WHEN WE GET BACK to Nana’s, the house is full of people. Mrs. Kay; Mr. and Mrs. Gaucher and Fiona; the Stockfords; James’s teacher, Ms. Ouellette; and some of our neighbors from Bog Road and Chicken Street. Braggy and Mom and Dad and Birdie are there, too. I can’t think why everyone came to visit at the same time. It’s not a holiday or anyone’s birthday in the family.

There’s food on the counters and the table: all kinds of casseroles, slow cookers full of beans, part of a cooked ham on a platter, and baskets of rolls. The whole stovetop is covered with pies.

“What’s everyone doing here?” I ask Nana. “And where did all this food come from?”

“It’s the leftovers from the potluck supper they had for your family yesterday evening. Everyone understood that your parents wanted to stay close to home after the attack on the house and James’s injury, but they wanted to bring this over.” Nana points to the can with our name on it in the middle of the table. “They raised four hundred and fifteen dollars!”

I peer into the can. Through the clear plastic cover and the slit on top I can see that it’s filled right to the top with paper money.

Lincoln hasn’t moved from the doorway. He looks as surprised to see the neighbors and food as I am.

“How did the drilling go?” Nana asks Lincoln.

“We hit the biggest gusher I’ve ever seen.” Lincoln’s usually quiet voice is raised.

It’s not like Lincoln to speak up so loudly, and everyone turns to listen.

“The town has all the water it needs now.”

There are cheering and clapping and foot stamping all through the room.

Lincoln holds his hand up, and everyone quiets down and waits for him to speak.

“The person you have to thank isn’t me. It’s HENRY here, who dowsed for the water himself.”

Then the people who cheered for Lincoln come over to shake my hand, pat me on the back, and thank me. Everyone talks at once.

“Well done, Henry.”

“I always knew you’d make this town proud.”

“I guess like father, like son, when it comes to the dowsing gift.”

I look for Dad. He’s in the living room staring at me. When I go over, his eyes are wet.

“What’s the matter?” I ask.

Dad rubs his eyes.

“I’m completely surprised. I had no idea you were going to try to dowse today.”

“You didn’t think I could do it? Is that why you never asked me to dowse?”