My Trip to Cape Breton (story)

“Thanks for all that paper, mom,” I say. “Now I can draw lots of pictures with my pencil colors.
Grandpa and I soon drive from our home in NEW GLASGOW.
I hurry up and draw some trees. Nice White Birch are my favorite. I put them beside a road that turns like a ribbon.
I want them close to each other, like friends.
My houses are all different sizes. And a cat looks out his window.
Clouds pretend they are marshmallows in the blue sky.
Now I draw a bridge crossing a small river.
My pencil moves in a crooked circle. The lake is for little trout to swim.
We go downtown in ANTIGONISH where I draw a huge school. “That’s Saint Francis Xavier University,” grandpa says.
A little square house is on top of each building. “A Cupola,” grandpa says. “In case any birds need to hide from the rain.”
At MOTHER WEBB'S we stop to eat. “Yum…Yum, fish and chips.” Now we are on the CANSO CAUSEWAY Bridge.
“Next stop is CAPE BRETON ISLAND!" grandpa shouts.
I draw water lines under the bridge. My ‘white-caps’ on the waves look like buck teeth. And they play peek-a-boo on the water.
More clouds watch over the trees, like my big sister who baby-sits me.
BADDECK is a little town we visit. My teacher said Mr. Bell lived there a long time ago. His name is Alexander...Graham... Bell.
So I draw a bell.
He invented the telephone too. That’s how I talk to my grandpa, even if he lives far away. My telephone picture is funny.
Now I draw hills just like camel humps. And my road turns into a roller coaster ride. Up, up and down we go, then around and up.
I draw the MARGAREE VALLEY, and our road is more like a trail in the woods. Tree branches creep over our car, almost like a blanket.
I get another sheet of paper. Then I draw CHETICAMP village. Grandpa helps me spell the French name, Acadien.
My colors are different on each house. I put blue on the sea. And make it go far away to meet the sky.
"That’s because the tide is going out," says grandpa.
I draw a beach full of pebbles. “Don’t go there in your bare feet.”
Lots of children are in my pictures. Small circles around their mouths are for words.
I draw some boys fishing. One is holding up a huge fish.
Seagulls watch me with their crooked beaks. They want a fish snack -- or, a slice of bread.
One seagull floats sideways on a wave. I wish I could be a kite like the one on my page. And fly up, up.
I make houses with red roofs. Grandpa says, “LES ACADIENS live here.” He says their flag has three colors -- red, white and blue.
I draw a star on the flag.
We drive on top of FRENCH MOUNTAIN. People faces watch from their cars beside us. Grandpa says they come from all over the world.
I make places for everyone to stop and rest. Now we can see all the trees and hills, even a stream far down in the valley.
Rocks on the side of the road look like silver dollars. They’re flat and they shine the sun into my eyes.
The next sign says, FISHING COVE. I draw a path for hikers. “But, it’s too far for us to walk,” grandpa says.
ST. MARGARET'S VILLAGE has hills like green ice cream cones. And telephone poles march across the rocks like soldiers.
I draw a fancy hotel. Grandpa calls it KELTIC LODGE. The road hides between tall birch trees.
Now they look like fat dew worms. And I paint them all white.
“Grandpa,” I say. I want to stop drawing, for awhile.”
“Okay,” grandpa says.
We drive into ST. ANNE'S HARBOUR. It is beside a Lobster Restaurant. Grandpa says, “This is where we will sleep tonight.”
First, I want to go fishing. We walk over to children with long fishing poles. Soon, we are good friends.
I get to see their fish. Wow! I catch two mackerel.
“We have to go,” grandpa says. He has to carry me back. I am so tired. I don't even want to be like a seagull anymore.
I want to be just me, a little boy.
I draw the pink sun before it goes to sleep. I have to remember everything before we go home tomorrow.
Then grandpa kneels beside me. “Thank you for today,” we pray together.
I can't wait to show mommy all my drawings.
And talk about my trip to CAPE BRETON ISLAND!

The End

© Richard & Esther Provencher
Website: www.wsprog.com/rp/