Anthony stood in the middle of Wharf Road on a warm, sunny day. College students carrying coolers and blankets went by, heading for the beach. In the other direction, on the former site of the Bolinas Mall, there was a sign in a vacant lot promising “Exciting Condominium Living!” Several people worked to hang a banner over the sign. The banner read, “Stop it now! No Condos in Bolinas!”

Anthony stepped up on the porch of Smiley’s Hotel, sat down next to his friend, Rafael, and tilted his chair back against the wall. They talked quietly for a while, and then paused to watch Mackenzie come down the street. She stopped to say hello.

Anthony stood up. “Wait a minute. I’ll be right back.” He ducked into the market next door. When he returned, he held a grocery bag in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. The end of a baguette stuck out of the grocery bag. “Got supplies,” he said to Mackenzie. “Want to go to the beach?”

Mackenzie shook her head, No.

Before Anthony could encourage her, the letter carrier came up to them. “You live in the Apthorp, don’t you?” she said to Anthony and Mackenzie.

They nodded.

“I wonder,” said the letter carrier. Her face composed itself to blankness. “Let’s see … Ah.” She smiled. “Never mind. You two don’t need one.”

“One what?” said Anthony.

“No matter,” said the letter carrier. She walked away.

“What was that all about?” said Mackenzie.

“Maybe you guys just got lucky,” said Rafael.

“Man, I sure hope so,” said Anthony. He turned to Mackenzie. “Look, it’s a beautiful day. We can drink some wine and eat this good stuff.” In what he hoped was an enticing manner, he brandished the sack with the baguette. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

Mackenzie looked at Rafael, who grinned at her. She looked at her feet. She looked up and down Wharf Road. She looked everywhere except at Anthony, but she said, “OK.”

“Great!” Before Mackenzie could change her mind, Anthony handed her the bottle of wine. “Want to come with us?” he said to Rafael.

From his tilted-back chair, Rafael gestured at the people passing by. “No thanks. I’m pretty busy here.” Anthony and Mackenzie shifted uncomfortably under his inspection, until he waived them off.

They walked together down Wharf Road toward the beach. Anthony’s arm twitched, as though he wanted to reach out to take Mackenzie’s hand. He couldn’t do it.

Off to the side, the Bolinas Lagoon shimmered silver under the blue sky. A pair of pelicans glided by, just above the water. They rode on outstretched wings, quiet and serene.

— The End —