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Show Fair Forever 25 Squeak. Stroke. Fair Forever lurches forward with each pull, and I smile. I make Beacon 9 without stopping. The old man is there, waiting, carving. He smiles but doesn't speak. I rest my oars and we rock in our boats, content and comfortable with the sun slanting from the west. I'm happy to be finished with school and shopping. "Thanks for the turtle you carved for me," I say. "A hatchling, like on my shirt." .. He looks up and blows a shaving from his work., "A hatchling, racing to the water from his clutch." "Against all odds," I add. He looks toward the lighthouse and I follow his gaze. It blinks once. Twice. He says, "It's still there, like I promised." I nod. "I rowed better today," I announce. "Stronger and faster. I can make it that far with a little more practice." I look in the sky. "If the weather holds." He pauses, scans the sky, then asks, "How was school?" "Not great," I say, trying to be positive. ' , • "But not a disaster?" I shrug. "Not great." , He understands, I think. He returns to his carving and drops the questions. He's waiting, I figure, so I tell him about Amanda. , , / was trying to get dressed after my exam when I met her that first time- Amanda. Mom had taken me to the hospital for all my usual tests, and afterwards, Dr. |