The Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland Page B

flagpole,to find four docks stretching out into a small harbor. Boats were tied up along all sides, and others floated farther out. It felt oddly familiar, even though Marigold had never been here before. The closest thing to this she’d seen had been a marina near L.A.
    The Silvers had gone out for a special Mother’s Day brunch in Marina del Rey a few years ago, and the view from the restaurant had been of a harbor full of boats. But it had been different from this. There had been ten times as many boats, and they all had seemed gigantic. The Silvers had walked along the docks that afternoon, and Marigold had run ahead. For a moment she got lost. She couldn’t see her family. The docks felt like a maze, and the boats were so big with their huge motors and high, wide sides. Loud music was blaring from one of the yachts. It smelled strongly of gasoline. Marigold panicked for several seconds until her family came back into view.
    It would be impossible to get lost here, Marigold thought as she took in the peaceful harbor with some big boats, but plenty of small ones, too. A family of ducks swam under one of the docks. The flag’s rope clanked pleasantly against the pole. A gentle breeze tousled her hair. Marigold paused for a moment, thinking how everything here—the ocean, the buildings, the world—seemed smaller than in California. Even the seagulls. But then she moved on. She had a phone call to make before she and Zinnie were discovered astrespassers. She headed down one of the docks, Zinnie trailing behind.
    â€œThat one boy is looking at you,” Zinnie said. Marigold turned to see a group of kids who looked about their age. They were all wearing the same blue T-shirts that said PRUET SAILING TEAM . There were about eight of them, mostly boys, and they were standing on the dock, listening to a coach demonstrate something from inside a sailboat. Sure enough, a boy was looking at her. His hair was red and cut very short, unlike the boys’ in California, who liked their hair long so they could shake it out of their eyes as they did their skateboard tricks.
    â€œHot tamale,” Zinnie said, and wiggled her eyebrows. “With salsa caliente on the side.”
    â€œDon’t be weird,” Marigold said, and glanced back at her cell phone. “Oh, my God, I have a whole bar. I’m going to call Jill!” Marigold dialed Jill’s number as she walked, but the call wouldn’t go through. Marigold paced the end of the dock. “It’s better over here,” she said, standing as far to the left as possible. There was a small sailboat tied up right there. Marigold hopped aboard the boat and caught her balance as she landed.
    â€œUh, Marigold,” Zinnie said, “I don’t know if we’re allowed there.”
    â€œI’ve got two bars out here,” Marigold said, stepping farther out in the boat. “Two bars!”
    â€œMar-i-gold,” Zinnie whispered, gesturing for her to come back.
    â€œOh, it’s ringing!” Marigold jumped, and the boat rocked. She bent her knees to catch her balance.
    â€œHello? Yes, this is Marigold Silver! For Jill!” Marigold shouted. Zinnie was gesturing for her to be quiet when the phone went silent.
    â€œShoot!” Marigold exclaimed. “I lost it!” She stomped her foot. “I dropped the call!”
    â€œI really think we should go,” Zinnie said.
    â€œWill you chill?” Marigold said.
    â€œPeople are looking at us,” Zinnie said.
    Marigold noticed that the whole sailing team was staring at them. She flipped her hair and tucked her phone into her purse. “Fine. We’ll walk down to the ice cream store. Maybe there’s reception there.” Marigold’s phone buzzed. “Oh, I bet that’s her,” Marigold said, but as she turned to reach for her phone, her wedge caught on a rope and she lost her balance. Splash! She plunged into the murky chin-deep