Kendra finished a complete lap around the pond, walking on clean wooden planks the entire way. Across the pond Seth yelled, and a small flock of cockatoos took flight. The sun retreated behind clouds. They needed to get back. Kendra told herself she could return later.
Kendra was concerned when she cut into her steak.
The middle was pink, almost red at the center. Grandpa Sorenson and Dale were already taking bites.
Is my steak cooked? Kendra ventured.
Chapter Five
' Course it's cooked, Dale said around a mouthful.
It's pretty red in the middle.
Only way to eat a steak, Grandpa said, dabbing his mouth with a linen napkin. Medium rare. Keeps it juicy and tender. If you cook it all the way through, you might as well eat shoe leather.
Kendra glanced at Lena.
Go ahead, dear, the woman urged. You won't get sick; I cooked it plenty.
I like it, Seth said, chewing on a bite. We have any ketchup?
Why would you go and ruin a perfectly good steak with ketchup? Dale moaned.
You put it on your eggs, Lena reminded him, placing a bottle in front of Seth.
That's different. Ketchup and onions on eggs is a necessity.
That's sickening, Seth said, upending the bottle over his steak.
Kendra took a bite of the garlic potatoes. They were tasty. Mustering her courage, she sampled the steak.
Bursting with flavorful seasoning, it was much easier to chew than other steak she had eaten. The steak is wonderful, she said.
Thank you, dear, said Lena.
They ate in silence for a few moments. Grandpa dabbed his mouth with his napkin again and cleared his throat.
What do you suppose makes people so eager to break rules?
Kendra felt a jolt of guilt. The question was addressed generally and hung there awaiting a response. When nobody answered, Grandpa continued.
Is it simply the pleasure of disobedience? The thrill of rebellion?
Kendra glanced at Seth. He stared at his plate, picking at his potatoes.
Were the rules unfair, Kendra? Was I being unreasonable?
No.
Did I leave you with nothing to do, Seth? No pool?
No tree house? No toys or hobbies?
We had things to do.
Then why did you two go into the woods? I warned you there would be consequences.
Why are you hiding weird old ladies out in the forest?
Seth blurted.
Weird old ladies? Grandpa asked.
Yeah, what about that?
Grandpa nodded thoughtfully. She has a rotten old rope. You didn't blow on it?
I didn't go near her. She was freaky.
She came to me and asked if she could build a shack on my property. She promised to keep to herself. I saw no harm in it. You shouldn't go bothering her.
Seth found your private retreat, Kendra said. He wanted me to see it. My curiosity got the better of me.
Private retreat?
Big pond? Fancy boardwalk? Parrots and swans and peacocks?
Grandpa looked at Dale, speechless. Dale shrugged.
I was hoping you'd take us out on a boat, Kendra said.
Who said anything about a boat?
Kendra rolled her eyes. I saw the boathouse, Grandpa.
He tossed his hands up and shook his head.
Kendra set her fork down. Why would you let such a nice place go to waste?
That is my business, Grandpa said. Yours was to obey my rules, for your own protection.
We're not afraid of ticks, Seth said.
Grandpa folded his hands and lowered his eyes. I was not entirely honest about why you needed to stay out of the woods. He lifted his gaze. On my land, I provide refuge for some dangerous animals, many of them endangered.
This includes poisonous snakes, toads, spiders, and scorpions, along with bigger game. Wolves, apes, panthers. I use chemicals and other controls to keep them away from the yard, but the woods are extremely hazardous. Particularly the island in the center of the lake. It is deliberately infested with inland taipans, also called 'fierce snakes,' the deadliest serpent known to man.
Why didn't you warn us? Kendra asked.
My preserve is a secret. I have all the necessary licenses, but if my neighbors complained, those could be revoked. You must not tell a soul, not even your parents.
We saw a white frog, Seth said breathlessly. Was that poisonous?
Grandpa nodded. Quite lethal. In Central America the indigenous people use them to fashion poisoned darts.
Seth tried to catch it.
Had he succeeded, Grandpa said gravely, he would be dead.
Seth swallowed. I'll never go into the woods again.
I trust you won't, Grandpa said. All the same, a rule is of no value unless the punishment is enforced. You will have to stay in your room for the rest of your stay.
What? Seth said. But you lied to us! Being afraid of ticks is a lame reason to stay out of the woods! I just thought you were treating us like babies.
You should have brought those concerns to me, Grandpa said. Was I unclear about the rules or the consequences?
You were unclear about the reasons, Seth said.
That is my right. I am your grandfather. And this is my property.
I am your grandson. You should tell me the truth.
You're not setting a very good example.
Kendra tried not to laugh. Seth was in lawyer mode. He always tried to maneuver out of trouble with their parents.
Sometimes he made some pretty good points.
What do you think, Kendra? Grandpa asked.
She had not expected him to solicit her opinion. She tried to collect her thoughts. Well, I agree that you didn't tell us the whole truth. No way would I have gone into the woods if I knew there would be dangerous animals.
Me neither, Seth said.
I made two simple rules, you understood them, and you broke them. Just because I chose not to share all my reasons for making the rules, you think you should escape punishment?
Yes, Seth said. Just this once.
That doesn't sound fair to me, Grandpa said. Unless the punishments are enforced, rules lose all their power.
But we won't do it again, Seth said. We promise.
Don't lock us up in the house for two weeks!
Don't blame me, Grandpa said. You locked yourself up by disregarding the rules. Kendra, what do you think would be fair?
Maybe you could give us a reduced punishment as a warning. Then the full punishment if we mess up again.
Reduced punishment, Grandpa mused. So you still pay a price for your disobedience, but you get one more chance. I might be able to live with that. Seth?
Better than the whole punishment.
That settles it. I will reduce your sentence to a single day. You will spend tomorrow confined to the attic. You can come down for meals, and you can use the bathroom, but that is all. Break any of my rules again, and you will not leave the attic until your parents come for you. For your own safety. Understood?
Yes, sir, Kendra said.
Seth nodded his agreement.