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Show Fair Forever 166 "Finally, Dad jumped in and swam the line over. Uncle Chess says Dad wouldn't let the man pull him into his boat until the line was tied on and secure. When he came back, Dad was gone." Someone behind us honks his horn, and I realize our car is stopped. Mom is wiping her eyes. "Pull on ahead," I say to Mom. "We're almost there." Mom pulls into the drive and I turn in my seat. "Sorry about your Dad," I say. "Sorry?" Katie looks confused. Then she smiles. "Oh, you think Dad- No, the coastguard showed up a minute later, and they searched and found him. That's the whole point, don't you see. Because Dad got his transplant, he was well enough to save that family. It was a miracle!" Mom exhales with relief. "Against all odds." "Exactly," Katie agrees. I finally understand. Katie is the one person in school who knows about transplants. She wasn't asking how I was feeling last year to be polite, or to show false sympathy. She really wanted to know. She understood that a miracle really could happen. . , My miracle. Katie and I take our backpacks to the shore and climb in the old boat. While Katie lowers the outboard, I untie the lines. Watching, I can see that Katie is practiced, confident. She looks over the old boat, checking the fuel can and the anchor line. Old life vests are tucked under the bow. "Half choke," she declares, like there was never any doubt. She pushes the lever and grabs the starter. The outboard fires to life on the second pull. |