The Legend of Reedville Lake

By Karl Shook

The lakeside town of Reedville was a vacation village for wealthy people since the nineteenth century. However, two strange things were talked about for decades. A teenage girl disappeared without a trace in 1923, and was never found. Stranger still, people claimed over the years to have been saved by her.

Billy Southwaite, a shy teenage boy with cerebral palsy, came to Reedville to spend the summer with his family. His stepsister Paige was happy to be there, but Billy wasn't. He didn't think he could have fun the way Paige could. But Billy would meet a girl who would change both of their lives. And the two teenagers would find out the truth of The Legend of Reedville Lake

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 15, 2008
• ISBN: 9780595621392

Karl Shook

Karl Shook has written several magazine articles, and has been published in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Spain, as well as North America. His first book, The Family Thing, was also published by iUniverse in 2004. Like his character Billy Southwaite, Shook has cerebral palsy. Unlike Billy, he has never had a stepsister or met a mermaid. Shook resides in Champaign, IL.

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Copyright © 2008 by Karl Shook

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-0-595-52072-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-595-62139-2 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

To my friend Christina Danielle

Contents

Prologue

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

Prologue

It was a bright, sunny day in the lakeside town of Reedville. Franklin Reed sat fishing with his son, five-year-old Harvey, in a small boat in the middle of Reedville Lake.

The boy’s light blue eyes flashed with excitement at being on his first fishing trip. Boy, Daddy, I’m going to catch the biggest, best fish in the lake.

His father smiled slightly, puffing on his pipe. I’m sure you will my son, but do stop jumping about. You are not a frog, and I do not relish the idea of this boat capsizing.

The boy pulled on his blond hair with his right hand as he quietly sat down. But his father knew that he wouldn’t be quiet for long. Harvey was a boy of incredible energy. That energy never seemed to run out, and it often wore out both of his parents. But they didn’t mind, because Harvey brought great joy to their lives. In fact, he was the only joy in their lives.

Just before the boy was born, his sister, fifteen-year-old Amelia, disappeared. The only thing that kept Amelia’s mother, Elisabeth, from dying from the grief was the birth of Harvey. Sometimes, however, Mr. Reed wondered if their son’s presence was enough to keep his wife from being overcome by the sorrow of losing their daughter. Never did a day go by that he did not hear or see his wife crying at least once.

Franklin Reed himself found it difficult to pass his daughter’s room without his stomach turning into knots. The worst part was that he could do nothing to help his wife or find his daughter. He had spent a small fortune searching for Amelia, but to no avail. There was no trace of her anywhere in the world. He still had people looking for her, but he had very little hope of ever seeing his daughter again.

A tear rolled down Franklin Reed’s cheek as he thought about his missing daughter once again. But his thoughts were interrupted by the excited cries of his son. Daddy! Daddy! I’ve caught a fish!

His father merely smiled. He knew that Harvey hadn’t actually caught a fish, but merely hooked one. The boy didn’t realize that the battle to catch the fish had only just begun. Mr. Reed laid down his fishing rod, placed his cold pipe in his fishing jacket’s pocket and began to slide over to help his son. Calm down Harvey. If you’re not careful you’ll lose the fish and your pole as well.

The boy was jumping up and down so happily he didn’t hear a word his father was saying. Before Mr. Reed could reach his son, Harvey slipped and fell into the water.

Mr. Reed gasped. Forgetting about capsizing the boat, he stood up and ran over to where his son had fallen in. He looked into the water to see if he could locate the boy, but the water was too dark and murky for him to see anything.

Franklin Reed knew he had to act quickly. Harvey could not swim, and he could not bear to lose another child. He took off his fishing jacket so quickly it tore down the middle of the back. But before he could jump in something flew out of the water straight at him. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew he had to catch it otherwise it would hit him. It wasn’t until he caught the object that he realized it was Harvey.

The boy was cold and wet. But he was alive, and he was smiling. His father cried as he hugged Harvey.

Daddy! Daddy! yelled the boy into his father’s ear. I saw the mermaid Daddy! I saw the mermaid! She threw me out of the water! She smiled at me Daddy! She smiled at me!

That is good, my son. That is good.

At that moment, Franklin Reed didn’t care how his son had escaped the dark waters of Reedville Lake. He was only grateful that he had not lost another child.

CHAPTER 1

ARRIVAL

Billy Southwaite was miserable. He was about to spend the summer in the town of Reedville, Connecticut with his mother, his stepfather, and his stepsister, and he didn’t want to be there.

