Liars and Fools (21 page)

A few minutes later, the Mouse was back with a piece of paper in her hand. “Congratulations, you two,” she said. “Very well done indeed.” She handed us the paper.
Good work
, it read
. A thoughtful exploration of
an interesting question. Nicely presented, but remember
to reference your sources properly.
And beneath that: a big red B+.

Abby scowled, but I couldn't help it: I burst out laughing.

After school I rode my bike down to the marina. I hadn't been there since Sunday. Dad hadn't exactly forbidden me to go there and I hadn't asked. Mostly I hadn't asked because I was pretty sure he'd say no.

I coasted down the long slope toward the marina and waited for the first glimpse of masts and water.
There
. My heart lifted. The sky was a soft gray, and there was almost no wind at all. It was warm and damp, and the air felt heavy, as if it was just waiting to rain. I turned into the parking lot and jumped off at the bike racks.

A few people nodded to me as I walked along the dock, and I wondered if they'd heard about what I did. Mom always used to say that this marina was worse than a high school for gossip. I nodded back and hurried past them toward E-dock.

But
Eliza J
was gone.

There was another boat in our slip—a narrow-beamed, dark-hulled sailboat—and
Eliza J
was gone.

I walked to the end of the dock and stared out toward the horizon. Mount Baker was hidden in clouds, and the water was the same color as the sky. I fingered the key in my pocket, wondering who had bought
Eliza J
and what they were like. I wondered where she'd be sailing this summer and all the summers after this. It was so strange to think of
Eliza J
having adventures without Mom and me.

I thought about what Joni had said:
There will
be other boats.
I knew it was true, but no other boat would take the place of
Eliza J.
I took the key out of my pocket and rubbed my fingers over it until the metal was warm in my hand. Then I lifted my arm and threw the key as hard as I could, in a great soaring arc over the water. It disappeared without a sound.

“Goodbye,” I whispered.

I stood there for a long time, just watching the water and the misty gray horizon.

Someday I would sail again. Someday I would sail all the way around the world. I didn't know when, and I didn't know how, and I didn't know if Dad would ever be able to accept it, but I knew one thing for sure: the sea would wait for me.

acknowledgments

Over the last three years, many of my good friends have read various drafts of this novel and given me thoughtful feedback. My endlessly supportive family has provided encouragement, insight and the gift of time to write. And my fabulous editor, Sarah Harvey, worked her magic and improved the novel tremendously. I am very grateful to all of you. I would also like to thank the British Columbia Arts Council for their generous support during the writing of this novel.

ROBIN STEVENSON
is the author of nine novels for children and teens, including
Impossible Things
and
A Thousand Shades of Blue
. She lives in Victoria and spends most of her time writing, reading, playing games with her six-year-old son and scheming about ways to spend more time in hotter, sunnier places. Visit her website at
www.robinstevenson.com
.