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Some parts of the formation looked like waves. The water at the base of the rocks was dark blue. It was a calm day, and small waves lapped at the rocks.
    â€œI love it,” Jasmine said. “But how didyou learn to skate here?” She looked at the water below.
    â€œI lost my first two boards. Then I started using a leash. Then I got good and didn’t need a leash.”
    â€œBut you never ended up in the water?”
    â€œWell, I did. A couple of times. But it kept me humble. Once the waves were kind of big and the water was freezing. But I got out. I learned my lesson.”
    â€œWhich was?”
    â€œNot to fall into the water.” I didn’t say another word. I just tossed my board and shot off across the higher flat part of the rock face. I hit the Ledges at breakneck speed and took them like the steps of the public library back in the city. Then I dropped down onto the smooth rounded granite, kicking for air over the little moguls that were made by Mother Nature.
    Finally, I dropped low across the front, the ultra-smooth sloping face of rock that was like a wave. I carved a wide powerful arc as I dropped. Jasmine must have thoughtI was about to plunge into the sea. But I knew just where to make my bottom turn. If I did it on a wet patch or anywhere with slimy green, I’d lose it, but I’d done this hundreds of times before. There were gritty patches where the wheels grabbed as if they were on concrete.
    I cranked the bottom turn and raced back towards the top. Then I did a one-eighty at the top and retraced my path. I was breathing hard when I finally came to a stop in front of Jasmine. I felt only a little guilty about showing off.
    â€œNow my turn,” she said.
    I wasn’t expecting that. “Um. Are you sure?”
    â€œYes. Tell me what I need to know.”
    â€œWell, for your first time, stay high. Work those little slopes in the rocks and don’t go for the big rock face. It’s not gonna feel like concrete. It’s smoother in some places and rougher in others. And there are cracks to watch out for. Just keep some speed and control and let therocks teach you. I’ll stay below in case you lose it.”
    There was a determined look in her eyes. I was hoping she’d play it conservative.
    She did at first, but then she got more adventurous. She dipped down the sloping rock wave once, then twice, then a bit further. That’s when she hit one of the wet spots and lost her board. She fell onto the granite, and I had to make a dive for the board before the waves got it.
    After that, she let the rocks teach her where to speed up and where to slow down. Before long she had it wired. I’d never seen anyone learn so fast.
    I didn’t skate alongside her at all. I stayed below, ready to assist, but I wasn’t needed. Then I went back up top to join her.
    â€œHow was it?” I asked, knowing that she’d just had an amazing session.
    â€œLike skateboarding on the moon,” she said. “Only better.”

chapter eleven
    I think it’s safe to say that everyone who saw Jasmine and me after that day knew we had a
thing
going on. This was all new territory to me. I actually looked forward to going to school.
    Jasmine started coming over to my house to help me with my homework. She had a way of explaining things that made sense. And when I didn’t know what to write my English research paper on, she suggestedI write it on the history of skateboards. The girl was brilliant.
    â€œYou should be a teacher,” I told her.
    â€œI want to teach geology at university,” she said. “And I’ll get to travel and do research.”
    â€œMaybe find real gold, huh?”
    â€œAll you need to know is where to look.”
    â€œThink there’s gold in those rocks at Willis Harbor?”
    â€œFor sure,” she said. “We already found it.”
    I woke up one Saturday morning and discovered my dad hadn’t left