Then Miranda held up a folded yellow beach towel, plain except for a stitched white daisy in one corner.
Daisy held the towel against her chest.
She stepped inside only when I moved aside.
“Daisy,” she said, “I was wrong. Your day should have stayed happy. I am sorry I helped ruin part of it.”
Daisy held the towel against her chest.
“It was supposed to be my normal day,” she said.
“I know,” Miranda said. “And I am sorry I made it about me.”
Daisy looked at the towel.
“I told Mom teachers can swim, because they can.”
Then at me.
Then back at Miranda.
She kept the towel because she was a polite child.
She did not hug her.
I was grateful for that.
Evan shifted from foot to foot and then blurted, “I told Mom teachers can swim, because they can.”
After they left, Daisy spread the new towel across her bed and smoothed the corners flat.
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
Daisy smiled a little.
“That was smart,” she told him.
He brightened immediately.
After they left, Daisy spread the new towel across her bed and smoothed the corners flat.
“Do I have to forgive her?” she asked.
