CHOICY

A casual, candid point of view marks this story of Choicy and family's move to Crescenta Valley. Grandfather Skipper (Choicy 1) and the thirteen-year-old take on the refitting of a schooner, and just in time; the boy is suffering from new-house nerves and faces a trip to Juvenile Court for careless bike riding. He also, and more agreeably, starts running for the track team and, somewhat hesitantly, takes on a part in the school play, but the schooner is the main event. He and Skipper acquire Mr. Voorhees and his son Lloyd as partners, then Mom and Dad sign on, and finally Mr. Lisbon, schoolmate Manuel's father, joins the crew, which surfaces as Sailing, Unlimited (chartered schooners). Lloyd is generally good natured but Choicy sees Manuel purposely drop a baton to win a big race more dramatically in the last seconds; he says nothing until the youngster has a chance to clear his record -- and his conscience -- and then they quietly agree to forget it. Once or twice the word is out but otherwise it's easygoing amusement.