you were standing right above them. There were only three other houses on her street, separated by mysterious and untouched land that Jane was so eager to explore. She enjoyed learning from her

parents about the nature that surrounded her home. They were naturalists with a love for the outdoors and tried to teach the love for nature to their children. It was working. When out on an adventure, Jane loved to wear her blue jeans and jazzy tees, and her pink-laced sneakers. Most of all, she loved wearing her baseball cap with an uppercase B on it, given to her by her Uncle Mike on her fifth birthday. Mark also liked to wear jeans, sporty tees, and sneakers. They always had a camera, notebook, binoculars, a first-aid kit, flashlight, and a hand lens handy in their backpacks when going on an adventure. Jane enjoyed spending most of her free time afterschool and on vacations outside. Jane, Mark, and, occasionally, a friend or two would them and explore the backyard. They’d dig holes, climb trees, and observe the nature all around their neighborhood. They would make bird feeders in early spring or fall, and hang them on the trees around the property. They would take notes of the different kinds of birds that would feed on them. After a rain shower, they would take pictures or draw the different animal tracks found on the wet, muddy surface, adding them to their notebooks. At the end of the day, they would share their adventures with their parents at the dinner table. In addition to learning about the animals, they would study the plant life that grew around their yard. Mark would help Jane search the internet for pictures of plants they found. They would read about which plants were safe to touch and which ones to avoid. Then, when on an adventure, they would look for these plants around their yard and neighborhood. (It would be a terrible thing to touch poison ivy or poison oak.) Jane and Mark particularly loved observing the ducks and frogs that would often be seen in the pond in their backyard. Sometimes they would see a rabbit family hopping by or a garden snake crawling its way through the grass. One day, they helped free a fawn that got itself stuck in some thistle. Jane was convinced that after the encounter, the fawn (which is now a young deer), would come to visit her when she’d play in the yard. But the one animal they had never seen roaming about in their yard or neighborhood was the turtle.

Chapter 6

Peg Leg

One Saturday morning in early May, Mrs. Spencer was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. The aroma of bacon and eggs filled the house as Jane woke up from a sound sleep. She entered the kitchen a little sleepy but with a big smile on her face. “Did you wash up for breakfast, my dear?” asked her mother. “Yes,” Jane responded as she sat down to eat. “Where’s Dad?” “He’s in the greenhouse, attending to the vegetables. He’s expecting your help, so finish eating,” said her mother. The Spencer family grew lots of vegetables in the greenhouse just about all year long. When an abundant amount would harvest, they would bring it to the town market for sale. The townspeople were always happy to buy fresh vegetables from them in the cooler months, thanks to Mr. Spencer’s green thumb. “Your father has found something he thought you’d like,” added her mother. “Oh, what is it?” asked Jane as she handed her dog a piece of bacon under the table. “Never you mind feeding Brutus. He has his food in his dish. Now go get dressed and see the surprise for yourself,” exclaimed her mother. Brutus, a Jack Russell Terrier, was full of energy and was always hungry. Jane would often give him some part of her meal, especially bacon and cheese. He didn’t care for squirrels and often chased them through the yard whenever he was given the chance. He loved to play fetch with the ball for long periods of time. He was, by and large, a lovable dog, loyal to the people around him and

very happy. Jane quickly thanked her mother with a kiss, placed her plate in the sink, and went to her room to get dressed. When she ran outside to find her dad, Brutus ran along behind her. She found him standing over a large brown box with no lid and could hear a scratching sound coming from inside it. Brutus, sniffing the box, began jumping up and down, and barking at the same time. “Brutus, stop that!” commanded Jane. Brutus immediately stopped and sat wagging his tail while making a soft whimper. “What’s in the box?” she asked her father. “Good morning. Knowing how fond you are of God’s creatures who roam our yard, I thought you would like to care for this,” said her dad. Jane looked in the box. “A turtle? Wherever did you find him?” she asked. “Well, he was helping himself to our lettuce in the greenhouse. How he got in there, I don’t know. I noticed he looked a little sluggish. I thought you would like to nurse him back to health,” explained Mr. Spencer. Jane, very happy to see a turtle, smiled as she reached in the box and picked it up, not realizing that at that moment was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between her and her newfound friend. As she looked at the turtle with love in her eyes, she noticed the turtle smiling back at her. The turtle, at first glance, could be measured as a little less than five inches long in length. Its shell had a combination of colors: black along the bottom, brown on top, and green around the sides. In the top middle of the shell stood a small, brownish pyramid swirl, which looked like someone poured a tiny amount of chocolate soft serve ice cream on his back. His face was pleasant to look at, with big bulging eyes and a great smile. His tail looked like the tip of pen along with the metal connecting piece, only black in color. The legs, or flippers, were round and scaly, greenish in color, with little fingers sticking out of each of them.

The front left leg was noticeably injured. This concerned Jane, knowing that the turtle was possibly in pain. “Look, Dad. He has an injured leg!” Her father carefully looked at the turtle’s flippers. “It seems to me he’s missing part of his leg. We better take him down to Dr. Mahoney’s Animal Clinic for a checkup. She’ll know what to do.” Before placing the turtle back in the box, Jane filled it with freshly cut grass and a few smooth, flat rocks from around the yard. Her father handed her a sponge soaked with water from the greenhouse, and she placed it in the box. Then, she carried the box to the car. Mark met his father at the door. “Where you going?” he asked. “We are taking Jane’s new pet to Dr. Mahoney’s Animal Clinic for a checkup.” “Great!” said Mark. “We need to take Brutus to sign him up for the First Annual Mayor’s Pet Fair at the park in July. Today’s the last day for sign ups.” “I was wondering why your mother kept telling me I needed to take you to town this morning. I’ll get his leash,” answered Mr. Spencer. Jane’s dad walked to the house and got the leash and the keys. Mark and Brutus headed for the car. “Move over, sis. We’re coming too.” Their dad got in the car, with leash and keys in hand. As they rode to town, Jane muttered to herself softly, but loud enough that her dad and Mark could hear her. “Peg Leg.” “What’s that, dear?” asked her dad. “Oh, nothing,” answered Jane, blushing a bit. “I didn’t realize I was talking out loud.”

Chapter 7

Dr. Mahoney’s Clinic

The town center had everything its citizens needed and more to fulfill their daily needs. Many of the businesses were family run and could be found on Main Street. On the east side stood the fire station, police station, town hall, public library, and a large park. On the west side was the elementary school, and across the street stood the local Catholic church, in which Jane attended mass on Sundays with her family. Next to the church on the left was a recreation hall (the place where Mr. and Mrs. Spencer met). Many community gatherings were held there, such as weddings, dances, and Bingo. On the second floor of the hall, classrooms were set up for Sunday school. In the center of town, there was a hardware store, a bank, the movie theater, the local food market, and many other family-operated businesses, including Dr. Mahoney’s Animal Clinic. The clinic was located on the end of a block of six rectangular-shaped buildings across from the food market. Main Street was wide enough to offer parallel parking for about fifteen cars stretching from one end of the block to the other.

When they arrived at the clinic, Jane carefully carried the box with the turtle inside, into the foyer. She recognized many friends and classmates from school sitting with their parents while holding their pets. Mrs. Gobbi and her daughter, Gabriella, had their pet hermit crab, Beans. Mr. Michaels, with his daughter, Sam, had their pet rabbit, Munchkins. Mrs. Singh, with her son, Jaskaran, had their pet parrot, Moses. Kate and Little Cece, with their aunt, Margaret, held their baby goat, Galoshes. But most notably was Mr. Mack and his two sons, Tor and Ro, who happened to have their pet iguana, Rocky. They were all there to sign up for the pet fair at the park. “This is very unusual,” said Mr. Spencer. “Where else can you see so many different types of pets gathered in one place? Welcome to the pet convention.” Some of the adults chuckled. Dr. Mahoney had a few assistants to help sign up all the pets for the pet fair. Because Jane was bringing in an injured animal, Dr. Mahoney was able to take Jane and her father and the turtle as an emergency call. After some time, Dr. Mahoney greeted Jane and her father as Mark remained with Brutus in the waiting room with Tor and Ro. “What do we have here?” asked the doctor. “It’s a turtle we found in our garden,” answered Mr. Spencer. “It looks like he has an injured flipper.” “Let’s take a better look in here,” replied the doctor. They walked into a very large examination room. Jane loved Dr. Mahoney’s clinic. She would often visit on her way home from school with the doctor’s daughter, Abigail. Hanging on the left side wall were many pictures of the different animals the doctor had previously examined. Between the two windows near her desk hung her college degrees, pictures of her graduations, and pictures of her family. On the wall on the right, there was a large bookcase with as many as two hundred books about all kinds of animals and other reading material. Jane was always encouraged to browse the books when she visited. Dr. Mahoney loved providing opportunities for children to read, especially about animals.

