“Fer wakin’ me up? Or fer takin’ me bed?”
“Oh my,” she laughs, “I didn’t realize there was a pirate in the family. And a feisty one at that.” Bev wags a bony finger at me. “But I be pretty feisty too, young sir, so be ye warned.” She laughs again, then asks, “You hungry? Ah, heck, you’re a growing boy. You’re always hungry.”
In the kitchen she goes through the entire pantry looking for the perfect meal. After opening all the drawers and cupboards she chooses dry corn flakes drizzled with chocolate syrup.
“No milk?” I ask. Weird.
Aunt Bev gives a disappointed look. “Is that how a pirate would ask? Surely you can do better.”
I think for a second and then snarl, “Alas, where be the milk fer yer crunchy grub?”
She claps her aged hands excitedly. “You are too cute for your own good. I bet it’ll be good for my sister to have you around. She gets lonely in that facility.” Aunt Bev folds her arms and stares at me. “You’ll look out for her, won’t you, Cade?”
“I guess so.”
“Well, if you promise to, I’ll tell you a secret.”
“What kind of secret?”
“The kind any pirate like you would want to know. A treasure secret.”
Sneaky old woman knows just how to reel me in! “Fine. I’ll look out for Great-grandma. Now what’s the secret?”
“You promise not to tell anyone I told you?”
“I promise.”
“Very well.” Aunt Bev bends down close, looking over her shoulder to make sure we’re still alone. “In the attic,” she whispers, “if you’re brave enough to venture up there, you’ll find a metal detector—one of the very best money can buy.”
“What’s it for?” I whisper back.
She looks like she wants to laugh. “Uh…to find metal.”
A metal detector sounds cool. But…“Why do I need to find metal?”
“Treasure, Cade! The metal detector will find buried treasure! I know you kids never knew your great-grandfather, but he believed there was treasure buried out behind the house. That’s why he bought the metal detector. He’d spend hours and hours out there, combing the beach, just waiting to find riches buried beneath the sand. And according to my sister, he and she found treasure all the time.”
As she’s speaking, my heart is pounding faster and faster. “You think there’s still buried treasure out there?”
“Only one way to find out. But if I had to wager, I’d say your chances of finding something valuable are quite high. Quite high indeed.”
“Sweet!” I shout. “I’m gonna be rich!” I’ve always wanted to be rich…and now I will be!
Right then, Aunt Bev and I both hear something. A second later Bree stumbles into the kitchen. “Oh good. I thought maybe you’d already left.”
“Soon,” Aunt Bev replies. “But I need some help first.”
“With what?” I ask.
She checks her watch. “With waking your dad up. He said he’d take me to the airport in thirty minutes.”
“I’ll do it,” says Bree. “I have to go back upstairs anyway. I forgot to take out my retainer.”
“I wish you the best of luck, Cap’n Cade,” Aunt Bev says once Bree is gone. “A good pirate doesn’t give up until his treasure is found.”
“Arrgg,” I growl. “If there be treasure to find, I’ll find it.” I pause. “Now, where’s the Cap’n Crunch? I’m hungry.”
On Monday morning, I really just want to be happy about going to the beach, but my annoying sisters are making it hard. I don’t know what got them started, but they’re arguing over every silly little thing. Like why a certain pair of socks is found in the other’s top drawer. Or whose headband is whose. And something about who looks best in boot-cut Levi’s.
Pants! So stupid.
Rather than listen to their complaining, I sneak off to a friend’s house to shoot hoops for a couple of hours. By the time I come home, Mom has already done my packing for me. “Your suitcase is on your bed,” she says. “Bring it upstairs so you’re all ready when your father gets home. Oh, and bring Ann’s upstairs while you’re at it. She shouldn’t be lifting heavy things like that.”
Ann overhears the comment too. “I’m not an invalid,” she replies. “I can get my own suitcase.”
“No,” Mom tells her, “you can’t. Cade, do as you’re told, and bring Ann’s luggage upstairs.”
While rolling her eyes, Ann mumbles, “So lame.”