Sea Feather Quotes

“She was thinking about the other part of Carollynn’s story. The part about giving something back. Mom has always taught us that, she thought. What Carollynn is saying is the same thing. You get what you give in life. And sometimes you have to give it back, too.”
― Lois K. Szymanski, Sea Feather

“I’ve always believed that what you give in life is exactly what you get back,” Mom said. “You have given a lot to others, and one of these days you will get back the things you dream of!”
― Lois K. Szymanski, Sea Feather

“She thought about the dolphins, the warm smells of the island, and the animals that lived there. She realized that all of this was what made the Chincoteague ponies special. It wasn’t just that they were horses, although that in itself would have been enough. But the ponies were even more. They were the sun, the sand, the untamed beauty of nature, all rolled into one. And they were a legend in themselves.”
― Lois K. Szymanski, Sea Feather

“I have almost five hundred dollars saved.” Alison spoke slowly and deliberately.
This time Laura did pull away. “Five hundred dollars?” Her eyes were incredulous. “How did you ever save that much?” Then, before Alison could answer, Laura’s eyes widened again and she let out a faint squeal.
Mom half-turned to the back again, and Alison could tell that Laura was fighting to keep a normal look about her.
After Mom had resumed her road watching, Laura finally spoke. “Just think of all the things we can buy on vacation,” she spouted. “Cotton candy at the carnival, model horses, saltwater taffy, postcards…We can even ride all the rides, more than once!”
Alison shook her head and sighed again. “Let me remind you that this isn’t your money.”
“It is if you want me to keep it a secret,” Laura challenged.
“Why, you little rat!”
“Well, it’s mostly yours,” Laura conceded.
Alison rolled her eyes in exasperation. If she hadn’t needed her sister on her side she’d have been tempted to rap her. She tapped Laura on the top of her red head. “Think about it,” she prodded. “What could we buy with five hundred dollars?”
All at once a light filled Laura’s eyes. All right, Alison thought. Laura is finally awake!
“A pony!” The words slid from Laura in a hiss. “Are you going to buy a pony at the Pony Penning auction?”
This time it was Alison who settled back smugly in her seat. “Every year we ask Mom and Dad, and every year they say we can’t afford one,” she said softly. “Now I have the money. How can they possibly say no?”
― Lois K. Szymanski, Sea Feather

“Alison pushed aside a strand of Laura’s long red hair. “I have four hundred and ninety-eight dollars saved,” she whispered into her sister’s ear. “That’s almost five hundred dollars!” She said it proudly, because she had worked hard for her aunt and uncle at their carnival company, to earn the money. She had spent countless hours retrieving darts, sweeping up the tiny burst balloon bits, and making change for folks who paid one dollar to throw three darts. Some of them had walked away with a prize. Others had not. Alison’s prize was in her pocket--a roll of money she had saved for this trip, money that could make her dream come true.
Laura rubbed her ear ferociously and glared at Alison. “I’ve told you a million times not to do that to me,” she said angrily. “All you did was tickle my ear and give me chills, and I didn’t hear a word you said!”
― Lois K. Szymanski, Sea Feather