Billy’s father had died two years before, and his mother, Sharon had married Tony Trudeau about a year and a half afterward. Tony had always been nice to Billy, and never even lost his temper, but Billy didn’t think Tony felt comfortable around him. The boy couldn’t walk, and he was certain his stepfather had trouble dealing with it.

Billy had cerebral palsy, an injury to his brain that affected his whole body. He could walk with crutches, but when he wanted to get around more quickly and with less effort he used a wheelchair.

Many times in his life Billy had sensed that people he’d met had trouble dealing with his disability. Even though he was fifteen some people would talk to him like he was only three. Although Tony wasn’t that way with him, Billy still felt his stepfather wasn’t sure how to deal with his disability. He wanted very much for Tony to accept him, but Billy wasn’t sure if he had or not.

While Billy was uncertain if his stepfather accepted him, he was certain that his stepsister, Paige, had not. Paige was one of the most popular girls at their high school. She was on the cheerleading squad, active in student government, and performed in almost every school play. She was also beautiful. Her hair was dark brown and hung down to her shoulders. Her beautiful deep blue eyes were often compared to the lake that the town of Reedville was built around.

Unlike his stepsister, Billy was a very shy boy who didn’t do very much outside of his own room. Although girls thought he was cute with his light blond hair and brown eyes, he froze up around them. It was especially hard for him to be around girls like Paige and her friends. He felt safer staying at home watching television, reading, or working on his computer.

Even though Paige and Billy had lived in the same house for six months, and they were the same age, they didn’t talk very much. Part of the problem was that Paige didn’t know what to talk to Billy about. Another part of the problem was that Billy had trouble even talking to people at all, especially Paige.

Billy’s mother had tried to bring the two of them together. But it was hard to make a shy disabled teenage boy more active so he could keep up with his active able-bodied stepsister, and it was hard to get Paige to slow down to spend more time with Billy. Billy knew that his mother hoped the summer vacation would bring the two of them together. But he hoped she wasn’t counting on it.

As the family passed the ‘Welcome to Reedville’ sign at the city limits Billy’s mother said, "Looks like a lovely town you have here Tony.

You bet it is! her husband said excitedly. I fell in love with the place the moment I saw it! That’s why I bought the house here three years ago. And the year after that I opened my second office; so I can keep an eye on business while I relax and enjoy myself.

"Well, you were certainly right, this is a picturesque spot to do my painting.

"I told you it would be. And I think there are two or three rooms in the house that you can convert into an art studio. But I’ll leave that up to you.

I’m sure that I’ll find one that’s suitable for me. But are you sure the contractors finished building the wheelchair ramps at the house?

On both sides, her husband confirmed. I also had them build a deck connected to the dock, so Billy will be able to push out to the lake with no muss or fuss.

What for Dad? asked Paige. Billy probably won’t leave the house all summer. Will you Billy?

Billy thought that Tony was about to say something so Paige would stop teasing him, but his mother shook her head, and his stepfather didn’t say a word.

Well?

Oh, I’ll probably go out to the lake sometimes.

I’ll believe that when I see it.

Before anyone could say any more the car pulled into the driveway of the family’s white summerhouse. Paige gave Billy a quick wink. Dad, if you open the trunk I can get the wheelchair and take Billy inside.

That’s a good idea, sweetheart.

With that, her father popped open the trunk and Paige went and pulled the wheelchair out of the trunk. Billy transferred from the car to the chair, and Paige pushed him into the house. The house had a large white wooden front porch, and the wheelchair ramp was on the far left end of the porch as Billy and Paige approached the house. The white color of the ramp made it look like it had always been part of the porch.

Boy, said Billy as Paige pushed him up the ramp. "This ramp is easy to go up.

How would you know? asked Paige. I’m doing all the work.

While the teenagers went inside, the adults began the task of unloading the car. Before Paige came back outside, Tony asked his wife a question. Why didn’t you want me to tell Paige to shut up?

Because that’s the first time that Paige ever teased Billy. She treated him like a sister would a brother. It might not mean anything, but I think it might be a small step forward.

A step forward to what?

A step toward Paige understanding and accepting Billy. And the two of them becoming friends.

Do you want me to talk to Paige about it?

Sharon shook her head. No. If we interfere like that she’ll just move farther away from Billy, not closer. I think Paige already feels pressured to look after Billy. We can’t just force her to grow close to him.

