The Magic of the Clam Flats

Times are tough during the Great Depression in the seaside town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Eight year-old Nate's day takes a turn for the worse when his father fails to return to the harbor after a fishing trip, and his mother asks him to go out onto the flats to bring home enough clams to feed the family. Nate's first attempt at clamming earns him a bite from a fiddler crab. But the crab proves to be a wise creature named Pokey who teaches Nate how to entice the clams up out of...
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Times are tough during the Great Depression in the seaside town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Eight year-old Nate's day takes a turn for the worse when his father fails to return to the harbor after a fishing trip, and his mother asks him to go out onto the flats to bring home enough clams to feed the family. Nate's first attempt at clamming earns him a bite from a fiddler crab. But the crab proves to be a wise creature named Pokey who teaches Nate how to entice the clams up out of their sandy beds by calling out a secret magic word. Nate works harder than he ever has in his life to gather the clams into a giant clam pile, which he climbs. Viewing the world from up above the fog, Nate is able to see his father repairing his fishing boat in Boston. When his mother comes to fetch him, she is overwhelmed by the size of the clam pile, the news that her husband is alive and well, and the fact that Nate has matured from a boy to a young man. Nate keeps only his basket of clams and Pokey instructs him on how to level the pile so the clams will be there for another day. The next afternoon, Dad glides back into Wellfleet Harbor on his repaired fishing boat, and is welcomed by a happy family and a delicious dinner of clam pie. Pokey and Nate remain friends for life, and together gather many baskets of clams to share with family and friends.