Return to Piney Point

In the thick summer air, there was the sound of twittering birds, mixed with the rushing water of Goose Lake, gently reaching through the glass windows of the little cottage on the shore. Constructed entirely from pine logs, it still gave off that exotic smell even after several years. It was surrounded by large bunches of pine trees, locking it away in a safe, comforting utopia of mystery and beauty.

The beautiful sounds reached the ears of a little dark-haired girl inside the cottage, asleep in her bed. She was tangled up in the sheets, as if a dream had made her dance in her sleep. And while the sun rose higher above the trees outside, her brown eyes opened to meet the new day.

In her restless stirring, Samantha Parkington's long chestnut hair, plaited apart into two pigtails, whipped into her face, gently slapping her into reality. Her groggy eyes looked up at the wooden ceiling of her room, recognizing it as the bedroom of her grandmother's summer house at Piney Point.

Samantha sat upright in her bed, slowly enough for her brain to start to awaken. And almost immediately, the sweet, piney smell of the surrounding forest hit her nose, sending a shiver all throughout her. It was so powerful, she found she was shaking her head again, accidentally whipping her braids into her face.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, pushing her braids back behind her shoulders.

Samantha instantly covered her mouth, as she glanced to the bed beside her. Under the fresh blankets, someone stirred. And then, out from under the sheets, popped a head of messy red hair, covering a bright face speckled with freckles. Samantha chuckled, embarrassed, at the newly-awakened face of her best friend, Nellie.

"Good morning, Nellie," Samantha said, smiling sincerely.

"Aw, morning, Samantha," Nellie said, yawning under her gleeful voice. Samantha was momentarily surprised to hear such a thing in her voice. A year of being Samantha's adopted sister had done a lot for Nellie- bringing a heartfelt joy and laughter to her character. She laughed a lot more often, as well as her meek smile popping out more unexpectedly; even Samantha was surprised once in a while when Nellie did that. She giggled loudly just thinking of it.

"Pleasant dreams?" Samantha wanted to know, leaning across her bed in Nellie's direction.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe it!" Nellie said enthusiastically. "I was walking through the woods with you and Bridget and Jenny. And then, we came to a part of the trees where they were made of…guess!"

"Peppermint? Toffee?" Samantha guessed.

"Nope. They were made of white chocolate!" Nellie said, shaking her head. "And the lake near the trees, it was made of melted ice cream. Jenny and Bridget- they stayed behind to nibble at the trees, and then you and I ran, and jumped into the lake. Oh goodness- we got so covered with ice cream that even our hair changed color. Jenny said we looked like baby polar bears."

Samantha laughed, and so did Nellie. They were giggling for so long, and so hard, that for a moment, it seemed like their laughter was bringing the rising sun, coming even higher above the clouds.

Nellie turned her head, and glanced out the window at the bright circle poking out onto the woodsy setting around the cottage. And then, as if on cue, her stomach growled like a hungry bear.

"Come on, Samantha," she said, crawling out from under the covers. "Let's get Bridget and Jenny."

"Yes," Samantha agreed, following her friend. "I wonder what Mrs. Hawkins made for breakfast."

"Imagine if she made pancakes, with blueberries!" Samantha said, stepping quickly down the hall to the other room. "I love her pancakes."

"Me too," Nellie agreed.

Samantha was already at the door, her hand on the golden doorknob. She slowly turned the knob, wincing while it creaked like an old rocking chair. Nellie poked her head in at Samantha's side, her big blue eyes observing the tender scene before them. In the two beds, two long lumps were hidden under the blankets, their middle sections rising and falling with a gentle breathing. Neither of them stirred, giving the indication they could still be asleep.

Samantha put her finger to her lips, and she and Nellie crept on tiptoes onto the carpeted floor; they barely made a peep with their slippered feet. Once inside they split to take up the two beds, and they made careful movements to arouse the sleeping girls.

With a tentative reach, Samantha touched the body under the sheets. But the instant that she did, Jenny popped her head out and threw the blankets on the floor in her swift jolt from sleep. Samantha screamed, stumbling backward into the wall. Nellie had the same reaction, while Bridget came out of her bed like a jack-in-the-box.

"Bridget! Jenny!" Nellie scolded. "Don't do that, you scared us!"

"Jiminy!" Samantha exclaimed. "You both scared us pretty well! We thought that you two were asleep."

"We were," said Bridget. "Until we woke up and we decided to have some fun with whoever came to wake us."