“Do you know what kind of turtle you have brought in?” asked the doctor. “No,” replied Jane. “Look over on the bookcase, third shelf, six books in from the left,” explained Dr. Mahoney. Jane did what the doctor suggested and found the book. It had pictures of different types of turtles on the cover. One of them looked similar to the turtle she brought in to be examined. “I’d like you to take this book,” continued the doctor, “and read all you can about this unique creature. You can return the book when you are finished with it.” Jane quickly browsed through the book, stopping on one of the pages. Some of the turtles on the page resembled Peg Leg. As she read a caption, she learned that the turtle she brought in was called a wood turtle. She placed a sticky note from Dr. Mahoney’s desk on a page. As she closed the book, something on a table near the bookcase caught her eye. It was a large blue tube with a white cap. She could see part of a picture drawn on it but couldn’t clearly make it out because of its angle. “What’s in the tube?” she asked with a high level of curiosity. “Your friend Gabriella ordered some special paint for shelled pets. She wants to decorate some shells for the hermit crab habitat. The salesman who brought it in gave me an extra tube for the clinic,” replied Dr. Mahoney. “Oh,” replied Jane. “That sounds interesting.” As Dr. Mahoney examined the turtle, she noticed it had a severe cut across its left front leg. Part of the turtle’s flipper was missing. “Do you know how the turtle got hurt?” “No,” answered Jane. “We found him in the yard, and I noticed his injury when I picked him up. I hope it’s not too serious.” “Well, it looks like he’s been in an accident of some sort. I will need to keep him for the night so I can further examine his injury and give him a little TLC. You can pick him up in the morning after mass,” responded the doctor. “In the meantime, I will place an order for supplies you will need from Mrs.

McDonagh’s store. It will be ready tomorrow when you pick up your friend.” Mrs. McDonagh owned the local pet supply store next to Dr. Mahoney’s Animal Clinic. Dr. Mahoney had frequent business dealings with her. She was well liked by all her customers. She was in the church choir and knew Jane and Jane’s mother very well. Many of the families in the town who owned pets would often visit her store to pick up necessities for their pets. In her store, she sold many smaller pets, such as hamsters, hermit crabs, small birds, and goldfish. Her main business was to offer needed supplies, like pet food and toys, ointments and bandages, carrying cases, and ornaments, for animal habitats. Mr. Spencer thanked the doctor. Jane also thanked the doctor and took the book. As she left the room, Jane opened the book to the page with the sticky note and immediately began reading all about her newfound friend. She quickly glanced through it and found a page about wood turtles. As she read, she realized the information in it was useful but wanted to learn more about the turtle. Mr. Spencer helped Mark sign up Brutus and Jane sign up Peg Leg for the entry to the pet fair. Upon leaving the animal clinic, Jane asked her father, “Dad, may I go to the library? I would like to look for more books about wood turtles.” “And I have a book report due on Monday. I need to look for a book about a sports figure,” quipped Mark. “Yes, you two,” answered her father. “I will take Brutus for a walk, and then I need to head to the hardware store to see Mr. Cook to find out if my order is ready. Stay close together. I’ll come to pick you up when I’m finished. I’m sure Mrs. Green will assist both of you with your searches.”

Chapter 8

The Library with Mrs. Green

Mark was a very good brother, always looking out for his younger sister much in the same way their older sister, Megan, did for him when he was younger. Megan loved her younger siblings and taught Mark well. Trying not to be too overprotective, Mark would give Jane some independence to freely explore places they would go to together, always keeping an eye on her whereabouts from a close distance. At the library, even though it was an enclosed place, his effort in watching over his sister wasn’t any different. Mrs. Green, the town librarian, would always greet you with a smile as you entered the library. She was an older woman with blond hair and wore ovalshaped glasses. She had retired from teaching about ten years ago, and at the time, the public librarian retired as well. Mrs. Evelyn Curran, the mayor of the town and a friend of Mrs. Green, offered her a part-time job as the new children’s librarian, and she had been there ever since. When children would ask her for help with just about any topic, Mrs. Green would respond by sharing lots of books with them. With the availability of the Internet, she would help the children find other resources to explore. She also volunteered at Jane’s school library, reading stories and acting out characters. All the children loved her. When Jane walked into the library, she said, “Good morning, Ms. Jane. How may I help you?” Jane told her about the turtle her father had found in the greenhouse. She explained that the turtle had an injured leg and had to stay overnight at the animal clinic. “Dr. Mahoney let me borrow a book so I could learn more about the wood turtle. I’d like to learn all I can so I can help him. I would like to find as much reading material as I can.” “Your request is duly noted. You’ve come to the right place,” replied Mrs. Green. “I think we should try searching the Internet, first. You might find some

useful information. I’ll look for some books that may be helpful and place them at the checkout desk.” She helped Jane find some articles on the Internet and printed the information for her. While waiting for her father, Jane sat in a comfy, red beanbag chair in the far-left corner of the children’s section of the library. She buried her thoughts into reading the articles. Using a yellow highlighter borrowed from Mrs. Green’s desk, she highlighted several key facts as she learned about the wood turtle. This is what she learned:

1. Wood turtles are commonly found in the state of Connecticut and other places in the northeastern United States and Canada. 2. Their habitat has been threatened due to urban development. 3. Their scientific name is Glyptemys insculpta, referring to the deeply chiseled pattern on their top shell, which looks like a pyramid. 4. They can weigh from one and a half to two and a half pounds and grow in length of five to nine inches long. They can live up to forty-six years old or even longer. 5. Their habitats consist of both aquatic and terrestrial, and they use each at different times of the year. They are always within close distance of water, such as rivers or running streams. 6. They are omnivorous, dieting on insects, tadpoles, fruits, and plants that grow on land and in water. 7. They are opportunistic, which means they seldom stray from their home habitat.

The one fact that really concerned Jane was that wood turtles are on the endangered species list due to the human population growth in their natural habitat, which limits their ability to find a mate because they are forced farther away to areas where other wood turtles may not be. Jane also learned that wood

turtles need to be left to roam in their own environment and not brought into captivity, such as in the house as a pet. Jane knew her new animal friend was hurt and needed help getting back in the wild. Before Jane could ask Mrs. Green what to do about what she had learned, her father walked in and said, “Good morning, Mrs. Green.” “Good morning, Harold,” replied Mrs. Green. (She was Mrs. Spencer’s teacher in the third grade.) After exchanging pleasantries, Mr. Spencer continued, “Hi, Jane, you ready to go? Your brother is in check out. We don’t want to be late for Grandma Grace’s visit.” He began walking toward the check-out desk. Mrs. Green could see the look of concern on Jane’s face. “Thanks for your help, Mrs. Green. See you in school on Tuesday,” said Jane. “What’s wrong, Jane?” she asked. “Oh, nothing,” answered Jane. Looking down in Jane’s hand, Mrs. Green noticed that Jane circled the words “endangered species” on the bottom of the first page of the papers she had printed. As Mr. Spencer, Mark, and Jane exited the library, Mrs. Green couldn’t help but wonder why Jane looked upset. “That girl is a very sensitive, caring young lady. I hope she can solve her problem,” she thought to herself.

Chapter 9

Grandma Grace

Grandma Grace, as her family called her, had recently retired from being a receptionist for a local doctor’s office. She had silvery hair that she always sported in a bun. She loved wearing flowery dresses with white socks and black sneakers. She was full of energy and loved to make people feel welcome when they visit her. After retiring, she sold her home she had lived in for nearly thirty years, moved to a small apartment, and took a job working part-time as an innkeeper for a small six-bedroom bed-and-breakfast. Mr. Graf, a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a thinning hair line, owned the inn. He inherited it from his parents and handled the daily business aspects. He loved Grandma Grace and knew she’d make a perfect fit as caregiver from the minute they met after his long-time caregiver and her good friend, Gretchen, ed. Grandma Grace loved to entertain and loved to have guests of all walks of life stay at the inn. She enjoyed her daily chores of cooking, cleaning, and caring for her guests. Many of the people who would stay were visitors for a night or a long weekend, such as businesspeople, retirees, or just young adventurers traveling through the area. The town in which Grandma Grace lived was located a few towns north from Jane’s. The town itself was very similar in design to Jane’s. It had a town center and many rural neighborhoods around it. Every Saturday, around noon, Jane, Mark, and Mr. and Mrs. Spencer would visit. First, they would stop at their town’s bakery shop for some half-moon pastries and cookies to bring with them. (Grandma Grace loved half-moon pastries.) Mrs. Spencer had a previous arrangement with the nursing home and couldn’t them for this trip. When they arrived, they would often find Grandma Grace sitting on the porch in her rocking chair, listening to country music on a portable radio or just reading a

good book. Sometimes she’d be peeling potatoes, snapping stringed beans, or chopping carrots in the inn’s kitchen in preparation for dinner for the guests. Even though Jane lived in a country atmosphere herself, she experienced a very different country feel when she visited her grandmother’s home town. Grandma Grace rented a small, three-room apartment in a house next to the inn, also owned by Mr. Graf. It was in easy walking distance to the inn and provided her with independence away from her work time. When Jane and Mark would visit, she would take a break and spend time with her family. Mr. Spencer would often help Mr. Graf with any repairs to his properties as Jane and Mark would spend their time with their grandmother. After he was done, he would them for sandwiches, half-moon pastries, cookies, tea, and good conversation. This visit, Mr. Spencer was asked by Mr. Graf to help repair some gutter work along the side of the inn. As Jane, Mark, and Grandma Grace walked along Central Street to the town’s center, they began to engage in conversation. “You know, Jane,” said Grandma Grace, “your mother’s been telling me about a turtle you found in your yard.” “It has an injured leg, and she calls him Peg Leg,” said Mark. “Yes,” replied Jane looking at Mark with a disapproving stare. “Dr. Mahoney is keeping it over night to examine its injury.” “I’m sure the turtle will be all right,” said Grandma Grace. “Tomorrow we get to take it back home,” answered Mark. Jane once again stared firmly at Mark. After walking a bit, they stopped in front of a gift shop called Donavan’s Gifts. Jane and Mark had never been in this shop before, although they had driven by it many times with their parents. “Let’s take a look inside here. We might find a nice present for your mother’s birthday next week,” said Grandma Grace. Inside, it had so many unique items, which included knickknacks, magnets, cards, jewelry, glass cases with porcelain pieces on their shelves, books, T-shirts, an antique section, and a children’s section. Mark immediately went over to the T-shirts. Grandma Grace saw one of her friends standing by a display case and began chatting with her. Jane stopped and stared at a statue of a man with doves on a table near the front of the store. Her grandmother noticed how intrigued

Jane looked as she stared at the statue.

