Saving Peg Leg
by
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Chapter Six Peg Leg One Saturday morning in early May, Mrs. Spencer was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. The aroma of bacon and eggs filled the house as Jane woke up from a sound sleep. She entered the kitchen a little sleepy but with a big smile on her face. “Did you wash up for breakfast, my dear?” asked her mother. “Yes.” Jane responded as she sat down to eat. “Where’s Dad?” “He’s in the greenhouse attending to the vegetables. He’s expecting your help, so finish eating,” said her mother. The Spencer family grew lots of vegetables in the greenhouse just about all year long. When an abundant amount would harvest, they would bring it to the town market for sale. The townspeople were always happy to buy fresh vegetables from them in the cooler months thanks to Mr. Spencer’s green thumb. “Your father has found something he thought you’d like,” added her mother. “Oh, what is it?” asked Jane as she handed her dog a piece of bacon under the table. “Never you mind feeding Brutus. He has his food in his dish. Now go get dressed and see the surprise for yourself,” exclaimed her mother. Brutus, a Jack Russell Terrier, was full of energy and was always hungry. Jane would often give him some part of her meal, especially bacon and cheese. He didn’t care for squirrels and often chased them through the yard whenever he was given the chance. He was, by in far, a lovable dog, loyal to the people around him and very happy. Jane quickly thanked her mother with a kiss, placed her plate in the sink and ran to her room and got dressed. When she ran outside to find her dad, Brutus ran along behind her. She found him standing over a large brown box with no lid and could hear a scuffling sound inside. Brutus, sniffing the box, curious of what was inside it, began jumping up and down, and barking at the same time. “Brutus, stop that!” commanded Jane. Brutus immediately stopped and sat while making a little whimper. “What’s in the box?” she asked her father. “Good morning. Knowing how fond you are of God’s creatures who roam our yard, I thought you would like to care for this,” said her dad. Jane looked in the box. “A turtle? Wherever did you find him?” asked Jan as she looked in the box with excitement in her eyes.
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About the Book
In the story Saving Peg Leg, Jane finds an injured turtle in her backyard. She wants to keep this turtle as a pet and nurse it back to good health. After taking the turtle to the vet and visiting the library, Jane learns lots of interesting facts about her new turtle friend. She learns that it’s best not to keep turtles in captivity. Jane struggles with doing the right thing in letting the turtle return to a natural habitat, knowing it is injured. Through help from her loving family members, many new and old friends, her love for animals, and her strong belief in her faith, Jane overcomes her worries for the well-being of the turtle she calls Peg Leg. She also realizes that God is sending her on a mission of strength, love, and determination for helping one of his creations live a normal life in a suitable habitat.
About the Author
Saving Peg Leg is Michael’s first book he has published. Inspired by true events, Michael used many details provided by Jane, the main character, who is a neighbor and friend, in an interview in writing this story. Michael recently received a Master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. There he learned and participated in research based learning. Research also contributed to the story’s plot. He plans to continue writing other stories in the future. Michael is a first-grade teacher and loves teaching all subjects, especially writing, to his students. When his class writes and shares each day, it makes it the most rewarding part of the school day. Michael also has written over thirty poems about a leprechaun who visits his classroom every year. Michael grew up in a suburb of Boston, MA, where he still resides. In his spare time, Michael enjoys candlepin bowling, swimming, and baseball.