Chương 15: Book 1 - Chapter 14

We all met for a big breakfast in the hotel dining room the next morning. My parents were still buzzing from the previous night's news.

"I still can't believe it," Mom said, stirring her coffee and looking at Grandpa.

"I'm having a hard time focusing on pancakes."

"Just enjoy it, Mary," Grandma said, smiling serenely.

"It's a new day! Now, what are we doing today?"

"I have an idea," I jumped in, looking at Dad.

"They rent JetSkis down at the marina. You and I should go ride them this morning. The lake is perfect for it." Dad raised an eyebrow.

"JetSkis? I haven't been on one of those in years. Are you sure you're up for that, sport?"

"Absolutely! I've been reading about how they work."

"I want to come watch the JetSkis!" Grandpa declared, setting down his fork.

"I need some fresh air after all that last night." He chuckled, but his eyes had a keen new alertness. Mom looked at Grandma and Mattie.

"Well, if the boys are going to be out on the water making noise, how about we have a relaxing morning, Mom? I saw they have a small spa that does hair and manicures."

"Ooh, Mommy, can I get my hair done?" Mattie asked, delighted.

"I think we can arrange that," Grandma confirmed, beaming at Mattie.

"A relaxing morning for the girls sounds perfect."

"Perfect," Dad agreed.

"So, the boys go to the marina, and the girls go to the spa." He checked his watch.

"Let's plan to be ready around noon. We can pick you all up and go to that seafood restaurant Mary likes, the one right on the water."

"Sounds like a plan," Mom said, raising her coffee cup.

"An easy day, for a change." I rushed down the marina dock, enjoying the sound of the hollow thump of my feet hitting the wooden planks.

"Hey Dad, there's just one JetSki," I yelled back to where Grandpa and he were still getting out of the car.

"There's a boat, maybe we can rent that?" I told them when they got closer. The rental guy stepped out of his little booth.

"Hi folks, looking to rent a watercraft?"

"We were hoping to rent JetSkis to play on the lake," Grandpa offered. The guy pointed right at me.

"He's too young to drive. And we don't allow passengers on the JetSkis either." Grandpa looked at Dad, defeated.

"I guess that cancels that plan." I quickly looked between the boat and the JetSki.

"No, it doesn't. Dad, go have some fun on the JetSki. I want to head to the north end of the lake, Grandpa, we can go out on that boat." Grandpa paid the guy. Dad quickly put on his life jacket and took off. As the Rental Guy walked away, I pointed toward the far side of the lake.

"North is that way, Grandpa." He carefully idled the boat out, passing under Highway 40. I pointed out a small wooded island near the shore.

"Go on the right, and pull up to the island and stop Grandpa." I carefully looked to see Dad was out of sight on another arm of the lake. I emptied the canvas bag, holding the towels and cans of soda we brought, into the bottom of the boat. Grandpa turned to watch, wondering what I was doing. Before he could object, I popped the clips on the life vest, dropping it as well and dove over the side into the water with the bag.

When I came up, Grandpa was looking panicked, the boat rocking slightly as he peered into the dark water where I went in.

"Over here, Grandpa," I called, treading water near the stern.

"I need some help getting this into the boat." He quickly scrambled to the stern ladder and hauled first the very heavy canvas bag, and then me, into the boat. I dried off with the towel and put the life vest back on.

"What in God's name is in that bag?" Grandpa demanded, trembling slightly.

"Buried treasure," I told him, dropping the soaking bag onto the deck.

"What?"

"In December 1888, Belle Star was involved in a robbery," I explained.

"She buried the loot here. She was shot and killed two months later. It has been buried all this time, then underwater since they built the lake in the 1960s. The cash is long dissolved, but all the jewelery, gold and silver coins are still good." Grandpa looked pale, putting a hand to his chest.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I won't let you have a heart attack from surprise. Though you are due for one in 1991." He raised his hands and spoke to the sky.

"What crime gives me a grandchild like this, I ask you!" Then he started to laugh, a slightly hysterical sound.

"So, do you want me to get the rest of it, or leave it for someone else to find when the lake levels drop due to drought in 2008?"

"We can get it anytime until then, right?" Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"Sure, it's only six feet down," I said clipping my life vest back on.

"Your Dad is on his way back," he warned, looking out at the lake.

"What do we tell him?"

"Nothing. We brought your car, just stick the bag in the trunk when we get back to the dock. It's heavy, so use your towel to hide it." Dad pulled up on the JetSki, grinning.

"Hey, you guys missed all the fun!"

"Yeah, this boat is kind of slow." I told him, a big grin on my face as Grandpa tried to calm down.

"The guy at the dock can't see us, why don't you hop on and I'll give you a ride," he offered me.

"Yes!" I hollered and clambered over the side onto the JetSki. He put me at the front of the stand up craft. Standing behind me, his hands on the controls, my hands holding on to his arms for stability. He told me, "Hold on Johnny!" and we rocketed up the lake. Grandpa followed sedately in the boat, watching as Dad tried to frighten me with speed and turns. I screamed and laughed in delight the entire time. When it was near noon I got back in Grandpa's boat and we went back to the marina.

