Bone Deep by Gina McMurchy-Barber Page A

new year about to begin my hopes are high that things have finally settled and smooth sailing lies ahead with Mister Lockhart.
    Captain James Whittaker

Chapter Six
    â€œPeggy, make sure you’re careful and wear your life jacket at all times, okay? And it’s important that you listen to Dr. Hunter.” Mom crushed me in her arms like I was a memory-foam doll. Before she could say another word or change her mind about letting me go, I pecked her on the cheek and wriggled out of her arms. Grabbing my backpack, I turned to Eddy.
    â€œC’mon, Eddy, we’d better get moving.” I was glad she’d volunteered to drive me to Steveston docks to meet with Dr. Hunter instead of Mom. For one thing it guaranteed I’d be on time, and it also meant I could avoid all of Mom’s last minute advice and mushing over me. Just when I thought I’d made a clean getaway, Aunt Beatrix piped up.
    â€œNow remember, dear — put your best foot forward, display impeccable manners, remember that honesty is always the best policy, pull your own weight, be responsible, and for heaven’s sake comb your hair.” Aunt Beatrix stood next to Mom wagging her finger at me.
    â€œYes, Aunt Beatrix,” I groaned. “Now that it’s just the two of you maybe you should teach Mom a thing or two about china and how to make a good impression on her boss.” She smiled like I’d just given her a great idea. Mom pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. Gotcha, Mom!
    When Eddy’s rattling old truck finally turned the corner and we were heading up Crescent Beach road I sighed and opened the brown paper bag Aunt Beatrix had given me as I got in the truck. A warm, sweet smell filled the cab.
    â€œMmmm,” I sighed. “I won’t miss being Aunt Beatrix’s improvement project, or all her lessons about old Chinese porcelain, but I will miss her baking and cooking.” I handed Eddy a fresh carrot-and-chocolate-chip muffin still warm from the oven.
    As we drove in silence I recalled the day I passed my diving test. Like the carrot muffin fresh from the oven, the memory of it warmed me all over. That night at dinner I couldn’t stop talking. My fingers and toes were shriveled like prunes and my eyes still stung from the salt water that had seeped into my mask. But I was ecstatic, overjoyed, and even out-of-my-mind happy. I also knew that there was no way I was going to miss the chance to go looking for the Intrepid .
    â€œHow did you get so much water in your mask in the first place?” asked Mom. I could feel the rumble of joy deep inside me and wished I could explain better what it was like.
    â€œI couldn’t stop laughing, that’s why. I wished you’d been there, Mom. The moment we started to descend I felt like I’d been dumped into an aquarium.”
    â€œSo what happened to being afraid?”
    â€œThat’s the thing — it just vanished the moment I went under the water and saw all the sea life. It was like I had entered another world and it made me forget about being afraid.” I rambled on about the seaweed that swayed like little green hula dancers, the crabs creeping about on the ocean floor, clams, catfish, the schools of tiny fish, and how beautiful and serene everything was. Even Aunt Beatrix couldn’t get a word in edgewise. “And all the skills I learned in the pool somehow became second nature to me. I even passed buddy breathing with flying colours.” When I closed my eyes I could see the fish and shells and dark-green water pierced by the shafts of sunlight. It felt so good when Mom told me how proud she was that I’d overcome my fear. Come to think of it, I was proud of myself, too.
    â€œGlad to see you packed light, Peggy. There won’t be much room on the boat.” Eddy’s voice broke me out of my reverie.
    â€œThat’s what Dr. Hunter told me too. Now if I was one of those prissy girls Aunt Beatrix