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Show Fair Forever ! 90 The next morning, I thought Amanda would beg me to teach her to row for real. Instead, she taught me wheelchair tricks. She taught,me to roll down a step and to spin in a tight circle. She taught me to lean back on two wheels. I wasn 't very good. 'You have to practice,' she said. We watched the bay for a moment and then, out of the blue, she asked, Have you ever been to Florida?' . " '.' ' / was surprised by the question, admitting I hadn 't. She said, T think I'll go soon. I think Florida would be nice.' My hands turned cold. I worried she might be planning to go right away. 'You should learn to row first,' I said, trying to hold my voice even. 'Florida would be a wonderful place to row in a skiff. The water is so clear you can see everything-the coral, the fish, the shells. That's what I've read.' 'Like your posters,' she said., 'Like my posters,' I agreed. 'Anyway, your Great Turtle is waiting in the channel. You need to go out and talk.' 'You're right, I do,' she said. I let my breath out. 'I'll teach you to row today,' I said. 'This time for real. You can push me out in the wheelchair and I'll sit on the dock and yell instructions.' ' She placed her hand on top of mine and we sat quiet again. 'You can teach me < tomorrow,' she said, like she had it all planned. Then the wind shifted and the sea grew 77-'''' , , ' rough Seagulls soared like kites. I was content to sit on the porch with Amanda and watch the bay churn. . ; : - |