The Line Tender

Fred’s older sister Fiona takes him and Lucy into the city to visit a comics shop, a music store, and an art supply shop. Lucy and Fiona talk about the big-busted women on the comic book covers, with Fiona saying, “Real women don’t look like that” (58). Lucy admires Fiona’s sense of style, and the two try on different sunglasses while Fred meticulously inspects different music albums. He buys a Miles Davis album and some glasses that match the ones on the cover. Later that night, Lucy watches through her window as Fred, who is a budding musician, dances along with the Miles Davis album. She thinks that “Fred unrestrained [is] a good sight. […] [She has] the urge to run over and kiss him” (63). When Fred stops dancing to use his inhaler, he almost notices Lucy watching him from across the street.

The next day, Fred and Lucy go to Folly Cove to look for specimens for their field guide. Lucy draws the sea creatures while Fred investigates them, telling Lucy different science facts as he goes. Lucy claims that she is an art person, not a science person, but Fred explains scientific facts to her in stories that interest her.