An Excerpt from "Sailing to Jessica"
Chapter 14: Buddy Boating to Black Pearls
The largest pearl in my cheerfully growing collection came as a surprise. The Katiu Kids, as we now called them, were doing their usual: swinging on our mooring lines and splashing around the boats. I was sitting in the cockpit when a buzzed-cut boy with a bright smile asked if he could borrow my mask and snorkel. I hesitated. It was my only set and I didn’t want to lose it. Part of exploring the South Pacific happened underwater.
“Okay, but I am giving it to you, and just you,” I stressed in French. “You are now responsible for it.”
“Okay,” he said, beaming. I leaned over the stern pulpit and gently tossed my snorkeling gear to him. He excitedly put on my mask and popped the snorkel in his mouth. Through the clear water, he dove 15 feet to the coral carpet under our boat.
When he surfaced, he said, “Here, this is for you.”
I leaned over and took his extended gift with amazement. He had found a peacock green pearl, flawless and huge, at 14 mm.
“Okay, but I am giving it to you, and just you,” I stressed in French. “You are now responsible for it.”
“Okay,” he said, beaming. I leaned over the stern pulpit and gently tossed my snorkeling gear to him. He excitedly put on my mask and popped the snorkel in his mouth. Through the clear water, he dove 15 feet to the coral carpet under our boat.
When he surfaced, he said, “Here, this is for you.”
I leaned over and took his extended gift with amazement. He had found a peacock green pearl, flawless and huge, at 14 mm.