The shell had been pointed out and it was lovely to look at. It was nearly three inches across and unblemished with two halves hinged together, and delicate leaf-like projections in an array of delicate shades of yellow, rose and purple, all together, like a tiny flower garden. It had come, she said, from a tide pool between Sanibel and Captiva Islands, way back in the 1950's, before causeways and tourists and Yankees had over developed the beautiful shores. Along the west coast of Florida, leafy jewel box shells are very rare indeed. The closely related Spiny jewel boxes were once in abundance and occasionally found with the halves attached. Years later, Stef would wonder if the crazy old lady had forgotten how she acquired the shell. Maybe it was a gift or from a shell shop, or planted by her niece on the beach to add some excitement to her aunt's trip. At any rate, the pretty shell had been the old lady's favorite. And she was accusing Stef of both stealing and lying.
But Stef had been taught that stealing is wrong and the idea of taking an old lady's treasure was never once considered. And now, denying taking it, added the second accusation of being a liar. The old lady sat primly in her overstuffed chair, and upon hearing both Stef and Mom emphatically stating it didn't happen, she replied, "Pardon me while I smile." This was said with a tight-lipped "smile" that looked much more like a smirk (according to Tammy as she told the friendly neighbors) or a sneer as Stef pictured it many years later.
The family left in a huff, and Stef did get a pat down from Dad, just as soon as they reached the driveway. A second humiliation. Stef's pockets were searched. "Just in case something fell into one." Of course, they were empty. The end result was a new feud ready to break out with new neighbors. "You can't always tell a book by its cover", Mom cried in exasperation. "Seeing those books laid out, 'The Silent Spring' and 'Gift from the Sea', I thought we had met a sensitive soul, who shared compassion and a desire to protect the environment. So much for a gentle nature! I guess they were all for show."
Mom fussed and fumed the rest of the day. She had hoped to have found someone with reading tastes similar to hers, who could introduce her to the Franklin County Library system, and suggest some good reads.
YOU ARE READING
Stealth Journeys with the Steam Mapper
AdventureA 2019 Wattys entry deeply into climate change, global warming, and environmental destruction, especially the nuclear kind! A lot of true facts are embedded in this story which has both true and fictional characters. Who is to be believed is for y...