Samantha's face broke out into a grin, and she giggled. "I think you are starting to become more like Agnes and Agatha with each passing day," she said, thinking of her mischievous twin cousins from Mount Bedford.

"We're sorry we made you scream," said Jenny meekly. "We won't do it again."

"It's all right. You're forgiven," said Samantha. "Are you both hungry? Mrs. Hawkins could be cooking up something marvelous."

It wasn't hard getting Bridget and Jenny out of bed when Samantha mentioned what possibilities breakfast held that morning. And indeed, waiting for them in the dining room were Grandmary, the Admiral, and Mrs. Hawkins, serving hot plates practically toppling over with pancakes. She placed them beside a little pitcher of syrup, and a thin butter plate.

Grandmary looked up from her conversation with the Admiral, who greeted the girls with a tip of his night cap. "Good morning, girls," she said.

"Good morning, Grandmary, Admiral," Samantha said, speaking for the group. "What's on the table, Mrs. Hawkins?"

Mrs. Hawkins winked at Samantha, turning to return to the kitchen. "Well, do suppose all you girls lift your forkfuls, and find out that mystery?" she stated, turning on her heel for the door.

Samantha and the others sat down, laying their napkins on their laps, like proper young ladies. They picked up their silverware, and started to pick at their breakfast, slipping their forks into their mouths delicately.

An excited thought popped into Samantha's mind, but she had to bite her tongue to keep from talking through a mouthful. She swallowed quickly, but barely remembered to wipe her mouth of maple syrup. "That's not blueberry," she noted.

"It's chocolate chips," Nellie added, looking with a gleam in her eyes at the pancakes on her plate.

"Did you request them, Grandmary?" Samantha wanted to know.

Grandmary shook her head, gesturing with her eyes at the Admiral. He winked at the girls, grinning widely. "Mrs. Hawkins likes to surprise you girls enough," he said, "so I decided to add my own touch to this meal as well. How do you like it?"

"It's wonderful, we love it!" Samantha exclaimed, almost jumping up from her seat. But another bite to her tongue told her to stay in her seat, poised upright like Grandmary told her.

"Tell me, girls," the Admiral said, peering at them all. "What kind of adventure will you all have today? It's going to be a beautiful day from what I gather."

"Swimming!" said Jenny and Nellie, together.

"Walking in the woods!" declared Bridget.

"Rowing to Teardrop Island!" Samantha stated.

Grandmary gave Samantha a strange look, like she had said a bad word instead of simply saying what she wished to do.

"Samantha," she intoned, "I'd like you to recall what happened last year. The last time you took Agnes and Agatha out to the island, you all were nearly killed in that terrible storm. And, oh, bless the poor Admiral's heart. He and I were worried sick for you."

"Grandmary, we know better this time," Samantha said, looking right at Grandmary to better prove herself. "I'm eleven years old now. I believe I can remember things better, and, I don't think we would stay for the whole day. We promise we can be back before sunset."

Despite Samantha's clear confidence, Grandmary wasn't shaken from her opinion. "You are eleven years old, Samantha. I trust that you and Nellie can be responsible for yourselves, and Bridget and Jenny. But, I still worry for you. Given, it's not too long a journey there, but you must not forget to tie up the boat and not to stray too far."

"So…are we allowed to go?" Samantha asked hopefully.

"I don't by any means want to trample your fun," Grandmary said woefully, "but I don't want to take such a huge risk by letting you go over by yourselves."

"I can't say that I disagree, entirely," the Admiral added.

The girls looked at the Admiral in slight disappointment.

"But if Samantha can lead us through a storm and keep her wits about her, then why not make another adventure?" he said, making a grand gesture out the window towards the lake.

"Oh, would you, Admiral?" Samantha asked, looking excitedly at him.

"Well, why not?" he said. "I have the utmost confidence in you, Samantha. You're a great bunch of brave girls."

Grandmary shook her head, giggling. "And I suppose I shall have no peace until I agree to your proposal," she stated, looking fondly at the Admiral, who returned her expression.

Samantha, Nellie, Bridget, and Jenny smiled collectively.

"All right," Samantha said, immediately taking charge. "After breakfast, we can make our voyage."

"We can bring some art supplies and some snacks," Nellie suggested.

"And games!" Bridget and Jenny said together.

Samantha nodded. "I'll also have to go up to the attic."

"For what?" Nellie wanted to know.

"I'll show you," Samantha replied. "It's something very special, and it might make our adventure there more meaningful."

She looked at Grandmary and the Admiral, and they winked back at her knowingly.