Beckman Cove was a small cove down our coast. Most of the waters in this part are so cold that swimming or even wading is out of the question, but there are a few coves where the ocean shelf is such that it is shallow a long way out and the water gets warmed there enough for swimming and wading. Beckman was one.

“How do you know about Beckman Cove?” I asked. “I know you walk here, but I didn’t know you swam.”

“One of the soldiers showed me,” said Miss Macy. “They discovered it for swimming.”

“Gosh darn it,” said Sina. “It’s one thing to have visitors in to play poker, but I draw the line at them showing people around our property as if it were theirs. And nobody said they could go swimming.”

“But Miss Macy already has permission to walk everywhere,” I said. “And it doesn’t really disturb us if they swim, Beckman Cove is so far from the farm.”

“That’s not the point,” said Sina stubbornly. “I’m happy to do my part for the war effort, but they’re not to get cheeky and overstep their bounds.”

“Yeah,” said Gladys. “And where are all these soldiers? Soldiers everywhere, I was promised.”

“Their barracks are right down the military road a piece,” said Miss Macy.

“I didn’t know you visited so often,” said Sina.

“Oh, I don’t know if I’d say often … now and again,” said Miss Macy, looking shifty-eyed. “I get lonely.”

Sina actually blushed and I think she wished she hadn’t asked.

“Can you show me where?” asked Gladys.

“Girls, girls,” said Sina. “We mustn’t disturb the soldiers. They’re clearly all too easily distracted. They’re doing work for the war effort. Any distraction could land us in the drink. In hot water. In the soup. We mustn’t interrupt their work.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” said Miss Macy. “They’re always looking for fresh poker players. There’s only two of them kept manning the guns on the points here, and the rest are just there to trade shifts with them. I can tell you they are happy for any diversion. They get sick of each other.”

“Nonsense,” said Sina. “And I’m sure they do all kinds of important things they’re too modest to mention. We mustn’t bother them. We must support the war effort.”

“Well, that’s what I plan to do,” said Gladys. “Lend my support. Come on, Miss Macy, let’s go bring the boys some Girl Guide cookies.”

“I’m very sorry, Miss Brookman, but we have no Girl Guide cookies on us. They’re only sold at a certain time of year. We don’t carry them in our pockets. No, we’ve got scouting to do. We must see how long little Ermintrude can walk before her legs completely collapse under her,” said Miss Macy.

Ermintrude began to quiver.

“Anyhow,” said Miss Macy, not noticing this, “you don’t need me, Miss Brookman. Just head on down the road. You’ll see their barracks eventually. Now my trial tyke and I will sally forth.”