Manatee's Best Friend by Sylvia Liu

Author:Sylvia Liu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

* * *

After Amelia leaves, Mom and Dad come home. I can’t wait to show them the video of the dolphin and manatee, so I herd them into our family room as soon as they’ve taken off their shoes.

“That’s extraordinary,” Mom says after they’ve watched it. “What are you going to do with it?”

“We’re going to use it to make a PSA about the dangers of boats to manatees for our science project.”

“That’s great,” Dad says. “While you work on that, I need to do some work before dinner. The boating sports festival is on the city council agenda in a couple of weeks, and I have to work on some figures,” Dad says.

“What are they voting on?” Mom asks.

“Whether to go ahead with our proposal. We’re going to need to go through some environmental reviews for the temporary moorings that’ll be installed for the demos and races. I’ll be presenting the economic case for the festival.”

I look up. “Temporary moorings?”

“Yes, the city will need to create places for all the boats to tie up.”

This boat-a-palooza or whatever Dad’s calling his X Games of boats is a terrible idea. “Dad,” I say, “all those boats are going to be dangerous for the manatees.”

Dad gives me a thoughtful look. “Lots of boats and tourists already go visit the manatees during the winter. They seem to be doing fine. Weren’t manatees declared no longer endangered recently?”

This is something I know about. “They’re threatened, which is less protection, but most of the scientists who studied manatees were against the change.”

Mom leans in. “That’s interesting. How do you know that?”

“I’ve been reading about manatees for the past two years.”

“I’m sure the manatees will be fine,” Dad says. “The city will go through an environmental review and make sure the festival pays attention to the manatees.”

Mom says, “Becca, your video is really something else. You should show it to your teacher.”

“You’re changing the subject,” I say. Mom is doing that thing she does, where she doesn’t disagree with Dad outright, but if she doesn’t agree, she’ll try to ignore their differences. I guess it’s better than the way Amelia’s parents fight.

Mom gives me a crooked smile. “Maybe, but I’m still right. Talk to Ms. Amato.”

“When did you say the city council is meeting?” I ask Dad.

“In a couple of weeks.”

A prick of unease nags at me. In two weeks, the city council could approve Dad’s plan for Boat Olympics. It’s going to be held in the bay, which isn’t in the minimum wake zone, but manatees hang out there too. Somebody’s got to speak up for Missy and Sunny, but I’m not brave enough. And even if I were, how could I go against Dad and his business?

I head to my room, racking my brain for a way to make a difference and help Missy and Sunny and their manatee friends.

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