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"I learned a lot frorounded," she said "Your father is not going to talk o to school and coet into Colu to write me a stellar recommendation letter if I shirkthe ho float every day after school next week--"

"Youfloat," she said stiffly

"--and I’ve figured out a place to hold the hoo todance?"

"Yes," she said carefully, "but not with that boy Your father and I will volunteer as chaperones to one to all the trouble of saving this dance for my friends I was rewarded with a date witha pro football prega me a rock?"

"Shut up" My mother disappeared into her office

"Hey, ed and meet me on my boat in five h this whole thing with one parent"

"Please," he said

Obediently I changed into a bikini and a hat, salloped across the yard and down the pier to the sailboat I was still angry and not looking forward to whatever Dad had to say But at least his run-up to a scolding was more enjoyable than my mother’s He’dThe boat puttered through the lagoon on its impotent motor, but as soon as we hit the open Gulf, Dad unfurled the big sail We sped through the sea breeze, past the harbor and Harper’s granddad’s beach and the public park that had caused all the trouble I sat in the bow, enjoying the wind insun arm and kind

Finally I asked, "Well? When’s the lecture? Let’s get it over with"

"No lecture," Dad said "I thought it would do you good to get out on the ocean"

Moving with uncharacteristic speed, he wound and unwound ropes until the sails dropped and the boat slowed to a crawl He offeredpole I shook my head He baited the hook for hi water

I shifted to sit close to hi?"

He glanced at me like he was very afraid

"You and Mom both majored in finance at Columbia"

"Yes"

"You both worked in Manhattan for a couple of years Then she got an offer for a great position with the bank here She grew up here, but you’re from Boston You didn’t want toyou this boat, and the house on a lagoon with access to the Gulf"

"Yes"