Brock and Becca: Canoeing On The Grand River

By Lois W. Marlatt

Brock and Becca are a young brother and sister who share many exciting adventures in different Canadian settings. In "Canoeing on the Grand River" their day of adventure begins with saving the life of a box turtle, and ends with a visit from a family of raccoons. Between these two events is a day spent in boating and exploring. A humorous family friend makes it fun to learn about the birds, animals, and plants that are found along the Grand River. Your children will learn about Canada while being entertained with interesting and exciting stories in the Brock and Becca series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books for Pleasure
• Release date: Sep 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781553491019

Book preview

BROCK AND BECCA

CANOEING

ON THE

GRAND RIVER

This book is dedicated, with love, to my first Great

Grandchild, BROCK STEPHEN FRASER

Written by Lois W. Marlatt

Illustrated by Joan Howatson

Copyright Lois Marlatt 2000

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-55349-101-9

Published by Books for Pleasure at Smashwords

CHAPTER 1

Brock, are you up? Mom called from the foot of the stairs.

Yes, I'm up, I answered. Up in bed, I said softly under my breath. Saturday morning, I whispered, and here I am being called earlier than if I had to go to school.

I put my hands behind my head, and yawned.

Not fair, I thought. Dad meets some old man he used to know, and just because he asks us to come to his house, we have to go. He has to be really old. His kids are grown up. What will I do when we get there? Mom will want me to play with Becca. Who wants to be with their kid sister all day? She'll drag her dumb doll Krissy along and want to play house. Should be staying home and having a game of soccer with my friends.

Brock, I don't hear you moving around up there, Mom called again.

I'm coming, I answered.

Might as well get up, I thought. If Mom comes up here, she'll be cross.

I climbed out of bed and had my shower. Mom had put out the clothes she wanted me to wear, so I got dressed, and made my bed. Some days I do a very good job of it. I tuck in the sheets, and fluff up the pillow. Other times I just give the sheets a pull, push my P.J.'s under the pillow, toss the spread on top, and pretend it's okay. Today was one of those days.

What a lumpy mess I thought as I looked at it. Oh well, Mom makes it really good once a week when she changes the bedding. Anyway, I'm hungry. Time to eat.

Becca, my blond, blue-eyed sister was already sitting at the kitchen table when I got there. She was holding her doll Krissy on her lap and talking to her.

Well, there you are, Mom said as she poured out the cereal and made some toast. I was afraid I would have to come upstairs to pull you out of bed. Breakfast, Mom called in a louder voice.

Okay, Dad answered from the family room where he had been reading the morning paper.

Morning, Dad said as he walked into the kitchen. How are you today? he asked as he messed my hair. And how are my two good looking girls?

Mom is too old to be called a girl, I thought, and Becca, who just turned six, often acts more like a big baby than a girl.

I looked around the table. Funny how my brown hair and hazel eyes are just like my Dad's, and Becca and Mom are so alike. Maybe I'll be tall and thin like Dad when I grow up, and Becca will be short and always dieting like Mom.

I smiled at the thought.

Mom and Dad started talking about how nice it was Dad had met Mr. Sigas again after such a long time. I kept quiet and reached for an extra piece of toast. Mrs. Sigas might not feed us, and no one wants to starve to death.

Brock, make sure you pack everything you might want. Don’t forget a towel and your bathing suit.

Mom turned to Becca. Do you want to take your pail and shovel? she asked her.

Becca shook her head and said, "No, but I want