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Still intimidated, they nodded mutely. Clara put her hands on her hips and directed them back to the wood.

“Right then,” she said sternly. “As I said, you must come and fetch me if you wish to play beside the pond. As your punishment, I am going to make you build a boat. And it’s not going to be just any boat, but one that can sail across the lake without sinking. It will be a methodical task, requiring a great deal of effort and concentration on your part. Do you understand?” she said.

Gerald watched her closely. At first glance, her bearing seemed stern, but he noticed the smile that flickered at the corners of her mouth. The boys turned to each other, as though checking that they had heard correctly. They then turned to Clara and nodded.

“Now, the first thing you need to do is fetch more wood. Make sure that they are of a similar length. Perhaps you can ask Mr. Gleeson if he can spare any. I shall go and fetch the other supplies you need.”

The boys looked at each other uncertainly, which did not escape Clara’s attention.

“Why are you two not leaping into action?” she asked.

“We’re scared to ask him,” Teddy said.

Clara sighed. “Then I’m afraid you may not be able to build a boat at all. It takes a brave soul to venture out on a body of water, and if you do not possess this courage, then you will simply have to stay on land forever. I shall have to think of another punishment for you, and we will abandon any notion of building a boat.”

Clara tapped her finger against her lips as she thought, but the boys seemed panicked.

“No, we can ask!” they said and promptly rushed off in the direction of the builders. Gerald followed Clara back to the house as she fetched some glue and more twine.

“That is a most unusual way to punish children, by giving them exactly what they wanted to do in the first place,” he said.

“They were not misbehaving with cruel intent. They simply became caught up in their own excitement. It will suffice to remind them of the dangers of playing by the lake by themselves. And if they are to build a boat, better that they learn how to build it properly. True accomplishments require rigor, and the sooner they learn that lesson, the better.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Gerald said. Clara turned and offered a look that he couldn’t quite discern. There was a slight arch of her right eyebrow before she turned away from him and briskly walked back to the pond.

“You may help us, if you have no other pressing engagements,” Clara replied.

“I wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else but here,” Gerald replied. This time he caught Clara staring at him out of the corner of her eyes, although she offered no comment.

They cleared away the other bits of wood and limp rope while they waited for the boys to return, who came back with one of the builders, who was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with planks of wood.

“Here you go ma’am, with Mr. Gleeson’s compliments,” the builder nodded. Gerald helped him unload the wood, then the builder took the wheelbarrow away. The single wheel creaked as it trundled along the ground.

With Clara and Gerald’s direction, the boys built the boat. They arranged the wood in the right shape and then Clara handed them some glue. When they tried to apply the glue, the wood shifted, frustrating the boys. Oliver kicked at the boat.

“Oliver, remember that we don’t need to kick things when we get annoyed. That isn’t going to help us come to a solution. We must instead engage our minds,” Clara said.

“Perhaps I can offer some assistance.” Gerald sank to his knees and reached across the boat, holding the pieces of wood steady.

Teddy stuck his tongue out in concentration as he smeared the glue along the wood, although he wasn’t entirely neat about it and some glue got on Gerald’s jacket. Gerald looked at the dripping, sticky liquid sitting on his sleeve and winced a little, but he didn’t say anything as he didn’t want Teddy to feel bad. After all, he hadn’t meant it.

The boys pushed the pieces of wood together and then drew the rope around them, offering even greater security. Gerald leaned against the ground to help them, and his sticky sleeves attracted the dirt, coating them. However, the boat was built.

“That’s a fine craft,” Gerald said, nodding firmly.

“Do you really think so?” Teddy asked, wide-eyed. Gerald studied the boat. Some of the planks of wood were uneven. The mast was a little crooked. Glue had spilled on the surface and glistened, but all in all it was indeed quaint, and made all the better by the fact that it had been built by their own hands.

“I think you boys can be very proud of what you’ve achieved. A little hard work can go a long way, and now this boat will be able to serve you for many years to come. However, there are two things that are yet to be done. First, we must name the vessel, and then we must see if it can sail. Do you have any ideas for names?”

Both boys furrowed their brows. Gerald and Clara exchanged an amused stare.

“What do people usually name their boats?” Oliver asked.

“Some people name them after animals, some after impressive words, and some after people that are dear to them, mostly women.”

“Oh, in that case we should name it Clara,” Teddy said. Oliver was nodding.

“I’m not sure that’s what Gerald meant,” Clara said, but her words were weak. It was clear from the expression on the boys’ faces that they had settled on this name. Gerald grinned and clapped his hands together.