Adventurous Spirit 28

When you drop that pebble in the lake

the ripples spread out and out,

one friend brings another

and the chain of love lengthens and strengthens.

A productive day is ahead and

progress will move us in a forward environment.

Essie wrote this on a paper pad next to her bed

but Delitha had called her and Maria to a quick breakfast

before they were to meet Philomena and the others on the beach.

This was an extra early meet so they could all get together

to give a surprise welcome to the neighborhood for Faustina and little Joey.

Her husband, Peter already was welcomed by the men.

They all worked together well. Faustina was painfully shy

and felt out of place in the fishing village.

Essie seemed to be the only one she communicated with.

“Essie we will not be here and Delitha

will only be in and out. Philomena said

she will gather the others to welcome Faustina.

They have planned a house warming party

on the beach until the apartment is ready.

We will gather things and wrap them.

Maria and I made welcome cards from

you, Maria and I. Now all we have to do

is make some gifts.” said Delitha.

“ I have two sets of kitchen towels,

a couple of potholders and a measuring cup

that I bought in a shop on the way here.

I will donate.” said Essie.

Maria asked was that the shop we stopped at

on the way here? The one we stopped at for

Cold drinks and fruit?

Yes I bought them for myself for upstairs.

I will ask Ari to stop there on the way back

if it is open. I can get the same thing on

the way home. They also had some place mats

and a red and white checkered tablecloth

I liked but could not decide what to purchase.

I stopped to see if they had wooden spoons

and a large bowl for salad. We had to go.

At the beach Philomena was almost dancing in

her new sand pads. Hugs and kisses for Maria

and Essie all around.

The ladies had all been there since early morning

when no one else was on the beach. The men all

came early to put together a picnic table to

hold the gifts and a large cake Philomena and her

daughters made the night before. All sorts of

gifts were piled on the table. Two new clothes

baskets were filled with many household gifts

and necessities right down to clothes line and pins.

The other basket a bit empty. Delitha Maria and

Essie placed their gifts in almost filling the basket.

Next were sturdy cardboard boxes filled with

packages of staples and seasonings for cooking.

Yet another filled with pots and pans and a

few dishes. The cake at the very end .

Everything was covered with a sturdy plastic cover.

Ari and Essie took off down the beach to meet

up with Franklin, Faustina and their little boy Joey.

They saw them heading toward the beach. Franklin

was told about the party and to get his wife and

son to the beach.

“Hello and welcome to a party on the beach. One of

many to come for you three. While we men are

working the ladies are making a lunch for all

and cleaning the beach. We have signs this is a

private beach but often tourists or the stuff

they toss overboard wanders in on our beautiful

beaches. Sometimes the younger ladies walk

the beach with metal detectors and find the

most delightful items. Anything of value is

sold and given to our treasurer Philomena and

she uses it to fund anything to maintain our beach.”

said Ari.

The party was started and Franklin, Faustina and Joey

were introduced as the new family residing in number 1.

Soon the gifts were presented. Faustina wept with

happiness. “Our whole household was lost

in that awful fire. Even Joeys kitty perished. We

were so thankful and blessed that we survived.

You are all so kind and we thank you.” sad Faustina.

Off the men carried the new items up to the new

home. Only Franklin knew it had been sparsely

furnished. Ari and Essie had provided new beds,

mattresses and bedding. It would be up to

Faustina and her new friends to pick out the rest.

A new stove and refrigerator were from

Delitha and Georgios. They would have to

do their own decorating.

Franklin now had a steady job.

Back on the beach most of the children

were getting to know Joey.

Two children had walked away. Only a few

had noticed. They whispered something to

their Mother. She nodded her head and they

headed back to their home.

The party went on and they finally returned

carrying a basket and a bag.

They asked Mama to ring a bell. Then Joey's

father motioned him over.

“What is it Papa?” he asked.

“Your new friends have a gift for you. Come see

what they brought and remember to thank them.”

Inside were two little kittens. One as white as salt

the other as black as pepper.

Joey was elated.

“Thank you. Thank you. I will call them salty and

Pepper. Papa can we make a kitty house on the porch?”

“I think that can be arranged.” replied Franklin.

The party continued. Franklin and a friend

picked up the couples auto and brought it

within a safe distance to a safe parking area and

unloaded the items taking them up to the new home.

By the time the party was finished there was a little

kitty house on the porch with a secure door

so kitties did not get out at night and wander.

They were still kitties and later the door would be

latched open. All was a lovely day turning into

an amazing night.

Back at the yacht the five friends talked about

the day over a glass of red wine. All was well

and productive another day.