More of Pearl's Story

After The Storm (continued)

And so it was that Jim flung Pet Goat over his broad shoulders

surprising Pet Goat, whose back legs flailed in the salty air

and whose little front hoofs clicked against one another,

until the icy cold ocean water sprayed them from top to bottom.

Jim hollered and laughed at Pet Goat's fearful eyes.

"It's all right, Pet Goat, just a little ocean bath.

Won't hurt us at all."

And so Jim waded in the gentle lapping waves with Pet Goat,

now standing alongside Jim, jumping now and then

when his hoofs touched some little ocean creature.

After a while Jim turned to the shore and just in time;

for in the distance a large pelican sitting atop a tall post

spread its large wings and dived into the ocean

after his morning breakfast and Jim and Pet Goat

alarmed, to be sure, for they didn't want to be in the way

of the pelican's sharp beak,

high stepped back to shore and safety.

John had long since returned to the cottage

and had begun making breakfast.

Enough wood had been saved from the day before the storm

to start the fire in the stove and soon the room was filled

with the smell of pancakes and sausages

and whatever else John had on hand.

Pet Goat needed to sit in the sun to dry his brown and white coat.

The storm had made the air smell clean

and so another day began for the brothers.

A fishing day after the storm.