Mark walked up to Grandma Grace with two T-shirts in his hand. “May I please have these?” he asked. Next, he placed them in the basket. Then he walked down to the old model car display in the middle of the store. Grandma Grace walked over to Jane. “I found this journal I thought you might like,” she said. “It has a picture of a wood turtle on the cover. Maybe you could keep a dairy of your adventures you have with Peg Leg.” “Thank you, Grandma,” Jane replied. In search of a present for their mother’s birthday, Jane and Mark found a turtle necklace with matching turtle earrings. The store’s owner, Annie, a good friend of Grandma Grace, was standing behind the counter and gift-wrapped the birthday items. In addition to the T-shirts and journal, Mark picked out a book about old cars and Jane got a T-shirt with a turtle on it. Grandma Grace got an oven mitt and paid for the items. (She loved spoiling her grandchildren.) They walked back to the inn, where they met up with Mr. Spencer and had lunch together.

Chapter 10

A Talk about Sunday School

The next morning, the family gathered for breakfast. Mark was letting Brutus out to do his business. “Going to school on Sundays is just not my cup of tea anymore,” Jane said gloomily as she sat on a chair at the kitchen table. “You must be sick. Quick, Mom, take her temperature,” her father answered in a worried voice. He took out a thermometer from a kitchen drawer. “But you love Sunday school, Jane. Besides, it’s the last class before summer break. Aren’t we picking up the turtle today?” Mrs. Spencer asked, taking the thermometer from Mr. Spencer’s hand with a very stern look on her face. Jane nodded. “Ms. Burns told me you will have a guest speaker today: Sister Nora. I bet you will love her. Plan to learn something fun today,” her mom added. “Okay,” replied Jane while eating her toast. “At least I have that to look forward to. I’m really going to miss Mrs. Cross, though. Dimitri Augustus told me Sister Nora taught him about the saints when he attended Bible camp last summer. He said he had fun. I hope it’s fun today.” “If Dimitri Augustus said he had fun with Sister Nora, then it must be true,” quipped Mr. Spencer. Little did Jane know that what she was about to experience that Sunday morning in Sister Nora’s class would begin a change in her life. The turtle with the injured leg she called Peg Leg, the people she would develop a special bond with, and the events of God’s Will would all play a major role in establishing a special friendship between her and the turtle—a friendship that to this day holds special meaning in her heart.

Chapter 11

A Sign from Above

Jane and her family arrived early for mass. Her mother ed the of the choir for practice. Her dad, who helped with the readings and the setting-up before mass, began his duties. Mark saw some friends and hung with them in the back hall. Jane sat quietly on a pew, kneeling and saying her prayers. She happened to glance up at the stained-glass window overlooking her pew, not realizing that a sign from above, from God Himself, was upon her. She noticed the caring expression on the face of the great saint holding a lamb while looking downward in a loving way at the numerous animals lying around his feet. She immediately thought about the statue she saw in the gift shop with her grandmother. As she read the name, Saint Francis of Assisi, quietly to herself, a ray of sunlight peered through the colored glass. A feeling of peace filled the church. It was the most amazing sight she had ever witnessed.

Jane, although not understanding the full meaning of this miraculous sign yet, knew it was good and she knew something good would come from it. She immediately thought of Peg Leg. Then she heard her father’s voice on the speaker, reading the announcements. “We would like to welcome Sister Nora back for a very special visit today. She will be visiting our third-grade Sunday school class in the absence of Mrs. Cross.” Sister Nora stood up. The crowd clapped. Fr. Jacques began mass. After mass was over, the students headed to the recreation hall, escorted by Ms. Burns and Sr. Nora for some donuts and juice. After a while, Father Harry began prayer. The children ate and then quietly dispersed to their respected classrooms for their religion lessons.

Chapter 12

Sister Nora and the Saints

Sister Nora was a middle-aged woman with silvery hair and a well-rounded face. She always wore a gray skirt with a matching blouse. A gold chain and a cross charm was around her neck and laid in visible sight on her blouse. Although very religious in spirit, she had a bubbly personality and loved working with children. If you were to meet Sister Nora for the first time, you would think she was a grandmother of eighteen grandchildren. But she loved her mission in life of serving God and helping others, and did it with ease. When Jane walked into class, Sister Nora was standing in front of the desk, exchanging greetings with other students who had already entered. Jane noticed three statues and a guitar on top of a side table. Several students were making inquiries about the statues. “In a few minutes, ladies and gentlemen,” directed Sister, “I will be happy to explain what I have brought in and answer any questions you may have, but first I would like to begin with a song.” She handed a boy named Gabriel some handouts with the song lyrics on them to out to the children. Then, reaching for her guitar and securing the strap around her neck, she started humming. Jane loved to sing and sat in her chair, eagerly waiting to hear the song. “Has anyone ever heard the Butterfly Song?” asked Sister. Several children yelled out, “I have!” Jane’s face lit up. Sister Nora began strumming the guitar with a pic, singing, “If I were a butterfly …” The class began ing in with much enthusiasm singing the words from the handouts. When the song was over and the class settled down, Sister explained each of the statues, one at a time. As she began, Jane noticed the third statue and how it resembled the stained-glass window in church earlier in mass when the

brightness of the sunlight shone through it. She also noticed it resembled the statue she saw in the gift shop. This one had a turtle near its feet. Although she didn’t truly understand the miraculous sign yet, she knew it was good. As Sister began to talk about the first statue, Saint Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, a girl named Caitlyn raised her hand and asked, “Why are there snakes at the bottom near his feet?” Sister explained, “Saint Patrick was known for running all the snakes out of Ireland.” As she continued her talk about the saint, Jane began to imagine how Peg Leg might have hurt his leg. She dreamed of how a snake tried to attack Peg Leg as he walked through the grass in her backyard. She dreamed of how the snake began to open its wide mouth, showing two very sharp, pointy teeth, ready to strike the turtle at any moment. Not realizing she was speaking aloud, she said, “Watch out, Peg Leg!” Sister tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Jane? Jane?” “Oh, sorry,” Jane replied. Several of the boys began to laugh. “It’s okay, Jane,” answered Sister Nora. As the children listened, Sister Nora explained the second statue, Saint Catherine of Genoa. She talked about how Saint Catherine opened a hospital and helped sick people in her village in Italy. As Sister continued to talk, Jane immediately began to daydream once again. She dreamed of Peg Leg sitting in the clinic in his bed, not feeling well and being cared for by Dr. Mahoney. She dreamed of how Dr. Mahoney would check on his injured leg and feed him and sing to him. Again, not realizing she was saying words aloud, she began singing softly, “This little light of mine …” Sister Nora tapped her lightly on the shoulder, singing back, “I’m going to let it shine.” Jane, snapping out of the dream, blushed. Some of the girls giggled. After a brief break, Sister began to explain the third statue, Saint Francis of Assisi. It stood firm on the desk and looked even taller to Jane than it actually was. She immediately began thinking about Peg Leg and how he had smiled up at her the first day she had met him in her yard near the greenhouse.

Sister Nora explained that St. Francis cared for all God’s creatures, big or small, tame or wild, and wanted everyone to care for them as well. As Sister spoke, Jane once more daydreamed. She dreamed about how Peg Leg was born. She dreamed about his adventure in how he made it into her yard. She dreamed about his injured leg and what she needed to do to nurse him back to health. She thought about what Sister said about the saints. And she thought about all the facts she learned at the library about wood turtles. She knew Peg Leg had to live free to roam in his habitat and be as omnivorous and opportunistic as he could be. She knew this was important to his existence. As Sister finished her talk, Jane said loudly, “Aquatic and terrestrial!” Sister Nora smiled. The class laughed once more.

