Dolphin Summer by Catherine Hapka

Author:Catherine Hapka
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

The next day was Friday, and I knew if I wanted to see Wanda again anytime soon, it would have to be today. My mom didn’t work on the weekend, and my dad tried not to, either, unless there was a plumbing emergency. That meant I would be stuck at home with them for two whole days until Nia took over again on Monday.

Nia understood, though she wasn’t happy about going all the way out to the aquarium again. “We’re spending more time on the F train than anyone should,” she said. “I really want to finish my dolphin sculpture. And you’ve barely made any progress on your reading.”

Oops. I hadn’t realized she was paying that much attention. “I swear I’ll read as much as I can on the train on the way there and back, and this afternoon, too,” I said. “And I’ll help with your sculpture later if you want.”

“Fine.” She sighed loudly, then gave me a sunny smile. “I can’t resist you when you get all intense and passionate like that, Lilykins. But we can’t stay long today, okay?”

“Sure.” My mind was already jumping ahead to Wanda, wondering how she was doing, how her first night in her temporary home had gone. “Thanks, Nia.”

When we arrived at the aquarium, Nia texted Dr. Hernandez, who sent someone out to let us into the lab. Nia looked around the huge main room with interest.

“Wow, it’s pretty cool back here,” she said. “Maybe you’ll work here someday, Lily.”

“Maybe,” I said. Unless my family has anything to say about it, I added silently.

Dr. Hernandez was on the phone in one of the offices that opened onto the main room, and I spotted Dr. Gallagher talking to a man sitting at a microscope. And Ms. Butler—also known as Susan the grumpy water tech—was perched on a counter at a stool in the corner working with beakers and vials of water. Luckily her back was turned so she didn’t see me.

In any case, I wasn’t there to see any of them. My gaze went straight to Wanda.

The dolphin hovered near the bottom of the tank, her flippers moving listlessly as she just hung there in the water. I hurried over and whistled to her, though I wasn’t sure if she could hear me through the thick glass. If she could, she gave no sign of it.

Nia glanced at the scaffolding I’d noticed the day before. “Maybe you should climb up there,” she suggested. “Wanda might be able to see and hear you better that way.”

“Probably,” I said. “But I don’t think I’m supposed to do that. I don’t want to get kicked out.”

Nia shook her head. “What’s the harm?” she said. Then she added, “But okay, I guess I shouldn’t encourage you to rebel so much. Stay here …”

She hurried off, returning a moment later with Dr. Gallagher. Nia was explaining why she thought I needed to get closer to Wanda.

“I don’t know.” Dr. Gallagher looked dubious as she glanced at me, then up at the metal platform at the top of the scaffolding.

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