Thunder from the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow Page A

A.
    Nancy repeated the sounds after Tom. Little Rowena tried too. “Those aren’t words, Tom,” Nancy protested.
    â€œBut they’re like… magic ingredients,” Tom said.
    â€œMagic?” Rowena’s eyes widened.
    â€œThey make the other letters become words. You’ll see.” Tom pointed to the vowels. “Practice all these sounds, and the next time I’ll show you how they make words.” He got up to leave.
    â€œWhen’s the next time? Tomorrow?”
    â€œAll right. I’ll be here tomorrow at the same time.”
    Several mornings during the next few weeks Tom met Nancy and Rowena at the cave. Thunder always went along with him. Enoch was still fishing with Amos until the winter ice came in and closed the harbor. Since Fiona was feeling better, Tom was free to give Nancy her lessons. Tom was surprised how quickly Nancy learned. But Rowena was distracting, whining for attention or wandering off among the rocks. Thunder always sprawled out in a sunny spot and slept, snoring now and then.
    One day Tom spent a longer time than usual, showing Nancy how changing just one letter can change a word. “Take the word
cat
,” he explained to Nancy. “See how you can change it by switching the first letter?”
    â€œBat!” Nancy said, pointing to the letter B. “H … hat!”
    â€œGood for you, Nancy,” Tom praised her. He got up. “I’ve got to go back and see if Fiona needs me. Try writing all the ‘at’ words you can think of, and I’ll see them when I come back.”
    â€œAll right,” Nancy agreed.
    Thunder pulled himself up and followed Tom.
    Rowena was climbing a boulder toward the tuckamore at the top of the slope. “You’d better keep an eye on Rowena,” Tom said. “She could wander away.”
    Nancy nodded, already busy writing words in her notebook.
    When Tom and Thunder arrived home, the house smelled of cinnamon and apples, and a crackling fire burned in the wood stove.
    â€œI baked muffins this morning!” Fiona said. “Sit down and have one with me, Tom.” She poured tea for the two of them and spread bakeapple jam on the steaming muffins.
    Tom removed his jacket and sat at the table. “These are right scrumptious,” Tom said, his mouth full.
    Fiona sipped her tea. “Where do you go on your mornin’ walks, Tom?”
    â€œUp beyond the Bosworths’ house, but not all the way to Eastern Head. Just up to where the boulders are.”
    â€œWhat do you and Thunder do up there all by yourselves?”
    He put down his teacup. “Can I tell you a secret?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œI’ve been teachin’ Nancy Bosworth how to read.”
    â€œOh, aye! That’s right nice of you, boy,” Fiona said. “Does her mother know?”
    â€œOh, no, Nancy doesn’t want me to tell anyone yet. It’s goin’ to be a surprise for her folks.”
    â€œIt’s plain to see that Ruby and Bert can’t read.”
    â€œNancy said that her ma pretends she can.” Tom grinned. “Bert makes believe he can too. He spells
fish
COD.”
    Fiona laughed, sputtering her tea and muffin. “Too bad Bert doesn’t join you for lessons.” She tapped at her mouth with a serviette.
    â€œHe’s too proud to ask for help, ’specially from me.”
    â€œPride goeth before a fall,” Fiona quoted.
    At that moment Thunder began to bark from the porch.
    â€œFiona! Fiona! Come quick!”
    Fiona opened the door. Ruby stood there, as pale as a ghost, her hair a messy slattery-sling. Nancy was sobbing behind her.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Ruby?” Fiona asked.
    â€œIts Rowena—she’s gone!”
    â€œShe just disappeared!” Nancy cried hysterically. “I’m afeard the fairies took her!”
    â€œRowena’s mother is at the cave with Bert and Eddie,” Ruby said.