Chapter 13

Peg Leg Comes Home

After the presentation with Sister Nora, Jane and her dad walked down to Dr. Mahoney’s clinic. Her mom and Mark stayed behind at the church to clean up. They would meet the others in a bit. Jane couldn’t stop thinking about Peg Leg. Her mind was full of thoughts, worries, and questions regarding his condition. She couldn’t stop thinking about how Sister Nora’s talk about the saints had brought a sense of both joy and sadness in her life. Unaware of how God had chosen her to help one of His creations in its time of need, Jane knew in her heart that something good was going to happen, but she felt much uncertainty. As they arrived at the clinic, Dr. Mahoney greeted them at the door. “I’ve been expecting you,” said the doctor. “Come on in. I have some great news. Your friend is doing well. His leg was severely damaged, though. You’re going to need to change his bandage and apply the ointment every day. With your help, Jane, this turtle has a chance for a full recovery. I would like you to bring him back next week for a checkup.” Jane and her dad thanked Dr. Mahoney. Carrying the turtle in the case, they walked over to Mrs. McDonagh’s pet supply store and picked up the order placed by Dr. Mahoney. Jane also bought some ornaments for a habitat she had planned to design. As her mom and brother pulled up in the car, they loaded Peg Leg in the backseat between her and Mark and drove home. When they got home, Mr. Spencer prepared an old fish tank he had stored away in a shed. He made it into a habitat suitable for the turtle. He placed the tank on a stand along the wall next to the sofa. Jane decorated the inside of the tank with the few ornaments she bought at the store along with a water and food dish and some flat rocks.

Chapter 14

A Chat with Mom

For a period of about a week, Jane followed the instructions given to her by Dr. Mahoney. Each day, she changed the bandaged, applied the ointment, and fed Peg Leg a healthy diet. On the third day of recovery, Jane brought him outside for some fresh air and a little exercise, closely observing how he responded to his treatment. She continued keeping notes in a journal given to her by her grandmother. The follow-up at the vet went well. Dr. Mahoney was pleased at how the turtle was recovering and praised Jane for her positive efforts. The days became warmer as the weeks ed. School had ended. Jane spent a lot of her time outside, exploring her yard, meeting up with friends, and taking care of Peg Leg. One day at lunch, her mom said, “You know, sweetie, you’re going to have to think about retraining your friend to live back in the wild. Turtles need to be out in their own habitat. It’s not good for them to be locked up in captivity.” Jane sat and thought about what her mother said while taking a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich. Then she handed her mother an article Mrs. Green had printed for her with the circled words “endangered species” highlighted in yellow, and said, “Yes, I know. I’ve been thinking about this problem since my visit to the library a few weeks ago. I know Peg Leg is injured, and I worry about his safety in the wild.” “Oh, Jane,” said her mother. “Has this concern been bothering you all this time?” Jane nodded. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Jane replied, “I thought I could solve it myself.” Her mom gave her a kiss and a hug and assured her that things would work out. With a smile, she said, “Now go take good care of Peg Leg.”

Jane knew at that moment that Peg Leg would struggle if he were left out in the wild. He was disabled, but he was also a wild animal. She knew he needed to be in his own habitat and not kept in captivity. She struggled with making the right decision in what to do to help him. When she walked over to the tank, a feeling of peace came upon her. As she looked down at him, he was sitting upright on a flat stone. She watched him as he gazed up at her. She noticed again him smiling up at her. At that moment, Jane thought she could hear his voice telling her everything would be okay for him in whatever she decided to do. It was his way of letting her know he knew she cared for him.

Chapter 15

A Visit with Mrs. Green

Jane’s mother was so worried about her daughter’s concern for the turtle’s safety, she decided to visit the one person she knew could help: Mrs. Green. She called a neighbor and asked if they could keep an eye on Jane and Mark while she attended to the errand. She told Jane and Mark she would be heading into town for a bit and to check in with Mrs. Dempsey if any problem came up. Jane and Mark liked Mrs. Dempsey very much. She was Elise, Kate, and Cece’s mother and a trusted sitter. Elise was one of Jane’s best friends. They often played with each other in the neighborhood and were classmates in school. When Mrs. Spencer left for town, Jane and Elise climbed up to the tree house. Mrs. Spencer drove into town, parked the car, and proceeded into the library. She found Mrs. Green assisting two young children listening to stories on CDs. “Hello, Helen. How are you today?” greeted the librarian with a huge smile on her face. “How may I help you?” “Hi, Patricia. I’m doing well. But there’s a problem I have that you might be able to help with,” responded Mrs. Spencer. “I think I might know what the problem is,” responded Mrs. Green. “Is it in regards to a turtle?” “Yes,” replied Mrs. Spencer. “How did you know?” Mrs. Green told Mrs. Spencer about Jane’s visit a few weeks prior and that before Jane left she knew something was bothering her. “I noticed that Jane had circled the words ‘endangered species’ on the article I had printed for her. So, I did a little investigating in reference to Jane’s problem, hoping that she would revisit. I’ve been away on vacation and haven’t seen her for a while.”

Mrs. Green continued to explain that the fifth-grade teacher in the middle school, Mr. Sharry, was a member of a local group of people who represent the safety and well-being of endanger species in the area. She gave Mrs. Spencer his information and assured her that Mr. Sharry was well informed of the situation regarding the turtle and that he was looking forward to helping in any way he could. Mrs. Spencer thanked Mrs. Green and proceeded home with the good news. When she arrived home, Mrs. Spencer thanked Mrs. Dempsey. She found Jane, who was still in the tree house with Elise, and called her in for a chat. She told Jane about the conversation she had with Mrs. Green. Jane was very excited about the information she was receiving, and a sense of relief came over her. She still experienced a bit of anxiety, not knowing what would become of Peg Leg’s future. She made the call to Mr. Sharry and arranged a meeting time with him. Jane returned to the tree house and told Elise the news.

Chapter 16

Mr. Sharry

Mr. Sharry arrived promptly at four o’clock. He was a tall, thin man with silvery hair with light brown highlights, and he appeared genuinely concerned with helping Jane with the turtle. Jane quickly became fond of him, knowing that the turtle’s well-being was the highlight of the conversation. They chatted for about an hour. Mr. Sharry explained, “Wood turtles are typically found in Connecticut. Because of the development of housing in their natural habitat, they are forced to move to other areas in search of a safer place to live. Some of the turtles have made it to where we live, not by choice but for survival. Unfortunately, mates are harder to find because they probably didn’t travel in groups but rather alone to a new destination. It is so important to their existence that people find a way to save them from extinction.” The information Mr. Sharry was sharing only reaffirmed what Jane already learned about the wood turtle from the books and printed papers she got at the library. She was so moved by his words that she began to cry softly, saying, “I want to help this turtle, but I also want to care for him as well. He has an injured leg, and I’m afraid for his safety if he is to return to his natural habitat. What should I do?” Mr. Sharry had the right to take the turtle right then, with no questions asked, for the protection of the turtle’s safety, but he decided to let Jane keep it for a while longer with the understanding she would continue to nurse him back to health responsibly. She showed him the journal she had been writing ever since she brought him home from the clinic. Mr. Sharry was so impressed with Jane’s determination in what she was already doing for the turtle that they made an arrangement to meet once every two weeks throughout the remaining weeks of summer so he could be updated on the turtle’s progress.

Chapter 17

The Pet Fair at the Park

The day of the pet fair arrived. It was a beautiful Saturday morning. Mark was outside giving Brutus a bath. Brutus did not like baths and was giving Mark a hard time. Mr. Spencer went out to assist him. Jane remained inside the house with her mother. “Did you know that Mayor Curran is giving prizes to all the owners for different categories at the fair?” asked Jane. “My teacher, Mrs. Walsh, told us on the last day of school. I wonder if Peg Leg will win a prize?” “I hope he does. But don’t be too disappointed if he does not. Many of your friends have great pets too,” said Mrs. Spencer. “Mrs. Walsh said there’s going to be a of judges overseeing the categories. I plan to enter Peg Leg in the Most Unique Pet category. I think I will bring my journal to show the judges,” said Jane. “I hope they have a Best Squirrel Chaser category. We will have to enter Brutus in that one,” answered Mrs. Spencer. “Or a Best Bacon and Cheese Eater Award,” quipped Jane. They both laughed. Mr. Spencer, Mark, and Brutus came in from outside. “It looks like Brutus gave you two the bath,” said Mrs. Spencer. Mark and Mr. Spencer changed out of their wet clothes. Mrs. Spencer and Jane put Brutus in the car. Mrs. Spencer stayed with Brutus. Jane went back into the house and put a fanny pack around her waist. She placed Peg Leg inside the pouch. She took her journal from under the aquarium and walked out to the car. Mark and Mr. Spencer soon ed them. They saw the Dempseys putting Cece’s pet goat, Galoshes, into the back of their minivan and waved. “See you at the pet fair!” called out Jane.

