Chapter 24 - Page 342 - Jim's Big Surprise

   Rhasha watched Jim walk to every picnic site around the pool of water, speaking to everyone he passed. Every time Jim stopped to talk to someone, he pointed at her.

   Finally her curiosity got the best of her, and she yelled to the picnickers closest to her, who happened to be Reverend Morris and his family, "What did Jim tell you?"

   By now Jim was well out of hearing range. Reverend Morris was surprised Rhasha didn't know what he'd said-Jim never kept any secrets from her. "Jim is asking everyone to gather around you when we see him walking this direction down the beach."

   Rhasha didn't understand why he would ask that, but didn't ask any more questions. "Thanks, Reverend Morris. I guess I'll find out why when he returns."

   After Jim talked to the people at the last picnic site, he began climbing up the hill. Rhasha watched him as he climbed toward the jeep. At the top of the hill, he walked to a patch of wild flowers. There were flowers of several different colors, but he picked only the white flowers until he'd gathered a large bundle. With the bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand, he walked down the hill, but away from where Rhasha waited.

   Rhasha realized she really was having fun, trying to figure out what Jim was doing. She could see that Jim had something in his hand, but couldn't make out what it was.

   A clump of reeds grew at the water's edge, the stalks swaying in the wind. He set the flowers on the ground, and waded ankle-deep into the pool to the reeds. He pulled a pocket knife out of his pocket and, finding a stalk about an inch in diameter, cut it down. He waded back to shore with the reed and laid it on the ground next to the bouquet of flowers. Jim had everything he needed so he knelt down on one knee and cut off a short length of the green stalk.