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Show Fair Forever . 87 I set the carving on my middle bench and it rocks; a tiny Fair Forever, rolling on the sea. "Thanks. Thanks a lot. I'll put it on my desk, next to your carved turtle." He leans back against his outboard and he holds up one finger like he's solved a great riddle. "I remember, now-about earlier-it was my daughter-she took me to Wadesboro. To the hospital." "The hospital? Are you sick?" I feel my stomach sink. ; ., : He shrugs. "Just tired. And old. My daughter won't let me be." He spits out the words like they're bitter as salt. "Sounds like my mom," I complain. "She still treat you like you're sick?" . "Yeah, and like I'm a little kid." , He hacks a harsh laugh. "Well, wait till you get to be my age," he says. "That's when people really start to treat you like a kid." He leans forward and reaches down, pulling up a newpiece of driftwood. Studying it he says, "It's funny, if you think about it. The girl-Amanda-she seemed so intent on getting'to your place, like a fish fighting for deep water. But once she got here, all she.did-other than give you a haircut and . promise to teach you wheelchair tricks-was, to sit and stare at the lighthouse." He pauses. "She was running from something, bet you anything. Running away, that's what I think." . .! ' ; = .]- He looks at me like he's waiting for confirmation, some clue that he's right, but I don't agree or disagree. Instead I sayj "Well, she did try to learn to row a skiff That was something." 7^7, jy - : '. • 77 7 7.. • ., ;• - "';-,. '-7j/: :> ;, ,' .,,.- • ,., ^ 7 |