As they entered town, Mr. Spencer pulled the car up to the designated drop off area. Mrs. Spencer, Mark, Brutus, and Jane, with Peg Leg, exited the car and walked down to the entrance of the park. Mr. Spencer drove off to park the car. Jane and Mark signed in their pets as Mrs. Spencer paid the five dollar entry fee. Several children and their parents were seen gathering near the baseball diamond. As Jane and Mark walked closer, they could see Tor and Ro with Mr. and Mrs. Mack showing the group their pet iguana, Rocky. He was changing colors. The crowd loved it. A voice over the announcement system was soon heard. The voice said, “May I have your undivided attention, please. On behalf of Mayor Curran, I would like to welcome all of you to the First Annual Mayor’s Pet Fair at the Park. Prizes will be given to all pet owners in different categories. We all know Mayor Curran loves pets. Our town’s families have some of the most unique pets around. Would all owners bring their pets to the path near the playground? We will be starting the parade around the park in five minutes.” Jane saw many of her classmates and friends from school. Sam and her bunny, Munchkins; Jaskaran and his pet parrot, Moses; and Little CeCe with Galoshes were the first three in line. Many of the townspeople lined up along the path. Mark walked along with Tor and Ro and Rocky. Jane met up with Gabriella and her pet hermit crab, Beans. As they approached the judges’ table, Mrs. Spencer saw a squirrel trotting along near an oak tree about ten feet from the judges. Before she could warn Mark about the squirrel, a little girl named Callie standing in the crowd said, “Look, Mom, a squirrel.” Jaskaran’s parrot, Moses, hearing the word squirrel, began flapping its wings and shouted, “Look, Mom, a squirrel! Rah! Rah! A squirrel!” Brutus immediately made eye with the squirrel. Mark, chatting with Tor and Ro, suddenly jolted forward by the tug of Brutus, let go of the leash. Brutus bolted toward the squirrel! Moses was still making quite a racket. Galoshes jumped up on Sam, startling Munchkins. Sam let go of Munchkins. Galoshes began chasing after Munchkins. Rocky pulled away from Ro and began chasing Galoshes! As Brutus reached the squirrel, it began to run full steam toward the judges’ table. Brutus followed close behind. The squirrel leaped up on the table, followed by Brutus, then Munchkins, then Galoshes, then Rocky, followed by the children. Papers went flying. The judges went flying. Moses flew up and sat

on a branch of a tree. The squirrel leaped onto a dessert table, followed by Brutus. A large cake went flying through the air and landed on several of the judges’ heads. Then the open tent collapsed on them. People and animals were scattered everywhere! After the commotion settled down, the crowd realized no one had gotten hurt. The pets were all returned to their owners. Mayor Curran restored order and had a good laugh. The crowd cheered. Jane noticed that Peg Leg had remained calm through the whole ordeal. It was as if he enjoyed the commotion as he peeked out of the pouch. Jane’s parents were standing by a picnic table, watching everything that was happening. “I think this has been the most exciting event in the town’s history,” said Mr. Spencer. “It’s definitely entertaining,” answered Mrs. Spencer. “I can’t wait until next year.” “And it was our pet that provided the entertainment,” said Mr. Spencer. Eventually, all the kids received a prize for their pets. Jane received an award for the Best New Pet. The judges enjoyed reading her journal and decided Peg Leg was a very unique animal. Mark also got an award for Brutus. Gabriella, Jaskaran, Little CeCe, and Tor and Ro, along with several others, compared their awards with each other. They were all proud of their pets.

Chapter 18

The Treehouse

Jane continued nursing Peg Leg back to health. Day after day, the turtle seemed to get stronger and stronger. Jane increased his crawling distance by five feet each time she took him outside for exercise. Each day, she observed and noted how Peg Leg struggled a bit keeping his balance when walking. She also noted how the turtle walked gingerly through the grass to his feeding dish at the same pace each day. This process helped Peg Leg improve over time. It seemed like his hard work at recovering and her determination in helping him recover was working. Jane began to include him in some of her summertime adventures. In the middle of her backyard stood a large sugar maple tree. The rigid pieces of bark covering the outside looked strong and healthy. The branches, full of thousands upon thousands of bright orange-red leaves, stretched out across the skyline, provided proper shade down below for relaxing on hot days. Many birds, along with other animals, made the tree their home. Mr. Spencer had built a tree house atop two strong branches in the middle of the tree. A ladder of sturdy wood pieces was nailed securely into the trunk. Jane and Mark loved to climb up and hang out in it for hours during the summer days. Their mother often worried for her children’s safety, but they never fell. Jane’s father attached a brown, woven basket with a lid and two rectangular handles to a long, thick clothesline. He secured it to the platform on an old but sturdy pulley. The children now could bring small items up to the base without having to carry anything with them when they climbed the ladder. This put his wife’s worries at ease.

Jane would often take Peg Leg up to the tree house to sing songs on the radio, or to read stories, or sometimes just to use her imagination and pretend that she and Peg Leg were on some type of wild adventure. One day, Jane placed Peg Leg into the basket, securing the lid, and climbed up the ladder. She began slowly pulling on the rope, hoisting the basket carefully up in the air. As it reached the top, she unfastened the basket and took out Peg Leg. He began to roam about the floor of the house. Jane turned on the battery-operated radio her brother brought up on a previous day. As the songs played, she sang to the turtle. Peg Leg stopped moving around. It seemed as though he was listening to Jane’s voice, enjoying the soft tones of the words being sung. It seemed as though the turtle had found a piece of heaven and an angel to guide him. During another adventure, Jane pretended to be a princess, and the turtle was her prince. She imagined that a mean, old witch cast a spell on her prince, turning him into a turtle. The only way of breaking the spell was for Jane to kiss the turtle at the stroke of midnight. But when it was time for the kiss, Peg Leg stuck his whole body in his shell and refused to come out. “Oh, come now, Peg Leg,” Jane said. “It’s only one kiss,” and began laughing to herself. On other days, Jane would read stories to Peg Leg. She would read fairy tale stories about bears, pigs, and goats. But there was one story Peg Leg seemed to enjoy the most when Jane read it. It was about a turtle who won a race against a rabbit. Peg Leg would always sit on Jane’s lap whenever she read this story. No matter what the activity planned, it seemed as though Peg Leg loved this time spent with her.

Chapter 19

The Swing

One day, Kate and Cece were playing in their backyard. Elise was in town at her piano lesson with Mr. Dempsey. Jane took Peg Leg out for his daily exercise routine. “Hey, Jane!” called Kate. “Come on over and see our new swing set.” Jane asked her mother if she could go over to the Dempseys’ backyard. Jane’s family had a rule to always ask first. Her mother said yes. Jane decided to take Peg Leg with her. She placed him in a box and walked down to the driveway. She looked both ways and crossed the street. Jane was amazed at the new swing set Mr. Dempsey had built. It had a slide, monkey bars, and two swings. Cece was on one of the swings. “You can go on the other one,” said Kate. Jane, placing the box on the ground next to the swing, sat down on the seat. Kate ran into the house to get something. As Jane and Cece pumped their legs, they both went higher and higher on the swings. Kate returned with a purple apron with a large pocket in the middle. “Put this on, Jane. You can put Peg Leg in the pocket so he can swing too.” Jane got off the swing and tied the straps on her neck and her waist. She then carefully placed Peg Leg in the pocket. “This is fun,” she said as she began swinging again. Peg Leg closed his eyes as she swung higher. The three girls took turns swinging with Peg Leg safely secured in the pocket. Jane helped them, of course, tying the apron around them when it was their turn. Peg Leg also enjoyed the rides on the swing.

Chapter 20

The Park

Jane would occasionally meet up with friends in the park on Main Street. There was one road from her home that led directly into the town’s center. It had a cemented sidewalk where you could see people who lived nearby riding bikes, roller skating, or walking along the path right in and out of town. On her bike was a small brown basket like the one her dad had installed for the tree house. Before their trip, she covered the inside bottom of the basket with freshly cut grass, some small rocks, and some berries she picked that morning. She carefully picked up Peg Leg, placed him gently inside the basket, and said to him, “Today you are going to meet some of my friends and their pets, Peg Leg.” Jane found her brother and told him she was ready to go. Mark would always accompany her when they were together as he was older and very responsible at taking care of his younger sister. They put on their backpacks, got on their bikes, and began their journey into town. As they entered the park, they arranged to meet by the entrance in about an hour. Mark met up with some friends on the basketball court. He was within close distance of his sister as she sat on a bench close to the courts. Gabriella was the first friend to arrive. She was wearing blue jean shorts and a white blouse with yellow flowers. On her bike too was a brown woven basket, which held a stowaway, her pet hermit crab, Beans, who came along for the ride. A few minutes later, Elise arrived on foot. She was dressed in a flowery dress. Not ideal clothing for a park trip, but because of a previous commitment, she was only meeting for a short time. She brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and apple juice and her camera. The girls ate their lunch, chatted a bit about their summer adventures, and giggled at the boys playing basketball. After a while, Gabriella said, “I’m going to take out Beans and let him roam in the grass for a while. He loves to exercise.” Reaching in her basket, she carefully

picked up and placed the crab in the grass. Jane did the same for Peg Leg. “I’ll take some pictures,” said Elise, opening the lens on her camera. The two girls carefully watched over their pets as they crawled in different directions. Elise took several pictures and even made a video.

After a while had past, Jane and Gabriella placed their pets back into their respective baskets. Elise said, “I have to get going. My family and I are going to my grandmothers for her birthday.” The girls said their goodbyes. Elise told them when she got home from her trip, she would e-mail a set of pictures to each of them. Then she met her mom and sisters at the gate. “I love how you decorated the shell,” Jane said to Gabriella. “Does the paint really work? I mean, it doesn’t wash off, does it?” she asked. “Oh, no,” replied Gabriella. “Dr. Mahoney said it’s the best and safest paint for shelled animals. It doesn’t wash off at all.” “Do you have any left?” asked Jane. “Yes. I have some in my backpack,” replied Gabriella. “Would you like to borrow some?” “That would be great,” answered Jane. Gabriella searched through her bag, finding the blue tube with a white cap in a side pocket, and handed it to Jane. Jane picked up Peg Leg and placed him gently in a small pillow she pulled from her backpack. She opened the cap, listening carefully to her friend’s instructions, and then wrote her first name and phone number on the bottom left side of Peg Leg’s shell. “Hey, that’s a great idea, writing your name and phone number on his shell, in case he gets lost,” exclaimed Gabriella.