The conversation came to an end because Paige came back outside to lend a hand.

The house the family was spending the summer in was huge. A wealthy family had built it at the end of the nineteenth century. It had three floors, not including the attic or basement. There were seventeen rooms in the place, but Tony and Paige had only been using eight. However, that was going to change now that Sharon and Billy had become part of the family.

Billy’s bedroom was on the first floor. It had been one of the rooms the Trudeaus hadn’t used before. It was a large room, practically large enough for someone to convert into a private apartment, so Billy had plenty of space to move his wheelchair around in.

There was a computer center set up against one wall with plenty of room for his computer and any accessories he might have. But that was the only modern piece of furniture in the room. The other furniture looked as if it had been there since the house was built. It was in good shape, but it was very old. There was a four-poster bed that had enough room for three boys Billy’s size to sleep comfortably.

There was also an old roll top desk that had several shelves and drawers that Billy was anxious to explore to see if people had left anything behind. But at the moment, he had to unpack his books and put them on the bookshelves that were also in the bedroom.

Outside, Paige, her father, and her stepmother were taking the last load of suitcases into the house.

Man, Dad I’m definitely glad you decided to bring so much stuff over here last weekend. Otherwise, we’d have taken twice as long to unload the car.

Yeah, and I would have had to rent a trailer as well. Of course, Sharon and I will have to go back to the other house to pick up a few things, but it’s a very good thing we’ve left a full set of dishes and utensils here. Or, we might have had to order out for days. Speaking of which, after you drop the suitcases in Billy’s room Paige, why don’t you call and order a pizza? It’ll take Toppers over an hour to get it out here, and by that time we’ll all be ready to take a break.

Sure, Dad I’ll just order sausage and onion, if that’s okay.

Yeah, that’s fine.

By the time Tony and Sharon had put away the family’s groceries, the pizza had arrived. Then the family took a break to sit down and eat.

How are you coming with getting your room in shape, Paige? asked her father.

I’m doing pretty well, Dad. I really don’t have that much stuff to unpack. I should be done before I go to bed. So is it all right if I go horseback riding with Jenny and Colleen tomorrow?

It’s fine with me. What do you think, Sharon?

Well, I think you should go and enjoy yourself Paige. After all, the main reason we’re all here is to be on vacation. But there are going to be times when you’re going to have to do chores this summer, you know.

I know, but I can’t wait to see Jenny and Colleen. They’re so much fun to be with. You know, I think they’re my two best friends in the whole world.

Sensing that his daughter was dominating the conversation a little too much, Tony tried to turn everyone’s attention toward Billy. How are you doing on your unpacking Billy?

Oh, I’m doing all right, Tony. But I’ll have to work on it through tomorrow night.

Tony shook his head in disbelief. That won’t leave you much time to do anything else tomorrow.

Billy looked down at his plate. Well, I don’t have anything else to do tomorrow anyway. So I might as well be unpacking.

Oh come on now, kid. You’re on vacation. You ought to be out having fun. And Reedville is a great place to have fun. Right, Paige?

Right, Dad. I’ve had a lot of fun here ever since we first came for the summer three years ago.

But I can’t do as much as you can, Paige.

In frustration, Tony looked over at his wife, and Sharon spoke up. I’ll tell you what, Billy; I’ll give you a hand with setting up your room. Maybe you’ll be able to figure out something you can do with your free time when you actually have it. But you’ll have to wait until I finish washing the dishes.

Okay, Mom. But wouldn’t it be better for me to do it myself? I mean, you’ve always told me that I should try to be more independent. Wouldn’t this be a good chance for me to learn how to be more independent?

It’s true, Billy, said his stepfather knowingly. It would be good for you to become more independent, but there’s really nothing wrong with a boy getting some help from his mother, or anyone else, for that matter.

I can do the dishes for you, Sharon.

That’s really nice of you, Paige. Thank you.

Hey, it’s no big deal, said Paige with a smile. There aren’t that many dishes to do.

Sharon, Tony, and Paige all laughed. But Billy just stared at the slice of pizza on his plate.

Later on in Billy’s room, Billy was putting the rest of his books on the bookshelves, while his mother unpacked and put away his clothes.

Tony said he’ll help you set up your computer tomorrow night after he gets home from the office.

Okay.

"We’ve arranged for you to be on the Internet, but you’re not allowed to use that thing for more than two hours a day this summer.

But Mom …

"Don’t ‘but Mom’ me. You don’t have any homework to do, and I don’t want