I Spy Jenny’s Cabin

I Spy Jenny’s Cabin is Chapter 2 of How I Met My Echo On Big Wolf Cliff

Liz cuts the engine and the old aluminum boat glides to a stop.

“Do you think this is far enough out to call Jenny, Dad?”

“I’m not sure it’s the best day, sweets—it’s a bit wavy.”

“I can paddle if we get pushed away.”

“Yeah, but, Jenny’s not a big talker when it is windy.”

“Why not?”

“She probably can’t hear you. When it’s calm your voice carries all the way there and over the cliff.”

“I’ll try anyways.”

“Okay—Go for it.”

“Jenny!!”

“Jenny!! It’s me, Lizzy.”

“Jenny!!”

“Save your voice, sweetie. She can't hear you.”

“That’s too bad.”

“If it’s calm tonight, we can paddle the canoe over.”

“Sounds good. Did someone really jump off the top?”

“I’m sure lots of people have. It’s a sixty-foot sheer drop but the water’s deep. We only heard of that one guy because he broke his back landing wrong.”

“Ah. I’d never jump off. I'm not afraid of heights but I am afraid of splatting.”

“Me too.” He laughs.

“A glacier made Big Wolf, hey?”

“Yup. During the ice age, a glacier scraped along the ground from the north, pushing the rock out front of it. When the ice melted away, the cliff wall was left behind. That's why it's so sheer.”

“And, that’s why the water’s so deep too, right?”

“Yup. It gouged out a hole close to two hundred feet deep in the middle.”

“Wow. That’s so cool.”

“That it is. Sweets, how about you start up the engine and we’ll cruise around--see who’s down.”

“Can you drive? I want to sit in the bow.”

“Sure.”

Something catches her eye.

“Dad, did you see that?!”

He slows the boat.

“Huh?”

“Did you see that?”

“See what?”

“Where did you say Jenny’s cabin was?”

“It’s over there above the Venus cabin. Way up in the bush at the high part of the cliff.”

“Ya, that’s where I saw it.”

“You saw her cabin?”

“I think so.”

“Well, that’s pretty lucky. I see it now and then but I don’t see it now.”

“Me neither. It was only there for a second.”

“Well, if you saw it, you must have the charm too. Your life’s going to be an interesting one.”

“Why?”

“You’ve got it from both sides, sweets.”

“Do you think? It could’ve skipped a generation.”

“Nope. You saw Jenny’s cabin—you’ve got the charm. Few people have seen it.”

Liz smiles.

“Let’s get going before we get blown into the island.”

He pulls the cord, twists his hand and they speed off as fast as fifteen horsepower can push them. Liz watches the cliff get smaller and smaller. Jenny’s cabin doesn’t flash in her corner again. She hopes her Dad's right. It would be pretty cool to have the charm.