“Yes, it is. But I hope he never does get lost,” replied Jane. “Thanks for the paint.” Jane handed it back to her friend.

Chapter 21

Camping in the Yard

Mark asked if he could have a camping sleepover party for his birthday. His dad said yes. A large tent was set up. When his friends arrived, they brought the camping gear in. They ate some pizza, cake and ice cream. Then went into the backyard, taking the camping gear with them to begin their adventure. Mark was unaware that Megan was coming home for his birthday. Mrs. Spencer was picking her up at the train station. As Mark and his buddies played games and told ghost stories from inside the tent, Megan arrived home with Mrs. Spencer. Jane was very happy to see her older sister. She showed Megan Peg Leg. She told her of how they met and what she was doing to help him. “Hey, Jane,” said Megan. “I have a great idea. Let’s play a trick on Mark and his friends.” Megan told Jane her plan. They made a shadow puppet of a turtle. They snuck quietly out near the tent. They could hear laughing coming from inside it. The night was dark, and they didn’t notice much light coming from inside the tent. Megan held the puppet up close to one side of the tent. Jane turned on a flashlight. The image of the puppet from inside the tent was so large and impressive that the boys began jumping around and running out of the tent, yelling, “Turtle monster!” When Mark saw Megan, he laughed and hugged her. The boys all agreed that the trick was the best that was ever played on them.

Early the next morning, everyone in the house was awoken by a commotion coming from the kitchen. Jane could smell a very peculiar odor. It was skunk! Apparently, Mark and his friends startled a skunk when they were exiting the tent. “They got sprayed! Yuck!” yelled Jane, placing her covers and pillow over her head. “Yikes!” yelled Megan. She also pulled the covers over her head. Brutus ran under Mr. and Mrs. Spencer’s bed, covering his nose in one of Mr. Spencer’s slippers. Even Peg Leg hid, hiding his whole body inside his shell! Jane could hear talking from upstairs but couldn’t hear what was being said. “Time for a tomato bath,” said Mr. Spencer. “Who’s first?” Talk about a smelly situation!

Chapter 22

The Surprise

Mr. Sharry, keeping his promise, met up with Jane once every two weeks as planned. As he arrived one day—again promptly at four o’clock—Jane shared her journal entries with him regarding the recovery efforts of the turtle. He checked on Peg Leg and saw that the turtle was well. He realized Jane’s efforts in helping the turtle recover were working. Very impressed at how Jane handled the task, he said, “I talked with Dr. Mahoney the other day. She said she has a surprise for you. Give her a call.” They said their good-byes. Jane ran inside, called the clinic, and arranged a meeting time with Dr. Mahoney with approval from her mother. “I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven,” said the doctor. “Don’t forget to bring Peg Leg.” The next morning Jane placed Peg Leg in the carrying case Dr. Mahoney gave to her. She put in some of Peg Leg’s favorite berries. She brought it to the car and placed it on the backseat floor. She buckled her seatbelt as she sat by the case. Her mother and Mark got in the car and drove to the center. Mark had to return an overdue book about a sports hero to the library; he had borrowed it almost two months prior. He thought of a way to avoid seeing Mrs. Green because he thought she would scold him for not being responsible in returning the book on time. Then he’d walk back to the clinic to meet up with his mother and sister. Mrs. Spencer and Jane took the case holding Peg Leg into the clinic just before eleven. Dr. Mahoney arrived a few minutes later with a box of her own in her hand. Jane showed her the journal she kept about Peg Leg’s recovery efforts.

“You keep excellent, detailed data, Jane. Nice job,” the doctor added. She checked on Peg Leg’s health status and gave her report. “He’s grown a bit and has gained weight. You’re doing a great service for this turtle, Jane. Now for the surprise.” She opened the box and placed a small, round object with four pointed prongs around the bottom of it on a table next to where she was standing. It resembled the small piece of rubber found at the bottom of a cane, just not as hollow. Mrs. Spencer and Jane stared at it and then looked at each other, still speechless. Then at the same time, they stared at Peg Leg. “This device,” the doctor continued, “is a gift from the friends of Mr. Sharry’s group at the Society of Endangered Wildlife. I have agreed to do the surgery on Peg Leg at no cost to you. It is like a prosthetic foot. If the surgery is successful, it should increase his chances of living a normal life in the right habitat. What do you think?” Jane, breaking into tears of joy, said, “It’s a miracle.” Mrs. Spencer once again thanked Dr. Mahoney. They arranged for Peg Leg to have the surgery that evening. “It will only take an hour, but he must stay overnight, and if all goes well, he could go home in a day or two,” confirmed the doctor. Dr. Mahoney called later that evening. Jane was sleeping. She told Mr. Spencer that the surgery went well and Peg Leg was recovering nicely. Mr. Spencer once again thanked Dr. Mahoney. The next morning, Jane was told of the good news of the surgery. She visited Peg Leg at the clinic each day he had to stay. Finally, Jane was able to take him home. She read over the detailed instructions from Dr. Mahoney and immediately began Peg Leg’s second recovery process. Peg Leg had to wear a protective covering over the surgically repaired area. Over the course of a few days, Jane observed a tremendous difference in Peg Leg’s ability to walk. The device attached to his injured leg was making a real difference.

Chapter 23

One Man’s Bluff

One warm, sunny morning, Jane and Mark planned a hike on a trail leading to the wooded area on the north side of their property. They would often go together on hikes with their father, learning about the different vegetation and animal life. They were not allowed to enter the thickly wooded area at the end of each trail without their father’s presence. Mr. Spencer had a job he needed to attend to and could not them. He gave Jane and Mark permission to hike the trail together, provided they stay on the trail and not enter the thickly wooded area. Mark was a Boy Scout and had learned some survival techniques. This was a good way for him to practice what he had learned. Also, he was at the age of becoming more independent. Although his sister was ing him, he didn’t seem to mind as he liked spending time with her. While packing his backpack, Mark walked onto the porch. He happened to look down on one of the rockers. There he noticed a clothesline neatly tied up on the cushion. “I think I’ll take this along,” he said to himself and placed it in his backpack. Mark didn’t realize that his father was going to recycle the rope because it was old and frayed. His father must have left it on the seat of the rocker on his way out to a job. “Are you ready to go?” asked Jane. “Yes. I’m getting Brutus,” he answered. He opened the door and called for the dog to come. “Stay together, you two, and keep a close eye on Brutus. You know how he likes to chase squirrels,” said their mother from inside the house. Jane wore a fanny pack around her waist that her friend Abigail had given her on her last birthday, and she placed Peg Leg inside the pouch. She never zippered it fully when she carried the turtle in it. He loved to peek his head out above the

top, looking out at the world around him whenever he was placed in it. She always padded it with grass and some berries in case he got hungry. She also had a sponge and an extra bottle of spring water in her backpack for him. Brutus was free to roam on the hikes without his leash when Mr. Spencer ed them, as he never strayed too far from his family. Mark did bring Brutus’s leash, just in case it was needed. As Jane and Mark began their hike up a short incline, Brutus began sniffing the air around him, hoping to pick up the scent of an animal. “Let’s hope he doesn’t see or smell a squirrel,” whispered Jane to Peg Leg. Brutus’s ears perked up as he looked at Jane when he heard her say squirrel. There were two main paths they could take when they reached the top of the hill. The first one was Old Man’s Bluff. It was a bit more rigid in some parts but otherwise safe to travel on. The other one was Danielle’s Way, named for a classmate of their older sister, who died of leukemia. They always said a prayer together before hiking on the trails. “It’s your turn to pick today,” said Jane. “Okay, I pick Old Man’s Bluff,” replied Mark. “I knew you were going to say that,” answered Jane. “Come on, sis, what could possibly happen?” he said as he began walking along the trail. Brutus ran ahead down the path as if he had caught a scent of something. Mark chased after him. Jane and Peg Leg continued walking at a slower pace. As she walked, she took in the beauty of the trail. She ired the purple wild flowers in the field on the left side. She told Peg Leg of how Grandma Grace loved these flowers and how often she would pick some, but not too many, and bring them to her grandmother when she would visit. On the right was the stream that flowed down to the back of the family property. There, she saw a rabbit family hopping along: a mother with three young bunnies. She placed her backpack on the ground to take out her camera. She began taking pictures of the rabbits, purple flowers, and Peg Leg. Mark finally caught up to Brutus. He was jumping up and down beside a large oak tree. The tree had grown in a most unusual place on the side of a rocky incline, about ten feet up from the stream.

