The Long Summer
Dorothy Miller
eBook
(, Nov. 25, 2016)
In THE LONG SUMMER Zachary and his grandfather cut hay together on their Kansas farm. Pa Charles, Zachary's grandfather, shows his grandchildren how to use a mowing machine carefully and not to hurt themselves. Zachary, the oldest, has two brothers, Howard and John, and a sister, Zebra.Zebra rides to the fields with her grandfather in the hay wagon. Zebra has fun in the haystacks as she tramples them down. Zachary is the water boy who gives everyone water to drink. They all work very hard the whole summer together without any fights or disagreements. Zachary and Zebra must go on a little journey for the first time to get a blade for the mowing machine. Zebra is six years old and Zachary nine.Zachary has the responsibility of his sister Zebra as they walk through the prairie near Kansas City, Kansas. Zachary dreads going into town because of so many people. He is not exactly in fear, but when strange eyes look at him, it makes him uncomfortable.To get to town, they follow Pa Charles' wagon-wheels into town. But on the way back, Zebra becomes a little scared when she can't find the wagon-wheel's tracks. They look for a clue or a sign to tell them that they are on course. Finally they emerge near a neighbor’s house in the woods, and Zachary realizes they are close to Pa Charles' field. They ran the rest of the way home.The next morning, Zebra helped Grandma Sandie bake a pumpkin pie, so when Pa Charles returned, the pie was ready. A rain storm lasts four days and four nights and they are unable to work or play outdoors. The boys and Pa Charles get groceries, and everyone helps with the cooking. Ma Sandie invites the Cornelius family who join them for a feast celebrating the Indian Summer.