Joanne's Cabin - Part 2

Boat Ride to Big Wolf Cliff

She cuts the engine.

“Is this far enough out, Dad?”

“It’s a bit wavy.”

“I can paddle if we get pushed away.”

“Ya, but, Joanne’s not a big talker when it is windy.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. She only talks when it’s calm.”

“I’m going to try anyways.”

“Go for it.”

“Joanne!!”

She doesn’t answer.

“Joanne!! It’s me, Lizzy.”

“Sorry, sweetie. She’s not talking.”

“It’s okay. We can try again another day.”

“Maybe we can paddle over tomorrow it it’s calm.”

“Great!”

“Well, start the engine up so we can continue our lake cruising.”

“Can you drive? I feel like sitting in the bow.”

“Sure.”

The engine hums loudly after the first pull and they peel out as fast as the 10 horsepower Evinrude can go. Liz sits reclined in the bow looking back over her dad’s head. Big Wolf looks almost mountain like. It's sixty feet high in places and almost three hundred feet long. Her dad said it was formed by a giant glacier as it scraped along the ground pushing the rock out front of it. When the ice stopped moving the cliff wall was left behind.

Something catches her eye.

“Dad, did you see that?!”

He slows the boat.

“Huh?”

“Did you see that.”

“See what?”

“Where did you say Joanne’s cabin was?”

“It’s over there above the Venus cabin. Way up in the bush there.”

“Ya, that’s where I saw it.”

“You saw Joanne’s cabin?”

“I think so.”

“Well, that’s pretty lucky. I don’t see it now.”

“Me neither.”

“Well, too cool Lizzy. I see it often but most folks can’t see it.”

“Why can you see it?”

“I’ve got my own bit of charm.”

“Like Mom?”

“No, I’m much more charming than she is.”

“Ha-ha. Good one Dad.”

“You don’t think so?”

“Let’s just get going before we get blown into the island.”

“We’re fine. Well, I am anyways.”

“How rude!”

“No, my dear Lizzy. I just mean that you have the charm from both sides. Your life is going to be an interesting one.”

“I don’t think so Dad. It probably skipped a generation.”

“Nope. You saw Joanne’s cabin. You’ve got the charm.”

He twists his hand and they take off. Liz rolls her eyes at her Dad who doesn’t notice, too busy looking ahead to avoid the rocks at the far side of the island. She watches the cliff get smaller and smaller. Joanne’s cabin doesn’t flash in her corner again. It would be pretty cool to be charmed too. She hopes he’s right.