13–MELCHY

Carolyn awoke the next morning with a hearty appetite and a big grin on her face. Yesterday for all of its practical jokes had been a lovely day, especially the ending, she couldn't help but think.

Her little bedside clock announced silently that it was seven-thirty, and she turned off the alarm before it could start to ring. She hated nothing more than the buzz of an alarm clock telling her it was time to get up when she already was up.

Coming downstairs about twenty minutes later, she walked into the kitchen, greeting everyone with a cheery hello. Candy and Jonathan returned her greeting with sunny smiles of their own, happy because spring break had finally arrived and there was no school or homework for a week.

Martha offered her employer a stack of pancakes, which Carolyn took gratefully. Martha gave her a strange look as she handed her the plate with the steaming hot cakes, wondering why the small woman had suddenly obtained an appetite.

"Where's the Captain?" Carolyn asked adding sugar into her cup.

"He said something about getting things done," Martha informed her, sitting down with her own cup of coffee. "He didn't say, and I sure wasn't going to ask him."

"Mom?" Candy looked up from her plate. "Jonathan and I were thinking of a cool gift to give to the Captain for his real birthday. Well, not really give, but it is something for him."

"What is it?" her mother asked, curiously.

"It's a song we learned in music class last week." Jonathan finished. "It's called 'A Capital Ship,' and it's really neat."

"You sing it to the tune of 'Gilligan's Island'." Candy giggled.

"Gilligan's Island?" Carolyn wrinkled her nose. "That crazy show!"

"You like it, Mom." Candy teased. "I heard you tell Martha once that you thought the Professor was cute."

"That's beside the point." Carolyn rubbed the side of her neck, hoping she wasn't blushing. "Do you have the song?"

"We can get it if we can go into town today," her daughter told her. "Mrs. Manchester said she'd be at the school and she'd give us a copy. And Martha, will you help us practice?"

"I'd be glad to, if we can keep the old goat out of the house long enough!"

"We will manage." Carolyn assured everyone, pouring more syrup on her pancakes. "We'll find a way."

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After breakfast, Carolyn took the children into town and they got a copy of the song. They let Carolyn read over the words and she giggled at the nonsensical lyrics. "He will like it!" she told them.

"I thought we'd drive over to Keystone today and see if we could find something spectacular for his present," she said. "I think we out-shopped Schooner Bay yesterday!"

"That ship you gave him was keen." Jonathan nodded. "You'll be hard put to get something better than that."

"I think you're right. But we'll try. I know I should have given that as the big gift, but . . . "

"That's okay, Mom. You don't have to explain." Candy assured her so sincerely — Carolyn wondered what her daughter might be referring to.

They walked around the shops, finding some wonderful nautical antiques, but still Carolyn couldn't find anything she thought was right.

"We will be getting some new stuff in . . ." The clerk told her. "Try again in a couple of days. Maybe you'll find something then."

"Thank-you. I think I will."

Before going back to Schooner Bay, they went to a small hamburger place and pigged out on cheeseburgers, fries and milk shakes. "Just don't tell Martha!" Carolyn warned them. "She'll have a fit!"

Returning home, Candy and Jonathan ran into the house with their song, while Carolyn took her time getting out of the station wagon.

"Hello, my dear." The Captain greeted her, coming to stand by the open car door. "Where were you off to today?"

"Just running some errands." She gave him a smile. "What about yourself?"

"The same," he nodded. "I thought I'd go and work on my sea charts now."

Thinking of the song, Carolyn shook her head. "I've got a better idea," she smiled enticingly. "Let's go for a walk."

"Another one?"

"There is no such thing as too many walks, Captain."