THE YEAR OF THE DREAM

If we only had a boat of our own."" Then the boat comes along and Wendy, Dick, Beanie and their parents decides to earn the $2,000 purchase price. They take extra jobs, give up vacations, baby sit, wash cars, collect papers, and even breed rats. The project is a complete success until Beanie is hit by a car and taken to the hospital. The boat fund becomes the medical fund and the children realize how unimportant the boat is, compared to Beanie. When Beanie is better, Wendy discovers that she has won a contest and can buy the boat with her prize money. The story, told by Wendy, set in up-state New York, is a warm account of family relationships.