“I don’t need any help,” I say. I jump into the pedalo all at once. Instantly, the boat starts to rock. It’s moving from side to side. And wobbling more and more. At the last moment, Mia grabs my arm: “Be careful, Emil! Otherwise I’ll be fishing you out of the water.”
Mum unties the mooring rope: “See you on the other bank!”
Mia points to the tower on the other side and shouts, “Full steam ahead!”
We start pedalling. I look behind us. Mum and dad are standing on the jetty, waving. We continue pedalling. They get smaller and smaller. My legs are getting heavier and heavier. I have to stop. Mia is mad at me because I’m not pedalling.
“Emil, at this rate we’ll never get there,” she snaps. All at once, a lad from school goes past us on a paddle-board. Mia looks at me: “He can’t overtake us. Let’s show him.”
She’s right. We pedal as fast as we can. The water flies everywhere. We are making waves. The lad on the paddle-board rocks from side to side. We continue pedalling. The bank is getting nearer and nearer. The red-and-white lighthouse is getting bigger and bigger. Just a few more metres to go. And at the bank, we are greeted by mum and dad: “Well, you two pirates, how was your crossing?”
“Stormy,” I reply. Mia has to grin.