“Brutus, stop chasing squirrels!” he said, looking down at his dog. As he glanced up into the tree, Mark saw something shiny sticking out from a branch about twenty feet up from the ground. “Hey, that’s a drone,” he said to himself. After staring up at it for a bit, he decided he was going to get the drone. He ed the clothesline he put in his bag and took it out. As he secured the clothesline around the top branch, Mark began to make his way up the trunk of the tree. He did well with the ropes class during gym class at school and felt he could handle the task. As he began to climb, without warning, the clothesline snapped, sending Mark down to the ground with the piece of the broken rope in his hand. As he stood up, he dropped the rope, slipped on a rock, lost his balance, and fell down the side of the rigid incline about five feet from the top. He rested on an old fallen tree log. As Jane finished taking the pictures, she could hear Brutus barking. She carefully placed her camera back inside her backpack and put Peg Leg in the fanny pack. She began walking up the path toward the barking. Brutus’s barks were getting louder. She could see him jumping up and down near the oak tree and the incline. She knew something was wrong when she saw the broken rope on the ground and the other part of it hanging down from a branch. As she looked down the side of the incline, she saw her brother resting on the log. “Are you okay?” she asked her brother. “Yeah, I think I may have hurt my ankle, though,” Mark responded. “Go get help, and I’ll be fine.” Jane took off her fanny pack and backpack. As she unzippered the backpack to take out a bottled water, Peg Leg crawled out from the top of the pouch. She tossed a water bottle to her brother. “I’ll be back. Brutus, stay here.” Leaving her backpack and fanny pack behind, Jane ran home to get help. Something of a miracle happened next. It was almost as if Brutus and Peg Leg were communicating with each other. Peg Leg took the end of the broken clothesline in his mouth and began crawling down the incline toward Mark. He could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Peg Leg coming closer to him with the rope in his mouth.

Brutus grabbed the other end of the rope in his mouth. As Mark took the rope and tied it around his waist, Peg Leg began making a loud clucking noise. Mark had never heard this sound before. Then he could feel himself being dragged up through the dirt and debris. He grabbed the turtle with one hand and placed him on the surface above his head as Brutus pulled from above. When Mark reach the top, he stood up, untied the rope, brushed off some dirt, and checked himself over. Realizing he had no broken bones, just a few scrapes and bruises, he took out a first-aid kit from his backpack and, using some of the water Jane had given him, cleaned and bandaged his wounds. He gave Brutus and Peg Leg some water. He looked up at the drone once again. Then he looked down at Peg Leg and Brutus. “Thanks, guys,” he said. Mark picked up Jane’s fanny pack and placed it around his waist. He picked up Peg Leg and placed him inside the pouch. Then he patted Brutus. He picked up the backpacks. Then the three of them began the walk back home. When Jane and Mrs. Spencer caught up with him, they were very happy to see he was all right. Mark never spoke to anyone about what he experienced that day on the trail. He knew in his heart the turtle named Peg Leg was special. It was quite an adventure that day on One Man’s Bluff!

Chapter 24

A Gift from Grandma Grace

One day, the doorbell rang. Brutus barked. Jane ran to the door and opened it. It was the mail carrier with a package delivery. “Hi, Jane. Hello, Brutus,” said Neil the mailman. “I have a special delivery for you.” “You do?” asked Jane. “Yes, all the way from three towns north,” answered Neil. “Thank you. It’s from Grandma Grace,” answered Jane. “Ah, Grandma Grace. I love her blueberry scones!” said Neil. “Yes, I will let her know,” answered Jane. She closed the door and took the package into the kitchen. It was a medium-sized brown box, not too heavy, with stickers of turtles and old-fashioned cars on it. The return address showed it was from her grandmother. Mark helped Jane open the package. “Why do you get a package from Grandma? It’s not your birthday,” said Mark, not noticing the cars on the outside of the box. “Maybe because I’m her favorite,” quipped Jane. “Stop that, you two,” said their mother. “Grandma Grace loves both of you equally.” Inside the package, there was a white box the size of a large shoebox. As their mother examined the label more closely, she noticed the package was addressed to both Mark and Jane. “It’s addressed to both of you,” she said. “I knew that. I just wanted to let him think I was more important than him,” said Jane. They both stuck their tongues out at each other at the same time.

“I can’t wait until school starts,” said Mrs. Spencer. When Jane opened the white box, she found two gifts: one large and one small, each neatly wrapped in colorful paper and bows. The larger gift was wrapped in white paper with crosses with a pink bow on it. The smaller package was wrapped with blue paper with different types of cars and a blue bow on it. Notes were attached to both presents: one to Jane and the other to Mark. Mark took his box and opened it. “Hey, it’s an antique car from the gift shop. How did Grandma … never mind,” said Mark as he exited the kitchen and went downstairs to his room. Jane held her gift in her hands for a few moments. The feeling of love for the turtle came over her, from her head to her toes. She opened the card and read it. It said, “My Dearest Jane, I saw you looking at this in the gift shop. Thought you would like it. Love, Grandma Grace.” Jane opened the box. It was the statue of Saint Francis of Assisi. “Like it? I love it!” she said to herself. Jane and Mark called Grandma Grace and thanked her for the gifts. After the call, Jane walked into the living room with the statue in hand. She placed the statue on the shelf below the aquarium tank. She looked in at Peg Leg. He was eating some berries. She thought about the day at church when the light shined through the St. Francis portrait in the stained-glass window. She thought about Sister Nora’s presentation of the saints. Then she thought about Peg Leg’s future.

Chapter 25

The Weather Report

As summer was coming to an end and with school starting up in less than two weeks, Jane knew that the conversation about Peg Leg’s future she had with her mother would again be a topic of discussion. She knew in her heart she had done everything possible to make the turtle’s life better. She knew she had to allow Peg Leg to return to the habitat with other wood turtles. The choice of keeping Peg Leg as a pet or setting him free was not going to be an easy one to make. The weather report for the weekend before school was to begin called for heavy rains, fierce winds, and dangerous thunderstorms. “The storm could produce severe flooding across the region,” one weatherman reported. Mr. Spencer was working in the yard, gathering the ripened vegetables, securing loose boards on fences around the pens, and looking for anything else to secure that could cause problems when the storm hit. Even though they were on the high side of the town, flooding could still cause wide-spread damage. On the day before the storm, the sun was shining brightly, and the weather was warm and breezy. It was hard to believe a dangerous storm was coming on the following day. Jane took Peg Leg up the hill and down the other side to a shallow water hole on the far end of the property. They were near the beginning of a wooded area that bordered a wide, fast-moving stream. The stream ran a path of water into an open hole just deep enough for a summer swim on hot days. Peg Leg enjoyed his bathing time. It was a perfect amount of water to bathe in for a young, small turtle of his size. After his swim, he enjoyed lying out in the sun, basking on the large rocks that surrounded the hole. The night before the storm, the sky looked clear and full of stars. Jane took Peg Leg up to the loft of the observation deck to look out at the night sky. She thought about the day she met Peg Leg. She thought about her family. She thought about Dr. Mahoney’s visits. She thought about her best friends, Gabriella

and Elise. She thought about Sister Nora, Mrs. Green, and Mr. Sharry. She thought about how all these people, these wonderful people who God brought into her life that summer, all for the sake of helping the injured turtle and showing their love and for her—and love and care for one of God’s creatures, Peg Leg. She looked down at Peg Leg and smiled. She knew by the look on his face that he was smiling up at her. When she looked up again at the night sky, a shooting star streaked across the star-lit sky. It was like the feeling she got when the sun shined through the stained-glass window of St. Francis of Assisi that glorious day at church. She knew at that very moment that the work she had done was good. She knew that her turtle friend, Peg Leg, would be just fine.

Chapter 26

Peg Leg Goes Missing

The next morning, on the day of the storm, Jane took Peg Leg out for one last walk through the grass. She knew it would be some time before she would have the opportunity to let him out again due to the severity of the storm. The sky, much different from the day before, was filled with different hues of gray clouds. A cool wind was blowing. If you were standing there at that moment, you would sense that rain was on its way. As Jane placed Peg Leg on the grass, she could feel the wind blowing strong gusts against her face. Rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. Brutus, sitting on the porch, saw a squirrel along the edge of the path near a tree close to the street. He leaped up from where he was sitting and motioned toward the squirrel with a loud bark. He began to chase after the squirrel. At the same time, the sky above opened up as if a faucet had been turned on. Within seconds, Brutus was halfway down the walkway, still chasing and barking at the squirrel. Jane, unintentionally leaving the turtle alone in the grass, began running after Brutus. Mark, hearing the commotion from the porch, ed in to help. A stronger gust of wind began to blow. At that very moment, the rain fell heavier and harder. They were drenched. Mark was able to get Brutus back in the house. Jane followed. Mrs. Spencer ordered them to immediately change out of their wet clothes. Thunder roared and lightning began to light up the sky. Jane was beside herself knowing Peg Leg was still out there somewhere in the grass. She changed quickly and ran to the window only to see a gush of water flowing rapidly down the center of the yard out into the road, right where she thought Peg Leg was roaming. There was nothing she could do. Some time ed before the rain let up. Large puddles were everywhere. Everything outside was wet. When it was safe for her to go outside, she immediately began looking for Peg Leg. She looked everywhere she thought Peg

Leg could be. The harsh reality of the turtle being swept away by the fastmoving currents of the river that invaded her yard only hours before began to sink in. She was heartbroken. Her turtle was nowhere to be found. Peg Leg had gone missing.

