I doubt this was the first time I broke the rules, but it was the first time I remember in full. My cousin Bobby and I were 13. Bobby had this little motor boat that we were allowed to run on the river and around the inland waterway as long as we never went past where the river breaks and turns into a larger bay.
One morning Bobby decided he was bored and that shenanigans were in order, dragging me into said shenanigans just cause I was there.
“What do you have in mind?” I asked.
“Well,” he said, “I don’t know about you but I’m tired of running up and down the river. What we need to do is sail out into the bay.”
“Jeez,” I said, “I’m not sure about that.”
“What are you,” he replied, “a wuss?”
That was the end of the discussion. He knew exactly how to get me to agree.
So earlyish the next morning we walked down to the harbor, boat in tow, the one thing we were told not to do.
The day was perfect. Temperature in the 70s (that’s farenheit - yes I’m American), light breeze and the water in the harbor smooth as glass. No sweat. Bobby kept our boat as close to the breakwater as possible, thinking, I guess, that no one would notice us.
I went along with it, despite knowing it was against the only rule we had. I assumed no one would know, no one had to find out we broke the rules after all.
We reached the little lighthouse at the harbor entrance and headed straight for the bay.
And then bam. It hit us.
Choppy seas, moderate breeze, and ferries the size of aircraft carriers plying across the bay. We kept the little boat parallel to the shore. I was sure we were going to capsize or get run down by a ferry. Either way we were going to die. I’m pretty sure Bobby thought so too. He wouldn’t admit it but his face was getting paler by the minute. Well we couldn’t stay there. We were going to have to turn about and head back to the harbor.
Whatever god is up there must’ve heard my prayers, because, after what seemed like an hour, we made it to the lighthouse. Pretty impressive seamanship if you ask me. We tied up the boat, and the harbormaster was waiting for us at the top of the ladder. He was smiling so that was good, right? But then he said you better head straight home. Your mom didn’t sound too happy when I called her. You told her? I gasped. Damn right I did, he replied. She didn’t sound too happy neither.
Well, we’re never doing THAT again.
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