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Show Fair Forever 164 back and watch." He looks at the bay, holds his chin, remembers. "She was a good captain. Just like an old salt." sjs J|S sjs sjs sj: When we get to the car, I realize I'm not sure where I should sit-next to Katie or next to Mom. I wait for Katie to choose and she sits in the back, but I'm still not sure. I stare at the door handles and my hands begin to sweat. When the car starts, I'm still standing like an idiot, like my legs have turned to blocks of ice-like I'm making this world-changing decision instead of simply choosing a place to sit. Finally, I open the front door and slide in beside Mom, feeling even dumber when I do. Mom is happy to have Katie along, I can tell. She's humming, smiling, thrilled that I have a study partner for algebra. With every turn of the steering wheel, she glances in the rearview mirror and beams, like she's chauffeuring around the queen of England. "I'm so glad I came," Katie says seriously. "I haven't seen Uncle Chess for months." "He and your grandpa were close?" Mom asks. Katie pauses and then answers, "Like brothers. Uncle Chess and my grandpa met in the army, then, ended up moving to Shepherd's bay to. teach. When they combined to buy their first boat together, it was like . . . well, their partnership was meant to be. Later, when Dad finished school, he joined in, buying a share of their newest boat, Mom. thought it was funny, Dad puttering around in a boat with a couple of old salts instead of playing golf with his brothers. |
