Stories by
Nancy Scott

MUDDY BOOTS

        Patty stood at her mirror, brushing through her long brown hair.

        What did Dad say about balance? Oh think think...I must remember, it was only last spring, I couldn't forget so soon, not something Dad taught me.  How could I forget anything about Dad yet. I remember, he said to make sure that the weight was evenly distributed through the canoe.

        Patty tried to remember everything her Dad had taught her about handling the canoe, in fact Patty tried to remember everything her Dad had taught her. Lately it seemed though, that the lessons were getting dim and she had to think hard to remember some things.

        As she finished getting ready for the day she dug through the pile of clothes flung carelessly over her chair.  Oh where is my best jumper?

        "Mom, is my favorite jumper in the wash?" Patty called out her bedroom door. "I have to wear it today, and I can't find it anywhere."

        "Not that I can remember, Patty, it may be in the dryer, or better yet, look in your closet, if you can get the door open."

        "Yes, Mom, I get the hint, I'll clean my room." Patty began tossing things out of her closet looking for her beloved jumper.

          Maybe Alicia knows where it is. "Hey Al., can you help me find my jumper, you know the one Grandma made , with the canoe stitched on the front?"

        Patty's six year old sister came across the hall and peered into Patty's room.

        "If you would keep your room neat like me, you could find your things."

        "Forget it, I'll find it myself. You are never any help. I can hardly wait to get out in the canoe and away from you for a while."

        "Mom will never let you out in the canoe by yourself, you think you are so big." Alicia stuck out her tongue at her sister and scooted back to her own room.

        Patty attacked her room with a vengeance, finally finding her jumper scrunched up in a corner under some books, toys and junk. Pulling it free from it's  entanglement she shook out the wrinkles and pulled it over her head.

      "I guess I can live with the wrinkles and the small spaghetti stain, I'm not going anywhere."  She reasoned as she headed to the kitchen table.         

         " Mom, can I take the canoe out today? It is so nice and the lake is finally clear of ice."

     "Not yet Pat, the lake is very cold ," answered Mom as she flipped over the batch of pancakes.

        "But Mom, Dad showed me all kinds of things last summer before...."

        "I know, Dad taught you a lot, but he also taught you to obey, right? He would want you to trust me, the lake is very cold."   

     "Yes, Mom, but Dad would let me go, I just know he would." Patty scraped her chair out from the table and ran to her room.

         Sitting at her window seat she watched the clouds float by. Lord, why did You take my Dad? I need him so bad. I was his big girl. He taught me all kinds of things. I miss him so much. A tear made it's way down Patty's cheek. Maybe I could just sit in the canoe and leave it tied, that would not be disobeying.

     Patty tiptoed out of her room and down the hall to the basement stairs. She went down to the mudroom and pulled on her boots and jacket. Running all the way to the lake she arrived in no time. The canoe swayed peacefully as she stepped off the dock and carefully into the center.  There, she thought, not a problem, I remembered exactly what to do. Patty lay back in the canoe remembering all she could about her Dad. 

     Dad always said to trust the Lord. That is so hard right now. He was always doing the right thing, I always seem to get into trouble one way or another. Lord help me be like my Dad.

      Just then Alicia came skipping down the path.

      "Hey, Pat, what are you doing in the canoe? Mom said no, I'm gonna tell." Alicia turned to run back to the house.

      "Wait Alicia, look it is tied, I'm just thinking about Dad. I miss him, how about you?"

      " Ya, I miss him too." Alicia made her way back to her sister. "Can I sit with you?"

      "Sure, just be careful. Dad showed me how to get in properly. The canoe must be kept balanced. Patty moved to guide Alicia into the canoe, but before she could get into position Alicia took a leap. SPLASH!!! Over it went with both girls tumbling into the cold water.

      "Oh Patty, the water is so cold." Alicia shivered as she made her way up the muddy banks. Patty came shivering up beside her, pulling her boots out of the mud all of the way.

      "Are you alright Alicia, besides being frozen?"

      "Yes, I guess so, Mom is going to be mad, look at the mess."

       "I don't think we should worry her, we're okay. We didn't mean to get wet. It was an accident. We'll put the wet things in the washer and get cleaned  up." Patty put her arm around her sister and they headed to the house, through the laundry room ,dealing with the muddy clothes.

       "Hey Patty, I 'm sorry I should have listened to you. Dad taught you what to do, not me." Alicia said  after they were in Patty's room, dry and cozy under the big quilt.

       "Well Dad taught us other things to, like obedience. It means obeying all the way. I only partly obeyed Mom. She said to stay out of the canoe. Now that we are clean on the outside I guess we should get clean on the inside. Let's tell Mom what happened."

        "Sure, you are just like Dad, always doing the right thing." Alicia hugged her sister.

       " Thanks, Al, but if that were so I would not have been in the canoe, but I'm trying, I sure miss him. I guess the lessons he taught will take a bit longer to stick."

     Just as they were headed out the door they met Mom. In her hands, clear as you could see, were two pair of muddy boots.

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Nancy Scott