Lee.” Seven-year-old Soo Lee was the Aldens’ adopted cousin.
“I’m surprised she didn’t come with you,” Uncle Andy said.
“She wanted to come,” Jessie explained, “but she’s playing her violin in a concert this week.”
“She’s a really good violinist,” Benny put in.
“Cousin Joe has been teaching her to play,” Violet said.
“And Violet’s been helping her practice,” Henry added.
Aunt Jane nodded. “You children certainly know how to help people,” she said. “Just like your grandfather.”
“We should buy something for Grandfather, too,” Jessie said. She held up a T-shirt. On the front was a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. “Do you think he’d like this?”
“You’ll be here a while,” Uncle Andy said. “Why don’t you wait to buy your gifts. We’ll be seeing so much more.”
At the far end of the pier, a carousel whirled, its music playing. There were colorful horses on two levels.
Benny was impressed. “I’ve never seen a merry-go-round with an upstairs and a downstairs,” he said.
Aunt Jane laughed. “How about a ride?” she said.
“Will you ride with us?” Jessie asked.
“Of course we will!” Uncle Andy answered.
The Aldens walked around the carousel. Each chose a horse to ride. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy sat in a carriage shaped like Cinderella’s. The music started and off they went. Up and down. Around and around. The bright colors along the pier streaked and blurred. Above them, the sky was like a blue dome.
When the ride was over, everyone felt wobbly. “Let’s sit here until we get our land legs,” Uncle Andy said, pointing to a nearby bench.
Henry said, “If we’re like this from a ride on the merry-go-round, I wonder how we’d be after a ride in a boat.”
“You’ll soon see,” Uncle Andy said. “And let me tell you, the water can be pretty choppy out in the bay.”
After a few minutes, Aunt Jane stood up. “Let’s take a look at the water right now,” she said, and led the way to the far end of the pier.
The large, open deck was filled with people. Many of them had cameras. All of them were quiet as they looked out over the water. Far to the west, tall towers rose above the water.
“Is that the Golden Gate?” Jessie asked.
“That’s right,” Uncle Andy said. “It’s one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.”
The breeze picked up. It was chilly and damp and smelled of fish. After a while, Uncle Andy said, “Why don’t we go have some lunch. I know just the place.” He led them along the walk behind the shops. They heard a loud barking sound.
“What’s that?” Violet asked.
“Look over the rail and you’ll see,” Aunt Jane told them.
Below them, sea lions lounged on large, floating platforms. Their thick, dark coats were shiny with sunlight. As the children watched, a few sea lions slipped into the water. Some stood on their back flippers and barked. Others slept through the commotion.
“I wish I had some bread or something to feed them,” Benny said.
Jessie pointed to a sign. “It says don’t feed the sea lions.”
“They can take care of themselves,” Uncle Andy said.
“Judging from the size of them, they have plenty to eat,” Henry observed.
They continued along the way to a broad wooden staircase and climbed to the upper deck.
“The Eagle Cafe,” Uncle Andy said. They went inside and took a table beside a large window.
Jessie looked around at the white walls and the green tables. “This place looks old,” she said.
“It’s the oldest place on the pier,” Uncle Andy said. He told them the restaurant’s history.
While they waited for their lunch, they watched the boats bobbing in the water below them.
“Are those fishing boats?” Benny asked.
“Most are sailboats,” Aunt Jane answered. “They tie up here.”
Uncle Andy pointed to several smaller boats at the end of the dock. “Those few out there are fishing boats.”
Aunt Jane said, “But most of the fishing
“I’m surprised she didn’t come with you,” Uncle Andy said.
“She wanted to come,” Jessie explained, “but she’s playing her violin in a concert this week.”
“She’s a really good violinist,” Benny put in.
“Cousin Joe has been teaching her to play,” Violet said.
“And Violet’s been helping her practice,” Henry added.
Aunt Jane nodded. “You children certainly know how to help people,” she said. “Just like your grandfather.”
“We should buy something for Grandfather, too,” Jessie said. She held up a T-shirt. On the front was a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. “Do you think he’d like this?”
“You’ll be here a while,” Uncle Andy said. “Why don’t you wait to buy your gifts. We’ll be seeing so much more.”
At the far end of the pier, a carousel whirled, its music playing. There were colorful horses on two levels.
Benny was impressed. “I’ve never seen a merry-go-round with an upstairs and a downstairs,” he said.
Aunt Jane laughed. “How about a ride?” she said.
“Will you ride with us?” Jessie asked.
“Of course we will!” Uncle Andy answered.
The Aldens walked around the carousel. Each chose a horse to ride. Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy sat in a carriage shaped like Cinderella’s. The music started and off they went. Up and down. Around and around. The bright colors along the pier streaked and blurred. Above them, the sky was like a blue dome.
When the ride was over, everyone felt wobbly. “Let’s sit here until we get our land legs,” Uncle Andy said, pointing to a nearby bench.
Henry said, “If we’re like this from a ride on the merry-go-round, I wonder how we’d be after a ride in a boat.”
“You’ll soon see,” Uncle Andy said. “And let me tell you, the water can be pretty choppy out in the bay.”
After a few minutes, Aunt Jane stood up. “Let’s take a look at the water right now,” she said, and led the way to the far end of the pier.
The large, open deck was filled with people. Many of them had cameras. All of them were quiet as they looked out over the water. Far to the west, tall towers rose above the water.
“Is that the Golden Gate?” Jessie asked.
“That’s right,” Uncle Andy said. “It’s one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.”
The breeze picked up. It was chilly and damp and smelled of fish. After a while, Uncle Andy said, “Why don’t we go have some lunch. I know just the place.” He led them along the walk behind the shops. They heard a loud barking sound.
“What’s that?” Violet asked.
“Look over the rail and you’ll see,” Aunt Jane told them.
Below them, sea lions lounged on large, floating platforms. Their thick, dark coats were shiny with sunlight. As the children watched, a few sea lions slipped into the water. Some stood on their back flippers and barked. Others slept through the commotion.
“I wish I had some bread or something to feed them,” Benny said.
Jessie pointed to a sign. “It says don’t feed the sea lions.”
“They can take care of themselves,” Uncle Andy said.
“Judging from the size of them, they have plenty to eat,” Henry observed.
They continued along the way to a broad wooden staircase and climbed to the upper deck.
“The Eagle Cafe,” Uncle Andy said. They went inside and took a table beside a large window.
Jessie looked around at the white walls and the green tables. “This place looks old,” she said.
“It’s the oldest place on the pier,” Uncle Andy said. He told them the restaurant’s history.
While they waited for their lunch, they watched the boats bobbing in the water below them.
“Are those fishing boats?” Benny asked.
“Most are sailboats,” Aunt Jane answered. “They tie up here.”
Uncle Andy pointed to several smaller boats at the end of the dock. “Those few out there are fishing boats.”
Aunt Jane said, “But most of the fishing
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