Tom lived on a boat named the Miss Patty. It was tied up to a dock on the Shark River in Belmar, New Jersey. That’s on the Jersey shore, a wonderful place to be during the summer.

Tom was up early. He watched the sun as it rose up over the deep blue water. It looked like it would be a hot day. Perfect. Tom liked it when it was hot.

After breakfast, he jumped across from the deck of the boat to the dock. Every summer day brought new adventures. Tom ambled along the edge of the dock, looking down into the water at the crab traps hanging from the pylons. Somebody would be eating crab for lunch today. The waves splashed and swirled as the tide flowed in.

There was the old fisherman on the other side of the dock, sitting on a little three-legged stool. He was baiting his hook with a piece of squid.