Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly K. Jones

Author:Kimberly K. Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Chapter 9

That next weekend Michael showed up with a skim-board and a kite.

“Lots of things to do on the edge, Lise,” he said. Although he said they were for Free and me to share, it was obvious what he was trying to do. What was less obvious was why.

Free wanted the skimboard first, so Michael and I went north a ways to launch the kite away from the electric line. It was a good kite, taking to the wind more easily than any I had ever flown before. I felt the strong pull of the kite on its string as the colored parafoil rose higher and higher. I wished I was up there with it. I wished I could fly on the wind. Fly home. But if my mom and Free were here now, wasn’t that where home was supposed to be?

“Just out of curiosity,” Michael said, “what in particular don’t you like about the ocean?”

I had to hand it to him. He knew how to distract his prey before pouncing on it.

“For one thing, it moves all the time.”

“That it does. Some people think it’s soothing. People pay good money just to feel themselves rocked in a boat.”

“Cradles rock. The ocean slaps.”

“Depends on where you are. My dad always used to tell me that under the surface, the ocean was calm as could be. What else bothers you?”

“There’s things in there,” I said.

“What are the kinds of things that bother you?”

“Squishy things. Sharp things. Maybe even sharks. I’ve read about sharks. My mother says there’s never been a shark attack up here,” I said, before he could say it, “but they could still be out there.”

“You have a better chance of being hit by lightning than being attacked by a shark up here.”

“It doesn’t matter if there aren’t any sharks if it feels like there are,” I said.

“Fair enough,” Michael said. He gestured toward the water. “It’s a big unknown, Lise. What lies beneath gives everyone the shivers at some point or another. It’s like the dark in a way. But the only thing you really have to be concerned with here is the cold water. It can kill you, for sure. You and your brother stay close in and wear those wet suits.”

“They itch,” I said.

“Deal with it,” Michael said. He sounded just like my mom. I looked at him, annoyed. He winked at me.

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