Mona avoided Delmar all the next day. She did not go with the crew fishing in the afternoon. Nanny had some business with some nearby fishermen so Mona was the only one home at Pearly Beetle. She was lying on her bed reading a book when Manx pricked up his ears and started barking.

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“What is it, Manx?” asked Mona. He got off the bed, continued to bark, and ran downstairs. Mona followed. A gentle knock sounded at the door. Mona thought it was probably one of the officers who had forgotten something. She opened the door.

“Hello.” A young woman stood outside. “I’m Sally. My brother’s staying here and I wanted to surprise him. Sally looked hard at Mona and smiled. She held out her hand. Mona blinded and took Sally’s hand.

“It’s strange,” said Sally, “probably for me to say, but we look an awful lot alike.” Mona nodded. It was true and rather odd, but Sally looked like an older version of Mona and, all of a sudden, Mona had an idea.

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When the crew returned, Mona had already been to the Blackberry Isles and back to pick up a certain plant. Sally was nowhere to be seen. After dinner, Mona checked the clock in the hallway and then made sure to serve the linden tea in the mugs with different color flowers around each rim. Out of the corner of her eye, Mona saw Delmar take a sip of his drink, frown, and look towards her, but Mona was deep in conversation. Soon, Mona turned towards Nanny.

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“Nanny, when I put a clean towel in Delmar’s room earlier. I noticed that the seams were coming out of the side of Delmar’s chair.” Nanny frowned.

“Thank you, Mona Dear. I don’t want it to come apart more. Could you put it up in the attic for now, please? ” said Nanny. Mona nodded.

“It will be heavy by myself,” said Mona. Nanny nodded. She got up and clopped past the other guests to where Delmar sat.

“Delmar, would you mind helping Mona carry the chair in your bedroom up to the attic?” said Nanny.

 

Delmar looked a bit green, but he nodded and stood up. Mona checked the clock as they walked past it and through the hall. Then, the boy and girl climbed the stairs in silence. They struggled with the chair as they climbed the stairs to the attic. Delmar yawned several times. When they finally were able to put the chair down, Delmar sank into it.

“It’s funny, but I feel so tired,” he said. Mona nodded.

“Listen, Mona, I just wanted to tell you that I’m s-” said Delmar. He closed his eyes. Mona waited for him to continue, but Delmar was asleep. Mona pulled a bucket from under another chair and covered Delmar in a fine layer of dust and cobwebs. She hid the bucket and tiptoed out the door. She turned to pull the door shut and twisted the lock shut before she went downstairs.

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“Where’s Delmar?” asked Captain Cowles when Mona returned. Everyone was still sitting around the table drinking, laughing, and telling stories.

“He lied down. I don’t think he was feeling well,” said Mona. Before the Captain could say anything else, Mona stood up again to answer the front door. She came back into the dining room with Sally. There was a murmur from everyone in the room when Sally entered. Heads turned to look at Mona and then at Sally. Her brother stood up and hugged her. When he let go of Sally, he looked from his sister to Mona once more, “You two look so much alike.”

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