Dad and I had to shower and change clothes at the dock bathroom, Grandpa wasn't wet and just had to change out of his swim suit. It was too much to take two cars to the restaurant so we all piled in Dad's car, a beast of a thing that just barely fit all 6 of us when Mattie sat on Grandpa's lap. During lunch I asked Dad, "Have you ever considered a minivan?"

"Not a fan but I'll think about it," he said.

"What's a mini van?" Grandma wanted to know"It's like one of those big Dodge vans, just more family sized," Mom tried to explain.

"Oh, like a Vanagon."

"Shorter, and not as long. They actually fit in a garage," Dad explained.

"They are new Grandma. They just came out last year. Much safer than a Vanagon, especially for the driver. They seat 7 and have lots of room for luggage," I told her, getting a raised eyebrow from Dad.

"Interesting, I'll have to check them out," Grandma said. That afternoon we were out by the pool again, and Grandpa and I were playing chess. I had just beaten him for the fifth consecutive game.

"That's five wins. I'm done," Grandpa told me.

"I still can't believe you learned to play by reading a book."

"Four books, but yes, this is my first time playing," I told him. The man next to us on a lounge chair spoke up, "Can I play?" I agreed, so Grandpa moved his chair as the man pulled up a third chair to the table. He introduced himself.

"I'm Jake Morrow, I enjoy a good game of chess."

"I'm John, this is my Grandpa, Joe."

"Joe Carpenter," Grandpa said, reaching out to shake my opponents hand. We began to play, and Grandpa and Jake started to talk.

"We're on vacation visiting the grandkids now that school's out."

"So where are you from?" Morrow asked.

"We were visiting my daughter in Illinois, but from here, we head back home to California."

"I'm a local. I just graduated, so we are celebrating," I offered. He looked at me carefully, a puzzled smile twitched across is face.

"Your family must have not needed much excuse to celebrate."

"Actually I just graduated from high school. I'm seven years old."

"Really?" he asked, pausing his reach for a piece to move on the board. Grandpa assured him I was telling the truth.

"Yup, big surprise. He started the year in the third grade, and they just let him work at his own pace."

"Well I'm impressed. What are your plans for college?" Morrow asked, his natural inclination to dig bubbling to the surface.

"I'm being recruited pretty heavily by University of Tulsa. I'll probably start there in the fall. My family is still trying to catch up because they weren't expecting me to graduate so quickly."

"How does that happen?" he asked finally making his move.

"A couple months ago I asked to test out of third and fourth grade. I did so well that they kept testing me and giving me books to read. Before my parents realized it I was in 9th grade. Then the District Superintendent and the Principal worked together to have me do the same thing at the high school."

"He got a perfect score on every test they gave him. He learned French over a weekend with books and audio tapes," Grandpa bragged.

"Amazing but I think that's check, John." I made a move, he moved and then I moved again, "That's checkmate, Mr Morrow."

"That's one, best out of five?" he asked. I shrugged, like I didn't want to play anymore. Grandpa was still sore about losing, and wanted to see me beat someone else.

"Play him five games," he told me. Then he offered to Jake, "For every one you win I'll pay you 100 dollars.

"That's a challenge I'll take, okay with you John?"

"Sure but every time I win, I get fifty dollars," I told Grandpa with a smirk. Grandpa grinned as well.

"I'll pay that." Play became more intense, but I won every game. Jake became less talkative as his losses mounted. Finally I declared checkmate for the tenth time that day.

"I've never seen some of those attacks. I'm a registered FIDE player and that was simply amazing."

"I'm just glad Grandpa didn't make it a wager. He doesn't need your money." Jake looked at Grandpa, who just shrugged.

"I do okay." Jake laughed, then got down to business.

"John, I'm a reporter for The Daily Oklahoman. I'd like to do some background research first but I want to interview you."

"I can be available here on Tuesday if my parents approve," I told him. He was the reason I was even out here with a chess board.

"That will work," he said pulling a business card from his shirt pocket.

"Here is my card. How long are you staying at the hotel?"

"We are here for a week but we can stay a few extra days if we need to. Why?" Grandpa replied.

"I have an idea, but I want to wait till Tuesday," he said.

"I'll talk it over with John's parents, and call you tomorrow," Grandpa assured him. Jake gathered some more information on my school and then thanked us for our time and the game.

"Do you think we could gamble on your chess ability?" Grandpa asked.

"I would rather do something with larger and faster payouts, like horse racing or the lottery," I said.

"Yes, the lottery," Grandpa mused. The weekend continued at a relaxed pace. I spent time on the poolside deck drawing, thankful Mom had packed my colored pencils. Grandma came up to watch, "She's very beautiful," she said commenting on my artwork.

"She is," I agreed, working on the picnic scene.

"Is she a movie star? I don't recognize her," Grandma questioned.

"She's the most beautiful woman in the world. I'm going to marry her someday!" I said with enthusiasm as I finished the artwork, writing the number 5273 in the corner.

"Is that how many drawings you've made? I saw your work at the school, but to draw so many?"

"No, that's the countdown," I explained. Just then Grandpa walked up.

"Good news. The Law office in Tulsa will take us on Monday," he said, distracting Grandma with the information. I gave the picture to Mom to keep with the others. She was building a scrapbook.