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Show Fair Forever 159 stretched, her right hand slightly forward, like I taught. For awhile, I could make out each stroke. She pulled without resting, growing smaller and smaller until Fair Forever became a white chip on the bay. One time she slowed, and I hoped she might be having second thoughts. I leaned forward in my wheelchair. I prayed she was turning. But I was wrong. She pulled the oars again and kept going. Now, when I think back, I realize that Amanda didn't so much disappear as she faded-like a dream you try to remember only to despair that it's gone. I stared at the horizon. There was only blue. The lighthouse flashed. Morning edged to noon. Mom came to the porch and asked if I wanted lunch. She asked about Amanda. I said she was still rowing. 'She's a good rower,' Mom said. 7 taught her,' I replied. But my words caught in my throat. Later, the wind came up, not strong; but the polish left the bay. I worried about the currents at the lighthouse and the breakwater and the open ocean for miles beyond. Mom left to run some errands. She was gone a long time. Amanda didn't return. That's when the phone rang. It sounded like an alarm, like a siren going off. I thought the whole world could hear. I was torn. I knew, I needed to answer, but I didn't want to stop watching the bay. Finally, when I rose to get the phone, I realized it wasn 't our home phone. The ringing was coming from the porch. Amanda had left her phone. . When the ringing stopped, I picked up the phone and turned it off. Later, I ate on. the porch-a sandwich Mom had left. |