Chapter 27

The Search

For several days following the storm, Jane didn’t give up on the search for Peg Leg. Her mother, father, and brother helped her in her efforts of finding the turtle safe and sound. When news spread that Jane’s beloved turtle was missing from the heaviest of rains from the recent storm, Dr. Mahoney and her daughter, Abigail; Mrs. Dempsey, with her daughters Elise, Kate, and Cece; Mrs. Green, Gabriella, and her mother; Sister Nora; and Mr. Sharry all offered their help in search of the turtle. Even Grandma Grace drove down with Mr. Graf from three towns north to in the search. They looked everywhere around the house but did not find him. Elise, who had taken a picture of Jane and Peg Leg at the park, had it enlarged and gave it to Jane in hopes of cheering her up. In the days following the search, Gabriella and Elise organized a group of friends—Sam, Jaskaran, Abigail, Caitlyn, Gabriel, Tor, Ro, and many others, including Jane’s brother—in making posters and flyers of Peg Leg with the words “missing” and “lost” in uppercase bold lettering on them. Kate was an excellent artist. With the help of Tor and Ro’s mother, Mrs. Mack, who was an excellent artist herself, they both drew pictures of Peg Leg on the flyers. The group, with the assistance of adults, posted them on telephone poles and store windows and handed them out to everyone they met in the town center. Days became weeks, weeks became months, and no calls came in. Peg Leg was truly missing.

Summer ended. School was in session. Birds flew south in search of warmer weather. The leaves changed color and began to fall from the trees, covering the floor of the earth below them. Cool autumn days settled in. Autumn soon became winter. The brisk cold air settled down, and snow began to fall. Ponds and streams and even the great Hudson River around the area froze over. All Jane had left was an empty aquarium, a statue of Saint Francis, and the picture of her and Peg Leg Elise had given to her to Peg Leg by.

Chapter 28

Jane’s Last Journal Entry

One evening, while cleaning her room, Jane came across the journal she had written about Peg Leg. She climbed the ladder to the loft overlooking the outside world. She sat quietly on a chair on the observation deck, opened the book, and began reading her entries. After reading many of the pages, she came to realize that she had more than an empty aquarium, a statue of Saint Francis, and a picture to Peg Leg by. She had friends still present in her life, still making a difference, still helping her believe that Peg Leg would return someday. Tears filled her eyes. As Jane sat in the loft, she stared out the window into the night sky. Thoughts of Peg Leg’s whereabouts filled her mind. She opened her journal and turned to a blank page. Then she wrote this poem:

Heavenly Father, Please watch over Peg Leg wherever he may be, I now know your intention was to bring him to me. Everyone you brought into my life during last summer season, They cared, they shared, they loved … Peg Leg was their reason. I did my best to protect him in his time of need. I did my best to love him, as you planted the seed. I did my best to care for him through your guidance and love.

Saints Patrick, Catherine, and Francis were heavenly signs from above. It is hard for me to imagine his struggles and his fears. Your strength gives me courage to wipe away my tears. Please help me realize, through a sign, that he is okay, That he is alive and breathing and safe from harm’s way. Amen. Love, Jane

She glued a picture she found of Peg Leg on a blank page of the journal and placed it under the aquarium tank. This was the last entry Jane wrote in her journal.

Chapter 29

An Answered Request

A new summer began. The thought of the day that terrible storm fell upon Jane’s hometown, the day on which Peg Leg went missing, was nearly forgotten. Jane was away at her Uncle Mike’s house in Boston with her brother. At home, Mr. Spencer answered a phone call from a woman regarding a lost turtle. “Hello?” “Hello,” replied the woman. “My name is Mrs. Smith. My daughter found a turtle in our yard with a name and telephone number on it. Do you have a child who may have lost a turtle?” Mr. Spencer thought about the blue tube with the white cap and with the special paint for shelled pets in Dr. Mahoney’s clinic. “Very clever, Jane,” he said to himself. “Hello?” said the woman. “Oh, yes. My daughter lost her turtle last summer,” replied Mr. Spencer. He knew Peg Leg had been found. The woman went on to describe the turtle as having only three legs with a special covering on the fourth. She said her daughter had grown quite fond of the turtle. She explained that she didn’t want her daughter to become too attached to it if the turtle belonged to someone else who may have lost it. “I will have my daughter call you when she gets back from her trip. Thank you for the great news,” Mr. Spencer replied. When Jane returned home from Boston, Mrs. Spencer informed her of the phone call. She told her Peg Leg had been found. Jane, very excited about the news,

immediately phoned the woman and planned a visit with her mother’s approval. Then she called all the people who cared about Peg Leg and told them the good news. Jane took out a map her father had stored in one of the drawers of a sideboard in the dining room. She learned that the town where the woman lived was only about a mile and a half away along the Hudson River. On the Internet, with help from her brother, Jane could see the aerial view of the possible track Peg Leg had taken to the home he was now at. She couldn’t help but wonder how Peg Leg got there. She knew he was aquatic and the possibility of him surviving being swept away by a flash flood was possible. She thought about his journey and the adventures and dangers he may have experienced. She thought about how the little girl found him and what she was doing to take care of him. A mile and a half of travel for a small turtle in less than a year left Jane dreaming about the adventures he may have encountered. Jane walked over to the aquarium stand. She reached down a picked up the large picture of her and Peg Leg Elise had given to her. Looking at it very intently, she thought about the prayer she wrote in the journal the night she sat in the loft. She knew a sign had been sent to her from above. The request she asked God to give her was answered. She knew in her heart that Peg Leg was safe from harm’s way.

Chapter 30

A New Home for Peg Leg

When Jane and her mother arrived at the house, she noticed a tree house, a huge front porch, and a small pond in the back, visible from the street. The Hudson River was directly behind the house. The young girl was sitting on the front step with her dog. The woman Jane had spoken to on the phone greeted them. Mrs. Spencer was invited in for coffee. Jane walked over to the girl. “Hi. My name is Jane. What’s yours?” she asked. “Hi. I’m Rachel. Nice to meet you. Are you the one who wrote your name and phone number on Shelly?” asked the girl. Tears were filling up in her eyes. “Yes,” answered Jane. “Please don’t cry. I see you are taking very good care of the turtle, but I call him Peg Leg.” Rachel began to chuckle and said, “Is it because he only has three legs?” Jane nodded. “Then I will call him Peg Leg too.” The girls smiled at each other. “Now I’m beginning to cry,” answered Jane. Jane saw Peg Leg on the girl’s lap. He looked happy and content in his new surroundings. She checked on his hurt leg and observed how the special piece that Dr. Mahoney had surgically placed on was still secure, even a year later. On that day, Jane spent about two hours sharing her story with Rachel of how she met Peg Leg in her yard near the greenhouse and the adventures she had with him. She told her about how her family helped her with the turtle. She spoke about the visits to Dr. Mahoney’s clinic. She explained how Mrs. Green helped her find information about wood turtles. She told her about the sign she received from God that glorious day in church. She informed Rachel about how Sister Nora taught her about Saint Francis of Assisi and his love for animals. She

informed her about Mr. Sharry and what he did in helping her with Peg Leg. She told her about the tree house, the park visits with friends, the walks on the trails, the loft, and the water hole. She voiced to Rachel about how Dr. Mahoney performed surgery on Peg Leg’s injured leg. She explained to Rachel about the statue of Saint Francis her Grandmother Grace sent her. She expressed to her of the flood caused by a terrible rainstorm and how it washed Peg Leg away. She told her about her best friends, Elise and Gabriella, and all the others who helped search for Peg Leg when he went missing. Rachel was amazed by what Jane was sharing with her. Rachel spent some time showing Jane her backyard. When they walked toward the pond, Jane noticed several turtles. Some of them were swimming in the water. Others were lying on the muddy shore or on rocks along the water’s edge. They looked just like Peg Leg! Rachel explained that her grandfather loved wood turtles. She explained how her grandfather bought two wood turtles from a neighbor who kept them in captivity. She informed Jane of how he gave them the freedom to roam the yard. She voiced to her of how each year, more and more wood turtles would appear at the pond. Rachel showed Jane the sandy area her grandfather had made near the base of the river that led up in a path to the pond. She explained that he called the area Turtle Island. “My grandfather told me that many turtles over the years would come to lay their eggs, and new turtles would hatch from the hidden depths of the sand below. Some would stay, making it their home, and some would go and venture out into the currents of the mighty Hudson in search of a perfect habitat,” she explained. Jane knew in her heart that Rachel was taking good care of Peg Leg. “There’s something I would like to give you,” she said. Jane opened her backpack and took out the journal. She handed Rachel the journal she kept about Peg Leg. “I’d like you to have this. It is a token of my memories of Peg Leg. Somehow, I know it is your turn to have it.” The life of this wood turtle Jane had developed a special bond with was saved. Jane knew in her heart that her mission of saving one of God’s creatures, which was in danger of extinction, was complete. She knew the girl who had found Peg Leg loved and cared for him just like she did. Jane’s worries were over now that

she knew Peg Leg would spend the rest of his life with other turtles like him. God’s mission for Jane was complete. It was a perfect solution to a difficult decision.