Trihuger's Treats: Chapter Two

(Chapter One )

“No! What other island? Where is it? Why haven’t we gone there?” Suzie said rapid-fire, her hands on her hips.

“Well, if you sit and be quiet, I’ll tell you,” her father said firmly. Suzie plopped down on the couch immediately, crossing her arms. 

At least there was one person who could tell Suzie what to do, Oliver thought, impressed and jealous. He never had the nerve to try it, knowing at best she wouldn’t listen to him, at worst she’d hurt him. 

“So, there is another island a few miles away that used to be very much like ours. But,” her father paused, as if still deciding what to say. “But now it is ruined.”

       

“What do you mean? How do you ruin an island?” Suzie said, and her father was too lost in his own thoughts to chide her again. 

        

“Well, it does take a while. And all you need to know now is that the people on the other island destroyed theirs, and wanted to come over here next,” he said.

      

“That man was from the other island? How did he get here? Is that where they have zuckers?” said Suzie, seeming to sprout three more questions for every one her father answered. 

       

Oliver wished she would ask about breakfast instead, because they still hadn’t had any and he was getting very hungry. In fact, Suzie’s father had just started to speak again when a loud rumble erupted from Oliver’s stomach. 

     

“Right – breakfast,” Suzie’s father said, disappearing into the kitchen and returning a few seconds later with a plate of bread and cheese that he put on the coffee table. “This was just waiting for your berries. Which we’ll just have to do without, I guess, ” he said, nodding toward Suzie’s shirt as he headed back to the kitchen.

     

Oliver usually waited until Suzie took what she wanted, but she didn’t seem interested in the food, only in finding out more about the strange man and the other island. So he picked up two slices each of cheese and bread, shoving a third piece of bread in his mouth as he piled the rest into a sandwich. Realizing his bad manners, Oliver braced for Suzie’s elbow in his ribs — but it never came. She was watching the doorway to the kitchen. 

     

When her father returned, he put down a glass of water for each of them before sliding a chair over from the dining room to sit on, and Suzie leaned forward anxiously.  

       

“In fact,” her father continued as if he had never left, “I’m afraid we won’t have enough berries this week to trade for our bread from Mrs. Langley, or even to get a pie from Esmeralda.”

       

“Don’t you mean Crabelda?” said Oliver, crying out as Suzie stomped on his foot: “Oww! What? Isn’t that her name?”

        

“No, that’s not her name,” Suzie’s father answered before turning to Suzie. “I know you call her that, Suzie. So does she.” 

     

Suzie stopped glaring at Oliver and turned a shocked and guilty face back to her father. “What? How?” 

       

“You’re not exactly a soft talker, Suzie,” her father said, and Oliver bit into his sandwich to smother a giggle, not even daring to look up in case Suzie’s eyes were flashing on him again. 

      

“Yeah, well, I don’t know why we get her pies at all,” said Suzie, her guilt evaporating. “They’re awful!”

        

Her father responded sternly, his face hard. “That is not true, Suzie.”

        

“Yes, it is!” she cried. “You don’t even eat them. You just save them for Mr. Porter’s pigs.”

         

“I like them,” Oliver said, and Suzie turned to glare at him. “I mean, well … they’re not awful,” he said, taking another bite so he couldn’t say anything else. 

          

“Yes, thank you, Oliver,” Suzie’s father said. “Ezzie works very hard on her pies, and I know they’re not masterpieces, but I’d appreciate you not telling her how you feel about them,” he said, still looking sternly at Suzie. “And remember, you should call her Ms. Olsen.”

         

He stood up. “So, did you get enough to eat?”

         

Oliver nodded, his mouth full. Suzie shrugged. 

       

“Good, because I need to talk to Frederick as soon as possible,” Suzie’s father said, walking to the front door. 

       

“You’re leaving?!” Suzie cried as Oliver gulped down the food in his mouth. 

       

“But that man we saw at the berries is still out there! What if he followed us?” Oliver said as soon as he could talk, while Suzie asked, “Who’s Frederick? Is that the Berry Man?”

“Don’t worry Oliver. Your, ah, Berry Man won’t bother you. He wants zuckers, not you,” he said, walking to the front door and pulling his jacket off a hook behind it. “And no, Frederick is not the Berry Man, Suzie, but he is the only one who knows what to do.”

        
“Really?! Why? Who is he?” Suzie said, jumping up and running up to her father. “Can I go with you?”

         
“No,” her father said, with a hand on her shoulder. “I want you two to stay here until I get back.”

          
Oliver nodded. He didn’t plan to move from the couch, but Suzie grabbed for her father as he walked out the door. “Wait, you still haven’t told us what zuckers are! And who’s Frederick?” she cried, but her father continued outside and closed the door behind him.

      
“Wow,” said Oliver, still eating. “I didn’t know there was a man named Frederick who lived here. Who do you think he is? I wonder if my mom knows him.”

          
Suzie didn’t answer him, but pulled her coat off a lower hook on the door and ran to the window to watch her father walk away.  

          
“What are you doing? Why did you get your coat?” Oliver asked, worried that he already knew the answer.

         
“Shush.” Suzie said. “And put your coat on. When my father passes those trees, we’re following him.”

        
“What? No! He told us to stay inside! Th-that man is still out there!” he said, in a voice he wished didn’t come out so squeaky. 

        
“Well, I’m not staying here,” Suzie said, wiggling into her coat before picking up his. “I want to find out what’s going on. But if you don’t, you can stay here by yourself.”

Oliver gulped. They both knew that would never happen. He took his coat from Suzie and followed her outside.

(Chapter Three)